Gregg Williams apologises for role in New Orleans Saints "Bounty Programme"

The defensive coordinator was involved in a scheme that rewarded players for injuring opponents.

Alex Smith (No 11) of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by Roman Harper (No 41) of the New Orleans Saints, one of the players involved in the Saints' "Bounty Programme". Sean Gardner /Getty Images / AFP

Gregg Williams apologised yesterday for his role in a bounty programme that rewarded players for injuring opponents while he was with the New Orleans Saints.

Now the defensive coordinator with NFL rivals St Louis Rams, Williams and the Saints could be subject to significant penalties, including suspensions, fines and the loss of draft picks.

"It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it," Williams said. "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 learnt a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again."

Williams has been known for his aggressive, physical defences both as a coordinator with four NFL teams and as head coach in Buffalo. Several Redskins told the Washington Post that Williams used a similar system when he was their defensive coordinator.

An NFL investigation found between 22 and 27 defensive players were involved in the programme administered by Williams, with the knowledge of coach Sean Payton.

Commissioner Roger Goodell did not hand out any punishment and will meet the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and individual players to discuss appropriate discipline.

"Health and safety is a paramount issue to the NFLPA," the union said in a statement. "The NFLPA was informed of this investigation by the NFL earlier today and will review the information contained in the league's report."

Williams often has told his players that defences are "respected when they're feared." Opponents, including Brad Childress when he was coaching the Vikings, have questioned whether Williams' units went over the edge of fair play.

Childress suggested the Saints were trying to hurt Brett Favre during the 2009 NFC title game.

Williams worked under Buddy Ryan and considers himself a disciple of the former coach who once was accused by Dallas of placing a bounty on some Cowboys.

"I'm not going to apologise for how hard our guys play, and I'm not going to apologise if they're trying to lay the wood on everybody," Williams once said. "When the other team is worried about protecting themselves over protecting the ball, we all like that a lot better."

Williams became Titans defensive coordinator in 1997 and helped Tennessee win the AFC championship in '99. He left to become Bills coach and went 17-31 in three seasons before being fired.

He went back to coordinating in 2004 in Washington, left in 2008 to joins Jacksonville for one season, then moved to New Orleans just as the Saints were becoming the class of the NFC South.

Several players told The Washington Post yesterday that Williams had a similar bounty programme with the Redskins.

Former defensive end Philip Daniels, now as the team's director of player development, said the most he received was $1,500 for a four-sack game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2005; player performance bonuses are outlawed by the NFL.

"I think it is wrong the way they're trying to paint [Williams]," Daniels added. "He never told us to go out there and break a guy's neck or break a guy's leg. It was all in the context of good, hard football."