Brett Favre, Charles Barkley and Other Athletes React to Saints Bountygate

Multiple athletes have shared their reactions to the recent scandal surrounding the New Orleans Saints.

Brett Favre has given his thoughts on the report that, over the past few seasons, Saints defenders were paid extra to knock players from the opposing team out of the game.

The quarterback was on the other side of the defensive strategy during his final years in the league.

ESPN's Adam Shefter has reported that linebacker Jonathan Vilma offered $10,000 to anyone who could knock Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship game.

Favre was hit very hard in that game, as the Saints defeated the Vikings 31-28 en route to the Super Bowl.

The future Hall of Famer says he's not upset that members of the Saints were trying to take him out of the game.

I'm not pissed, Favre said. It's football. I don't think anything less of those guys. I would have loved to play with Vilma. Hell of a player. I've got a lot of respect for Gregg Williams. He's a great coach. I'm not going to make a big deal about it. In all honesty, there's a bounty of some kind on you on every play.

TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley also commented on the Saints defensive philosophy.

He, too, didn't think the story was a big deal. Barkley was most upset that someone would reveal this information to someone outside of the Saints organization.

You have to be a punk to snitch that out. That's like giving a reporter an anonymous quote. That makes you a punk, if you do anonymous, but also, you don't bring that out x amount of years later. I mean you don't compete in it if you don't want to be in it.

The former basketball player said he knows multiple football players who said what the Saints did is not uncommon.

I've seen at least three or four well-known NFL players say all teams have bounties. So I'm glad they came to Gregg Williams' defense. Because I'm pretty sure all teams have that.

But there are some former athletes who do not approve of the Saints actions.

Former quarterback Boomer Esiason said those involved with the scandal should be punished for their actions.

NFL admits Saints had a bounty program led by Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. Now with the Rams he should be fired ASAP!, tweeted Esiason when he first heard about the news.

Any coach associated with this should be fired... Sean Peyton has a lot to answer for. This is one of the most disturbing stories I've ever heard during the 28 years of my NFL association.