Packers Under Investigation
In a bit of an odd investigation, the NFL is set to prove that Green Bay’s defensive backs offered their linemen teammates $500 each if they could hold Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson under 100 yard and another $500 if they could hold Carolina’s team total to under 60 yards on the ground.
Personally, I think it’s funny that Green Bay’s players recognized the vast difference in talent between Carolina’s ball carriers and Adrian Peterson.
It’s a rule I wasn’t aware of, though I can’t say for certain Green Bay’s defensive backs can say the same thing. But who knew teammates couldn’t offer bonuses to each other for good play? It doesn’t seem much different from buying a round of beers after a team victory, though according to NFL rules it is punishable. This, from ESPN.com, spews out the league lingo:
League rules prohibit teams and players “from offering or accepting bonuses to a player for his or his team’s performance against a particular team, a particular opposing player or players, or a particular group of an opposing team.”
I’m not certain what the consequences of such actions are, but I don’t see the point in punishing the players. It isn’t gambling on wins or losses, and the players aren’t telling Carolina’s backs to keep their totals below 60.
It’s very obscure and it would be disappointing if the league does severely punish the players involved, though I think the appropriate action — if any is taken — would be a minor fine.
Interestingly, if the alleged actions are true, the defensive lineman earned a cool $500 two weeks ago when they held Adrian Peterson to a mere 45 yards, but they were unable to double their earnings after Carolina trampled them for 131 yards.
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7 comments
How absolutely ridiculous can the NFL be, with all the problems with drugs and off the field antics of their bonus babies,this is all they can come up with? Sounds like it’s been a slow week in the NFL front office. So what, now they are going to be cruising team bar hangouts to make sure no one is getting a free beer from a fellow team mate or a fan. This is the height of silliness, I guess we can be thankful they aren’t picking on a team when their down. Green and Gold fans will be laughing their cheeseheads off of this one. Get Real!! There are real problems in the NFL they need to spend their time on.
Boy, The NFL may have to take a hard line on franchises giving players incentive clauses in their contracts for number of sacks, interceptions, runbacks, thousand yard seasons, touchdown totals, ad infinitum…
They could even follow up by telling players that bonuses would only be allowed if said bonus plans be a reciprocal plan where both sides must make offers to offset or beat the other respective players on their team with some other unusual stat to beat… eg. “You held their running back to 55 yards, but the defensive backs allowed no long-gainers and had no penalties, thereby voiding the $5oo bonus.”
I would, if I were a defensive lineman, probably offer a huge bonus to the secondary if they could keep TO (does not stand for Team-Oriented) from talking about how hard he’s had to work to prove he can win a game all by himself…
Interesting points Joe and LOL at the TO comment.
I wonder if the rule is in place to prevent a loophole in the salary cap?
i guess the NFL,front office people make side bets with the NBA on who’s going to be more dramatic than the next billion dollar organization.i can’t believe with the suscess of greenbay packers almost perfect record,that the NFL has nothing better to do with there time,As they cahnge the rules as you go.As a fan the NFL,need to stop being so uptight and stop treating the players like boys,and learn how to respect them like men.
Keith — It’s possible, though these are players awarding their teammates. It’s not the team putting up the money, which is why I think it’s a bizarre rule and investigation.
k-mckenzie10 — Agreed. The NFL truly has earned the nickname “No Fun League” and I certainly hope punishment isn’t in the future for Green Bay players. It would certainly be disappointing.
That is so flippin’ lame!! Green Bay has had some rough seasons and I have been an NFL fan for some time now. Football season is like Christmas to me: I love it! And I’m only 20! And all these years I’ve been a Green Bay fan! It hurt to watch them get stomped game after game, still supporting them, and finally they are stepping it up and bringing ‘em down! To do this is utterly pathetic.
Oh, I have an idea. Since we are too lame to actually investigate illegal drug use of NFL players because it would be too much work, let’s go after Green Bay out of pocket money expense to fellow players for finally stepping up and playing some amazing football! Green Bay fuinally has a great season, almost perfect, and the NFL decides to throw this at them. But then again, I mean if you are playing football at the NFL level, it is only common sense to punish the players for doing it right!
As far as the Terrell Owens comment above, I flippin’ love it!! He and Randy Moss are both dorks! Great players and lousy people — punish them! Green Bay better not be punished in a manner of benching our players! Green Bay is amazing! Go Pack!
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