Count 49ers safety Donte Whitner among those appalled by Thursday’s revelation that the New Orleans Saints defense was ordered by then-coordinator Gregg Williams to injure the 49ers’ offensive mainstays in their Jan. 14 playoff game.
“If those things are true, I think it’s really disgusting and something should be done about it to a higher extreme than what is (already set),” Whitner told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “You’re out there intending to hurt guys. This is their careers and how they take care of families.”
On the eve of the 49ers’ 36-32 win, Saints defenders were urged to hurt several 49ers players.
None of the 49ers targeted by Williams were seriously hurt. Although Whitner knocked Saints running back Pierre Thomas from the game with a head injury, “I didn’t go out intentionally to hurt him,” Whitner said.
Williams instructed his defense to attack such body parts as Alex Smith’s chin, Michael Crabtree’s anterior cruciate ligament and Frank Gore’s head. Wide receiver Kyle Williams, whose concussion issues are pinpointed in Williams’ speech, declined to comment Thursday as he left 49ers headquarters.
Second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick said it wasn’t an issue that the team was worried about, before offering: “You never want to hear anybody talk about your teammates like that, especially people you’re very close to. Once again, that’s a league matter.”
Former 49ers offensive lineman Randy Cross mocked the outcry, posting on Twitter: “NFL Media Nanny State up in arms about FB coach espousing violent behavior. U people r clueless about the game.”
Williams’ words didn’t anger 49ers tight end Delanie Walker, who said: “It’s funny to me, to talk like that about players. It’s nothing we can’t let the NFL handle. The coach is trying to pump players up.”
The NFL did not issue a comment on the matter, and 49ers CEO Jed York declined comment.
