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!

Glad you brought up Lofton.

From Wiki:
Atlanta Falcons

Lofton was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Lofton became a starter in his rookie 2008 season and ranked fourth on the team with 94 tackles (67 solo). Since 2010, Curtis Lofton led the team in tackles and has been an integral part of the defense.




This gives me a whole-lots-a warm fuzzies. Wonder how much practice he has seen against the Atlanta starting offense? :broccoli:

I'm glad we got the punishments out of the way and now we can focus on football. Personally, I don't think these suspensions are that bad for us. Right after our season ended, before we ever heard of 'bountygate,' I was on record in multiple threads saying I thought it was time for us to part ways with Vilma and Smith. I thought it was time for some younger guys like Galette, Romeus, and Martez to get their chance. I do think that it's completely ridiculous that Vilma got a whole year without any definitive proof. Glad to see a lot of his peers around the league are defending him. However; for the Saints, I think we made out fine with these suspensions and we'll use the suspensions to our coaches and players as motivation for the year.

Now since the punishments are out of the way I expect the front office to make a strong push to get Drew's contract finished. We need our leader so lets get this deal done soon.

We were fine the minute we signed Lofton. Hawthorne made us more than fine. We all expected Smith to miss a few games and I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't expect Vilma to be back in the first place.

Glad this is over... now we can talk some real football.

Look, we have a fighting chance to do something.... ANYTHING! What scared me most was mentioning 20 to 27 players for suspension. The NFL COULD have irrevocably crippled our team for the 2012 season with mass suspensions at this late date.

In my opinion, the Sean Payton loss is far more extreme.

If the NFL would have crippled the Saints with suspensions, you could watch those TV $number$ drop for planned games (ie MNF, SNF, ESPN etc.) because the Saints would be playing with SCABS on defense.

There is WAY too much money at stake for the NFL to cripple the Saints, or any team for that matter, for an entire season.

no, they could probably cripple the Jags, Chargers, or Rams for a season and no one would notice

Vilma still has a knee. It takes 18 months to heal and he's not close. Losing a year gives him an opportunity to gain the strength and flexibility that he would not otherwise have been afforded otherwise. This is a good thing for him, and given his limited potential productivity, a good thing for the Saints, as the team can add effective players and reallocate cash.

Smith, well, he's been out before without serious repercussions, so no biggie.

I guess I'm saying, "So What?"

As much as I cant' stand Duncan now, here's a link to Vilma's statement

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jon Vilma: "I intend to fight this injustice" - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

Smith did miss the first 2 games of this past season because of the Star Caps suspension, and although one could argue that it didn't really affect the D or the pass rush in any way, it did place Smith behind the 8-ball and he was playing catch-up for the rest of the season - it could've been one of the reasons why he never seemed to get his game face on.

So, I'm hoping that when he returns to the roster in week 5, he'll be ready to go full stream and not still be digesting a 12-pack of donuts.

so with Smith out for the first 4 games, does Junior start? and does Lofton or Hawthorne take over for Vilma? I assume Lofton and Hawthorne will be on the field at the same time?

I'd assume the depth chart looks like
LDE-Jordan
DT-Ellis
DT-Bunkley
RDE-Galette

SLB-Wilson
MLB-Lofton
WLB-Hawthorne

I can live with that.

Hard to say about Gallette, I guess it all depends on the camps and preseason, and what Romeus' health situation will be at the start of the season.

We don't know how Jordan has developed/progressed during this time of and how that will carry through to the off-season workouts and preseason, so he could be a strong candidate for a starting role.

Hawthorne played Will with the Seahawks, so I guess the logical thing would be to see Lofton as the Mike, but there'll definitely be quite a lot of rotation and substitutions going on within the LB corps within the span of the game.

That would certainly be a nice front 7 with a group of good talent still on the rotation.

I was was 99% sure Vilma would miss the whole season, as soon as Payton's suspension came out. Roger likes to make example's of people, so it was obvious this was going to happen to Vilma.

The NFL (RG) is between a rock and hard spot. With Vilma's PR it appears he is prepared to challenge his suspension in court if necessary. If RG or a court reduces or dismisses Vilma's suspension, how is the NFL (RG) going to maintain Payton, Loomis, and Vitt's (even Williams) suspensions.

Vilma will have the NFLPA on his side.

If RG upholds Vilma's suspension, then to court Vilma will go. Might take time, but RG had better have his lawyers and ducks in a row!!!!!!

IMHO, this "could" get interesting.

If Vilma wins in court, the floodgates will open and every person suspend will follow suit. They can all make easy money suing the NFL. Some will wait 5 years, some like SP, I imagine will sue immediately.
Not sure if Benson would sue, he's more a part of the NFL.

Dookie.

Hey Godell... Suck on this you cork soaker.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopo...mage/image.jpg

Cut Vilma and sign him as a advisor for the lb corps. Resign next year if it deems ness which I doubt it will.

They'll gain more cap space by him being suspended (base salary won't count towards the cap) than they would if they were to cut him.

I like it! On paper that's way better than last year!

Poor Vilma
 

Poor guy. Would've been nice to get a phone call. Saints are gonna struggle on D this yr

Really? Losing Vilma and adding Lofton, Hawthorne, and Chamberlain not to mention Spags new scheme and we're gonna struggle?

If by struggle you mean we won't be the 2000 Ravens...OK.

If you mean we'll be worse than the last 3 or 4 years, I disagree completely.

We have more talent on defense than we've ever had this century.

I think Lofton is un upgrade over Vilma, and the loss of Will Smith will hurt only a little. Some may say not at all.

Even without Vilma, our 2012 LB corp is still better than anything we've fielded since the dome patrol...on paper.

And yes we all know everything is pure speculation this point. Why do I feel compelled to add this to every post I make during each and every off-season? :rolleyes:

Its like the weekly power-ranking articles. YES we all know nothing matters except wins and losses.

To add to what Danno said, they'll be playing with a chip on their shoulders and with an Us vs Them mentality, which will bring them closer as an team and as a defensive unit - I pity the fools who are gonna face them!