Brees says coaches not speaking out in fear of further bounty punishment
Saints' quarterback Drew Brees told the Dan Patrick radio show that Saints coaches aren't appealing their bounty scandal suspensions because the NFL is holding further punishment over their heads.
Brees said he wasn't surprised head coach Sean Payton and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams haven't been heard from while all four players facing suspensions have publicly defended their innocence.
"I have pretty good knowledge and feel like I've been informed that a lot of those coaches feel like there are further sanctions that are being held over their heads if they don't quote-unquote cooperate with the investigation," Brees said. "Even though punishment has already been levied on the coaches and already been determined ... I think they feel if they speak out on behalf of the players, that's being held over their head."
Payton drew a one-year suspension without pay, which will result in a loss of approximately $8 million. Williams, who left the team to join Jeff Fisher as defensive coordinator of the Rams, is suspended indefinitely.
The NFL cited audio evidence against Hargrove that the player and other teammates claim is not actually Hargrove. It's just one of many examples the players have said exposes a flawed investigation that led to unjust suspensions.
"The facts that have been presented so far," Brees said, "do not match the punishment that has been levied."
Brees, an NFL players' union executive, said the NFL mistakenly rushed to judgment in punishing the players allegedly involved.
"I really haven't seen any hard evidence that these guys are contributing money or paying money in a pay-to-injure scheme," he said. "Pay-for-performance has been lumped together with pay-for-injure in this whole thing."
Filmmaker Sean Pamphilon said Brees knew more than he's letting on, claiming the bounty scandal was public knowledge in the locker room. Brees reiterated he has no knowledge of a pay-to-injure ledger used by the Saints' defense.
Brees, designated the Saints' franchise player in February, hasn't received a long-term contract offer he finds suitable. He told Patrick that he hopes he won't be playing on a one-year franchise deal in 2012.
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