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Filmmaker: Saints bounty tapes prove nothing

Filmmaker: Saints bounty tapes prove nothing
By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAYUpdated 12h 37m ago Comments Reprints & PermissionsDocumentary filmmaker Sean Pamphilon says he sat in a New Orleans Saints defensive meeting in January as former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams announced $200 cash awards for so-called "whack" hits.

By Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire
Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams celebrates a play with linebacker Jonathan Vilma (51) against the Carolina Panthers during the 2009 season.
EnlargeCloseBy Derick E. Hingle, US Presswire
Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams celebrates a play with linebacker Jonathan Vilma (51) against the Carolina Panthers during the 2009 season.
BUY NFL TICKETS Sponsored LinksYet for all the tough talk he heard from Williams about brutalizing San Francisco 49ers targets, Pamphilon isn't convinced the Saints operated the pay-to-injure bounty system that led to the suspension of four players.

"This whole thing has been a joke," he told USA TODAY Sports. "I don't think the players should be punished, unless they can actually prove it."

The players —Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith— have appeals hearings before Roger Goodell on Monday at NFL headquarters in New York.

Pamphilon became part of the story the last time there was an appeals hearing tied to the case. Just hours before Saints coach Sean Payton, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis appealed their punishments in April, Pamphilon released an edited, 14-minute audiotape recorded Jan. 13 — the eve of the Saints' NFC playoff game at San Francisco—where a fiery Williams implored players to strike blows to running back Frank Gore's head and take out receiver's Michael Crabtree's knee, among other suggestions.

The existence of the audiotape, obtained as Pamphilon worked on a documentary about former Saints safety Steve Gleason (suffering from ALS), was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.

Now, after Pamphilon approached the NFL and offered his cooperation for its investigation, his full, unedited audiotape is part of the league's evidence in the case. Evidence that the NFL sent Friday to attorneys representing the suspended players also includes a 10,000-word opus by Pamphilon, recently released on his website.

"Riddle me this: If they had such a slam-dunk case, why would evidence that was just presented to them weeks ago be part of this?" Pamphilon said. "It shows how thin their case is."

Pamphilon maintains he originally wanted to release the audiotape in mid-March, shortly after the NFL announced its investigation, but the release was ultimately timed for later after discussions with Fujita, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and NFLPA officials who wanted to place the brunt of the responsibility of the alleged bounty program on Williams.

"The audio doesn't prove anything with the guys who have been suspended," Pamphilon says. "To me, if anything, it indicts Gregg Williams."

Still, awards for "whack" hits — tough, legal shots that would not necessarily cause injuries — would constitute violation of an NFL policy prohibiting pay-for-performance incentives, although it would be a less serious infraction than a pay-to-injure bounty.

"I think the NFL is trying to mix pay-for-performance and bounties," Pamphilon added.

Of course, the NFL's entire case isn't built around material or information obtained from Pamphilon. According to Yahoo! Sports, citing two sources with knowledge of the investigation, the NFL has a ledger that details weekly earnings by players in a bounty system.

Also, Hargrove signed a declaration that confirmed the existence of the bounty system.

As for Pamphilon's part, he called it "unfortunate" but isn't sorry. He is close to completing a documentary, The United States of Football, about the culture and risks associated with football. He is seeking a distributor for the project.

"This isn't about me," he says. "It's about promoting a message. It's about having a conversation and making sure this film wouldn't be ignored."

Filmmaker says bounty audiotape proves nothing against Saints players