Comments on: Brees addresses bounties in letter to fans

By: dukemarc

dukemarc — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:40:37 +0000

My goodness Brees has got you media types fooled.

By: dissapointmentprone

dissapointmentprone — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 16:28:19 +0000

Here’s the Cliff notes version of brees’s statement;
Words words words, more words. Thanks for the lip service brees, you phony.

By: mrpowers88

mrpowers88 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:42:30 +0000

I honestly think that all offensive players think there is a bounty system among the defensive players they face.

The fact that he says “real existence,” I think, gives way to the fact that a team (his) actually got caught. Theres a difference between suspecting one exists (existence) and actually being given proof and a decision that one has existed (real existence).

I’ve always thought Brees was a class act. One that the Saints probably dont deserve- the handling of his contract situation definitely shows that.

Ever since that Super Bowl, fans in New Orleans have been talking about how “die hard” they have been through the years before that. Sorry, but I wouldnt ever spend money to go watch my team play and show up with a paper bag on my head, but that maybe just me.

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:57:39 +0000

@panther17 …

I can’t think of any reason he would have know about the “real existence” of a bounty program. He’s not a member of the defense or the coaching staff and probably doesn’t hang out with defensive players. He may have heard some locker-room chatter. That being the case, he could–as gimmeabruschi suggested–have mentioned it to the coaches and said there would be hell to pay if it got out. But I don’t know what else you guys expect the Saints QB–union rep or not–to have done about a situation that didn’t directly involve him.

You’re all real free with the judgment when it doesn’t involve you, your QB, or your team. I’m no happier about this bounty thing than anyone else. But you’re fools if you think nothing like this has ever happened anywhere else. The sticking point here is the use of outside money to finance the bounties. But rumors of teams taking out bounties on opposing players have gone around as long as I’ve been a fan.

By: quittsburghstoolers

quittsburghstoolers — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:21:33 +0000

After reading Brees statement I am hearing my “BS alarm” going off.

Sounds like one of Roethlisberger’s lawyers wrote it for him…

By: panther17

panther17 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:05:55 +0000

Deb says: Mar 10, 2012 12:05 PM

gimmeabruschi says:

He could have gone to coach and players if need be and said…. “Hey you ass clowns, knock this stupid BS off. Not only is it possibly going to get all of us hammered by the league and disgrace our fans but I’m not going to stand by and watch you trying to disable the fathers and husbands who play this game. It’s not a joke. It’s evil.”

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Okay, I’m with you on this scenario if he knew there was a bounty program. But we don’t know that he didn’t do something along these lines. People are jumping to a lot of conclusions here.

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Then he is lying in his “letter to the fans” in which he said he didn’t know of any real bounty program and he is just trying to save face.

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:05:50 +0000

gimmeabruschi says:

By: lizzzy321

lizzzy321 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:00:42 +0000

I did read the entire letter on Drew Brees website this morning and was quite disappointed. He claims not to have known, but how is that possible. Then he goes on to state that he believes there is no place in football for this kind of practice. Ok, would be good, except he goes on to say, wait for the investigation to finish before passing judgement. Well, sure, but didn’t everyone already confess? He describes the issues as ‘accusations and perceptions’, well, no not really, if they confessed to doing it already and there is physical evidence to back that up. Then he actually sticks up for his organization, and has the nerve to say he feels comfortable with the ‘integrity’ of the organization. Another quote: ‘We as Saints, play with honor.’

I am amazed that he would attempt to present this letter to the public. Instead of putting out this PR pablum, he should have held his tongue at the very least. I have lost respect for Brees at this point. And have mounting concerns about the NFLPA and the NFL who seem to be going into high gear for trying to put a spin on everything that has happened to attempt to make them all come out smelling like a rose. Not buying it.

By: rexryanstoecheese

rexryanstoecheese — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:43:57 +0000

“I did not participate in any Bounty program, nor did I have any knowledge relating to its real existence. ”

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giving him the benefit of the doubt (which is admittedly extremely difficult to do given this CYA-hack job of a statement he and his attorneys crafted and ACTUALLY published) this phrase above implies that he knew or had heard rumors of the existence of a bounty program.
As a member of the NFLPA, his silence on the matter for 3 years is grounds for “impeachment” from the NFLPA. If I’m a member of that union, do I really want this two-faced-politician, who’s shown his true colors with this statement representing me?

Boy, the NFL truly does mirror American Politics and politicians- THEY ARE ALL THE SAME-CROOKS!

By: mialto

mialto — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:28:26 +0000

“real existence” – Brees quote on Bounties. Written by his/or an attorney.

By: FinFan68

FinFan68 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:25:15 +0000

Every NFL player makes in excess of $375,000 per year. To think that they would need extra money to be motivated is deplorable.

The salary cap circumvention is an issue but not a huge one. (Player A’s $2k is already accounted for under the cap and that money can change hands several times with no true impact on the cap. Coach money is a bigger issue and outside money is even bigger.

The problem is the mindset that intent to injure is acceptable, condoned and encouraged.

I used to respect Brees, but after his actions and statements leading up to and throughout the work stoppage and now this, I have very little respect for the man. Sure he is a great player, but, as a man, he is a coward. He calls himself a leader and yet does not lead when it matters most. Anybody can lead when times are good. He should have said something (yes, he damn well knew what was going on). This statement is just an extension of the NFLPA’s attempt to lessen the blame on the players. That’s not leadership, Drew. It lacks honesty, integrity and honor.

By: crabboil

crabboil — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:17:13 +0000

And the Vikings STILL haven’t won a championship.

By: musicman495

musicman495 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:15:21 +0000

emmonsh says: Mar 10, 2012 7:14 AM

i hope he gets a career ending injury first snap of regular season
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Yes, in the name of enforcing good sportsmanship, let’s injure the guy. Well done.

By: dragonfly99

dragonfly99 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:15:20 +0000

It’s clever how he used the phrase “real existence”. It is as if he had heard it mentioned before in the locker room but prefered to stick his head in the sand and pretend he didn’t want to hear about it. Great player rep. It seems the NFL players and coaches have all become professional liars. Great example for all the kids out there.

By: pbanach01

pbanach01 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:38:02 +0000

People are CRAZY who think brees should be severely punished!!! Did he cut block someone downfield and end their season? Was he out there putting illegal hits on people? No hes the damn qb and I know for a team most of the blame and glory goes to the qb. But people come on! It is not right or fair for a bounty system that specifically wants you to injure people to be around. It is also not right or fair for brees to be the scapegoat (although easy for everyone) and for us to assume he had extensive knowledge that the saints d was trying to hurt someone. I do not like anyone getting injured but i think this is a real eye opener for fair-weather nfl fans and they don’t know how to react. Ask majority of players and they will tell you they knew or took part in some sort of system in their careers whether college or pro that motivates you to smack the hell out of the opponent or specifically the rb or the qb or wr or whoever. PART OF THE GAME! so everyone all blasting drew brees shutup for real….we all understand politically he will get the blame cuz hes the qb and for the lame statement he made…but stripping him of any personal records or achievements? mine as well submit that script to snl.

By: cowboyscanada

cowboyscanada — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:34:56 +0000

Brees is full of crap. How could he not of known this was goung on. He’s trying to play the “good guy” thing again and its laughable. Holding out for $MILLIONS more and basically lying to the Saints fans. I will not be surprised if later on in the investigation that Brees knew a lot more than he’s letting on.

By: pbanach01

pbanach01 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:17:31 +0000

Plain and simple football is a physical sport. People are going to get hurt and players are going to be looking to make big-time hits every snap. That is how you are raised and taught to play and if that ends up hurting someone then it is part of the game. Now there is no place in the NFL for coaches using $$ incentives to intentionally hurt or injure someone. That is an absolute shame if it is true. However getting motivated to go out there and smack another player in the mouth cleanly? to play with more intensity? I have no problem with that. Brees obviously knew something was up but is it his place to come out and admit that? No. He is not a part of the defense and in nfl locker rooms the defense and the offense are two different teams. Obviously part of the same organization but they operate individually. It’s obvious he is sugar coating it to try and save face for the franchise but I don’t get why people are just blasting drew brees like he was a huge part in the BOUNTY system!!!! haha definitely no place for intentionally injuring players but anyone knows who has played competitive football knows that opposing players are going to be out to smack you especially if you are a star. Nature of the beast.

By: GG Eden

GG Eden — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:10:50 +0000

They should strip the most passing yards in a season record from Brees for his role as an NFLPA rep in knowing about the bounty. Record belongs with Marino.

By: leatherhead9

leatherhead9 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:09:55 +0000

As horrific and deplorable Hurricane Katrina was, it is sad that in its aftermath there was an underlying sense of entitlement by the Saints for the unimaginable suffering that was endured. I experienced this first hand when the Panther’s in their home opener hosted the first Saint’s game after Katrina. As I cheered for the home team, visiting Saint’s fans yelled in my face that they needed to win, and deserved to win, and how dare I favor otherwise. Though no where remotely close to the Katrina disaster, it is ironic the Saint’s defense went out of control, hell bent to injure and maim with no regard for the innocent players and fans affected. More pitiful and chillingly analogous , the self anointed saviors and publicly canonized Drew Brees and Sean Payton as leaders stood by and did nothing about the damage inflicted by the howling Saints D.

By: nfl fan

nfl fan — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:06:50 +0000

You’re such a phony Brees, just shut up and play.

By: melikefootball

melikefootball — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:04:41 +0000

Thought Brees had more class than this statement shows. Hey Brees even your coach admits it, no way no how he did not know about this. The judgement isn’t in but the facts are known, maybe Brees can’t afford a news paper to see what is going on. Come on man!

By: squealerweasel

squealerweasel — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:50:14 +0000

Everyone in that lockerroom knew, if one side of the ball is able to get a “little more money” and another side isn’t, this isn’t good for good team chemistry, o-linemen, skill players, everyone had incentives for that pot! (from earlier post) This is BIG!!, with coaches and players contributing to fund which pays players based on game changing “plays”(sacks, ints, TFL’s, etc.) not because its morally wrong, but it circumvents the salary cap. We have no idea just how much money went out every week to players based on their performance, but that is what contract incentives and playtime bonuses at the end of the year are for, if this was a fund for “knocking opposing playmakers from the game” then suspensions beyond a season must be on the table. Now, if the allegations of “outside money” coming in to fund these bounties are true, this leaves the field of BIG and becomes HUMONGOUS. The potential to affect the outcome of an “NFL contest” by contributing a bounty fund is so damaging to the integrity of the game, the implications are frightning. Here is a example: If I bet heavily on NFL games($100,000) and I have knowledge that there is a bounty of a certain amount on a certain player, why wouldn’t I bet accordingly. If I can “hedge” my bet, by contributing to the fund I’m all in. If the NFL has concluded this investigation, trust me it travels down corridors the NFL does not want to be associated with.

By: thejuddstir

thejuddstir — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:42:20 +0000

What’s up with this clown, he makes a speech as if the accusations of a bounty were just made instead of the investigation being completed and his headcoach, owner, defensive coordinator and several players already having admitted to it. As for his “real evidence”…..sounds like a former President who said it depended on “what the definition if is is” . I always thought Brees elevator went all the way up but apparently not as he foolishly falls on his sword for the Saints after the facts are in and after they dissed him with the franchise tag. I’ve heard many posters claim in the past that Brees was a “phony” and never believed it…..until now.

By: bluefan204

bluefan204 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:12:38 +0000

Yes, Drew, we’re all idiots, and please continue to address all of us as if we didn’t already know the facts. You’d make one heck of a politician. They make careers out of lying.

Love,
Everybody

By: wldkat

wldkat — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:47:25 +0000

I assume the bounty $$$ went back in the pot after the NFC championship game ???

By: jbandit2116

jbandit2116 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:31:06 +0000

Mike, half these youngsters probably have mo idea what movie that’s from.

By: stellarperformance

stellarperformance — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:20:17 +0000

This “bounty” crap is nothing more than a “swear jar” at work. It doesn’t prevent anybody from dropping an “F” bomb, and the “bounties” don’t motivate anybody to play harder than they are capable. It’s a bunch of immature young men creating drama. The NFL is licking their chops over the ability to send a message about how concerned they are about injuries. Propaganda and spin-doctoring….political science 101.

By: nyjetsfan08

nyjetsfan08 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:15:00 +0000

Nevermind that the NFL concluded the Saints organization to be enforcing, or at least containing, a bounty program. Their GM, former defense coordinator and apparent ring-leader, and head coach all admitted to it, named themselves responsible, and vowed to do better! I think they are all scumbags, but, c’mon, how can Brees make such a foolish statement. What investigation does he have to do? It’ll take 10 seconds, 5 of which is walking up to his head coach and the other 5 seconds involve asking him if it’s true with Payton replying “yes”.

By: deeppurple23

deeppurple23 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:14:40 +0000

Drew is who we thought he was, a filthy lair. He need, he just wasn’t on defense and couldn’t get in on the money.

By: emmonsh

emmonsh — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:14:21 +0000

i hope he gets a career ending injury first snap of regular season