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Vikings have no comment on Bountygate

Saints Vikings Football

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is stopped by New Orleans Saints’ Scott Shanle (58), Will Smith (91) and Tom Johnson during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

AP

On one hand, an NFL player shouldn’t need the incentive of an extra $1,000 in order to play hard and aggressively when a berth in the Super Bowl is riding on the outcome of a game. On the other hand, the fact that Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams felt compelled to have a bounty program during the 2009 postseason implies strongly that he believes the extra little kick to the pocketbook helped.

Either way, the franchise that was on the wrong side of the Bayou Bounty System isn’t saying anything about it. Team spokesman Bob Hagan tells PFT that the Vikings have no comment on the situation.

One guy who likely will have a comment, or 50, regarding the matter is former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, whose lower limbs matched the color of his helmet after being knocked around by the Saints defense through the 2009 NFC title game.

Until Favre talks, keep in mind that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson accused Saints safety Jabari Greer of twisting Peterson’s ankle at the bottom of a pile during a December 2011 game between the teams.

“I came into the game kind of expecting that coming back from a high ankle sprain,” Peterson said at the time. “Guys are going to try to take their shots when we’re on the pile and try to twist it up and things like that. I felt like it kind of got overboard. I got up and kind of got in his face. Thank God I was able to keep my composure.”

Peterson may not be able to keep his composure the next time he runs into Williams or any of the members of the Saints’ 2009 defense.