One of the most controversial revelations in recent NFL history was the infamous Bounty scandal. It was a series of exposures involving the New Orleans Saints where players were literally paid for causing intentional injury to opposing players. One of the primary instigators of this was defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Former Chicago Bears receiver Earl Bennett believes he was one of the victims of this scheme.
He explained why during his latest #StoryTimeWithEarl segment. The Bears went down to New Orleans that year during the second game of the season. It would prove to be one of the most brutal from a physical standpoint. First round draft pick Gabe Carimi left the game with a bad knee injury. An ailment that would basically ruin his career.
Most people remember that moment most of all from that game, but Bennett revealed he too suffered a questionable hit. One that resulted in an injury even more frightening than Carimi’s. It took place early in the game on the Bears’ second offensive drive. They were in Saints territory and the defense was aiming to blitz.
Bennett had the hot route in this situation, one that was easy for opponents to identify since offensive coordinator Mike Martz never bothered to change it. This left the receiver in a bad spot as Jay Cutler unloaded the pass to him.
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Earl Bennett endured more than a normal big hit
“Barreling down on me was Roman Harper, a big hitter. I have taken some hits in my days, but there was something different about this hit. QB #1 throws the slant, I catch it and BAM! A hard collision that left me on the ground gasping for air. I tried to get up because I am the player who never likes to look vulnerable. I tried and was unsuccessful…
…They took me to get X-rayed to make sure there were no broken bones. The X-ray was clean, and I returned to the field. The Saints had scored a field goal so now it was time for the kickoff return. I was the lead blocker, so I went out. As I began to run, something did not feel right. There was this feeling like when you drink too much water, and you can feel it moving around. Except, I had nothing to drink.
I returned to the sideline and told the medical staff that something felt loose, and that I was sure there’s something internally wrong. They responded that at half-time, I would have to provide a urine sample.
As I am providing the sample, I clearly see there is blood in the urine. The medical staff told me that we need to leave immediately for the hospital.”
Bennett was rushed to the front of the waiting line once he’d arrived. Even ahead of a guy who had a gunshot wound. The doctors did an ultrasound on his abdomen and it was revealed he’d suffered a lacerated liver. The unusual belly-full-of-water feeling he’d had turned out to be blood leaking from that organ after the hit.
It’s fortunate he said something rather than tried to play through it. Another hit might’ve made the injury worse. Liver lacerations can be fatal in certain circumstances. This one ended up forcing Bennett to miss the next five games of the season. A grim reminder of just how reckless the Saints were about their practices in those days.
Fittingly it seems karma caught up to them later in the season. After going 13-3 that year, they were stunned in the divisional round by San Francisco who hung 36 points on them. Earl Bennett thanks you, 49ers.
