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Fleur-de-Links: September 18, 2012

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TWEETS:

Whatever happened to the 3yr investigation and 50,000pages of evidence?? We're just supposed to forget about that huh...

Any fans think Goodell is now releasing more of this bounty "evidence" and now talking with players to distract from ?

Best part of Cerullo document: "The fines for poor performance were sometimes called 'vaginal donations'."

Hargrove went about 2 hours, similar format to Vilma's. More deposition than hearing. Goodell, Pash, Birch, Miller, White there for NFL.

Will Smith has left as well, so the meetings are over for the day. Both players slipped out the back.

Smith's meeting with the league will be last of the day. NFL could rule on these 3 before Fujita, because of Fujita needing to postpone.

NFLPA had law office in Cleveland set for Fujita to video conference, but league said it preferred he postpone so he could do it in person.

Also, Cerullo's affidavit was conveniently signed five days after Vilma sued Goodell for defamation. Sure, nothing shady about that.

Saints fans: here is a chance to win 20 suite tickets & pregame field passes for this Sunday's game vs the Chiefs!

Every tweet = $1 for underprivileged kids to attend my - thanks Duracell

Sounds like no major new revelations today. Goodell expected to rule on his "re-determination" of suspensions soon, maybe this week

Oh man, and Cerrulo was the "lower court" for fine appeals, with GW as the "supreme court judge". I think that's just great.

Cerullo also said Vilma offered two five-stacks (actual physical money in his hands) for both Warner and Favre

Vilma's legal team has turned over briefs to NFL it believes discredits Cerullo as a witness. From .com:

The Chiefs returned some of their allotment of tickets for Sunday’s game! They're available here:

Biggest discrepancy: Cerullo claims he gave Williams the $10k from Vilma. Williams said he never touched any $ pledged to injure a player.

Williams also says Vilma pledged the $10k for Favre. Cerullo said it was for Warner and carried over to NFC Champ game. Full story coming.

NFL Films President Steve Sabol Dies at Age 69

USA Today has obtained the declaration from former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo. Some elements do contradict what Gregg Williams declared.

Dear , please quit this witchhunt of and use the money to pay the real refs.

You could win 20 suite tickets & pregame field passes for this Sunday's game vs the Chiefs for just $10!

Multiple sources have confirmed in past that Vilma did offer some form of bounty on Favre. But mostly described it as "prop" or ...

... "motivational tactic." Not strong enough to convict or prove Vilma's intent to me. But doesn't mean its complete fiction.

Jus got done with talkin to the kids at mac Donna #35, gotta love the opportunity to stress the importance of academic excellence

Myself, Pierre, Roman & Malcolm at Jabari Greer's Masquerade Ball..

Larry King on Colin Cowherd saying NFL is being "laughed at" with replacenent officials, league is being "cheap." King going to town on NFL

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WEEK 3: CHIEFS @ SAINTS:

Saints must avoid slow start | New Orleans Saints | The Sun Herald
Host Chiefs in 0-2 teams

Sam Mellinger | Disastrous start exposes disconnect between Chiefs leaders, fans - KansasCity.com
The Chiefs Kingdom Apocalypse is in its third day now, and the takeaway isn’t that there are so many fans screaming their panic and anger — it’s that there are so few fans preaching hope and patience.

Crennel says players aren’t carrying out the plan - KansasCity.com
The Chiefs allowed 35 or more points in each of their two games, so their defensive problems obviously run deep. But Romeo Crennel said the team’s troubles don’t rest with coaching and, specifically, his dual role as head coach and coordinator.

New Orleans Saints release cornerback Jerome Murphy; roster spot open for a signing
New Orleans Saints release cornerback Jerome Murphy; roster spot open for a signing.

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SAINTS REGROUPING AFTER DEBACLE AT CAROLINA:

New Orleans Saints offensive line held up well, but defense folded vs. Carolina Panthers: Film study - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Panthers routed the Saints in "explosive play" battle for 35-27 victory in Week 2

moosedenied » Blog Archive » Spag me with a spoon
Welcome to 2007, bitches. I've got ten large on the table for anybody who wants to kill and/or affect my head. Fire up that John Deere tractor!

" Let’s Go, Peyton! (clap clap clapclapclap) The Angry Who Dat

SaintsWin: Analysis & Opinion: Week 2, Saints at Panthers: On Borrowed Time

The Panic of 2012 - Who Dat Social Club

Top picks not performing like it for Saints defense
Perhaps Steve Spagnuolo is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Perhaps he does not have the personnel necessary to execute and fully utilize his concept. Changing the personality and personnel takes time. As the proverbial saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

It's getting late early for 0-2 teams
Historically, only one of every eight teams that open the year 0-2 will make it to the playoffs.

Saints Nation: Saints' Defensive and Special Teams Player Grades @ Panthers | September

Spagnuolo thinks Saints defense is getting better | ProFootballTalk
He normally talks on Fridays, but moved his availability up four days to take the brunt of the criticism away from his players who have given up the most yards (922) and second-most points (75) in the league.

DEFENSE! Editorial cartoon | NOLA.com
The latest from Steve Kelley of The Times-Picayune

Drew Brees' passing game against the Carolina Panthers: Graphic - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
A look at Drew Brees' passing accuracy during the New Orleans Saints' 35-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers Sunday

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BOUNTYFARCE:

Statement by former Saints coach contradicts Williams' declaration – USATODAY.com
Cerullo says he collected cash and handed out awards as directed by Williams

Browns notes: LB Scott Fujita’s meeting with NFL about Saints’ bounty case canceled - Browns - Ohio
Cleveland Browns news, scores, schedules, rosters, photos, analysis, and more from the Akron Beacon Journal and Ohio.com.

Anthony Hargrove's meeting with Roger Goodell ends - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Will Smith still meeting with commissioner

Anthony Hargrove and Saints Will Smith meet with Goodell; Scott Fujita reschedules his
Anthony Hargrove and Saints Will Smith meet with Goodell; Scott Fujita reschedules his.

Saints Jonathan Vilma's positive meeting turns sour not long after ending; ambush by Goodell?
Saints Jonathan Vilma's positive meeting turns sour not long after ending; ambush by Goodell?

Vilma vents on Twitter after Goodell meeting | wwltv.com New Orleans
Shortly after meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma said he hoped the meeting would be a turning point in the case.

Report: Vilma attorney subpoenas Gregg Williams | wwltv.com New Orleans
An attorney for embattled Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has subpoenaed former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, according to ESPN's Ed Werder citing an unnamed source.

Timing of Gregg Williams affidavit raises plenty of questions | ProFootballTalk
Following Monday's three-hour marathon meeting between Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and Commissioner Roger Goodell, someone leaked to the media an affidavit signed by former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, which states that Vilma offered $10,000 to anyone who knocked former Vikings ...

League produces Cerullo declaration to Vilma | ProFootballTalk
The NFL finally has outed the whistleblower. After months of blurring the line between reasonably protecting persons who provided information confidentially and unreasonably shielding key witnesses from scrutiny, the league produced a declaration from former Saints assistant coach Mike Cerullo to...

Former New Orleans Saints Assistant Coach Mike Cerullo Is The "Whistleblower"
Mike Cerullo, former Saints assistant coach, is the "whistleblower" of the Saints bounty scandal and may have acted out of revenge.

Saints' Vilma meets with Goodell | New Orleans Saints | The Sun Herald
NEW YORK -- New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma spent Monday afternoon having a "very frank, very truthful" meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about his suspension that was temporarily lifted.

Gregg Williams’ NFL career likely is over | ProFootballTalk
Some players have used strong and colorful language, so strong and so colorful that we won’t repeat it unless and until someone chooses to attach their name to it. The bottom line, as we explained last night, is that no NFL players will follow or trust Williams, especially in light of that ridiculously over-the-top "kill the head" rant from the night before a January 2012 game against the 49ers.

Williams outlines Saints' pay-for-performance program, $10K Favre bounty in affidavit - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy
Through its investigation, the league came to realize that pay-for-performance programs that rewarded extra money for sacks, interceptions and the like are not endemic to the Saints, and teams had to vow to eliminate any such programs moving forward or risk major penalties.

Lawyer for New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma subpoenas Gregg Williams, Mike Cerullo - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com
Lawyer issues subpoenas before Jonathan Vilma met with Roger Goodell

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REPLACEMENT ZEBRAS GETTING EATEN ALIVE:

NFL players show frustration with officials - Entertainment, Pop Culture, Style and Hot Trends - Trending Blog - ESPN Playbook - ESPN
Denver quarterback Peyton Manning threw three interceptions in Monday night's 27-21 loss at Atlanta. But it was the performance of the replacement NF

Stropolo on the shelf pending league review | ProFootballTalk
While calling non-Saints games might have been a possibility, the league has decided to press pause on this one to catch up on a story they have appeared hopelessly behind on.

Scab Ref Tells LeSean McCoy: "I Need You For My Fantasy Team"
"They're like fans, kind of though. I'll be honest, they're like fans. One of the refs was talking about his fantasy team, like ‘McCoy, come on, I need you for my fantasy [team].'"

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LAGNIAPPE:

New Orleans Saints Superfan series: the Who Dat King - Video | NOLA.com
Meet Randy Bonneval, a New Orleans Saints fan who transforms into the Who Dat King (or Elvis Saint) come game day. Part of an ongoing series on Saint's fans.

Saints wideout raising money to help injured Tulane player Devon Walker | ProFootballTalk
Morgan is donating tickets to this week’s game against the Chiefs, a football autographed by members of the Saints and a dinner for two to a raffle that’s being conducted on the Tulane campus.

49ers, Texans now Super Bowl betting favs; Saints 60-1
New odds by the Las Vegas Hilton Race and Sports Superbook (via covers.com) has the 49ers (4-1) and Texas (9-2) as the new favorites to win the Super Bowl.

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VIDEO: