Getty ImagesBefore he was known as the leader of the Saints’ bounty program, Gregg Williams was known as one of the most intense and passionate coaches in the NFL. And while Williams is out of the NFL and may never return, the players who remain on the Saints say they’re not going to forget the intensity and passion that he brought to their defense.
Saints safety Roman Harper told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that even though Williams is gone and Steve Spagnuolo is the new defensive coordinator, the Saints’ players are still planning to play with the fire that Williams instilled in them.
“I think we’ve still got that same fire burning up under us. You know, Gregg lit a fire that a lot of us aren’t going to let burn out. A sense of intensity,” Harper said. “And now we understand what it takes to win. Before I don’t think we understood it, and we didn’t have that complete feeling. But now we’ve been to the top of the mountain. We know what it takes to get there. And that’s what we’re trying to do now. It’s either Super Bowl or bust. And we won’t take anything less this year, no matter what our circumstances are.”
Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins said the NFL’s punishments for the Williams-run bounty program have given the Saints an us-against-the-world mentality this season.
“We already play with a chip on our shoulder, and I think everybody who comes into our defense carries that weight,” Jenkins said. “And you know, we’ve got more than a chip on our shoulders this year.”
Which means the presence of Williams is still being felt in New Orleans, even though it’s not his defense anymore.
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“It’s either Super Bowl or bust. And we won’t take anything less this year, no matter what our circumstances are.”
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Any player in the NFL without this attitude shouldn’t be in the NFL.
Kill the head and the body will die!
Where was this so called “fire” in the SF Playoff game last year
I wonder if he had to put in extra cash after being chased down by Bradford…
That’s right and our boys have it, that fire, that passion, love for the game. WHOOOOOOOOO DAAAAATTTT!
Seems all the Saints defensive players open their mouths like morons. I mean they did before Williams got caught and even after the fact. Just because New Orleans and the NFLPA is blind, doesn’t mean everyone else does.
And they have this us against the world mentality when the put themselves in a world against them situation. They just need to shut up and play, but hey they could hardly injure players with late cheap shots. Look at all the ones Favre took at the end of plays.
Irony they’re called Saint’s, and in a game where they had bounties against my 49ers they still got man handled.
Yeah a bunch of tough guys, trying to take out peoples MCL’s.
That’s like kicking somebody in the balls and running away.
labratre says: May 27, 2012 7:58 AM
That’s right and our boys have it, that fire, that passion, love for the game. WHOOOOOOOOO DAAAAATTTT!
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There’s no cure for ‘Dumb’.
New Orleans Times-Picayune
Did not they just go bankrupt and closed the doors? Way to send off…
niners fans talk alot of smack for a team that’s one & done…i personally will enjoy watching their season long meltdown this year – “getcha popcorn!”
The darlings of the South ain’t what they use to be, ain’t what they use to be.
I have a question. If bounties were still going on last season y during the pregame 49er video their isn’t any bounty talk. No talk about money being put into a pool to pay a player that would ” kill the head”. Dont u think that if it was really going on their would also be video evidence? Just sayin.
Drew brees wants an explanation.
I’ll say “Bust”.
” But now we’ve been to the top of the mountain. We know what it takes to get there”………..hmm, how they going to cheat this year to “get to the top of the mountain”
Greg Williams a great coach? Ask the Bills how great he was. A lot of talk then 3-13, 8-8 & 6-10 seasons. If you need to inspire people to play better by encouraging them to go after the head or the MCL of an injured player then you’re not that great of a coach.
So are you admitting what you guys did, or are you still playing stupid?
What about the bounty they put on Marshawn Lynch in the 2010 playoffs? Oh that’s right Lynch ran over the entire defense that day.
The Saints of 2012 will be like the Colts of 2011….a once proud team reduced to the ashes of mediocrity.
Cheater Williams is dead to the NFL. RIP.
roman harper: he doesn’t always tackle. but when does tackle, he prefers cheap shots for bounties. stay thirsty
tinopuno says:
May 27, 2012 8:24 AM
labratre says: May 27, 2012 7:58 AM
That’s right and our boys have it, that fire, that passion, love for the game. WHOOOOOOOOO DAAAAATTTT!
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WHOOOOOOOOO DAAAAATTTTT?
YOUUUUUUUUU DAAAAATTTTT IDIIIOOTT!
The Saints are in for a long, long season. Mark it down. 5-11 tops.
Laeaglefan you’d like to think that, but we’re gonna pound your team, that fat coach and that felon of a QB you have. Worry about keeping your idiot coach and QB’s job thru the end of this coming season.
niners fans talk alot of smack for a team that’s one & done…i personally will enjoy watching their season long meltdown this year – “getcha popcorn!”
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What? They beat your saints
kwgator says: May 27, 2012 7:55 AM
Where was this so called “fire” in the SF Playoff game last year
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As I recall – that was a very competitive game that either team could have won. Just because they lost doesn’t mean they didn’t play with “fire”.
If they were blown out of the game – maybe then the sarcastic comment about lacking fire would make sense. Just because you lost a game, doesn’t mean you have no “fire”
You know your team is awesome and feared when haters (all you fans of other teams) read these articles and then comment and leave negative posts. Such as predicting the saints to finish 5-11. If you were confident in your own team you wouldn’t waste your time here. Haters wanna hate.
I hope ‘Aints fans have those good ol’ paper bags in their closets handy. They are going to need them this year.
Roman Harper…”All talk, no cover.”
Is it just me or is the whole “us against the world” mentality that so many NFL teams say they have a little stale and overused?
The Pats get busted for SpyGate, they now have a chip on their shoulder and it’s “us against the world.”
The Saints get nailed for bounties. Wouldn’t you know it, they now have a chip on their shoulder, too, and they believe it’s “us against the world.”
To me, it seems like the only time a player or a team says that they want to prove something is when they get caught breaking the rules. ONLY THEN do they want to fight about it.
Hey Harper! Every team in the NFL that play’s the Saints this year is gonna have a “Bigger Chip on There shoulder” thanks to Gregg Williams,Payton, Vitt and all you other cheaters! Oh, and every team thinks “it’s us against the world” cause it is.
joeysaints says:May 27, 2012 10:35 AM
You know your team is awesome and feared when haters (all you fans of other teams) read these articles and then comment and leave negative posts. Such as predicting the saints to finish 5-11. If you were confident in your own team you wouldn’t waste your time here. Haters wanna hate.
Hey joey! Get use to it! Your “Great Team and Coach” tried to end our player’s career’s and we will NEVER FOGET IT!!!! No team fear’s the Cheating Saint’s .We all Love letting you Saints Fans Know how we feel about your arrogant Team,Coach’s and Fans!!! Karma is a bitch!!!!
the 9ERS pissed on your fire & put it out like a campfire !!! your season flamed out just like greg williams football career!! the aints fans are being the exact cry babies they claim viking’s fans were over the NFCCG, get over it!!
WE DAT
WE DAT
WE DAT TEAM DAT BEAT DEM AINTS!!!
“Worry about keeping your idiot coach and QB’s job thru the end of this coming season”
They will both have their jobs when the Eagles come into town and beat the Saints. For the past few years I would be dreading this game and chalk it up as a sure blowout loss, but now I feel that the Eagles have an excellent chance of coming out of there with a victory. Drew Brees is going to be scraping himself off of the ground the entire game!
I guess Harper didn’t have the passion prior to this. Really? It takes a coach to have this mentality Harper?
Trolls, get a life. Go back to whatever bridge you came out from under. Saints D didn’t put anyone in the hospital or cause any cart offs so take your hate and shove it. Wait till the season starts and your teams get steam rolled then come on here and cry about it.
The Saints vs. the world? I’m putting my money on the world, unless the Saints roll up the world’s knee when its back is turned.
49er33 says: May 27, 2012 8:02 AM
…. and in a game where they had bounties against my 49ers they still got man handled.
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Man handled? Despite 5 turnovers it still took a last second TD for the Niners to win.
I give the Niners credit for the win, but “man handled”. Come on….
That chip will be knocked off your shoulder along with your head soon Malcolm.
I’m not sure about you fans of other teams whom the Saints deliberately tried to injure but I’m pretty angry that, even after the league made them aware that they knew about the bounty program, they still had it in place against my Lions.
The Saints are in for a long, rough season. No team is going to show these clowns one ounce of mercy.
After all they were trying to take away peoples livelihoods.
As a Raven’s fan I find it cute that the Saint’s “defense” is getting so up in arms.
I dont understand how you can say the Niners “pissed” on the Saints…. The Saints had around 5 turnovers that game, and it still came down to the last possession, now if the roles were reversed and the Niners had 5 turnovers, The Saints wouldve probably won that game. For a team to have 5 turnovers and it still be that competitive is actually kinda pathetic if you ask me.
49er33 says:
May 27, 2012 8:02 AM
Seems all the Saints defensive players open their mouths like morons. I mean they did before Williams got caught and even after the fact. Just because New Orleans and the NFLPA is blind, doesn’t mean everyone else does.
And they have this us against the world mentality when the put themselves in a world against them situation. They just need to shut up and play, but hey they could hardly injure players with late cheap shots. Look at all the ones Favre took at the end of plays.
Irony they’re called Saint’s, and in a game where they had bounties against my 49ers they still got man handled.
Like your 40-whiners got man-handled by the Giants?
If GW had played zone the last 1:37 of that game, the Saints would have been celebrating their 2nd Super Bowl win.
The 40-whiners didn’t win that game; the Saints lost it!
Heck yeah! I love hard nosed defenders. If the whole Saints defense was this tough they would have destroyed the 49ers. And lets face it, the 49ers only won because of the illegal hit on Pierre Thomas and a bunch of lucky turnovers. Lame.
A box of rocks is more interesting than a Saints fan…
The Saints had ZERO cart offs against them in 2009.
Deal with it, haters, your teams got beaten fair and square.
freemanmvp Whenever you are on an active roster in the nfl let us no caus until then u can talk smack about what players remember about bounties it means nothing. WHO DAT!!! Coutinue beis the saints punching bag fucaneer fan