Count Eagles coach Andy Reid among those caught off-guard by the "bounty" scandal swirling around the Saints organization.
"I think I am surprised," Reid told the Philadelphia Daily News this week. "I haven't read all the documents, but by definition of the word 'bounty,' you don't do that with other (teams') players. That's not where you go. That's not how you do business. ... Players want to hit you and hit you hard, but they don't want to come in and, like, ruin your career. ... That's just not how guys are wired."
Reid hasn't worked alongside former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who rests at the center of the scandal, but one of his assistants, defensive line coach Jim Washburn, was with Williams for one season in Tennessee in 1999. Some former Oilers and Titans players have openly talked about Williams rewarding players for big plays there, but ex-Titans defensive lineman Josh Evans says Williams never asked players to "try to hurt somebody."
The Eagles, of course, are awkwardly linked to the Saints' antics thanks to Buddy Ryan, the team's former coach who notoriously oversaw the 1989 "Bounty Bowl" against the Cowboys. In that game, Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson accused Ryan of placing bounties on quarterback Troy Aikman and kicker Luis Zendejas (who left with a concussion).
One season later, in a Monday night game against the Redskins, the Eagles furnished us with the "Body Bag Game," during which eight Washington players were injured, including both quarterbacks.
Reid has expressed surprise at discoveries that the Saints were involved in a "bounty" program, and perhaps he was stunned, but it's become clear that New Orleans didn't invent these tactics.
