The Dude

Funny how at first every media outlet was out to crucify the Saints and everyone was talking about how awful and shameful the Saints are. They hung us out to dry and beet it into the ground. Then Manning signs with Denver and we get a slight break. Then when they have beeten the dead horse until people stopped listening A couple of players (Carter) come out and say how routine it is and the media slacks off on us. Its like they got bored like a little baby when nobody listens anymore and the excitement is over and act out. Just goes to show you how media driven this league is. They need something to talk about to get ratings so they flip flop whenever people stop listening. Espn and other networks are destroying this game as much as Goodell.

goguxxx

+even some players blame the retired players that sue the NFL for ruining the game.And its true in a way that the NFL asked Goodell to dumbing up the game so that the league wont be sued by retired players with injuries .

burningmetal

Yeah, the NFL has been very hypocritical about safety, considering it's past handling of players. There has always been a disregard for the players in order to sell the game... Until now.

But I don't agree with the retired players' motives either. I just think it's pathetic for them to act like they had no idea that concussions could lead to brain damage... What the hell do they think a concussion is? It's a bruise to your brain. and the brain is the most sensitive organ in the human body. After several shots to the head, of course it's going to cause long term effects! So really, both sides are fooling themselves, and unfortunately, our team got caught in the crossfire of their war.

Talk about scapegoat, we were the sacrificial lamb. But not for long, hopefully.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

dizzle88

Goodell is trying to take the contact out of the contact sport, the game is known for its aggressiveness and huge hits, yet players get fined for any type of big hit

I'm still mad that Quddus got fined for that amazing hit vs Hakeem nicks

Beastmode

I hope years from now Goodell admits he could have handled things better. It needed to be dealt with but the way he went about it has created even more hemorrage to the NFL. It never was about bounties. The media is now focusing on what he was trying to avoid which is brain trauma and that is what the player lawsuits wanted. His plan backfired. Burning one team has brought more players foreward stating the NFL tolerated bounties for decades not just a few years.

SloMotion

How I have come to dislike the fickle media even more during all this ... you know, you used to be able to rely on these m'fers for straight, unbiased, objective reporting of the news. When did 'journalism' become 'jerry springer-ism', <sigh> ... probably right around the time Jerry Springer got his own show, eh?

IMO, labeling the hits as 'bounties' was a blatant attempt by the media (& the NFL) to criminalize the Saints actions, which was the wrong thing to do. Fine 'em, suspend 'em a few games, OK ... but this whole thing was mishandled by the press, the league and blown wwwaaayyy out of proportion. 'Big hits' are the culture of the league, whether they're 'paid for' or not, and if Goodell/the owners are out to change the culture of the league, they'll destroy it.

The media and all these fricken' bloggers like Prisco, Clayton and countless others who threw New Orleans under the bus, owe you guys an apology ... just reporting 'nice' about the Saints ain't enough.

saintsfan1976

Why wasn't James Harrison's punishment more severe? He actually DID the thing.

Saint_LB

Why doesn't the NFL have the players sign something saying they realize football is a contact sport and they could end up with brain damage...or worse...just like when I go to the Dr. and they have to do surgery or something...they make you sign something saying they aren't liable.

TheOak

As I have said before, it is systemic. I know there are the people who tow the line of 'they were told to stop and didnt...end of story"..

If you have 32 employees that all take 1:15 minutes for lunch and you tell only one to stop because lunch hour is only 1:00... You look like a hypocritical *******.



Anyway... The concussion lawsuits will go no where (and you can quote me on that). The players all KNOW the hazards of the game and CHOOSE to keep playing.

You are not going to tell me there is ONE NFL player that made it to professional football with out having heard or spoken the phrase "got your bell rung"

darstep

Abdul-Quddus got put on my map with that hit.
I didn't even know he was on the roster until that explosion.
And that's what is so crazy, that's the way a player gets mapped, and rostered too!
This whole thing is like trying to make war pretty.