New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

QB Drew Brees/2013 base salary-$9.75 million, w/bonuses-$17.4 million 2013 cap hit: Sorry had to go ahead and talk about the elephant in the room. It would surprise me if Brees did restructure his contract since he barely procured it back in July. Still if he truly wants his team to succeed and get some talent he would. He has expressed that he wants the Saints to retain Bushrod so there is a slim chance he give some to keep the guy protecting his blindside…key word is slim.

CB Jabari Greer/2013 base salary-$3.6 million, w/bonuses-$5.4 million 2013 cap hit: Greer had a good season but had some injuries as well. That doesn’t warrant the Saints demanding that he restructure but Greer just seems like the kind of guy who would do it to help his team if he can. He just received this contract extension though and in the end would only help with a few million at best.

WR Marques Colston/2013 base salary-$4.5 million, w/bonuses-$6.6 million 2013 cap hit: We can all agree that Colston didn’t have the season we are used to seeing him have as in previous years. While making some spectacular grabs he also had costly drops and uncharacteristic fumbles. His contract is also fresh but he might be more likely to restructure since he is a team player and seems like he would want to prove he’s worth his contract.

LB Curtis Lofton/2013 base salary-$1.1 million, w/bonuses-$7.1 million 2013 cap hit: Lofton’s contract lies in his bonuses he’ll receive. He’s got $1 million due in a signing bonus and $5 million in “miscellaneous” bonuses. I’m no cap expert but some of that could be converted possibly to the signing bonus part and save the team some although Lofton did play well this past season.

RG Jahri Evans/2013 base salary-$7.2 million, w/bonuses-$9.8 million 2013 cap hit: Evans took one for the team last year and worked his contract to get payed through bonuses while only having a $700,000 base salary and only counting against the salary cap for $3.3 million. If need be, the Saints could ask him to do the same again for this season.

LB David Hawthorne/2013 base salary-$1 million, w/bonuses-$4.7 million 2013 cap hit: It’s the same situation as Curtis Lofton where the value is in the “miscellaneous” bonuses. Hawthorne didn’t really standout this past season and the Saints could ask him to help out some and put more into a signing bonus part of his contract.

DT Brodrick Bunkley/2013 base salary-$3.7 million, w/bonuses-$4.7 million 2013 cap hit: Bunkley did an average job on the defensive line for 2012 after big things were expected of him. But play next to Sedrick Ellis and that’s what you get. Still Bunkley could contribute some with his salary being converted to a signing bonus.

LG Ben Grubbs/2013 base salary-$5.2 million, w/bonuses-$7.3 million 2013 cap hit: If Jahri Evans is able to help restructure then so could Grubbs. Grubbs is coming into his second year with the Saints but could still contribute to the salary cap space. Again, a signing bonus and lowering his base would help the club.

DE Will Smith($14.5 million 2013 cap hit), LB Jonathan Vilma($8.6 million 2013 cap hit), S Roman Harper($7.1 million 2013 cap hit): I lumped all three of these into one because they all fall into the same category which is “Do or Die” and also this has been discussed in some of previous articles so we’re beating a dead horse. The short of it is that while all these players possess talent, it’s not enough to justify what they are getting paid. The jury is still out on if the Saints will attempt to bring all three back or not. But the verdict should be that if all three players don’t want to restructure then they’ll likely be gone especially Smith.


New Orleans Saints will ask some players, "Brother can you spare a million or two?"

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

So let the fun begin.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

I see Smith and Vilma as definitely gone, I don't think their performance even deserves a restructure...

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Smith yes; Vilma I would like to see how he can/cannot play if his knee gets healed.

Of course that is if he restructures his salary!

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Smith hasn't produced in years. The guys is a decent DE, but being paid like he is elite. No thanks.

I don't think losing him hurts us at all

I'd like to see what Vilma can do when healthy the whole year.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Sorry... I love Vilma his intelligence and fire.. He has been on a decline since 2009 when he was healthy.

If you truly want to fix the defense it is time to do a little remodeling.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

My thoughts, exactly. He didn't just start declining after the injury. Respect him, but he's not helping us.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Smith and Vilma both restructure and remain in NOLA. But not as starters.

IMO, Brees restructuring (even the smallest amount) would set the tone for 2013 - WE ARE HERE TO WIN.

Tom Brady's done it twice. Look where they are.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

If Brees restructures his contract, I will go on record as promising to stop torturing him about his poor play relative to compensation.

That should do it. We're under the cap already!

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Smith, Vilma, Ellis, Harper all need to go for sure and others as well. The only defensive player I see as a lock is Lofton

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Lofton
Jordan
Galette

Locks

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

I agree but I still like a healthy Vilma. Which he should be....

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Please please please Lord don't let Smith restructure and stay.
Amen

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Smith needs to go, he should of been cut after the 2010 season. I'd like to see a healthy Vilma next to Lofton. Hope he restructures but not it could be time to cut ties with him as well

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Smith is a goner.

See how the others playout but do not mess up Lofton or Bunkley

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Every one of those guys will likely be asked to return at a lower salary, which will probably be at market value.

Smith, Harper, Vilma and Ellis do not suck, they just aren't nearly as good as their 2013 salary. All 4 know it and would be fools to not listen to counter offers by Loomis.

I'd wager 3 of those 4 are back here next year.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Maybe we should ask some teams, "Brothers can you spare a DC or two?"

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Remember, Payton Manning was the highest paid player in the NFL not so long ago. Every season after that billing he restructured to make concessions for salary cap.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

I actually wouldn't mind keeping Smith IF he would restructure his contract and IF we would get his replacement. He would be a great rotational player or backup.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

he needs to shed some weight and become faster on the pass rush.
Totally not "fit" for the part

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

True, and don't forget...Restructuring simply means re-arranging the money. Its almost always benefits the player by converting more and more of their yearly contract to up front bonus which goes into their bank account as the ink dries on the new contract.

Players benefit from re-structuring. Owners, not so much.

In a case like Vilma, thats not the typical re-structure. Thats gonna be asking the man to re-negotiate his value since his contract now exceeds his market-value by a wide margin.

He's faced with renegotiating more toward market value or forcing the team to release him and then he can negotiate with all 32 teams. I think Vilma's happy here so I'd imagine he'd likely want to return if we offer him fair market value.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Agree with you 100% here.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

Just my opinion.... I think Vilma (most importantly) and Smith should move on... Taking all of the lawsuit drama with him. Smith not so much but because its just time for him to go.

We need to focus in 2013... No more distractions whether justified or not.

Re: New Orleans Saints will ask some players, “Brother can you spare a million or two?”
 

I can't blame Vilma for the lawsuit drama... Thats goodells wrong doing and its ashame the guy has to take it to court to get his justice.
I still think a healthy vilma will be good for us, at a reduced cost.