Saints LB Scott Shanle: Bounty scandal overblown

Saints LB Scott Shanle says the NFL has overblown the bounty scandal (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said the NFL has

Saints LB Scott Shanle says the NFL has overblown the bounty scandal (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said the NFL has as blown the bounty issue out of proportion in an effort to scare the rest of the league straight, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL for what the league says was an deliberate attempt to injury players.

"Gregg said crazy stuff," Shanle said. "If you take him literally, you're gonna be locked up. But he was the best motivator I've ever been around."

"There's been this picture painted that (suspended linebacker Jonathan) Vilma was standing in front of the defense before every game picking out players to go after and offering money," Shanle said. "It was blown up to be something more than it is."

Defenders Vilma, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Scott Fujita all have been suspended by the NFL for various lengths because of the bounty scandal.