A former NFL player has made a startling claim, alleging that during a game, the opposing coaching staff instructed their players to intentionally injure their opponents.
John Abraham, a former pass rusher for the Atlanta Falcons, shared this revelation on “The Water Boyz Show,” recounting an incident from a 2012 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Abraham asserts that Bucs tackle Donald Penn warned him on the field about the dangerous directive from the coaching staff. “[Penn] was like, ‘Hey man, be careful out here. The coaches told us to hurt you all,’” Abraham said, according to JoeBucsFan.com. “I was like, ‘Stop playing.’ He’s like, ‘Nah, they told us to hurt y’all. So we’re going to be going extra. After the whistle, we’re going to be doing everything to try to mess with y’all.’”
However, Penn has reportedly denied making such a statement, as noted by JoeBucsFan.com.
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If Abraham’s claims are accurate, it would echo the infamous BountyGate scandal, which resulted in significant penalties for the New Orleans Saints, including a substantial suspension for head coach Sean Payton. The allegations suggest a serious breach of sportsmanship and could have major repercussions if proven true.
Determining the truth of these accusations is challenging. Without audio or additional evidence from the field, it is difficult to verify what was actually said between Abraham and Penn.
The NFL has not commented on the matter, and it remains unclear if any investigation will be launched based on Abraham’s allegations.
The gravity of such claims cannot be overstated, as they suggest a deliberate effort to harm players, which goes against the core values of sportsmanship and fair play in professional sports.
Whether anything will come of this revelation remains to be seen, but it highlights the intense and sometimes dangerous nature of professional football.
