Ex-New Orleans Coach Heard Urging Players To Injure 49ers In Playoff Game

April 5, 2012 11:52 PM

Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass from the pocket during the NFC Divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints at Candlestick Park on January 14, 2012 in San Francisco. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams exhorted his players to injure key San Francisco 49ers players during January’s divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park in a speech recorded by a documentary filmmaker, according to Yahoo Sports.

The profanity-laced speech was recorded by filmmaker Sean Pamphilon the night before the game at a hotel near San Francisco International Airport, according to the report.

Williams can be heard telling players to injure Niners running back Frank Gore.

KCBS’ Hal Ramey Reports:

Gregg Williams Recorded Instructing Saints To Injure 49ers Offense

“We want to make sure we kill Frank Gore’s head. We want him running sideways. We want his head sideways,” Williams said emphatically.

He also discussed plans for hitting quarterback Alex Smith repeatedly and make a hand gesture for money when telling players what would the reward would be knock Smith out of the game, according to the Yahoo Sports report.

“Every single one of you, before you get off the pipe, affect the head. Early, affect the head. Continue, touch and hit the head.”

On the audio, Williams also referred to inflicting a knee injury on wideout Michael Crabtree and testing whether backup receiver Kyle Williams was fully recovered from a previous concussion.

A National Football League spokesman said Williams has not appealed his indefinite suspension in connection with the so-called pay-for-pain scandal.

Saints Head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach Joe Vitt have appealed their suspensions on grounds they were involved in the bounty program.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Payton for the entire 2012 season while Loomis was suspended eight games and Vitt six. The Saints were also fined $500,000 and docked two second-round draft picks.

Pamphilon directed the documentary “Run Ricky Run” for ESPN and was granted access to Saints functions during 2011 for a project on former Saints player Steve Gleason, who suffers from ALS.

Bulldog

I played HS football in the bay area, this is normal coach talk. No big deal.
Whiskey in a Jar

They’re just the ones who got caught.
Annoyed

I’m so fed up with professional sports, and college too. Sports used to be not only about winning, but building character – I don’t see character in any of this. Now it’s about money – period.
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