Vikings, Saints face player suspensions, so will there be rough starts?

Here's the part about the Saints:

New Orleans Saints defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant also are facing four-game suspensions for testing positive for bumetanide. Former Saints running back Deuce McAllister also tested positive, as did former Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jackson, who's now with the Lions.

Unfortunately for Smith and Grant, Louisiana doesn't have the possible state protection that Minnesota does, so their suspensions seem all but certain.

Smith and Grant are the pass rushers whom New Orleans needs to make its suspect defense less suspect and help the team get through the NFC South, arguably the NFL's most competitive division. The Saints don't have much of a grace period, either, at the start of their season. After the season opener against Detroit, New Orleans faces the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills on the road before a Week 4 home game against the New York Jets. Things only become tougher for the Saints after that.

Steve Wyche nfl.com

9 months ago HansDat 1 comment 0 recs |

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"Things only become tougher..."

Allow me to translate: “The first four weeks is the easiest part of the schedule.” But you can’t say it like that when you’re striving for melodrama.

I don’t think a healthy McCray and Spicer will be any worse than a hobbled Grant and Smith, which is what we had last year. But last year we also had Gary Gibbs, who never managed to find any way to get a pass rush with his ends not playing to their salaries. Gregg Williams’ scheme will work harder to take advantage of everything we have, and mitigate the deficiencies. The games will be tough, because they always are; but if we lose, I doubt it will be due to missing Smith and Grant.

Come home, Stuart...

by MtnExile on May 28, 2009 8:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs