So the latest word is that Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, and Joe Vitt are going to paint former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams as a "rogue" coach who was out of control because he knew he was going to be fired soon?
 
This story just refuses to go away quietly. Or with any type of salvaged dignity.
 
According to a new audio release Williams is heard the night before the recent playoff game between the Saints and San Francisco 49ers telling his defense to target specific players. Target Michael Crabtree's knee; test whether Kyle Williams has a concussion; go after Vernon Davis's ankles; give Frank Gore a little extra before getting off the pile.
 
Sure sounds bad. Sure sounds like a coach who may be "rogue".
 
But let's not forget that this was this past January. And the investigation into the whole bounty scandal is over a 3 year period. So this one recent game is not an isolated incident. If Payton, Loomis, and Vitt are going to try and use this as a way of deflecting attention from the years of either willful ignorance (at best) or attempted cover-up/active participation (at worst), they are reaching sad new lows.
 
As football fans we'd like for this to just be over and done with so we can get back to enjoying the NFL and the upcoming draft preparation. We'd like to be talking about what our favorite teams need, how they've done in free agency, and translating that into how it will affect our fantasy football hobby.
 
This latest leaked news just makes the story return as the main headline.
 
A lot of what I read from the transcripts comes across as legitimate coach-speak talking up his players. Some of it comes across as a coach encouraging his players to go out and injure opposing players. But the bottom line to me is that this situation has already been ruled on by the commissioner and punishments handed out. For Payton, Loomis, and Vitt to try using the leaked recordings as a way of making Williams the complete scapegoat (thusly excusing their own part in all three years of it going on) is laughable.
 
I hope the commissioner sees thru it (I think he will) and upholds his original decision on each. If anything, their smear campaign to deflect their own involvement warrants an additional penalty.
 
Sad that in an election year; a time when normally mudslinging and smear campaigns are reserved for politicians running for office, we can't even turn to our beloved football for an escape. 

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On any given Sunday any fantasy team can beat another, only to still lose Monday night.