The Sports Xchange
NFL Team Report – New Orleans Saints – INSIDE SLANT
On the day NFL commissioner Roger Goodell heard appeals from the Saints front office and coaching staff on the penalties levied against them last month in the bounty scandal, the story took another turn Thursday.
According to Yahoo.com NFL columnist Mike Silver, former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended by Goodell on March 21 for at least a year for running the bounty program and lying about it, urged members of his defensive unit to injure opposing players when they met the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC divisional playoffs.
According to Silver, Williams delivered a 12-minute speech to the Saints on the night before the Jan. 14 game, which the Saints lost, 36-32.
Silver wrote that Williams targeted at least five 49ers offensive players — Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams — for which he wanted his players to inflict bodily harm.
Williams’ speech was recorded by filmmaker Sean Pamphilon, who was granted behind-the-scenes access by club officials during the 2011 season to record footage for a film about former Saints player Steve Gleason.
Pamphilon released the tape to Yahoo!Sports because he felt uncomfortable with Williams’ methods.
“Every single one of you, before you get off the pile, affect the head … early, affect the head, continue (to) touch and hit the head,” Williams says on the tape.
“We need to decide whether Crabtree wants to be a (expletive) prima donna or he wants to be a tough guy, we need to find that out. He becomes human when we (expletive) take out that outside ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
“We need to find out in the first two series of the game, the little wide receiver — No. 10 (Williams) — about his concussion. We need to (expletive) put a lick on him.”
Williams, who was hired as the St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator just days after that season-ending loss to the 49ers, did not appeal his suspension and will have to apply for reinstatement to the NFL after the 2012 season.
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NFL Team Report – New Orleans Saints – NOTES, QUOTES
–Fifteen days after being handed penalties in the bounty scandal the NFL said the Saints ran from 2009 to 2011, coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach Joe Vitt traveled to New York on Thursday to have their appeals heard by commissioner Roger Goodell.
Payton was suspended for the 2012 season, while Loomis was given an eight-game penalty. Vitt, who serves as linebackers coach, received a six-game suspension when Goodell announced his punishment on March 21.
It was not clear if Saint owner Tom Benson, who the NFL said did not play a role in the pay-for-performance bounty program that former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams ran, went to New York as well.
Even though Benson was absolved of direct participation in the bounty scheme, the Saints were fined $500,000 and forced to forfeit their second-round draft pick this year and in 2013.
If nothing else, Payton’s appeal bought him a few extra days on the job as his suspension was supposed to start April 1.
Goodell said last week Payton could continue to work while the appeals process took place, but also indicated that he would make an expedited ruling following the appeal.
–After meeting with representatives of the NFL Players Association on April 2, Goodell is expected to soon hand down punishment to players who were involved in a bounty system that provided cash bonuses for big hits and knocked opposing players out of games.
“I hope to be able to make some decisions soon,” Goodell said. “I believe in getting as much information as possible. We respect the players. This is important because it’s a player safety matter. We think that we need to get some input from them.”
A three-year investigation by the NFL showed that between 22 and 27 players took part in the bounty system run by Williams.
In its findings, the league said Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, a defensive captain, offered $10,000 to the player who knocked Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC title game.
The NFLPA last week told players involved in the case there’s a chance they could face criminal charges and it had hired outside counsel to represent them if needed.
–Saints running back Pierre Thomas spoke out this week against penalties that are expected to be handed down to players involved in the bounty scandal.
Thomas, who modeled the Saints uniform during the league’s unveiling of the new Nike gear that teams will be wearing starting this season, called possible player suspensions “ridiculous.”
“We’re players … we’re going out there to make plays. That’s what the game is about,” said Thomas, who was knocked out of the divisional playoff game with the San Francisco 49ers on the first series by a concussion. “You play defense, your job is to tackle.
“I’m not faulting the guy that hit me. It’s the nature of the game. That happens.”
–While they prepared to make their appeal to Goodell and the NFL, Saints officials continued to stock up the linebacking corps by agreeing to a five-year deal with former Seattle Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne.
Hawthorne is the third linebacker to join the Saints in free agency in the last couple of weeks as Atlanta’s Curtis Lofton and St. Louis’ Chris Chamberlain signed earlier.
Both Lofton and Hawthorne played in the middle for their former teams, which could be an indication that the Saints believe Jonathan Vilma could face a severe penalty for his role in the bounty scandal.
However, team officials said Lofton and Hawthorne can play the outside spots in the 4-3 new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will run. Last year’s starters were Scott Shanle, who will turn 33 this season, and Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who signed last week with the Rams.
Hawthorne, who started 41 games in four seasons with the Seahawks, had more than 100 tackles the last three seasons. He recorded six sacks, seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries and forced four fumbles.
–The Saints, who last month learned that they would open the 2012 preseason in the Hall of Fame Game against the Arizona Cardinals, learned Wednesday their other four exhibition opponents.
After playing the Cardinals, the Saints will travel to New England the weekend of Aug. 9-13 before playing the next two games in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome against Jacksonville (Aug. 16-20) and Houston on Aug. 25 in a game that will be nationally televised by CBS.
The Saints will conclude preseason play at Tennessee (Aug. 29-30).
Exact dates and times for games not shown on national TV will be announced at a later date.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “You can’t believe everything that comes out in the media. So, you know, I’m sure it’ll work itself out and, you know, the truth will come out in the end. But it’s not something that I’m terribly concerned about.” — Saints DT Sedrick Ellis, on possible player suspensions in the bounty scandal.
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NFL Team Report – New Orleans Saints – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Saints took a big step toward fixing the defense that was stung for big play after big play in a 36-32 divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers with the recent signings of defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley and linebackers David Hawthorne, Curtis Lofton and Chris Chamberlain.
Even though they were better against the run late in the season, they needed a run-stopper in the middle and went out and got one of the best on the open market in Bunkley.
Lofton or Hawthorne could take over in the middle if Jonathan Vilma, who’s had knee problems, is slow to come back from an injury that required more surgery in the offseason. He could also be suspended in the bounty case.
Chamberlain, who was primarily a special teams standout for the Rams, could also be in the mix as well in what could be a new-look Saints linebacking corps this season.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Defensive tackle: Even though they added Brodrick Bunkley in free agency, the Saints may try to upgrade further because free-agent pickups Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin were ineffective last year and are on the market again. Starter Sedrick Ellis is smallish and hasn’t been effective the last two seasons, so they could make another addition here as well.
2. Offensive line: The Saints had no depth here a year ago and must look at building it back up. While the starting unit is set, center/guard Matt Tennant and tackle Charles Brown, who ended 2011 on injured reserve with a hip injury, haven’t exactly distinguished themselves when given a chance.
3. Wide receiver: The Saints lost Robert Meachem in free agency and Devery Henderson has only one year remaining on his contract. Even though Marques Colston and Lance Moore are locked up with long-term deals, they may begin to look for a future contributor in the mid- to later rounds of the draft.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: QB Drew Brees (exclusive; tendered currently at $14.436 million. Could only go higher on April 20 when it becomes based on the five highest-paid quarterbacks this year).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
–DE Jeff Charleston is a role player who has been a handy man of sorts in the rotation for the last couple of seasons, but likely won’t be re-signed.
–DT Aubrayo Franklin may not be re-signed after the Saints filled his spot with Brodrick Bunkley.
–TE John Gilmore was a late addition to the roster after training camp ended and is valued for his blocking abilities.
–TE Tory Humphrey was signed late in the regular season because of injuries at the position and probably won’t be re-signed.
–PK John Kasay is a consummate pro who performed well at the age of 42. He won’t be back with Garrett Hartley returning from a hip injury.
–T Pat McQuistan was signed when Charles Brown was lost for the season with a hip injury and likely won’t be re-signed.
–WR Courtney Roby has had some injury problems during his career with the Saints and likely won’t be re-signed since his value as a kick returner went down with the addition of Darren Sproles.
–DT Shaun Rogers could be out of the Saints’ plans if he was in them after they signed Brodrick Bunkley.
–CB Leigh Torrence likely won’t be back after he was a game-day inactive late in the season and was replaced by rookie Johnny Patrick.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
–LB Ramon Humber (not tendered as RFA) is a valuable special teams contributor and occasional fill-in at linebacker. He could be re-signed for less than the minimum RFA tender of $1.26M.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
–LB Jonathan Casillas (tendered at $1.26M with no compensation) has played well at times when healthy and could be in new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s plans.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
–S Jonathon Amaya: Potential ERFA; $540,000/1 yr.
–WR Adrian Arrington: Potential ERFA; $540,000/1 yr.
–WR Marques Colston: Potential UFA; $40
–QB Chase Daniel: Potential RFA; $1M/1 yr, $300,000 SB.
–C Brian de la Puente: Potential ERFA; $540,000/1 yr.
–LS Justin Drescher: Potential ERFA; $540,000/1 yr.
–DE Turk McBride: Potential UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–DT Brodrick Bunkley: UFA Broncos; $25M/5 yrs, $9 Million guaranteed.
–LB Chris Chamberlain: UFA Rams; $4.05M/3 yrs, $1.2M SB.
–OG Ben Grubbs: UFA Ravens; $36M/5 yrs, $10M SB/$16M guaranteed.
–LB David Hawthorne: UFA Seahawks; 5 yrs, terms unknown.
–MLB Curtis Lofton: UFA Falcons; $33.5M/6 yrs, $5M SB/$7.8M guaranteed/$6M base in 2017 voidable.
PLAYERS LOST
–LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar: UFA Rams; $3.05M/2 yrs, $1M SB.
–WR Robert Meachem: UFA Chargers; $25.9M/4 yrs, $7.5M SB/$5M base guarantee 2013.
–OG Carl Nicks: UFA Buccaneers; $47.5M/5 yrs, $31M guaranteed.
–CB Tracy Porter: UFA Broncos; $4M/1 yr.
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