Mind Over Sports

According to today’s USA Today: “Some current and former players criticized the unnamed whistleblower who tipped off the NFL to New Orleans’ bounty program. Former defensive tackle Warren Sapp identified former Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey as the ‘snitch.’ Shockey denied the charges via Twitter.”

If Jeremy Shockey was indeed the “whistleblower” he deserves a medal, not condemnation. It took guts to do what he did (assuming he did it) and his actions could well affect the future health and well-being of NFL players who might have been targeted. From my perspective, I think Commissioner Roger Goodell was TOO LENIENT! I would have banned head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, FOR LIFE. And that also goes for any defensive player who may have participated in the Saints’ (or any other teams’) bounty program, including Warren Sapp. One has to wonder if Sapp would have made that comment had he been a former quarterback or running back who, later in life, was confined to a wheel chair because of an illegal hit.