The controversy swirling around now-suspended St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams continues to build as the government joined in Thursday. According to the Associated Press, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is calling for a hearing to examine the bounty system used by Williams while he was the defensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints.

Durbin contends the bounty system should fall under the designation of "criminal":

"Let's be real basic about it here. If this activity were taking place off of a sporting field, away from a court, nobody would have a second thought (about whether it's wrong). 'You mean, someone paid you to go out and hurt someone?'" Durbin said in a telephone interview before raising the issue on the floor of the Senate.

The NFL has already leveled harsh, unprecedented punishments against the Saints and their staff. And according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the league is willing to talk with Sen. Durbin about the issue.

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