Will Smith Likely to Miss First Four Games of 2011 Saints Season

by Dave Cariello on Apr 28, 2011 1:38 PM CDT

Amidst all the NFL Draft and NFL Lockout talk that's taken most or all of the spotlight this off-season has been the ongoing StarCaps case involving Saints defensive end Will Smith and the Minnesota Vikings Williams Wall.

But apparently, that's just about over...and the results aren't good for Saints fans. Pro Football Talk reports that the appeal by the players has been denied this morning and that the NFL has won the case, meaning Will Smith will need to serve his four game suspension:

"The Minnesota Supreme Court has just issued this morning an order denying a review of the appeals court decision that went in favor of the league," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said today on PFT Live. "The result is the case is over and we, the NFL, prevailed in the case. So there is a court in Minnesota that rules in our favor from time to time."

Presumably, that means Pat Williams, Kevin Williams and Will Smith will all be suspended for the first four games of the 2011 NFL season.

Well that sucks but we had to figure this was coming.

The question remains now whether this will affect the Saints draft plans in any way tonight or this weekend. What do you guys think?

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Well, they aren’t going to start a rookie in Will Smith’s place, right?
INGRAMANIA!!!!

Following conventional wisdom has never won a super bowl.

by stujo4 on Apr 28, 2011 1:42 PM CDT reply actions

Let’s see… throw the opening four games of the season, or start a rookie.

Good luck with your pet man-crush dude, I think the chances just of you swooning in ~~frothing-at-the-mouth insanity~~ delight at pick #24 just got a LOT smaller.

by FriarBob on Apr 28, 2011 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions

If you’re sick of “We coulda had Toby Gerhart”, wait ’til 2011.

Jesus1000, we coulda had Mark Ingram. GAAAAA!!!!

by stujo4 on Apr 28, 2011 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Sick of it? I love it. It’s outright proof some people here are just flat insane. 4.0 YPC on a team like that? Wow, he’s a superstar!

by FriarBob on Apr 28, 2011 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Ain’t this a crazy, mixed up world? The NFL loses the cases it should win, and wins the cases it should lose.

It’s a good thing for my sanity that I accepted YEARS ago that the world just don’t, and ain’t gonna, make any sense at all.

by FriarBob on Apr 28, 2011 1:52 PM CDT reply actions

You see, Rog? You win some, you lose some. Well, some people lose some.

by Nabb1 on Apr 28, 2011 1:52 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

rec'd it for the unfrozen caveman lawyer

I’m just a simple unfrozen caveman, with no understanding of these complex laws and rules, and precedents…

Win Now...
WINGRAMANIA

by Hans Petersen on Apr 29, 2011 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions

We always knew this would happen eventually

And yeah, the Saints need to beef up the defensive line. But would you change your draft pick just to cover yourself for four games?

You know what would be the best course to cover up our four-game vulnerability at defensive end? Unleash the league’s most awesome offense, featuring the 2011 Rookie of the Year.

It was good while it lasted.

by MtnExile on Apr 28, 2011 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

Actually...

“You know what would be the best course to cover up our four-game vulnerability at defensive end, and have us in a position to have bookend DE’s after the suspension is over? Pickup a talented DE in free agency (when it ever comes back) and unleash the league’s most awesome offense, featuring the 2011 Rookie of the Year.”

It seems like a pipe dream with now, but… you never can tell.

Oh yeah, and we need an OLB, REAL BAD.

"It's more than a handful. It's a handsful."

by Dan Kelly on Apr 28, 2011 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

It's OK

Jeff Charleston has shown some excellent play at times when playing in relief. This can be his big shot at the big time.

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Apr 28, 2011 4:37 PM CDT reply actions