SportsNation Blog Archives
New Orleans Saints
On Thursday, "First Take" discussed Jonathan Vilma's confident tweets about the outcome of this appeal hearing. Vilma thinks he'll win the appeal, which might clear him of his yearlong suspension for his alleged role in the Saints' bounty program. Stephen A. Smith doesn't believe that Vilma is innocent, while Skip Bayless doesn't see enough evidence to uphold the suspension. What's your take?
Drew Brees still has not signed a long-term extension with the Saints and has called his contract talks "extremely frustrating." Who do you blame for the delay?
- coolhandlukeri: "yea, I feel terrible for you Drew. You're only going to make 23 million this season while being franchised. What a horrible future. Maybe we should take up a collection in case you starve."
- markcornell53: "The negotiations should be as follows: Drew, we'll give you whatever you want."
- Harbaughsome: "I wouldn't be surprised if a sign and trade happens. The dysfunction in the Saints org is obvious to everybody else in the league. Things can only look worse from the inside."
- forgetmenot438: "Saints should release him. If he can get the money elsewhere they should respect him enough to let him go. If he cant get the money and still goes somewhere else he didnt want to be there at all. Locking him up and insulting him isnt doing any good."
- apex.late: "The Saints have been masterful in keeping Brees on the cheap. Even if they have to pay the franchise tag this year and he leaves, they have still got his best years far below market value. They have no choice in giving the guy a long term contract though, he is keeping the team relevant and I don't see that changing any time soon."
- jpfense: "The Saints are waiting for the Vilma/Smith suspensions to be finalized so they can give him the money he wants."
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On Tuesday, "First Take" debated another facet of the Saints' bounty scandal. Scott Fujita denied ever giving money to a bounty program despite his suspension, which hasn't convinced Stephen A. Smith. As far as he's concerned, all the players are guilty. Skip Bayless says he's leaning more and more toward believing the players. What's your take?
Terrell Suggs was one of the NFL's finest defensive players last season, but an Achilles tendon tear will likely keep him on the sidelines this season. Suggs' injury was originally rumored to have happened during a pickup basketball game, but sources say he tore it during a standard conditioning drill required by the Ravens. Suggs is a big loss to Baltimore, but can it weather his absence?
Ravens prognosis?
The Ravens have other stars, but Suggs was an absolute beast in 2011, a terror to every facet of an opposing team's offense.
Suggs or Rose?
Suggs may not be as important to the Ravens as, say, Derrick Rose is to the Bulls, but at least Rose got Chicago to the playoffs before his injury.
Offseason activities?
It's never fun when an athlete gets injured, but it always seems egregious when the injury occurs off the field, even in a football-related activity like with what happened to Suggs.
On Thursday, "First Take" talked about Jonathan Vilma's comments about his role -- or lack thereof -- in the Saints' bounty program. Vilma stated that he did not set out to injure any opposing players and did not participate in or contribute to the Saints' bounty pool. Opinions were sharply divided on the "First Take" set. What's your take?
Allegations have surfaced that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis had electronic surveillance devices that would allow him to eavesdrop on opposing coaching staffs. Would this be a bigger deal than the bounty scandal?
- The Woo Woo Kid: "Put an asterisk next to the Super Bowl championship"
- TheRavMan: "This happens everywhere in football. If you really want to stop it, you'd have to have every NFL stadium swept for electronic bugs before every game. You'd also have to make the penalty incredibly harsh, like immediate lifetime ban from the league and forfeiture of all salary that you have earned from the moment of the first violation. since that will never happen, eavesdropping will just continue."
- dudetazered: "At this point, it's safe to assume that the Saints have been the biggest pack of cheaters of the NFL the past 3 years."
- kivac23: "So this is Bountygate plus Spygate in one offseason. Ouch! "
- btrain1991: "Wow, this is stunning. I see a indefinite ban coming. "
- mcbaxter7: "The Saints with this and Bountygate are unarguably dirtier than the Patriots were with Spygate."
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As part of his punishmend for his role in the bounty scandal, Sean Payton will be banned from having any contact with anyone associated with the NFL. Is this too harsh of a punishment?
- JrBoy2724: "This has disaster written all over it. The Saints should just cut ties with Payton. He will be under a microscope all year and the league will be waiting for the slightest mistake to drop the hammer on him for good."
- OttosAnOrange: "Payton told to call if he talks to someone...yeah, because he's SO good at self-reporting."
- IamLegendNYC: "This is bizarre. NFL should not have the power to tell any employee they can't talk to their friends. I don't care what Payton did, he shouldn't be barred from talking. This would never be legal and if it weren't for collective bargaining a court would be sure to strike this down."
- kenfranklinistheman: "This just keeps getting worse, how awkward is it going to be after not talking to anyone for a year, and then he just pops back in. I think saints need to let him go"
- morachi: "I'm curious to how far the NFLPA is going to fight this. So far the NFL can produce all the talk in the world but agin there just isn't the trail of bodies and injuries to suggest the bounty program actually had any effect on anyone getting hurt. From the statistics it seems just the opposite."
- vicana13: "He should of been asigned charity work for the entire season! To keep him busy "
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Gregg Williams was indefinitely suspended for his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal, and new audio has emerged from a pregame speech Williams gave before a playoff game against the 49ers that doesn't exactly do wonders for his defense. Williams is receiving criticism for his statements that the Saints should have specifically targeted injuries on opposing players, including concussions and ACL injuries. Are his statements so unusual that he deserves condemnation by fans and the league alike?
Williams' future?
Williams is currently on indefinite suspension, and the release of this tape might keep him out of the sport for a long time.
Acceptable targets?
Williams instructed his players to go after Kendall Hunter's head. Hunter had suffered concussions in the past.
Standard practice?
Gregg Williams isn't the first NFL coach to tell his players to try to deliberately hurt opponents, but was his speech more the exception than the rule?
One thing we've learned about the Saints during this whole bounty scandal is that they're more than capable of thinking outside the box when the need arises. Most people thought they'd go with one of their existing coordinators as interim head coach in Sean Payton's absence, but it's looking more and more likely that Bill Parcells will coach the team instead. Parcells' recent history suggests that he might be more comfortable behind the scenes than on the sideline, but you never know when it comes to the Big Tuna.
Parcells or Payton?
The Saints are still a very good team even with Payton, and it's entirely possible that Parcells could make them better during his stint as interim head coach.
Reset the clock?
It takes five years after retirement for a player or coach to be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but in this case, the powers that be might make an exception.
The best retired coach?
We'd love for any and all of these coaches to put the headset on one last time, but it looks like Parcells might be the only one to get a chance.
The Saints will definitely miss Sean Payton as he serves out his suspension, but their pain might be mitigated by an unlikely source. Payton has allegedly approached Bill Parcells to take over the team for the duration of Payton's absence. Would this be a good move?
- bro_ham5: "I would love for Parcells take to over as the interim coach."
- debakes10: "Payton wants Parcells because Parcells wouldn't be interested in keeping his job long term. If someone comes in and coaches them to an NFC championship game it makes Payton expendible."
- OSU4LIFE133: "Why would it be up to Sean Payton to choose who he wants to run the team for a year? Wouldn't that be up to Saints management?"
- PKacera35: "Kinda defeats the purpose of a punishment if the Saints are allowed to go bring in a HOF coach for the year."
- Lakerfresh: "Saints will just lose to the Niners or any team outdoor again, not like it matters who's the coach."
- saintsfan989: "don't undervalue payton but parcells would be a great replacement for this year"
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