Shocking Audio: Saints Coach Gregg Williams Allegedly Instructing Players to ‘Kill’ and Target Opponents’ Heads
- Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:40pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Gregg Williams (AP)
Content warning: this story contains graphic language both in print and audio. Discretion is advised.
Some shocking audio has surfaced today allegedly of suspended Saints coach Gregg Williams. In it, he can be heard instructing his players to target and “kill” the heads of opposing players, as well as injure them in other ways.
The audio is apparently from the Saints’ locker room before the divisional playoff game against the 49ers last year. It was captured by documentary filmmaker Sean Pamphilon, who was present working on a different project. Pamphilon uploaded part of the audio to YouTube (content warning for language):
Deadspin has quotes from the audio:
“We‘ve got to do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore’s head. We want him running sideways. We want his head sideways.”
“Kill the head and the body will die. Kill the head and the body will die.”
“We hit fuckin’ Smith right there”—[points to chin]–-’remember me.’ I got the first one. I got the first one.—[rubs fingers together indicating cash]—Go lay that mother fucker out.”
“Every single one of you, before you get off the pile, affect the head. Early, affect the head. Continue to touch and affect the head.”
“We need to find out in the first two series of the game, the little wide receiver, No. 10, about his concussion. We need to fuckin’ put a lick on him.”
Williams, Head Coach Sean Payton, and team GM Mickey Loomis were all suspended after the NFL found Williams was running a bounty program for hard hits on opposing players. Williams was suspended the longest — indefinitely — with Payton receiving a one year suspension and Loomis being barred for part of the season.
Pamphilon, who posted the entire audio on his website, spoke to Yahoo about the audio. Pamphilon recalls the speech and says it was a clear indication of a bounty program, especially considering what Williams said about 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
“At one point Williams says, ‘We hit [expletive] Smith right there’ – then he points under his chin [and continues] – ‘remember me.’ Then he rubs his thumb against his index and middle fingers – the cash sign – and says, ‘I got the first one. I got the first one. Go get it. Go lay that [expletive] out,’” he explained.
The audio could be especially damning considering the NFL’s recent focus on protecting players from head injuries. Deadspin explains:
There’s no way a league that professes to be proactive about head trauma can do anything other than blackball Williams. It would have been one thing (and just as cruel) if Williams had restricted himself to targeting Vernon Davis‘s ankle and Michael Crabtree’s ACL, but the brain has become sacred. So even if similar bounties are offered by other teams. Just like the Saints’ true crime was in getting caught, Gregg Williams only signed his death warrant when his words were caught on tape.
The irony in all this? In the audio, Williams can be heard saying “Never apologize for the way we compete,” and “If you’re in this room, you understand that. We don’t apologize.”
As soon as the story first broke earlier this year, Williams said he was “truly sorry.”
This is a breaking story. Updates will be added.
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Comments (47)
teddrunk
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:28pmI’m voting to make the NFL a two handed tag league. In the case of an opposing quarterback, simply breathe on him as two handed tag will be too harsh. (Thank God Nitchke didn’t live to see this.)
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 3:12pmNitchke would be embarrassed by this. He played when men were men. They challenged you to your face and said lets see who’s tougher. They didn’t intentionally try to injure people with cheap shots because it would be easier to win without the other teams good players on the field.
Report Post »SychinLegacy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:03pmAnd those of us who actually have played football on some level can quickly point out that EVERY COACH DOES THIS. From high school to pros.
Better yet, every HOCKEY coach does so too.
This is a clear example of the media manipulating stupid people who only think with emotions and not logic and creating a story where there was none.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:49pmYup! Killing the head could mean cut off his blocker then he can’t complete his route! Just sayin! It‘s a violent game that if you don’t want to get hit play chess!
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:59pmIts a mans game… Play it or get out. If you want to slow them down take off the hard helments and give them the old leather helments. Then the hits will be devistating for anyone wanting to play like a madman…The season ending hits from the defense will end quickly.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 4:42pmA good survey would be ….How many liberals were football players…bc something makes me believe their heads were once killed.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:10pm.
Report Post »What’s the Big Deal? It’s no worse than Rev. Al riling up the African crowd to “Kill Zimmerman”….
TerryDo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:30pmIn that case we should take Williams advise and ‘Kill the head and the body will die’ for all leaders who advocate the bottom up and top down strategy…
Report Post »jeezpeeps
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 1:32amI hear ya! Spanker! They are trying to make the game of football PC. I think I’m gonna be sick! Who Dat?!?!
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:03pmYeah, he’s finished
Report Post »Cavallo
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:55pmHow is it these people don’t merit ciminal assault charges and conspiracy to commit aggrivated battery? This is not a rhetorical question. I am legitimately curious as to why.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on April 6, 2012 at 3:13pmThere are actually at least a dozen or so lawsuits getting ready to be filed against greg williams.
Report Post »Amazingoly
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:45pmWilliams should be banned from NFL for life after what he was telling his team to do. Go find another job. Play clean or don’t play.
Report Post »netmail
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:12pmThere is so much money involved these days for ALL teams that you‘d think they’d all agree to play clean for EVERYONE’S sake…including for the game itself. ‘Kill their head’?? There has to be some who would like to kill HIS head….dead, as in graveyard dead. BUT…if they are ALL doing it, well then,
Report Post »welcome back The Roman Empire.
kfogs1957
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:29pmI love football, but that stuff is inexcusable and so far over the top. I hope when Sean Peton has his hearing to get his suspension reduced, they play this tape. Inexcusable and anyone who just explains it away is a poor excuse for a person. This had nothing to do with footbakll, every player Williams spoke of he pointed out a specific body part to target. What a piece of crap.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:13pmTime to give those 3 in management a stick and skates but no helmet. Put them on the ice w/any of the NHL teams and see how long they last!
Report Post »Blazen420
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:04pmWho cares, people? This is football, not an office job!
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:53pmI see we are moving into the Roman gladiatorial period of more brutality and blood. This should excite the Anthropologists.
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:52pmPro football and pro wrestling……….. no difference.
Report Post »Fus Patrol
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:36pmGrEg Williams will never coach pro ball again. Its one thing to get your guys fired up, to make hard CLEAN hits on the opponent. It’s another to bribe them into deliberately injuring the other players.
Report Post »floridacockleburr
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:36pm“Every single one of you, before you get off the pile, affect the head. Early, affect the head. Continue to touch and affect the head.”
To me, this is the most damaging quote and is almost criminal.
Report Post »Sargon
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:35pmThis will definately by on the exhibit list in the players concussion lawsuit against the NFL and Williams can expect a subpoena to be a witness. The NFL’s checkbook is about to take a bigger hit than even Williams was advocating.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:28pmthat saints supebowl trophy is a rusted pile of ashes now.
this guy is absolutely sickening.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:26pmI am inured to how stupid and predictable professional sports stories can be.
Report Post »Seems to me the NFL sure does have some dandies. Rapists, dog fighters, and other general miscreants. I don’t care what happens to this man, but it will be funny to watch the PC damage control team go into action.
Enjoy your bread and circuses.
KickinBack
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:25pmYou think that’s bad, you should’ve heard my golf coach.
Report Post »thop1960
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:23pmThis guy is a bad apple. He needs to find another line of work or retire, his coaching days are over. Can he be charged with anything? I don’t think that this is a big problem in the NFL. That is, where coaches are telling players to “take that guy out at any cost” (paraphrasing). There are some I’m sure, but like cockroaches, when you shine a light on them they run and hide.
Report Post »db321
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:32pmI have never ever heard a Coach speak like this – he is an embarrassment to some to the Great Coaches in the NFL. Tom Benson needs to get out of the NFL Business.
Report Post »PimpleJuice
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:15pmI wonder if he was painted in braveheart paint during the speech. I guess he’s nice and safe on the sidelines? I guess Jeremy Shockey didn’t leak afterall. This is a defensive meeting. Warren Sapp can suck an easter egg.
Report Post »mercenary4freedom
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:40pmI hate the Saints
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:15pmRespect comes from FEAR? Where did he learn that, Obama??
Report Post »Kromlik
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:10pmWith the exception of the ACL comment I see nothing shocking here. Get in their head, hit em in the chin, keep hitting them until they fear us. Sounds like football to me.
Report Post »kushisaac
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:24pmagreed, I heard that kinda talk many times over the years from coaches (minus the ACL talk), with society becomming more effeminate, with the NFL becomming more effeminate, the game that we loved to play and watch will unfortunately change.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:38pmget in their head, and KILL THEIR HEAD, are two completely different things.
Report Post »Buck Shane
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:02pmThis guy sounds like every coach I ever had. Remember, the other team is trying to beat you as hard as you are trying to beat them.
Report Post »If you are a wimp, join the band.
If this language offends you, watch a chess game; its likely no one will talk like men and you won’t have to be offended.
Champflyer
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:04pmThis so called “Coach” should be banned from the NFL for life, however, how many more “coaches” are there in our country just like him? Are there any in the college ranks, high schools, I sure hope not!
Report Post »LemonyFresh
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:02pmNow the fans need to speak out. Sadly, that is what it takes. Demand created the problem and demand will correct the problem.
Report Post »davidwjohnson
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:00pmNFL = Never Fu..in Lose!
Report Post »