White Sox general manager Ken Williams, the father of San Francisco 49ers wideout Kyle Williams, said Friday it was “probably best” that he never ended up in a room with former Saintsdefensive coordinator Gregg Williams.  Read more after the jump.
Ken Williams issued a statement to the Chicago Tribune in response to several questions about the audio recording in which Gregg Williams was heard urging Saints players to injure 49ers players, including Kyle Williams, on the eve of a playoff game in January.
“Personally, suspension or not, it’s probably best I’m never in a room with Gregg Williams and wonder if such an order crosses the line of the aggressive, competitive spirit we all know and love about the sport; and leans closer to a criminal act and therefore a litigious matter,” the White Sox general manager said in the statement.
In the profanity-laced pep talk — released Thursday by filmmaker Sean Pamphilon — Gregg Williams specifically calls for his players to hit 49ers offensive players in the head, specifically Kyle Williams, who had a history of concussions.
“We need to find out in the first two series of the game, the little wide receiver, number 10, about his concussion. We need to f*ckin’ put a lick on him right now,” he is heard saying.
It was known at the time that Kyle Williams had a history of concussions.
“Putting aside my fatherly feelings and my sports executive hat on, I have tremendous respect and admiration for the league in general, the 49er organization and Trent Balke and Jim Harbaugh in particular,” Kenny WIlliams said in his statement. “I have no doubt they are monitoring the situation very closely and will take the appropriate actions should they deem it necessary in this matter.”
The former Saints coordinator — now with the St. Louis Rams — has been slapped with an indefinite ban by the NFL for running an illegal bounty program in New Orleans.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell heard appeals Thursday from Saints head coach Sean Payton, assistant coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis.
Payton, who is accused of telling his assistant coaches to cover up the existence of the bounty program, is hoping Goodell will reduce his year-long suspension, while Vitt and Loomis hope their respective six- and eight-game bans also will be shortened.
