NFL News & Rumors Digest

New Orleans (NFL/Newsfeed) — The 2012 season shapes up as a crucible for the New Orleans Saints defense. Between the stigma of the league’s “bounty” findings and the loss of linebacker Jonathan Vilma (suspened for the whole season) and defensive end Will Smith (suspended for the 1st 4 ganes), perhaps no NFL defense has ever gone into a season with far more of a chip on its collective shoulder.

The man charged with rallying the troops is Steve Spagnuolo, the former St. Louis Rams coach and New York Giants coordinator who led Large Blue’s defense to a Super Bowl victory in 2007.

That resume, and Spagnuolo’s air of confidence, seem to be winning over the Saints’ veteran players, according to The Occasions-Picayune.

“He speaks with so significantly confidence, you have absolutely nothing to do but believe in this guy and know he’s going to be wonderful for us,” safety Roman Harper stated. “He’s been a head coach in this league, had a lot of good results as a defensive coordinator, and you’ve got to respect this guy. I’m searching forward to operating with him much more and a lot more.”

The man the players contact “Spags” has a tough act to adhere to: His predecessor in the job, Gregg Williams, could have suffered incalculable damage to his reputation — along with an indefinite suspension from the league — for his role in the “bounty” saga, but Williams nonetheless enjoys the fierce loyalty of his former players.

“You know, Gregg lit a fire that a lot of us aren’t going to let burn out. A sense of intensity,” Harper mentioned. “And now we understand what it takes to win. Before I don’t feel we understood it, and we didn’t have that total feeling. But now we’ve been to the leading of the mountain. We know what it takes to get there. And that’s what we’re attempting to do now.

“It’s either Super Bowl or bust. And we won’t take anything less this year, no matter what our circumstances are.”

Spagnuolo has a various tactical method than Williams, who was popular for his indulgence in blitzes. And he brings a different leadership style as nicely.

“It’s a lot quieter,” safety Malcolm Jenkins mentioned. “And there’s a lot more teaching and other stuff going on. But Spags nonetheless has a way … there’s not a lot of cursing or anything like that, but he has a way of letting you know when he’s severe and when he’s disappointed. It gets across.”

(About:) This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For a lot more NFL news see: Harper wants Saints, Spagnuolo to sustain Williams’ intensity.

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NEW ORLEANS (NFL) – The New Orleans Saints began their voluntary offseason workouts Monday below unusual circumstances — circumstances that had been not solely limited to the fallout from their “bounty” scandal.

Saints quarterback — and unquestioned team leader — Drew Brees was noticeably absent from the day’s workouts, as the franchised signal-caller continues to engage in a contract dispute with the team. One particular Saint, whose good results is particularly tied to Brees’ presence on the field, mentioned Tuesday enough is sufficient, it’s time the team signed Brees to a lengthy-term deal.

“I think it’s quite important,” tight finish Jimmy Graham told AM-870, through SportsRadioInterviews.com. “I can keep in mind last year, throughout the lockout, other teams, they didn’t get with each other. Drew orchestrated and paid for a lot of the younger guys and even got me a location to remain and mentioned, ‘Jimmy, I want you here.’ He paid that out of his own pocket for all of us to be right here training together and we saw what that translated into and what that meant as far as us jelling.”

Added Graham: “I’m not certain what’s going on or all the facts but I just want him back as soon as possible.”

Last week The Times-Picayune, citing a supply, reported that Brees was really upset at the prospect of not attending the begin of workouts since “he wants to be there for his teammates.” A source told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche last Friday that there has been no movement in contract talks in between the two sides.

Brees spent Monday in New York at a meeting in between the NFL and NFL Players Association in which the Saints’ “bounty” scandal was discussed, amongst other issues.

Graham rapidly became one particular of Brees’ favorite targets last season, recording 99 catches for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns and emerging as 1 of the top tight ends in the league.

(About:) This post was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NFL news see: Saints’ Graham desires Drew Brees signed.

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The New Orleans Saints began their voluntary offseason workouts Monday below unusual circumstances — circumstances that had been not solely limited to the fallout from their “bounty” scandal.

Saints quarterback — and unquestioned team leader — Drew Brees was noticeably absent from the day’s workouts, as the franchised signal-caller continues to engage in a contract dispute with the team. One particular Saint, whose good results is particularly tied to Brees’ presence on the field, mentioned Tuesday enough is sufficient, it’s time the team signed Brees to a lengthy-term deal.

“I think it’s quite important,” tight finish Jimmy Graham told AM-870, through SportsRadioInterviews.com. “I can keep in mind last year, throughout the lockout, other teams, they didn’t get with each other. Drew orchestrated and paid for a lot of the younger guys and even got me a location to remain and mentioned, ‘Jimmy, I want you here.’ He paid that out of his own pocket for all of us to be right here training together and we saw what that translated into and what that meant as far as us jelling.”

Added Graham: “I’m not certain what’s going on or all the facts but I just want him back as soon as possible.”

Last week The Times-Picayune, citing a supply, reported that Brees was really upset at the prospect of not attending the begin of workouts since “he wants to be there for his teammates.” A source told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche last Friday that there has been no movement in contract talks in between the two sides.

Brees spent Monday in New York at a meeting in between the NFL and NFL Players Association in which the Saints’ “bounty” scandal was discussed, amongst other issues.

Graham rapidly became one particular of Brees’ favorite targets last season, recording 99 catches for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns and emerging as 1 of the top tight ends in the league.

(About:) This post was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NFL news see: Saints’ Graham desires Drew Brees signed as soon as feasible.

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Stevie Johnson could be down to playing his final games with the Buffalo Bills after contract talks broke off a couple of weeks ago.

The team’s top receiver — and most colorful player — would prefer to re-sign with the Bills. Even so, Johnson is asking yourself where his future rests soon after the team rejected his last provide.

Based on how negotiations ended, Johnson said the ball basically is in the Bills’ court simply because there’s no reason for him to re-open talks just before he’s eligible to become a cost-free agent this offseason.

“We tried to do our negotiating and it was turned down,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I want to just ride it out and see what takes place.”

Johnson wouldn’t divulge what his asking cost was, but he told The Related Press it averaged out to less than $ 9 million per season — a mid-range salary for 1 of the NFL’s leading-tier receivers.

It’s unclear how far apart the two sides are, but Johnson isn’t willing to contemplate the Bills’ last offer you even if it means leaving a team and in a town he’s grown to adore.

“It is what it is. We know it’s a organization,” he said. “We’ll see what they do. They’ve got a plan upstairs to perhaps make some moves and bring me back later. We’ll just see how that plays out.”

In saying, “I want to be here, period,” Johnson recommended there’s a possibility the Bills could use their franchise tag to retain his rights for at least one more season. Although it’s a possibility, it’s an unlikely alternative, given that the tag — based on an average of the best-paid players at his position — would commit the Bills to paying Johnson in the range of a $ 10 million salary next season unless the two sides worked out a new deal.

The Bills have a policy against commenting on the status of contract talks.

Johnson leads Buffalo (5-8) with 63 catches for 790 yards this season and is tied for the team lead with six touchdowns. He has created this year regardless of playing on a banged-up offense that’s missing numerous regulars, and despite the team lacking a verified No. 2 threat to draw away coverage.

Nevertheless things turn out, Johnson intends to remain patient, saying he can afford to wait.

“I’ve been broke all my life, so I ain’t tripping,” Johnson said.

Copyright 2011

(About:) This post was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For much more NFL news see: Johnson says he desires to stay with Bills, but future in jeopardy.

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Miami Dolphins fans already firmly behind the “Suck for Luck” campaign, linebacker Karlos Dansby has a message for you.

“Man, we got 11 games. What are you talking about?” Dansby said Wednesday, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We can’t appear at next season. We’ve got 11 games. We can win ‘em out, and then what? Then you’d be biting your tongue. Those guys that are saying that are fair-weather fans. They’re not genuine Dolphins fans.”

That’s a powerful statement for Dansby to make, especially when you take into account just how numerous Dolphins supporters want their so-far -5 team to “suck” sufficient to get initial crack at Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

“It’s not correct, bro. It’s not proper,” Dansby said. “We put too considerably into this, man, to have the fans say that — period, point blank — or even promote that campaign. It’s kind of sad.”

When asked if he would sit out games to support guarantee the Dolphins land the kind of franchise QB their owner reportedly is so desperate for, Dansby straddled the fence.

Really, he didn’t straddle the fence at all. He produced a standing leap over it, then lit a match and burned the other side to the ground.

“Hell, no,” he stated. “Ain’t no way. There’s no way. Never ever. Ever. Ever. No, no, no, no. I’m not sitting out. For what? No, it’s not going to happen. Not going to occur.”

So, Dolphins fans, do your self a favor and don’t bring up Andrew Luck around Karlos Dansby. You can buy a ticket to see Tim Tebow this Sunday, though.

(About:) This post was distributed by X2 news wire and aggregation service, For more news see: Dolphins’ Dansby wants no component of ‘Suck for Luck’ campaign.

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Former Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams became a free agent when the lockout ended.And he’s nonetheless a free agent right now.

Existing Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams wishes that wasn’t the case.He wants to see Pat back on the team.

“He absolutely can play, it’s just who is going to give him a chance and let him do his thing,” Kevin Williams mentioned, via Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.”Definitely we miss him.We usually could use a large guy like that in the middle.”

It’s unknown why the Vikings haven’t signed him.Without having him, the Vikings have used Remi Ayodele as Kevin Williams’ partner on the inside.The team’s other defensive tackles are Fred Evans and Letroy Guion.

Although Pat Williams, 38, was suspended two games as a result of the 2008 StarCaps controversy, he was permitted to serve the suspension while unemployed.Although he’d still owe the league two game checks, he can sign with any team at any time.

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The NFL and NFL Players Association are on the verge of implementing testing for Human Growth Hormone following a meeting Friday with two congressmen in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) delivered a strong message throughout an hour-long meeting with the league and union, according to sources, telling the NFL and NFLPA to “do it now or we meet once again in two weeks, and it won’t be pleasant.” The league and union agreed, which is expected to lay the groundwork for the implementation of testing.

The congressmen told the league and union that regardless of any disagreements over particulars of the testing, they would like blood samples to be collected within a week. If elements of the policy nonetheless require to be worked out, the congressmen said the samples would be stored for later testing.

When the union does agree to blood testing for HGH, as it is written in the new collective bargaining agreement, the appeals approach for the drug policy will be taken out of commissioner Roger Goodell’s hands and go to a third party.

“We’re not guaranteeing any outcomes except there was an agreement to begin testing instantly,” Issa, chairman of the Residence Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told reporters after the meeting. “The other elements of what you do with the tests will be resolved over the next a lot of weeks, and we’ve agreed on a bipartisan basis to have the committee play a role if essential.”

Cummings, the leading Democrat on the committee, stated he felt the two sides benefited from becoming known as in.

“Because I believe they had their own disputes, and it seemed like they just could not move really past a certain point,” he stated.

He stressed that the lawmakers wanted action now: “Not get there subsequent year — we were clear that the ball has to move down the field immediately.”

But the union didn’t seem inclined to move off its prior position: That it wants questions answered before moving ahead with a blood-testing plan.

“We think that we have to report back to our players, make certain that the protocol and the testing protocols are secure,” union spokesman George Atallah said, standing in the exact same spot as the lawmakers shortly following their news conference. “Once we feel that way, which we hope will be as soon as probable — obviously the chairman and Congressman Cummings can assist us facilitate that — we’ll be in a position to start off testing as soon as possible.”

Asked if the union agreed to testing this season, he responded, “We will begin implementing testing as fast as feasible.”

Later, he tweeted, “The challenge for us as a league and a sport is to ensure that we have a clean game, but a fair program.”

The newest collective bargaining agreement in between the league and its players includes a provision to start testing players for HGH — contingent on the union agreeing to the testing techniques. The NFLPA has asked for far more scientific information to prove the most common test is trustworthy.

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Eagles quarterback Michael Vick broke his non-throwing hand Sunday. The injury came on one of several big hits Vick took, typically soon after he delivered the ball.

After the game, Vick wondered why the Giants weren’t penalized for hitting him late.

“I felt like I got hit late,” Vick stated by way of CSNPhilly.com. “No flag. Broke my hand. That’s it. Trying to defend myself. Didn’t get a flag. And that’s pretty a lot been the story for the last 3 weeks. Obviously, at some point, one thing catastrophic is going to happen, and I broke my hand.”

Vick stated he wasn’t certain if he would play next week.  But his frustration with the officials was clear.

“Everybody saw the game,” Vick said. “I’m on the ground continually. All the time. Each and every time I throw the ball, in all my highlights and just watching film in common, every single time I throw the ball, I’m on the ground, getting hit in the head, and I don’t know why I do not get the 15-yard flags like everybody else does.

We watched the Eagles game closely. The hit by Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty when Vick hurt his hand was a borderline late hit. We don’t keep in mind any other hits that seemed specially late, but we’d have to watch the game again to see if Vick’s complaints are fair.

Vick isn’t happy with the calls, but he really should also be unhappy with his own play. The Eagles offense has looked uneven for stretches in each and every game, which is partly why the Eagles are 1-2.

For now, Vick is pointing the finger outward.

“More precautions really should be taken when I’m inside the pocket,” Vick said. “Look at all the replays, I’m on the ground each and every time. It’s unfortunate for myself, unfortunate my team, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t frustrated appropriate now because of that.”

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