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

By Dave Cariello
NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 31: Will Smith #91 of the New Orleans Saints sacks Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Louisiana Superdome on October 31 2010 in New Orleans Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 31: Will Smith #91 of the New Orleans Saints sacks Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Louisiana Superdome on October 31 2010 in New Orleans Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Sharpe/Getty Images)
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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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