Look - I'm generally agreeing with you. But the first quote is a writer, who is himself inferring what may not be there (knocking someone out of a game = injuring the player). The 2nd quote is Williams who only expresses this was a big mistake, but doesn't acknowledge his intent was ever to encourage permanent injury. The 3rd quote is most concerning, as Goodell has likely seen whatever the volume of 'documents' that are being referenced. But even he may not know the *intent* of a 'bounty', which I have to believe was mostly in line with what all NFL fans want from their team, for their guys to knock the living daylights out of the other guys.
Redskins fans worship Sean Taylor. Well - guess what? Not only was Taylor exactly the kind of head-hunting player fans adore, but he also was (apparently) one of the biggest beneficiaries of William's so-called 'bounty system'.
I'm not an apologist. I've already said this was a stupid, stupid mistake on Williams part (and any other coach who engaged in a 'bounty'). But the intent may well have been just to inspire a defense to give it's all and play aggressively, not to permanently harm fellow players. It's like saying you're going to 'kill' someone. You don't mean it literally, but you say it anyway. There may have been an element of that here. However misguided, I find it hard to believe most players would really try to seriously 'injure' another player.
I think it's a reach to draw that conclusion and I don't care who is being quoted. The truth is, neither you nor I nor anyone else knows exactly what happened here. So smart people will wait and see just how bad this was before condemning people.
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