Linebacker Brady Poppinga and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams are both currently under contract to the Rams, although it’s not clear whether either one of them will be with the team for much longer. That’s just as well, because Poppinga doesn’t have much respect for Williams.
Poppinga, who becomes a free agent next week, says that Williams, who may be suspended for running a bounty program with the Saints, did something “degrading,” “animalistic” and “repulsive” in orchestrating bounties in New Orleans.
“I just can’t sit there and be silent,” Poppinga told Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com. “I look at this as an opportunity to share with the public that we, as football players, are not barbaric and out to try and destroy everything in our path. Football is my profession and I take it seriously. It’s an art form. It’s technical, strategic and takes a lot of intelligence to play. When this came out, it started to confirm the idea that football guys are idiots. That’s not who we are. Ninety-five percent of the guys are very intelligent. It’s just guys who love to go out and play a physical game.”
Poppinga said he doesn’t like the message that the bounty scandal sends.
“It’s a huge problem in society not knowing how to compete with the right perspective,” Poppinga said.
As for whether Poppinga has any future on the Rams’ defense, where he started 12 games last season, Poppinga said he’s not worried about that.
“If they’re not going to want me on the team because of that, that’s fine,” Poppinga said.