Pete

Former Saints safety Darren Sharper today told WWL's Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellavia that the NFL "bounty" investigation is the result of what Sharper calls a "vendetta" by a disgruntled former team employee.

Responding to our question about if he thinks this is a vendetta, Sharper said, "I definitely think so, and I actually know so.* Someone who was formerly hired and was formerly working for the saints and that was relieved of his duties (who) has a vendetta...Trying to get back, upset about the fact that he was let go by the saints, and is trying to make an issue about something that was in-house, something that we did.* There was no ill intent in what we did, it was just about playing football, but now they're trying to make it into an issue to try to put a black mark on the Saints organization."

Sharper categorically denied that there was ever an incentive program that rewarded and encouraged players for injury-causing hits.*

"I don't like the term "bounty" being used about the program that we had,"* Sharper said.**"Was it overseen and controlled by the coaching staff? Yes, it was.* But this is something that the players came up with. We wanted to give guys an extra motivation, an extra reward of making big plays in big games.* And those big plays included sacks, interceptions, scoring touchdowns on defense...things we did throughout my time there that allowed us to win in the fashion that we won."

The*former Saints*star*pointedly*said that there was never a "cash for injuries" system that is being described in the media.

"In no way...did we come into the room before the game, and say, 'if a guy hurts this player, their best player...we're going to reward that guy for doing that.'* At no time was that said during any of the meetings that I was a part of in the New Orleans Saints organization."

Darren Sharper audio clip:
http://www.wwl.com/topic/play_window...udioId=5721736

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