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Cris Carter says he put bounties on players when he was in NFL

Cris Carter with the Minnesota Vikings in 2000.
(Ann Heisenfelt / Associated Press)
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Former NFL receiver Cris Carter says he put “bounties” on opposing players when he played in the league. Carter made the admission Tuesday night on “Hill and Schlereth,” a show on ESPN Radio.

“I put bounties on guys,” Carter said. “If a guy tries to take me out, a guy takes a cheap shot on me? I put a bounty on him right now!”

Carter said the big difference between what he did and what the New Orleans Saints did in their bounty system is that Carter didn’t want opponents injured.

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“The difference is people going out of their way to hurt a player,” Carter said. “Hitting a spot that we as players know is off limits, like his knees. You’re not telling them to go out and get someone, you’re telling them to protect you, run down the field to protect their skill guys.”

Carter singled out former linebacker Bill Romanowski as a person he put a bounty on.

“Bill Romanowski told me he was going to take me out before a game. He said ‘I’m gonna end your career, Carter.’ No problem.... I put a little change on his head before the game. Protect myself. Protect my family. That’s the league that I grew up in,” Carter said.

On ESPN Radio on Wednesday, Romanowski denied making threats to Carter.

“I never would say a word to anybody, but I tell you what, if you could read my mind....” Romanowski said. “Maybe Cris Carter is a mind-reader. It couldn’t have been a very good [bounty]. It didn’t work.”

Carter responded to Romanowski later Wednesday: “Romo says, well the bounty didn’t work.... Yes, it did work. Here I am 46 years old and I never had a concussion. Here I am 46 years old and I don’t have memory loss. For me the bounty did work. That was money well spent.”

Carter played in the NFL from 1987 to 2002.

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Cris Carter says he put bounties on players when he was in NFL

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