Kurt Warner not surprised by Saints' bounty system

Former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner said he wasn’t surprised by the NFL investigation that claims the Saints had a bounty system for defensive players from 2009-11.

“It’s definitely disappointing, but I won’t say that I’m completely surprised,” Warner told KTAR Radio in Phoenix via ProFootballTalk.com. “And, again, not necessarily the Saints, but I’m not surprised that there were teams out there doing those kinds of things behind closed doors.”

The Saints’ system, administered by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and funded primarily by defensive players, rewarded players for knocking offensive opponents out of a game. According to the investigation, the Saints targeted Warner and Brett Favre.

In Warner’s final game in the NFL—the Cardinals were defeated by the Saints in the 2009 playoffs—he took a big hit from defensive end Bobby McCray. As it turns out, the Saints had a bounty system at the time.

Warner said the hit against the Saints didn’t end his career. “No, absolutely not,” he said. “It was a nice exclamation point on it.”

Warner added, “It was a violent hit, no question. But I also believe it was a legal hit.”

Warner said he wasn’t aware of bounty systems during his career, but he said it would be naïve to think players don’t try to knock opponents out of games. According to the NFL investigation, Saints players were paid $1,500 for a "knockout" hit and $1,000 for a “cart-off.” Payments increased in playoffs.

“I think that’s part of the game, and I think that’s part of the mindset,” Warner said. “And I’m not going to tell you that I haven’t believed that there was probably defensive players that got together and said, ‘Hey, you know, a thousand bucks for the first guy to knock Kurt out of a football game.’ I’m sure that’s been a part of our league for a long time.”