Is N.O. Coordinator Gregg Williams a dirtbag?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...njure-manning/

I wanted to hear the words out of his own mouth before commenting on this so there would be no chance of confusion. I heard the interview this morning, and to hear this guy talk about how he isn't concerned about late hits on a QB, and to quote, "if you hit him, you hope he doesn't get up and play again" really astounded me.

I've got no problem with the quarterback being sacked, the guys fair game back there. But to insinuate that late hits are fine with him, and that the goal is to injure somebody is WAY over the fuggin line.

After watching all of the late hits on Favre last week (and anyone who knows me knows I can't stand Favre), and after listening to his most recent comments, it's possible to conclude that he's coaching the Saints players to hit people late. Maybe that's an unfair assessment and maybe it isn't, but I've got no respect for this guy.

On the bright side, now that it's out in the open and the refs and leagues are on to it,, let the flags fly on SB Sunday,

[NCRadioMan]

I have no problem with it. I played on defensive line and that's what the coach's always told me on every level I played on. Like it or not, that is the mentality of every NFL defense, according to former players. I don't see how it can not be. He just chose to say it publicly.

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

I have no problem with it. I played on defensive line and that's what the coach's always told me on every level I played on. Like it or not, that is the mentality of every NFL defense, according to former players. I don't see how it can not be. He just chose to say it publicly.

So.........Greg. You have no problem with purposefully trying to injure another player? Just trying to make sure.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

So.........Greg. You have no problem with purposefully trying to injure another player? Just trying to make sure.

Nope. Not to threaten his career, but to put him out of the game....sure. Drastically late hits I don't agree with (I also don't agree with the special rules for QB's) but during regular play, my goal was to hit the guy with the ball so hard, he wouldn't remember his name. That's just the way the defense thinks and that's why you see so many hard hits. It's the way we were taught from the beginning.

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Nope. Not to threaten his career, but to put him out of the game....sure. Drastically late hits I don't agree with but during regular play, my goal was to hit the guy with the ball so hard, he wouldn't remember his name. That's just the way the defense thinks and that's why you see so many hard hits. It's the way we were taught from the beginning.

Okay. We agree to disagree.

I played football for a long time, and was good enough to be a scholarship baby. Was taught to play hard, and clean. Never once was trying to injure another player taught to me, but we all have different life lessons.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

Okay. We agree to disagree.

I played football for a long time, and was good enough to be a scholarship baby. Was taught to play hard, and clean. Never once was trying to injure another player taught to me, but we all have different life lessons.

I was also taught to play hard and clean and I did. I was also taught that if my clean, hard hit resulted in the other player having to leave the game, that was part of the game. I was blindsided once and couldn't return to the game because I was knocked a little loopy. Was I happy about it? Hells no but I understood it was a clean play and it's just part of the game. As you know, if you don't play all out and with reckless abandon, you are more likely to get hurt.

Just to clarify that I am not nuthugging Gregg Williams, I will be rooting for the Colts.

[kaisersozei]

As a Redskins fan, I'm a fan of Gregg Williams' and his defense, and I like what he's done at N.O.

[captain53]

It is a rough game and this is a part of it like it or not. Every defensive lineman works on the same plan from middle school thru the pros. It is all about winning and nothing else regardless of how you do it. That is the real world.

[Blueface]

Vic,
While I totally agree that no one should play to purposely hurt someone, it would be naive to think many players don't go out looking to put a hurt on other players. It is a fact whether they care to admit it or not. Some of these defensive players love to see a QB or receiver go down and take some time getting back up, if get back up at all.

I don't think a single defensive player lays a hit on another player, that spins them around, knocks them senseless and often out of the game, with the original intent of hugging them and sharing love. Did you see the hit on Warner that nearly sent him to Mars, as he was forced to play defense on that play? He was blindsided with the hope his brains would be all over the ground.

[Volt]

Can't say I like to see a late hit when the play is over. The ball is dead and there is no reason to do the hit on an unsuspecting player. On the other hand - it's football. Hard hits jar the ball loose, intimidate/scare a player into a bad move, etc. For $800,000 or more a game, get over it. There is always the chessmasters tournament.

I actually prefer watching Aussie rules football or rugby. Don't really understand all the rules but it's as hard or harder hitting and none of the padding the US boys wear. No one leaves those games without some blood showing. They bandage up and get right back in.

[drob]

Damned if I can't wait for this SB to be done. If it's not "the refs gave the game to the Saints", it's that they play dirty. I never read anything in that interview about Williams saying they wanted to injure anyone. That was implied by the reporter. The truth of the matter is, there were missed calls and bad calls against both teams in the Viking game. The same type of hit that drew a flag on NO earlier was made on Brees at the end of regulation. No one belly aching about that, tho. The hit on Favre after the handoff that drew a flag was perfectly legal, as he could have thru a block (and we know he doesn't have any qualms about going for defensive players' knees). And the personal foul against Hargrove for "driving" Farve into the ground was ridiculous, that according to Troy Aikman and Joe Theisman. Football is a violent sport. People get hurt. Whether or not they are hurt legally or illegally seems to be in the minds of the fans.

But, I understand your concern, Vic. I doubt if Peyton could take even one of the hits that Farve took and still "want" to play, much less be able to.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by drob

But, I understand your concern, Vic. I doubt if Peyton could take even one of the hits that Farve took and still "want" to play, much less be able to.

I don't think I have ever seen Peyton take this shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1T1tAbA4s

That was a legit hit, part of the game, and obviously meant to put him down. That stuff goes on in any game as it is part of it.

Doyle.......Carlos....

yeah. Mannings a lightweight. Not like he ever took a helmet to the face and played the rest of the game with a broken jaw.....oh wait, he did. Not quite ad thrilling as watching Favre talk about his latest hangnail and how he'll try to
play thru it, but oh well.

Anywhoo, Doyle since dem Saints are going to bash the Colts I'm sure I can look forward to a friendly wager

You'll be giving me points right? I mean given the dominance of the Saints D and all it only seems fair

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Resipsa

Doyle.......Carlos....

yeah. Mannings a lightweight. Not like he ever took a helmet to the face and played the rest of the game with a broken jaw.....oh wait, he did. Not quite ad thrilling as watching Favre talk about his latest hangnail and how he'll try to
play thru it, but oh well.

Anywhoo, Doyle since dem Saints are going to bash the Colts I'm sure I can look forward to a friendly wager

You'll be giving me points right? I mean given the dominance of the Saints D and all it only seems fair

A broken jaw? That is all?
Actually, forgot about that.
Besides, Peyton is one big boy.
Just messing with you.

[macpappy]

Originally Posted by Volt

Can't say I like to see a late hit when the play is over. The ball is dead and there is no reason to do the hit on an unsuspecting player. On the other hand - it's football. Hard hits jar the ball loose, intimidate/scare a player into a bad move, etc. For $800,000 or more a game, get over it. There is always the chessmasters tournament.

I actually prefer watching Aussie rules football or rugby. Don't really understand all the rules but it's as hard or harder hitting and none of the padding the US boys wear. No one leaves those games without some blood showing. They bandage up and get right back in.

I was introduced to rugby when one of my sons played with an intramural club when he was in college. Rugby is a MAN'S game and you better go on the field with the acceptance that you are going to get the sh$t beat out of you a time or two. But what was even more interesting was watching the women's rugby match. DUDE! NOW THAT'S A SPORT WORTH WATCHING. and it's every bit as violent as the men's. It was even good when the women's team that won took off their tops and ran around the field.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by macpappy

I was introduced to rugby when one of my sons played with an intramural club when he was in college. Rugby is a MAN'S game and you better go on the field with the acceptance that you are going to get the sh$t beat out of you a time or two. But what was even more interesting was watching the women's rugby match. DUDE! NOW THAT'S A SPORT WORTH WATCHING. and it's every bit as violent as the men's. It was even good when the women's team that won took off their tops and ran around the field.

[E.J.]

I don't see anything wrong with G.W.'s comments....

I hit people to hurt them..... I was floating in the backfield just looking to blow people up. It was my favorite part of them game....

Did I want to cause permanent damage, no..... But you bet your ass I wanted them helped off the field....I was trying to hurt them. I wanted them worried, no....not worried, scared...about getting hit again. I wanted highlight reel stuff when coaches went over film....and them to mention hits later in the week.

I don't think that there is anything wrong with playing the game this way....

[Scottw]

Play hard, play fair and have fun. If someone gets hurt, oh well. I had surgery in 06 to repair an old football injury that occured in 93. I lost my football scholarship to college as a result but it was a clean, fair play. My shoulder just exploded as a result.

It's always been football's dirty little secret that defensive players are trying to knock players (especially quarterbacks) out of the game. I played middle linebacker on several different levels and I prided myself on the fact that if a reciever came across the middle to catch a ball, he wouldn't want to stretch out quite as far on the next catch after I laid my shoulder pads into his short ribs under his arm. Was I being a dirty player? I don't think so.

I never wanted to end someone's career or injure them. But I DEFINITELY wanted them looking around to see where #51 was.

[macpappy]

Originally Posted by RazzBarlow

It's always been football's dirty little secret that defensive players are trying to knock players (especially quarterbacks) out of the game. I played middle linebacker on several different levels and I prided myself on the fact that if a reciever came across the middle to catch a ball, he wouldn't want to stretch out quite as far on the next catch after I laid my shoulder pads into his short ribs under his arm. Was I being a dirty player? I don't think so.

I never wanted to end someone's career or injure them. But I DEFINITELY wanted them looking around to see where #51 was.

That's not true. It's never been a "dirty little secret". I was taught that in high school. Our defensive coach always said,

"It's hit or be hit when you're on the field and it is always better to do the hitting."