Drew Brees Addresses The Fans

[SaintRay]

http://drewbrees.com/

A LETTER TO THE FANS

March 09, 2012

This has been an eventful offseason for me and my family. Brittany and I would like to thank all of you for the thoughtful words and well wishes since we announced that baby boy #3 is on the way. While we were all disappointed with the way the season ended, the offseason has given us the opportunity to reflect back on what was a truly memorable year. It has also given me the opportunity to enjoy some much needed quality time with my family.

I do feel a responsibility to my teammates, the Saints organization and to the fans, to address the "Bounty" allegations.

There is no place in the National Football League, or any sport played at any level, for players to conspire, to be coerced, or to be incentivized to intentionally injure another player. I did not participate in any Bounty program, nor did I have any knowledge relating to its real existence. I have spent the last several years as an Executive Committee Member of the NFLPA making health and safety a priority and I am proud of the advancements we've made and will continue to make.

As a leader of our football team, I feel comfortable in stating that I know well the integrity of our organization from the ownership level, to management, our head coach, and the players on our team. We, as Saints players, pride ourselves on playing this game with honor and hold ourselves to a very high standard. We also share a great sense of responsibility to our community and to each other, a strong belief in our purpose, a resiliency to overcome adversity and a work ethic and commitment to leave things better than we found them.

The accusations and perceptions alone created by this issue make us feel like we should all apologize to the young people that love our game and aspire to be in our shoes. Regardless of the outcome of the "bounty" issue, we owe it to them to provide the best example of how to behave as professionals and more importantly, as people of integrity.

To our fans, please reserve judgment until the investigation is complete and the facts in their entirety are known. We are all working diligently to find the truth in this matter and if the facts prove there was improper behavior, we will hold ourselves accountable. Until that time, we will stand together and remain united as an organization.

Thank you for your support.

Drew

[DD: Objective Elite]

I don't get where he asks his fans to reserve judgment until the investigation is complete.

Hasn't nearly everyone in the FO and coaching staff already confessed to it?

I thought a confession was an acknowledgment of guilt.

Edited March 10, 2012 by dirtydealin5858

[falconsd56]

I don't get where he asks his fans to reserve judgment until the investigation is complete.

Hasn't nearly everyone in the FO and coaching staff already confessed to it?

I thought a confession was an acknowledgment of guilt.

Yeah exactly

Williams apologized for it, Peyton and Loomis apologized for it.

Even Tom Benson the OWNER talked about it.

So yeah there is no question it happened.

I generally like Brees and think he is stand up guy but IMO that letter makes it seem like he was trying too hard to keep it away from him.

Also given the admitted nature of everything it is insulting to peoples intelligence to say the saints play with "honor".

It is not honorable to try and take people out for peanut pay.

Nor is it honorable to have what seems to be the ENTIRE organization knowing about it and not stopping it.

[Dr. Do Itch Big]

Tl: dr cliffs man.

[falconsd56]

Tl: dr cliffs man.

Blah blah, we play with honor blah blah

blah blah thank you blah blah

There ya go :P

[SaintRay]

I believe Brees. Completely.

He has never proven himself to be anything other than honest.

[falconsd56]

I believe Brees. Completely.

He has never proven himself to be anything other than honest.

Of course you do.

But come on don't you think it is a little far fetched that he had NO idea about the happenings?

I find it hard to believe a guy of his stature in the locker room wold have NO idea it was happening.

[DD: Objective Elite]

Of course you do.

But come on don't you think it is a little far fetched that he had NO idea about the happenings?

I find it hard to believe a guy of his stature in the locker room wold have NO idea it was happening.

Well he said he had no idea it was happening, I'm inclined to believe him.

IMO, I don't care one way or the other. He doesn't play defense, unless it comes to light the offense was trying to injure players, or received undocumented pay he has nothing to do with this investigation.

[Guest Negatorris]

How in the world doesn't the team captain that his own team has been doing something illegal, when EVERYONE else on the team knew? -__-

[Makaveli96]

I find it really fishy that he says he had absolutely NO knowledege of it whatsoever. The coaches even admitted it was happening.

[bradael]

Yeah exactly

Williams apologized for it, Peyton and Loomis apologized for it.

Even Tom Benson the OWNER talked about it.

So yeah there is no question it happened.

I generally like Brees and think he is stand up guy but IMO that letter makes it seem like he was trying too hard to keep it away from him.

Also given the admitted nature of everything it is insulting to peoples intelligence to say the saints play with "honor".

It is not honorable to try and take people out for peanut pay.

Nor is it honorable to have what seems to be the ENTIRE organization knowing about it and not stopping it.

How in the world doesn't the team captain that his own team has been doing something illegal, when EVERYONE else on the team knew? -__-

I find it really fishy that he says he had absolutely NO knowledege of it whatsoever. The coaches even admitted it was happening.

I don't think you understand Brees's comments here.

It's not about the coaches/players being involved with paying players a few hundred/thousand for a big hit, int, fumble recovery.... he's referring to having no knowledge of the team running this program to intentionally injure players... as the initial report alleged. And yes, those are still allegations, otherwise the NFL would have made a ruling already, but they're continuing to investigate.

That's also why he's telling fans to reserve judgement. I also find it highly unlikely the Saints referred to any of this as "bounties".

Edited March 10, 2012 by bradael

[falconidae]

Wow, Brees has some good lawyers- Here's my take on some of the highlights:

"I did not participate in any Bounty program, nor did I have any knowledge relating to its real existence." Nobody says real existence- Brees is going to claim any reference to bounties that he heard, he thought were jokes.

"There is no place in the National Football League, or any sport played at any level, for players to conspire, to be coerced, or to be incentivized to intentionally injure another player." Key word is coerced- NFLPA is going to claim that Williams made the players participate:

"it was horrible, he told us if we didn't ante up for the bounty, he'd take his shirt off and act out the fat bast##d scene from Austin Powers... again"

"The accusations and perceptions alone created by this issue make us feel like we should all apologize" How about apologizing for it happening? Williams made it clear it happened:

“I want to express my sincere regret and apology to the NFL, Mr. Benson, and the New Orleans Saints fans for my participation in the ‘pay for performance’ program while I was with the Saints,” Williams said. “It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.”

"To our fans, please reserve judgment until the investigation is complete and the facts in their entirety are known." To all the other teams: I had nothing to do with this, please don't hit me."

I like Brees as a player, and he's been a great citizen of NO, but this is just classic CYA.

[falconidae]

And. if Williams confession isn't enough, how about the HC & GM:

Four days after the NFL pointed to them for failing to stop a bounty program involving some two dozen Saints players, coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis apologized and took the blame for violations that "happened under our watch."

"These are serious violations and we understand the negative impact it has had on our game," Payton and Loomis said in a joint statement Tuesday. "Both of us have made it clear within our organization that this will never happen again, and make that same promise to the NFL and most importantly to all of our fans."

Payton and Loomis also said New Orleans owner Tom Benson "had nothing to do" with the bounty pool.

"We acknowledge that the violations disclosed by the NFL during their investigation of our club happened under our watch. We take full responsibility," they said.

[jb 3.0]

Well he said he had no idea it was happening, I'm inclined to believe him.

IMO, I don't care one way or the other. He doesn't play defense, unless it comes to light the offense was trying to injure players, or received undocumented pay he has nothing to do with this investigation.

EXACTLY! After seeing how he pepares each week with Sean Payton, it's hard to believe he would even have the time to get involved with their defense. To that point, I imagine even Sean Payton probably didn't realize to what extent the whole bounty thing had progressed. Either way, I'm much more inclined to believe something Brees says over anythiing Payton or any other member of that coaching staff were to say.

[Borat]

I really hope he wasn't involved (Though I doubt he was completely in the dark). Despite his bi-annual dissections of the Falcons' secondary, I like the guy, and it would look terrible if one QB was placing bounties on another.

[N.O.L.A BOI]

HC and GM didn't admit to anything just apologized for it happening on their watch.

[Trouble]

I have spent the last several years as an Executive Committee Member of the NFLPA making health and safety a priority and I am proud of the advancements we've made and will continue to make.

As a leader of our football team, I feel comfortable in stating

Why drew. You had it. Keep talking about the baby and people would have let you off the hook. Everyone was like awwwwww a baby brees. Then you had to go mention Bounty Gate and your a top guy w/ the NFLPA.

PR rules

rule 1: mention babies when ever possible, if needed borrow someone else and kiss it.

rule 2: smile and wave

rule 3: don't comment on scandals or conspiracy's

rule 4: your worth 23 million and should be paid that, not a cent less this year.

rule 5: blame Greg Williams, he is the official fall guy for everything.

[Trouble]

HC and GM didn't admit to anything just apologized for it happening on their watch.

After they tried to cover it up. They knew about it, where asked to make sure a bounty system was not being used and did nothing. They are guilty and busted now.

Edited March 10, 2012 by danight

[SoLuvinMyFalcons]

I find it hard to believe that he did not know what was going on? I myself believe he is lying.

Saints fans if you do not listen to Falcons fans about anything else, just know we as Falcons fans can fish out BS from a QB. After all the lies we were exposed to between 2005-2007, we can read though all the lawyer talk, all the public relations talk, and especially the BS talk.

[Trouble]

PFT`s article on it.

“As a leader of our football team, I feel comfortable in stating that I know well the integrity of our organization from the ownership level, to management, our head coach, and the players on our team,” Brees writes. “We, as Saints players, pride ourselves on playing this game with honor and hold ourselves to a very high standard. We also share a great sense of responsibility to our community and to each other, a strong belief in our purpose, a resiliency to overcome adversity and a work ethic and commitment to leave things better than we found them.”

The NFL has concluded — not alleged, but concluded — that the Saints used a bounty system for three years. The facts as determined by the league also demonstrate that multiple members of the organization lied when the league investigated the situation in 2010.

‘To our fans, please reserve judgment until the investigation is complete and the facts in their entirety are known,” Brees concludes. “We are all working diligently to find the truth in this matter and if the facts prove there was improper behavior, we will hold ourselves accountable. Until that time, we will stand together and remain united as an organization.”

One more time: The NFL already has determined that it happened. The league’s investigation is complete. The facts are known.

The situation becomes even more interesting when considering that Brees, based on the letter, seems to be hoping that further investigation will exonerate everyone. The NFLPA, based on its recent statement, seems to be accusing Saints coaches and management of wrongdoing and eventually hoping via further investigation to pin it all on the Saints and exonerate the players.

link

http://profootballta...letter-to-fans/

Drew use a credit card and hire a new PR guy to write these letters for you.

Edited March 10, 2012 by danight

[falcontamer]

PFT`s article on it.

link

http://profootballta...letter-to-fans/

Drew use a credit card and hire a new PR guy to write these letters for you.

I hate to admit it, but I kind of agree with you.

[falconidae]

PFT`s article on it.

link

http://profootballta...letter-to-fans/

Drew use a credit card and hire a new PR guy to write these letters for you.

No, it's actually brilliant- he's setting up the claims he never knew about anything, that anything he heard about a bounty he thought was a joke and that Williams forced the players to participate.

It's very carefully crafted to seem like an apology without admitting anything.

by the way, the poll at PFT about whether or not Drew knew about this is running 80% thinking he knew of it.

[bradael]

I find it hard to believe that he did not know what was going on? I myself believe he is lying.

Saints fans if you do not listen to Falcons fans about anything else, just know we as Falcons fans can fish out BS from a QB. After all the lies we were exposed to between 2005-2007, we can read though all the lawyer talk, all the public relations talk, and especially the BS talk.

Did you even read his statement?

There is no place in the National Football League, or any sport played at any level, for players to conspire, to be coerced, or to be incentivized to intentionally injure another player. I did not participate in any Bounty program, or did I have any knowledge relating to its real existence.

He's denying nothing in regards to what's been admitted... paying for big hits, ints, & fumble recoveries. He's specifically referring to intentionally injuring players. And the Saints very unlikely referred to any of this as "bounties". Those are the NFL Security's words and allegations.

Not only would it be near impossible to prove intent to injury anyway in this sport... the results of 3 years of games don't back any of it up.

0 cart offs to offensive players. 18 total injuries. 1 which drew a flag, but no fine.

I'll compare to the Falcons since we're on the Falcons' board....

0 cart offs to offensive players in 3 years. 29 total injuries. 2 that were flagged, both receiving fines (25k & 40k).

And of course after the second fine, Mike Smith said "That's the way we teach it."

[Trouble]

Injuries are always hard to judge. Because some players have to be dead before they come out a game.

Brees is probably telling the truth about him not going out to try and hurt other players. How would a QB even do that? So im pretty sure he didn't participate in it.

Hey let me throw this int... and im lay his butt smack out. oh yeah thats gonna be worth 10k.

But its Brees. He knows everything about the Saints and i don't believe in 3 years he did not know that was going on. Im sure he was also aware of the first investigation. As a team leader and as a top guy for NFLPA he should have said to the team that needs to stop.

But cant really fault Brees either. The GM HC should have stepped in and made sure 100% that it would not be allowed in that locker room. Had someone done that, this would never have came out. It was done and burried and the saints got away with it.

[ukfalc]

A LETTER TO THE FANS

March 09, 2012

Dear Swamp People

This has been an eventful offseason for me and my family. Brittany and I would like to thank all of you for the thoughtful words and well wishes since we announced that baby boy #3 is on the way (wait till i find out who the father is) . While we were all disappointed with the way the season ended (I wanted the Falcons to win) , the offseason has given us the opportunity to reflect back on what was a truly memorable year. It has also given me the opportunity to enjoy some much needed quality time with my family.

I do feel a responsibility to my teammates, the Saints organization and to the fans, to address the "Bounty" allegations. (I have to try to save face as an NFLPLA Exec, whilst trying to stay loyal to my cheating teammates)

There is no place in the National Football League, or any sport played at any level, for players to conspire, to be coerced, or to be incentivized to intentionally injure another player (although I feel no shame that my only championship was won because of it) . I did not participate in any Bounty program (Duh), nor did I have any knowledge relating to its real existence. I have spent the last several years as an Executive Committee Member of the NFLPA making health and safety a priority (and over $500k in 2010 and 2011) and I am proud of the advancements we've made and will continue to make (the NFL has become a lot safer for me with the rule changes that the other 31 NFL teams abide by, but I don’t care about the other players targeted illegally by my teammates) .

As a leader of our football team, I feel comfortable in stating that I know well the integrity of our organization from the ownership level, to management, our head coach, and the players on our team (I know they lack level.... they have none, since people at every level of the organisation admitted to the bounty programme) . We, as Saints players, pride ourselves on playing this game with honor (oops I missed the letter D, I and S) and hold ourselves to a very high standard (We only paid bounties for the best, cheap hits) . We also share a great sense of responsibility to our community and to each other, a strong belief in our purpose (to win a title at any cost), a resiliency to overcome adversity (like the adversity of being caught cheating)and a work ethic and commitment to leave things (Except Brett Farve’s ankle, Peyton Manning’s Neck and Kurt Warner’s Knee) better than we found them.

The accusations and perceptions alone created by this issue make us feel like we should all apologize to the young people that love our game and aspire to be in our shoes

(But we’re not going to) . Regardless of the outcome (whether we are found “guilty”, or “guilty as he11”) of the "bounty" issue, we owe it to them to provide the best example of how to behave as professionals (to win at all cost)and more importantly, as people of integrity.

To our fans, please reserve judgment until the investigation is complete (Even though we’ve admitted it) and the facts in their entirety are known. We are all working diligently to find the truth in this matter and if the facts prove there was improper behavior (which there was, because we’ve already admitted it) , we will hold ourselves accountable (by keeping our super bowl rings, bonus money and hoping everyone forgetting that our championship is tainted because it was won by cheating). Until that time, we will stand together and remain united as an organization (of lowlife cheats and scum bags).

Thank you for your support (you swamp living bayou idiots).

Drew

With Drew Brees’ real thoughts added in bold.