NFL - The Ethics of Bounty Hunting

[DM Cross]

For those of you who follow the NFL news going on recently, there's a big story going on about "bounty hunting" where coaches [Gregg Williams specifically] would pay players rewards for hitting the enemy players with enough force to cause a massive injury. There's now some speculation going around that Peyton Manning's neck injury originated from a hit he took playing the 49ers, where Williams was coaching at the time. One could then argue that bounty hunting is the reason for why Peyton was dropped from the Colts last Wednesday, ending a 14 season career with the same team.

I've been hearing a lot of back and forth in my shop. Some people have commented on how disgusting this is, while others are saying that while they dislike it, they're sure it's been done WAY before this and never discovered.

Some are even simplifying things with statements like "That's football. Big deal."

Anyone's thoughts on this?

 

[Slapshot136]

Anyone's thoughts on this?

"That's American football. Big deal."

I don't watch sports much, but it isn't too surprising to me.. the game is pretty much designed to cause injury to the players in a variety of ways, and I wouldn't be surprised if players tried to intentionally cause injuries of an opponent's team even without being paid extra for it, it's more or less fair since the opposing team is just as likely to do the same, and the money is just a part of capitalism

 

[DM Cross]

If it is considered part of the sport, why then are there rules, fouls and fines designated to punish those that hit other players more than necessary? I think I would understand it more if these things didn't exist. THEN the game WOULD be designed for players to smack the crap out of one another, no hold bars. But the reality is that Football, at least in recent years, has become more player-safety aware.

Hell, the team that's in trouble now [New Orleans Saints] QB [Quarterback] Drew Brees [9] is a member of the Player's Associated, designed to keep the players' safety in mind. Why would someone in an association designed to keep players safe allow bounty hunting when the idea is to hurt enemy teams in critical, career-threatening injuries?

Seems very counter productive. Furthermore, I don't believe the bounty hunting helps the sport at all. The more injuries, the fewer talented players [because you're obviously going to target the best players of the opposite team] and the lower the quality of the game, meaning fewer people want to watch.

 

[Slapshot136]

If it is considered part of the sport, why then are there rules, fouls and fines designated to punish those that hit other players more than necessary? I think I would understand it more if these things didn't exist. THEN the game WOULD be designed for players to smack the crap out of one another, no hold bars. But the reality is that Football, at least in recent years, has become more player-safety aware.

Hell, the team that's in trouble now [New Orleans Saints] QB [Quarterback] Drew Brees [9] is a member of the Player's Associated, designed to keep the players' safety in mind. Why would someone in an association designed to keep players safe allow bounty hunting when the idea is to hurt enemy teams in critical, career-threatening injuries?

Seems very counter productive. Furthermore, I don't believe the bounty hunting helps the sport at all. The more injuries, the fewer talented players [because you're obviously going to target the best players of the opposite team] and the lower the quality of the game, meaning fewer people want to watch.

the rules/fouls/fines are very mild compared to other sports, compared to pretty much any other team sport, American football is the roughest sport that exists.

why are they in that association? for the same reason that tobacco companies sponsor quit smoking commercials, just so that they don't look completely evil in the eyes of the public - not for any of the reasons the association exists for

the lower quality of players? -> pay them more - this is why they make so much $$, as long as the price is right people will take just about any job
less entertainment value? -> people watch to see the injuries more then anything else, that is the only reason why American football is successful at all.

P.S.

we could always go with air bubbles