So It Wasn’t Only The Saints With Bounties?

Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist and former NFL wide receiver Cris Carter has come oh-so-close to being enshrined on the grand stage. So close he could taste it. Many fans of the Minnesota Vikings legend still wonder why he's not in the Hall of Fame yet. After Carter's recent comments on ESPN Radio though, the player turned football analyst's chances of getting inducted may have gone down drastically.

Carter was on the ESPN radio show and was asked about the New Orleans Saints scandal we now all know as BountyGate. They specifically asked him about the players that were suspended an entire season, as a result of the NFL's thorough investigation. Carter's answered may have surprised a lot of people. "I'm guilty of (bounties) -- I mean first time I've ever admitted it -- but I put a bounty on guys before," Carter said. "I put bounties on guys. If a guy tries to take me out, a guy takes a cheap shot on me? I put a bounty on him right now!"

He elaborated on his point, bringing up an example from personal experience. “[Former NFL player] Bill Romanowski -- he told me he was going to take me out before the game, warmups. No problem. (He said) 'I'm gonna end your career Carter.' No problem. I put a little change on his head before the game. [I have to] Protect myself...Protect my family.” As an offensive player who's the target of tough NFL defenses and, at times, a victim of dirty plays, it's understandable that Carter would be concerned.

At the same time, isn't an offensive line's job in football to protect each other and block opposing defenses without bounties on the line? Carter not only potentially opened the flood gates for further investigation by the NFL, but also broke unwritten rules among his fellow football players. The only question that I am left with is, will this keep him out of the Hall of Fame?