Matt Bowen, a Former Washington Redskin, Defends Gregg Williams and the Bounty System

"That’s right. We got paid for big hits, clean hits by the rule book. Money came in for more than watching a guy leave the field. We earned extra for interceptions, sacks and forced fumbles. If the till wasn’t paid out, we just rolled it over. Money jumped in the playoffs. A bigger stage equaled more coin. Instead of a few hundred dollars, now you got a thousand, maybe more, depending on the player. That’s the truth. I can’t sugarcoat this. It was a system we all bought into. I ate it up."

Bowen says what you might expect – Williams can motivate, everyone loved playing for him, and Bowen’s got no regrets. Then he adds this:

"Some day, when my three sons grow up, I will make clear to them that this league isn’t for everyone. No doubt, it can be downright disgusting living by a win-at-all-costs mentality. It’s a fundamental part of the NFL’s culture that isn’t talked about outside of team facilities. I’m not saying it’s right. Or ethical. But the NFL isn’t little league football with neighborhood dads playing head coach. This is the business of winning. If that means stepping over some line, you do it."

Hard to argue with any of it. Now if Goodell could just strip the Saints of a few draft picks and suspend Sean Payton for a game or two, we could all go back to caring about mock drafts and Peyton Manning’s free agent status. [Tribune]

Previously: Gregg Williams Apologized For His Role in Bounties, But It Might Not Be Long Before the Rams Let Him Go
Previously: Tony Dungy Blamed Peyton Manning’s Current Neck Problems on a Hit Against Washington in 2006, When Gregg Williams Was Coach [VIDEO]