TWEETS:
Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncanTP Saints LB Jon Vilma: "I intend to fight this injustice..." RT @jvarneyTP: Vilma statement up at http://www.nola.com/saints
Will Herring @wherring54 The thunder storms in New Orleans are pretty fitting right now. My boy @JonVilma51 is as good of a leader I've ever been around!
Scott Shanle @scottshanleTo take an entire season away from @JonVilma51 is absolutely ludicrous! portraying him in the way (cont) http://tl.gd/h8ii1f
Scott Shanle @scottshanle to put this whole day the situation in perspective... RIP Junior Seau. what a tragedy.
Darren Sharper @sharper42 Sad day in the NFL from too harsh of players suspensions to junior seau passing away. I'm really feeling terrible. #perseverance!!
John Elway @johnelwayJunior was a true competitor and a special player. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Seau family.
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter Poice are investigating Junior Seau's death as a suicide.
Jimmy Graham @TheJimmyGrahamMy thoughts and prayers are with Junior Seau's family.
Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncanTP#Saints lineman Eric Olsen shares fond memory of Junior Seau: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/05/new_orleans_saints_offensive_l_12.html
ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalkDear ESPN, can you please remove the video of Junior Seau's grieving mother from the rotation? Thank you.
Randy Moss @DaRealOtisMossSad day for the NFL.we lost a real true leader!r.I.p "buddy buddy" an I'm really blessed an thankful to have been a teammate
David Hawthorne @D_Hawthorne57New rules: MLB no hittin balls that could harm players on defense. NBA no dunkin while others are within 5 ft of ur landin. NHL no fightin!
David Hawthorne @D_Hawthorne57When a player signs up to be a football player, that is his own decision to put his mind and body on the line for a team or program!
David Hawthorne @D_Hawthorne57If you want to be in a nice, friendly environment then maybe you should try to be the highest paid basket weaver in the world...lets be real
Lance Moore @LanceMoore16And for any of u that have a problem w it, don't worry we still have these tho lol http://lockerz.com/s/205921340
Jeff Duncan @JeffDuncanTPIn light of today's news, Malcolm Gladwell's comments about the future of football in America seem eerily prescient: http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/intelligence_squared/2012/04/the_next_slate_intelligence_squared_debate_is_may_8_why_malcolm_gladwell_thinks_we_should_ban_college_football_.html
Johnny Patrick @JohnnyPatrick32Seriously all my fans an followers check this out!!!!!! http://m.worldstarhiphop.com/video.php?v=wshhBGwSLxOm1U9D6oiF
Kawika Mitchell @KawikaMitchellIt's a sad day Junior Seau is no longer with us R.I.P. Pray for his fam
Danny Clark @IAMDANNYCLARKMy heart is broken #55 RT @AP: Former NFL star Junior Seau found dead at his California home, police say: http://apne.ws/IUMbIq #JuniorSeau
CNN Breaking News @cnnbrkSan Diego Chargers on Seau's death at 43: "Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now."
Nate BUSSEY @NateBUSSEY59RT @wherring54: The thunder storms in New Orleans are pretty fitting right now. My boy @JonVilma51 is as good of a leader I've ever bee ...
Mark Ingram @Mark_Ingram28#RIP Junior Seau Such a great player I watched growing up!! My prayers and condolences go out to his family!! Sad to hear..
Jedidiah Collins @JedCollins45"@TonyTwoDat: @ZachStrief just threw a TD PASS to Strief for the win in Madden!" He obvi didn't see Strief's catching skills 2 years ago
Winston Dutchin @winstondutchinWondering when ESPN is gonna get around to report on Junior Seau. 20 minutes old on twitter. Seems like an easy segue from Saints issue.
Jedidiah Collins @JedCollins45Drive home I saw perfect message 4 today "Through adversity, Heroes are made" Steve Gleason- HERO @team_gleason Do u feel me #whodatnation
JONATHAN VILMA STATEMENT ON SUSPENSIONS:
Jonathan Vilma issues statement - NFC South Blog - ESPN
“I am shocked and extremely disappointed by the NFL’s decision to suspend me for the 2012 season. Commissioner Roger Goodell has refused to share any of the supposed evidence he claims supports this unprecedented punishment. The reason is clear: I never paid, or intended to pay, $10,000, or any amount of money, to any player for knocking Kurt Warner, Brett Favre or any other player out of the 2009 Divisional playoff game, 2010 NFC Championship Game or any other game.
“I never set out to intentionally hurt any player and never enticed any teammate to intentionally hurt another player. I also never put any money into a bounty pool or helped to create a bounty pool intended to pay out money for injuring other players. I have always conducted myself in a professional and proud manner.
“I intend to fight this injustice, to defend my reputation, to stand up for my team and my profession, and to send a clear signal to the commissioner that the process has failed, to the detriment of me, my teammates, the New Orleans Saints and the game.’’
LINKS:
Saints, Packers, Browns have options to replace suspended players – Audibles
Audibles - Chris Burke on the NFL
Browns' Fujita suspended for role in Saints' bounties - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com
New Orleans Saints player suspensions mark beginning of the end of scandal - Don Banks - SI.com
Two months to the day after this bombshell of a story first exploded across the NFL, the final shoe finally dropped Wednesday in the Saints bounty scandal. And predictably, it landed with another loud, reverberating thud.
NFL announces new initiative on non-contract bonuses | ProFootballTalk
Tucked into the NFL's full announcement on suspensions for four Saints players for the team's bounty program is the launching of a new initiative aimed at making it crystal clear to every NFL player and coach that bounties -- and all bonuses not included in players' contracts -- are strictly prohibi...
First bounty battle could relate to who handles the appeals | ProFootballTalk
The players who have been suspended for their roles in the bounty program reportedly intend to fight, on multiple fronts. The first fight will arise via the appeal process. Actually, the first fight before the first fight could be whether the NFL has designated the right appeal process.
Jonathan Vilma learned on TV that he’s suspended for 2012 | ProFootballTalk
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is suspended for the entire 2012 season, and his season-long suspension actually begins right now: He's banished from the team's facilities effective immediately. But he didn't find out about that from the NFL. He found out on TV.
NFLPA says it has still not seen evidence of "pay-to-injure" program | ProFootballTalk
As expected, the NFL Players Association has issued a statement in response to the punishment imposed earlier in the day on four members of the 2009-11 Saints.
Saints players will receive the "due process" for which the union bargained | ProFootballTalk
Filmmaker Sean Pamphilon, who injected himself into the Saints bounty scandal by releasing, over the objection of Steve Gleason, audio from former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams that Pamphilon recorded the night before the Saints lost to the 49ers in the division-round playoffs, is now ...
New Orleans Saints should gain about $2 million in salary-cap space from Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith suspensions - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Both players restructured contracts this offseason to lower base salaries
Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith, by the numbers - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Both guys' numbers were down some last season
NFL Suspends Saints Players; Vilma Out For Year - Canal Street Chronicles
The NFL has finally handed down player penalties for those involved in the Bountygate scandal.
Saints Lose Vilma For Season as Four Players Suspended for Bounty Gate " NFL Gridiron Gab
Are you ready for some football?
New Orleans Saints fans shouldn't hold their breath on getting Osi Umenyiora
New Orleans Saints fans shouldn't hold their breath on getting New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
Marcia Ball and The Pinettes Brass Band will perform at Wednesday at the Square
Who earns how much for working out? - NFC South Blog - ESPN
This is the time of year when you hear a lot about offseason workouts. This is when teams can begin conditioning drills and get out onto the field to
Louisiana State Police will review findings in New Orleans Saints eavesdropping case - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
They'll see if there is enough to continue
JUNIOR SEAU FOUND DEAD FROM GUNSHOT WOUND:
Police: Junior Seau found dead at California home - Yahoo! Sports
From Yahoo! Sports: OCEANSIDE, Calif. (AP) Former NFL star Junior Seau was found shot to death at his home Wednesday morning in what police said appeared to be a suicide. He was 43.
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