Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

No surprise. I kinda saw that coming after the Payton interview.

I agree.

Not surprised about Vilma but it will be interesting to see what happens with Smith.I hope it's not any longer than a year otherwise its going to be the same next year.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Good! Win-win for the Saints.

One sentence and Richard Cranium still had to add in a bounty dig...

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

I think re-signing Smith is a good thing. He's our best DE (albeit Jordan is closing fast) and I'm of the opinion you don't cut your best player at a position unless you have better options.

We don't know if Hicks can be that 16 game DE in this league yet. Having a veteran like Smith around will only help. Smith played that 3-4 DE spot quite a bit under GW and on certain packages under Spags, so the coaches do know what he brings to the table.

He may not be the final answer at DE, but we damn sure could do a lot worse than Will Smith.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

How are we ever going to change the D with the same players that under-perform. Bring in some new-blood at those positions. Even when Williams was the DC if it were not for the turnovers in 09 our D still stunk! I have a hard time believing we will get better keeping players well past their prime. In a 3-4 Vilma will be eaten alive, Smith will be kept for depth purposes but I don't think he's starting material in a 3-4 or a 4-3 either. I truly love my Saints and only want the best for us and them but being blind and actually being able to see are 2 totally different things.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Also, might as well sign Ellis to a huge contract for all the ole gang can be here. Why not??

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

We aren't giving them a huge raise, we're asking them to restructure, which I hope and assume includes a reduction in yearly salary.

When we sign or draft someone better, I'm all for releasing them.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Still talking about the "bounty scandal"?? Good lord Adam and ESPN get a life.


"And here comes Tom Brady and coach billichick who were involved in spygate"Says no ESPN reporter. "Hey Louisianaians Joe Horn who was 1 of the 1,200 players involved in the saints bounty scandal will be in mandeville Saturday selling his BBQ sauce"
Says every ESPN reporter ever. Smh

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

I can't say I'm really happy about this, but I'll reserve my judgment until the terms of the restructures are announced or if there'll be another outcome to this.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Saints will ask LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith, two players the NFL linked to its bounty scandal, to restructure their contracts.

defamation of character baby. sue espn

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Vilma I'm happy about,
Smith needed to go so the new young talent can start to take place.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Well usually when you hear "restructure", that means change the way they will get there current contract money. No way in the world is Smith worth his contract.

Now if it would have said they will be asked to take a "reduction", that would be better. The contract would still be re-dun and could have still been structured to give the majority in bonus.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Very true. Smith only has 2 years left on his contract and the cap hit is nearly the same for each year so I don't see how restructuring helps us at all. It has to be a renegotiation or extension at a reduced price.

His 2013 cap hit is 14.5 million.
His 2014 cap hit is 13.9 million.
He's an UFA in 2015.

Simply restructuring doesn't help us at all. I suspect its an extension at a lower rate.

Vima is in the last year of his contract so a simple restructuring doesn't help anyone anywhere anyhow.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

With these guys, I can't help but read this as a "reducture".

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

I'm ok with Vilma. But Smith? Really? I don't mind either sticking around but the price has to be good. Smith isn't worth half of what he's due in 2013.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

What I gathered from this limited information was that the restructure would be more about a pay-cut with possibly adding an additional year or two to the present contracts. So the players would get a nice bonus immediately while understanding that they would never play those last years in reality, but then again, the parties might not even agree on the restructure and end up going separate ways.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

I will be soo upset if Smith is still here. His roster spot needs to be taken by an up and coming talent.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

Excellent!:lolup:

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

You can restructure and at least get some production and veteran experience for about the same cap number if you outright release them.
Works for me if they restructure, we can definitely do worst without them, doing better is unknown at this time.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

The only justification I can accept for cutting a player without his replacement in mind is if the front office is sure they can replace that player with a better player for the same amount.

Otherwise, keep 'em till someone beats them out.

You don't get better by cutting your most talented players. You get better by signing/drafting better ones.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

The thing is that I truly believe you could find a better fit for the DE position in Rob Ryan's 3-4, and a potential starter, for around $6M.

Now, Smith would bring his veteran and team leader status along him, but still I think there would be solid options for replacing him, who could be longer term solutions than Smith.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

A full blow up and retool of this Defense is a long, time consuming process....San Fran ran through a whole coaching staff before it got to that type of defensive front. If you look at the state of this team, we just don't have the time to blow this d all the way up, and then redo it before BREES skill set diminishes. I understand wanting to keep some Veterans around..... And too I bet there are still some spite issues.... Some I would love to have you around when I stick it to this B*&^% Goodell.... You should be talking about who he didn't ask to restructure and why...... Harper..... Greer..... those guys are making big money to......

I think Harper will be asked to restructure it will be cut depending on the draft.I think he still has things to offer in the next season or two.I fully agree that we are in a position to paper over the cracks for a couple of years.
Keep the backbone of the team together another couple if years then its time for a massive splash in FA and draft in 3 years time.

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

i can see that. but no matter what the money against the cap will govern the whole thing. i think not seeing these two in black and gold next year is a stretch due to the cap hits no matter what thay do. Next year is a bit of reach to even with redoing the contract. but 1 maybe gone. now two years and i say this is all over.

mickey has his work cut out for him that for sure to speed up this time frame

Re: Saints to ask Vilma and Smith to restructure
 

The Saint organization really holds the power in both of these. Not that this is an unfair request for either anyway.