New Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo appears to be the ideal leader to build off all the successful aspects that former coordinator Gregg Williams brought to the Saints defense, while breathing a new life into the unit at the same time according to Mike Tripplet of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. But then even before the bounty scandal erupted this offseason, Williams' blitz-heavy scheme had grown stagnant as offenses learned to adjust. That Saints defense, which ranked second in the NFL in takeaways in... [Read More]
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's federal libel and slander lawsuit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been assigned to Judge Ginger Berrigan. Berrigan, a Clinton appointee, has served on the bench in the Eastern District Court of Louisiana since her confirmation in 1994. As of court closing Friday, there does not appear to have been any motion filed yet by the NFL in response to the lawsuit.
If the NFL Players Association is right, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees could gain some serious leverage against the team. Under the terms of the CBA, a player who is franchised three times gets at least a 44 percent increase in his salary. Brees was franchised by the San Diego Chargers in 2005 and was designated as such by the Saints this offseason. If the 2005 tag counts as being franchised a second time under the current collective bargaining agreement, his one-year tender would jump drastically to... [Read More]
The all-out blitzing the Saints unleashed during recent seasons appears to be a thing of the past under new defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Spagnuolo, the former head coach of the St. Louis Rams, likes a good blitz, but he is more cautious and likes to play more zone defense. "You have to be multiple, in my opinion," he said. "I think that offenses have gotten so far advanced, and quarterbacks have gotten so intelligent about getting their side of the ball in and out of things and to the best... [Read More]
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison thinks that all of the NFL's players stand to benefit from Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against commissioner Roger Goodell, even if he loses his fight. "It is really a win-win, whether he wins the case or if he loses it," Harrison said. "If he loses it, it shows that Goodell does have too much power and if he wins it, it opens up the floodgates." Harrison has long been an outspoken critic of the NFL's commissioner and has been... [Read More]
The NFL Players Association has filed a federal lawsuit, alleging that the NFL and its owners conspired in collusion to establish a "secret $123 million salary cap" in 2010, which under the previous labor agreement was designated as an uncapped year of spending. the NFLPA claims that it learned on or about March 12, 2012 that four teams -- the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints -- did not abide by the NFL's secret rules that effectively advised teams to operate in 2010... [Read More]
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated Tuesday at the Spring League Meeting that the NFL plans to release proof to the public which proves bounties were paid by the New Orleans Saints players according to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.. "Yes, I do," Goodell said when he was asked if he expected the public to see the proof. Eventually. Goodell said the league won't release any more information publicly until the appeals and grievance processes are finished. Goodell also said that the NFLPA "expressly told... [Read More]
Wade Phillips began coaching in the NFL as an assistant with the Houston Oilers in 1976. He has heard — and given — his share of locker room speeches. Still, Phillips said he was stunned by the audio tape from last season's playoffs in which former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams gave graphic instructions to injure opponents. “It made me sick. I just don’t believe in that," Phillips said recently in an interview with Houston Sports Radio 610. "It’s something completely against what I believe in. I... [Read More]
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said that wide receiver Robert Meachem, who had his right knee scope earlier in the offseason, is participating fully in the team’s offseason workouts. “Oh yeah, he looks real good,” Rivers said. “He’s running around and picking up the offense super fast.” Rivers added, “Meachem is learning new stuff, but now we are getting to where we call plays and breaking the huddle and going and going and going. This looks like we have been together for awhile and that’s what you want... [Read More]
Over the last few weeks, several players on the New Orleans Saints have reached out to CBSSports.com columnist Mike Freeman to express their doubts and frustrations with the NFL's investigation into an illegal bounty program and the resulting suspensions handed down to current and former players, coaches and front office staff. Common themes in the players' comments are doubts that the league actually has proof of a bounty system, and a sense that the players and coaches are being railroaded by the NFL. The players... [Read More]
The Saints will kick off OTA practices on Tuesday. It's the first practice for the Saints without Sean Payton as the head coach during his year-long suspension. But the absence of Drew Brees from the OTA sessions will be the bigger storyline as there seems to be no end in sight for Brees' contract negotiations with the Saints.
Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane sports law program, on LB Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against Roger Goodell: “When you're a public figure, you have to prove the statements made against you not only were false, but they were made with actual malice. They were made with the intent to hurt you with reckless disregard to the truth. So you're making a claim that Roger Goodell made a determination that Jonathan Vilma was engaged in this bounty scheme without any evidence, at all, and they Roger Goodell knew he... [Read More]
Mickey Loomis will be out of a job for the first half of the NFL season, but the Saints general manager may keep himself busy running the NBA's New Orleans Hornets. Saints owner Tom Benson, who is in the middle of acquiring the Hornets, is restructuring the top management positions in his empire and that is likely to lead to Loomis overseeing basketball operations for the Hornets, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Loomis has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season for failing to disclose... [Read More]
Speaking with reporters at a team press conference, New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson responded to reports that quarterback Drew Brees was frustrated with the lack of contract talks. "Well, I talked to Drew Brees...it wasn't too long ago. He and I always have nice conversations, his agent and us and Mickey Loomis, primarily, are trying to work out the details," Benson said. "There's money involved, and two people have some difference of opinion...but it's going to be worked out. I assure you that... [Read More]
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's decision to sue NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for defamation was an unprecedented and unexpected step in the aftermath following the Saints' "bounty" scandal. It feels like a legal Hail Mary. Vilma will have a difficult time proving Goodell lied or demonstrated "actual malice" in regards to Vilma, which is the legal standard for proving defamation, if nothing else, Vilma's bold move won some respect from his fellow players. "What a badass,"... [Read More]
