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NEW ORLEANS -- Short-handed and disappointed, but hardly crippled, the New Orleans Saints may at last be able to put bounty scandals behind them and focus on putting together a fourth-straight playoff season. When the NFL first announced as many as 27 current or ex-Saints participated in a cash-for-hits bounty program, seemingly all Saints regulars on defence faced suspensions. As it turned out, only two current Saints -- linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith -- will be sanctioned. And while Vilma, a defensive captain, is slated to miss the entire season, Smiths four-game suspension still allows him to participate in training camp, as well as the final 12 regular-season games -- and whatever playoff run the scandal-plagued but highly motivated Saints might make. "We wish we had Will just like we wish we had Jonathan, but other guys will step up," Saints veteran right tackle Zach Strief said in a phone interview. "All we can do is move on and allow the process to run its course ... and I have all the confidence in the world in the guys in the locker room." Smith said in a statement Wednesday, hours after his suspension was announced, that he planned to appeal. Vilma at first said only that he would fight what he perceived as an injustice perpetrated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and then said on his Twitter page Thursday he "definitely" would appeal. If Vilma is unable to win a reduction or delay in his suspension, the Saints will still have proven players ready to step in. New Orleans signed three linebackers in free agency, including two -- Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne -- who have extensive experience at Vilmas middle linebacker spot. The 6-foot, 241-pound Lofton was a second-round draft choice by the Falcons in 2008 and has started 63 of his 64 games, including all 16 last season. The 6-foot, 236-pound Hawthorne, entering his fifth year in the NFL, has started 41 games in his last three seasons at Seattle. With new defensive co-ordinator Steve Spagnuolo bringing in his own system, Vilma would not have had much advantage over Lofton or Hawthorne in terms of experience in the system. Also, Vilma, who turned 30 last month, is coming off his worst season with the Saints. He missed five games in 2011 because of nagging knee problems. He finished with 54 total tackles, one quarterback hit and only one tackle for a loss with no sacks. Those numbers were way down from the Saints Super Bowl run two seasons earlier, when Vilma led the team with 110 total tackles, had two sacks among 10 tackles for losses, had 10 QB hits and three interceptions. If Vilmas appeal or potential legal manoeuvrs succeed, he may have a chance to prove he can come back and play the way he did before 2011. Otherwise, he might have to wait until the 2013 season. At defensive end, the Saints have three players other than Smith with NFL experience: 2011 first-round pick Cam Jordan, veteran Turk McBride and third-year pro Junior Gallette. Last season, Smith was second on the club with 6 1/2 sacks, but Gallette had 4 1/2 sacks in a reserve role, showing the potential to be more productive with more playing time. Jordan started all but one game in his rookie season and will be expected to produce even more in 2012. The Saints lost only the defensive tackles they let walk in free agency, and will have four-year starter Sedrick Ellis joining free-agent pickup Brodrick Bunkley in the middle, with veteran Tom Johnson rotating in and perhaps contributions from third-round draft choice Akiem Hicks. The Saints still have their secondary intact with the exception of cornerback Tracy Porter, who left in free agency. However, former first-round draft choice Patrick Robinson, who led New Orleans with four interceptions last season, was expected to slide into the starting spot opposite veteran Jabari Greer. Both of the Saints hard-hitting safeties, Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins, were spared bounty-related suspensions. That had to come as a relief to Harper, who was flagged and fined repeatedly last season for hits that came late or around the head of players he tackled. Harper is keeping quiet for now, while the teams training headquarters is closed to media. He has not returned a phone message left after the NFL announced player punishments. The Saints as an organization also have not commented since the player suspensions were announced. Theres been no word from general manager Mickey Loomis or assistant head coach Joe Vitt -- whos handling most head coaching duties during Sean Paytons season-long suspension -- concerning how the club will respond to Vilma and Smith suspensions. Of the players who have spoken up, most have done so on social media websites. Receiver Lance Moore, back along with much of New Orleans record-setting offence, was among those who, in the wake of the suspension, predicted continued success for a Saints club seeking a fourth-straight playoff appearance. "We will be fine!!!" Moore tweeted. "Who Dat all day!" jerseys cheap . After Edinson Cavani had pulled a goal back for PSG, midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored a fortuitous goal deep into injury time as PSG took advantage of playing with an extra man for most of the second half after Saint-Etienne midfielder Fabien Lemoine was sent off. cheap jerseys . The skier from Gatineau, Que., captured the bronze medal in a mens freestyle aerials World Cup event on an artificial ramp Saturday. http://www.nfljerseyscheaptmall.com/. -- Canadas swim team added three gold medals Sunday on the final day of the Missouri Grand Prix swimming competition. jerseys cheap nfl . He gets better every year and hes a wonderful team player. Hes the most impactful guy night in and night out; he does it all. jerseys nfl cheap . The 18-year-old from Vancouver beat Australias Luke Saville 7-5, 6-4 on Sunday to win the boys crown, a day after fellow Canuck Eugenie Bouchard won the girls trophy.With the bye weeks behind us and a number of teams in most leagues out of fantasy playoff contention, we run down the top pickups on a now thin waiver wire. WR Michael Crabtree (vs Rams)Last week: Injured A solid WR2 last year, Crabtree is expected to make his 2013 debut against St. Louis this weekend. Coming off a tough Achilles injury, and likely to be worked into the 49ers game plan slowly at least to start, dont expect Crabtree to hit his 2012 numbers right away. Hes still worth a pickup however as a possible WR3/flex play off the bat and possibly more moving forward this season. WR Miles Austin (vs Raiders)Last week: 1 catch, 17 yards Austin made a less than impressive return from a three-game absence Sunday against the Giants, but it should only get better from here. If the 29-year-olds hamstring holds up down the stretch, the hope is he supplants Terrence Williams in terms of usage in the Cowboys offence. While he may be more useful in real football, drawing attention away from Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, his play could warrant five-plus targets in a strong offence. WR Rod Streater (at Cowboys)Last week: 5 catches, 93 yards Two things conspire to make Streater worth a look if youre in need of help at WR. One, Matt McGloin providing a better pass game than the less-accurate, more prone to run Terrelle Pryor in Oakland, and two, Denarius Moores injury which elevated Streater to McGloins top target. McGloin looks to have secured the Raiders QB job at least for the time being and playing on a short week, Moore may not be ready to return until Week 14. Streater should see a similar workload on American Thanksgiving against a Cowboys defence that can certainly be scored on. RB Rashard p;Mendenhall (at Eagles)Last week: 13 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD Mendenhall had become the forgotten man in Arizona with fantasy players leaning more towards Andre Ellington of late.dddddddddddd And while its clear the two are locked in a timeshare in the Cardinals backfield, its one that sees Mendenhall receive all the red zone touches. The two had similar workloads and totals in Arizonas big win over the Colts on Sunday, the only difference – and its a big one – was Mendenhalls touchdown. Take the veteran over the rookie in Arizona, hell score you more touchdowns. QB Matt Flynn (at Lions)Last week: 21/36, 218 yards, 1 TD The quarterback with nine lives appears to be in the best possible situation. Green Bay has something that Seattle, Oakland, and Buffalo doesnt and it makes Flynn look like a serviceable NFL QB. Flynns play in relief of Scott Tolzien against Minnesota warrants another start, unless of course Aaron Rodgers returns from injury. And do you remember the last time Flynn played Detroit while wearing a Packers jersey? It earned him a lot of money. Green Bay – and desperate fantasy owners – can only hope for a similar outcome this Thursday. TE Rob Housler (at Eagles)Last week: 4 catches, 51 yards Housler has flown under the radar all season and while that was certainly justified the first few weeks of the season, for desperate fantasy owners, hes been at least worth a look ever since. Housler scores very few touchdowns so hell never be mistaken as a TE1, but hes steady in averaging 50+ receiving yards per game of late. Arizona has been hot as of late and while thats unlikely to last too much longer, Housler is a viable injury replacement during their run. ' ' '
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