The answer to your question is yes, but only the base salary of a suspended player does not count towards the cap.

That means that all other bonuses of a suspended player will still count towards the overall salary cap, like signing and roster bonuses.

In Vilma's case it would mean that the $5.4M base salary would come of the books (more than what the Saints would free up if they cut Vilma), but the $1.2M annual signing bonus cap hit would still count towards the cap.

So, if Vilma is not 100% healthy, it would actually be financially better for the Saints if he was suspended for the entire season.

Great break down, FinSaint. SUSPEND HIM! Bring in Lofton. I guess I can give up on Woodyard now.

Thanks, and Woodyard already re-signed with the Broncos few days ago - sorry to be the bearer of bad news. :-(

I sure hope so. I was one who wanted him to get drafted and have supported him until this last year when he had the talent next to him that should have let him shine and he disappeared again. I'm ready to move on.

I didn't really want to draft him, I wanted Keith Rivers, but I have supported him and wasn't really disappointed until last season.

Well, that's something.

we need an announcement of that sort.

I like the signing.

Ellis is a solid role player. He's just not the star we hoped he would be and he is absolutely overpaid. What worries me about Bunkley is he had alot of talent around him. But, for the price and need at the position, he was the best available.

If the Saints decide to keep Ellis and if he doesn't get suspended because of the Bountygate - I expect to see an elevated effort from him this coming season and hopefully we'll be able to see him meet at least some of the expectations most of us have had for him.

If he (once again) fails to make an impact this coming season, he'll be gone the next off-season and the Saints will still have Bunkley as a veteran DT with hopefully some young developing DTs.

And I should of course mention my favorite, #96 Tom Johnson, who I believe will have a breakout year this coming season having 1 year in the NFL under his belt. His progression was somewhat hampered by the hamstring injury he received in the 2nd quarter of the first pre-season game last season. After missing some games because of the said injury, he never came back as explosive as he looked in that small sample from the pre-season. So, if he is able to stay healthy, absorb all that he can from Spags, and transfer all of that to the field - he could be a monster next season.

I hope the Saints are able to pick up a rookie DT in the 3rd round, and Derek Wolfe is still my personal favorite because of his skill-set and size - best of all he could still be available when the Saints pick.