Sports » Pro

South Side Grad Won't Back Off Criticism

Sound Off: Pollard Blasts Bounty Punishments

By Eric Dutkiewicz
April 5, 2012 Updated Apr 9, 2012 at 12:11 PM EDT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Disgraced defensive coordinator Gregg Williams bounty system has created a scandal in the National Football League.

The NFL suspended Williams, now with the Rams, for setting up forms of payment with his then Saints players who purposely injured players on opposing teams.

The NFL also suspended Saints head coach Sean Payton the entire 2011-12 seasons and GM Mickie Loomis 8 regular season games.

Audio purportedly released Thursday by TheUSFO.com shows Williams encouraging his players to injure 49er players in the 2012 NFC Championship game.

Ravens safety Bernard Pollard caught headlines all day Thursday by criticizing the bounty punishments to KILT-AM, Houston. Pollard, a former South Side High School and Purdue University star, played two seasons with the Texans.

Thursday night on Indiana's NewsCenter Sound Off, Pollard reiterated his problems with player safety measures in the NFL.

"If we were playing tennis, I can understand everyone's frustration," Pollard said. "This is not flag football. this is not powderpuff. this is a violent sport. The guys are getting bigger, stronger faster every year."

"The coach's job is to motivate players, to let them know, to inform them, to excite them to energize them to whatever he can."

Pollard has no quams with the Saints bounty program, if true. "I don't think I've seen one hit that was actually flagged." Pollard said. "If he (Willams) got suspended for that, the commissioner (Roger Goodell) needs to be slapped for that."

To see Pollard's entire interview with Tommy Schoegler and Dean Pantazi on Sound Off, click on the video icon.



What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "Your2Cents” comment.

Want to be in the know for the next weather event, the next school closing or the next big breaking news story?

TextCaster alerts from Indiana's NewsCenter are your defining source for instant information delivered right to your cell phone and email. It's free, easy and instant. Sign-Up Now!
Powered by Summit City Chevrolet



© Copyright 2013 A Granite Broadcasting Station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

To submit a comment on this article, your email address is required. We respect your privacy and your email will not be visible to others nor will it be added to any email lists.