QBREES9

This is not right at all.

darstep

I am borderline happy about only Vilma and Smith.
Goodell could have really pushed hard and dropped the whole turd - really stank up the place.
We kind of knew Vilma would get hung in the middle, but I expect 1/2 the defense to be gone and/or fined.
We know how to play without Smith for 4 games, and we learned how to play without Vilma.
If Lofton does as well as Dunbar did, we should be in pretty good shape.
We are in a much better position than I ever expected.
So Let's Geaux!

QBREES9

Where's the Evidence

dueceloose

So does this mean I need a Free Vilma shirt to go along with my Free Coach Payton shirt?

dueceloose

But honestly this just shows how messed up this whole situation is. Out of all the pages Goodell had about our bounty program he only suspends 4 players and only one really takes the fall.

FinSaint

Could've been much worse, I sad for Vilma and Smith, but I'm glad it wasn't worse.

So, the Saints free up $ 5.6M in cap space?

Vilma's whole base salary $5.4M and 1/4th of Smith's base salary 206K, it would've been much better if they hadn't restructured Smith's contract because his entire bonuses will still count towards the cap ($6.5M).

goguxxx

What i want to know is wtf did Hargrove sign...they keep hammering this **** .And the NFLPA can protest all they want, Goodell can care less

darstep

I think with the new DQ Spagnuolo, the sets and the cadences will be different anyway.
I think Spags will bring a different focal point and priority list to the group.
I'm sure Vilma would have gobbled it up but I also think Lofton can handle it.
If the defense, with all it's newness, can just play middle pack, we are right back in it.

TheOak

Vilma WAS the QB of Williams's defense.

Spags, especially coming from a HC position will probably be more hands on.

Vilma called the shots in GW's defence, naturally that would make him the leader on the field.

Different DC, different methodology, etc...

It would be more damaging if GW were still the DC...

ChrisXVI

With time to reflect, we'll be fine. The Saints prepared for this and our linebacking corp is probably going to be better this season even without Vilma. This isn't going to hurt us at all. Time to look to the future, what's done is done. We're starting the Spagnuolo as DC and Lofton as MLB era. Here's to the future and a much-needed overhaul of the defense!