Saints' Joe Vitt Says He Never Told Anthony Hargrove To Lie

Former New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove issued a signed declaration to the NFL that said coaches, including assistant head coach Joe Vitt, told him to lie about the bounty program that was allegedly established in New Orleans. Technically, Hargrove never admitted guilt -- he just said he was told to lie if asked about a bounty program.

Vitt, one of the Saints coaches named in Hargrove's signed declaration, strongly denied that he told Hargrove to lie. Per the Times-Picayune:

"At no time did I ever tell Anthony Hargrove to lie or deny the existence (of the alleged bounty program)," Vitt said. "He can say whatever he wants to say. It just didn't happen."

Vitt claims that what the league calls a "bounty" program was really a "pay-for-performance" program.

"We had a pot for big plays, the same thing everyone else in the league has, now they call them pay-for-performance. But we never paid for dirty hits," Vitt said. "I'll say it again, the exact same thing I told the commissioner, our players never crossed the white lines with an intent to maim or injure. They never threatened the integrity of the game when they crossed the white lines."

Vitt has already been punished, so this is really a minor point for him at this point.