The Mitchell ReportOne thing I learned very quickly was that when it comes to Mississippians’ favorite NFL team, there is nobody above the Saints. So, it shouldn’t be hard to imagine people across the state either dumping the loyalty, not believing what is being said is true or remaining the same.
Last Friday, the NFL released a document explaining how New Orleans had a “bounty” system put in place during the past three years that’s goal was to entice players to force opposing players out of games through injury.
We’ll probably see penalties handed down from the league’s office that are unprecedented to several, high ranking officials with the Saints, including head coach Sean Payton.
Some people (including my parents) say every other team in the league (especially the Forty-Niners) has a bounty system in place. Others don’t believe that. Personally, I believe as of Friday night, 31 other owners ordered for their bounty systems to be shut down and never spoken of again.
But for those parents who have kids playing football or are thinking about letting their kid play football, you should know it’s not like that everywhere.
I never once had a coach entice me to injure another player or take them out of the game. Nor did I hear that in junior high. I’ve never heard it at a little league game (and, yes, I coached that too) nor from anybody at a college.
Yes, football is a violent sport. Yes, people get hurt. That’s the chance you take. But nobody should attend a football game and see a big hit and think “wonder what he got for that one?”
It’s not like that everywhere you go.