If you didn’t learn from what you saw the New Orleans Saints do to Kurt Warner in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs, then you surely got the message in the NFC Championship game, where the Saints defense, coordinated by Gregg Williams, tee’d off on it’s second future Hall of Famer in as many weeks.
And regardless of whether or not you found yourself disgusted by the blatant late hits and un-called penalties that this “style” of defense brought on, perhaps Williams’ latest comments should change your perspective.
Williams was recently quoted in saying that Manning “has a great lock in his head” and for the Saints to beat the Indianapolis Colts, they’d have to “rattle him” and give him some “remember me” hits.
In other words, like it or not New Orleans fans, but your coordinator and your defense are officially, and not quietly, playing dirty football.
Williams went as far as to say that he didn’t mind his team collecting a few late hit or rough-the-passer penalties, so long as Manning doesn’t “get back up and play again”.
This is even more disturbing news after the head referee for the NFC Championship game, Mike Pereira, admitted that he and his officials missed a below-the-knee hit on Brett Favre (a.k.a, the “Tom Brady” rule), in which Favre threw a pick that ended a drive deep in Saints territory, and knocked Favre out of the game.
However, much to Williams’ dismay, Favre did return and finished a heroic effort, despite coming up on the losing end.
Now, with everything coming to light, and the visible evidence (on tape, mind you) that the Saints were trying to knock quarterbacks out of the game in successive weeks, Saints (and NFL fans) have to ask themselves two questions:
First, is it okay to publicly admit that your intentions aren’t just to defeat a team (or a passer), or merely rattle them, but more, to send them out on a stretcher?
And secondly, that this mildly coined “overly aggressive” defense is basically a group of misfits orchestrated by a savage play-caller who is merely calling out the dogs on the league’s top quarterbacks.
And to that, I ask, why isn’t (or hasn’t) the NFL taking action?
Nothing can give the Cardinals or Vikings their opportunities back to get to the Super Bowl this season.
No one can take away the Saints effort on both sides of the ball, and the fact that they’re in the Super Bowl.
But is it really unruly to say that they’ve gotten to their first Super Bowl in franchise history based on an immoral concept, and considering NFL rules on the matter, is it wrong to think that this team has skated by and caused too much damage without enough repercussions?
Perhaps Saints fans will never see it that way, and really, who can expect them to?
But if/when Peyton Manning goes down, clutching his knees or ankles in the Super Bowl, after taking late hit after late hit, will this defense finally be exposed as the cowardly group that it’s appearing to be?
This writer suggests that, if we haven’t come to the conclusion that something is wrong with this picture, then we never will.
But just because the general consensus “doesn’t care” or doesn’t find anything wrong with the Saints approach, that doesn’t make it right.
Peyton Manning and the Colts may not have an opinion on the matter quite yet. But something tells me their stance will change come Super Bowl Sunday.
[...] New Orleans Saints do to Kurt Warner in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs, then you surely got the message in the NFC Championship game, where the Saints defense, coordinated by Gregg Williams, tee’d [...]
[...] Originally posted here: Do the New Orleans Saints Play Dirty Defense? | NFL Soup [...]
I don’t usually post but do like to read.
I am only a female, so guys correct me if I am off base.
It seems that every QB runs the risk of getting run over by the defense if their offensive line doen’t protect them. I didn’t see the Cardinal or Vikings offensive lines protecting their QB, hence the hits. The Saints protected Drew Brees so he stayed on his feet.
I know it is simplistic, but it IS football.
Can’t argue with that logic. However, the manner in which the Saints go about it could be interpreted as “head hunting”. It’s open for debate, to say the least. Thanks for the comment.
I am concerned. You have written “…will this defense finally be exposed as the cowardly group…” Where did cowardly come from? Are you equating dirty and cowardly? That is definitely a non sequitur. You also say “…after taking late hit after late hit, will this defense…”. When did late hits and become an issue for this defense? You make giant leaps of ill logic, preceded by “In other words…” and insert other things to make your point such as “…out on a stretcher”. Those are your words but you imply someone publicly said them. Furthermore, you wrote ‘And secondly, that this mildly coined “overly aggressive” defense is basically a group of misfits orchestrated by a savage play-caller who is merely calling out the dogs on the league’s top quarterbacks.’ This is not a question as you stated it would be. I don’t think it is even a proper sentence but it is is extremely venomous. It makes you seem very angry.
The N.O. defense has played 17 weeks with no “dirty defense” comments, outrage or anger from any of the media. “Dirty Defense” maybe, or maybe not, but either way this reads like a poorly written rant from a disappointment Favre fan.