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Saints News 3/6/13: Sean Payton Envisions Keeping Smith, Vilma, and Harper on 2013 Roster

In an audio interview, Coach says he "envisions" Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma, and Roman Harper on his 2013 roster, but acknowledges that the economics of the sport may make that impossible.

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Tweets

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>DirecTV could pull the plug on NFL Sunday Ticket after 2014 <a href="http://t.co/KbYO5aYj5q" title="http://wp.me/p14QSB-7x4A">wp.me/p14QSB-7x4A</a></p>&mdash; ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/309418617836027906">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Tampa! RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/jdavisiii">jdavisiii</a>: Getting bored</p>&mdash; Lance Moore (@LanceMoore16) <a href="https://twitter.com/LanceMoore16/status/309403192519700480">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Roger Goodell sits on same throne as King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. Tee off, <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Saints">#Saints</a> fans. <a href="http://t.co/ivJUpHaNVV" title="http://bit.ly/12u0d2r">bit.ly/12u0d2r</a></p>&mdash; Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarryHolder/status/309399655131791360">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The midnight starting time for agents and <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NFL">#NFL</a> clubs to talk starting Saturday is just silly</p>&mdash; Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeMcCartney7/status/309390240865452033">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Ravens thank New Orleans with big donation <a href="http://t.co/RhiRXHfvxQ" title="http://bit.ly/XWLJRa">bit.ly/XWLJRa</a></p>&mdash; WWL Radio (@WWLAMFM) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWLAMFM/status/309391511605366784">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>The rules for the NFL's new legal tampering period. <a href="http://t.co/CE3rUaERNf" title="http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2013/03/rules_for_the_n.html">boston.com/sports/footbal…</a></p>&mdash; Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregABedard/status/309386923460423680">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Sean Payton Talks Draft, Free Agency &amp; Rob Ryan with @<a href="https://twitter.com/wwlamfm">wwlamfm</a> (Audio/Quotes) <a href="http://t.co/kfqEl4kPdJ" title="http://bit.ly/XTfOUK">bit.ly/XTfOUK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Saints">#Saints</a></p>&mdash; New Orleans Saints (@Saints) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saints/status/309377458602389504">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>No new policy forthcoming, but league wants to remind teams what they can and can't ask prospects <a href="http://t.co/tBa0PhP1ln" title="http://wp.me/p14QSB-7wW5">wp.me/p14QSB-7wW5</a></p>&mdash; ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/309375603008737280">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Yes it is! RT"@<a href="https://twitter.com/suzretired">suzretired</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/darrensproles">darrensproles</a> Good morning, Darren. Life is good in the Who Dat Nation!!!!"</p>&mdash; Darren Sproles (@DarrenSproles) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenSproles/status/309344029152272385">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Not so fast on 49ers' and <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Jets">#Jets</a> CB Darrelle Revis. High-ranking team source says 49ers' interest is ".001 on a scale of 1-10."</p>&mdash; Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/mortreport/status/309327785246208000">March 6, 2013</a></blockquote>

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Who dat talkin' 'bout dem Saints?

New Orleans Saints | Sean Payton Talks Draft, Free Agency, Rob Ryan with WWL Radio
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton was interviewed by WWL Radio’s Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellevia Tuesday night. Listen to the interview here.

Chris Ivory: Will He Still be with the New Orleans Saints Next Season?
Chris Ivory could leave the New Orleans Saints for a bigger contract but the Saints should have enough money to keep him. Will they use it?

New Orleans Saints Rumors: Team to Let Go of two More Players
Two players that might not be re-signed are defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and defensive end Turk McBride.

2013 NFL Free-Agency Preview: New Orleans Saints - CBSSports.com
The Saints will rebound, if only because the offense will have the checks-and-balances system that Payton brings along with Brees on the offensive end. Defensively, things can't get worse. Like, it's impossible. Giving Ryan a few more weapons through free agency or the draft could go a long way toward making this team a viable contender again next season.

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton envisions Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma, Roman Harper on 2013 roster | NOLA.com
Payton was also asked about handling skeptics, fans and media concerning the hiring of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan because he may be similar to Gregg Williams: "It's great to have an opinion. We think, and I'm certain of it, that we have the best football fans in the world. The interest level in our program and our team, not just the season, but with the offseason and the combine coming up leading up to the draft, that's just the excitement and they're passionate. But what's most important is making choices and decisions that aren't based on popularity.

Payton sees Vilma, Harper, Smith staying, but . . . . | ProFootballTalk
The Saints have restructured several contracts. But they’re still slightly over the cap — and they’ll need to create more space if they want to sign any of their free agents or anyone else’s.

Jermon Bushrod top priority for Saints to re-sign | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
The New Orleans Saints will try to re-sign tackle Jermon Bushrod, believed to be the top priority among their 11 unrestricted free agents, …

Saints Nation: Zac's Idea of a Perfect Saints Offseason

Saints to hold auditions for Saintsations | Black and Gold

Saints don’t franchise Bushrod; Bunkley restructures | Black and Gold

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Roger Goodell is an A-hole

Goodell denies saying he fears a player will die on the field | ProFootballTalk
On Tuesday we noted that an ESPN the Magazine profile of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that Goodell has told friends he fears a player will die on the field. On Wednesday Goodell denied ever saying that.

Roger Goodell: The future of football relies on changing the game | ProFootballTalk
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is making clear once again that he wants to change the game of football to make it safer. Goodell said in a speech at the University of North Carolina on Wednesday that he believes the future of football depends on changing the game, and he sees that as one of his p...

SI's 50 Most Powerful People in Sports - More Sports - Steve Rushin - SI.com
It goes without saying that everyone on our guest list is a titan. But the intramural power plays among these power brokers are fascinating in their own right. Up front, in the sumptuous red-velvet banquettes by the window, sit the various commissioners. And yet they are nominally hired hands, serving at the behest of team owners. Of course, try telling that to Saints owner Tom Benson. His team was spanked by NFL commish Roger Goodell, who wields enormous power over the individual owners who employ him.

A year later, Scott Fujita moving past Bountygate, toward Machu Picchu
"I'm evaluating a few book opportunities right now about it,'' he said. "I'd love to write about it because I have a lot to say. There's a lot of lessons in that whole experience, a lesson for the media also. ... We're in a sound-bite, headline culture. ... It's tough to battle with that. I spent 10 months fighting against that culture where everybody reads the headline and the accusations are (on the) front page, but the rebuttal is on page 63. "That part of it was tough. ... I just don't know if I want to go there, re-live it all. I've got to make that decision.''

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NFL Draft, Free Agency, Player Signings

2013 NFL free agents to watch with local ties
In just one more week, NFL free agency will afford teams to improve themselves on paper, according to their 2013 goals. Some players are looking for a good fit, a fresh start or one more opportunity to show their former teams that they just were not appreciated enough.

ESPN analyst Polian intrigued by trio of foreign-born defensive ends | wwltv.com New Orleans
Former Colts president Bill Polian knows a thing or two about standout defensive ends.

Former O.P. Walker star Mike Wallace is expected to be one of the NFL's most coveted free agents | NOLA.com
Several analysts have pegged Wallace, a New Orleans native who starred at O.P. Walker, as the top-ranked free agent. But some believe Wallace's asking price could be too high.

Goldson hopes to remain with Niners, open to playing anywhere | ProFootballTalk
During the interview, Goldson said, via the San Jose Mercury News, that he was open to playing "pretty much anywhere" if things don’t work out in San Francisco. He was was asked about the prospect of playing for the Bengals and had a positive reaction to that possibility.

London Fletcher having surgery today, planning comeback | ProFootballTalk
While Redskins coach Mike Shanahan recently created some doubt about London Fletcher’s future with the team, Fletcher himself said he’s coming back next year. The veteran linebacker told David Elfin of 106.

Wes Welker appears set to test free agency | ProFootballTalk
Despite some talk that the Patriots and receiver Wes Welker were trying to work out an agreement on a long-term contract before Welker becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 12, that doesn't appear likely to happen.

Eagles move quickly to shoot down Nnamdi report | ProFootballTalk
Not long after we tweeted a link to the story regarding Howard Eskin's report that the Eagles will be cutting cornerback Nnamdi Asomuga today, Twitter lit up like an old-school switchboard with reports from local and national folks refuting the news.

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Lagniappe

DirecTV could pull plug on NFL Sunday Ticket | ProFootballTalk
DirecTV CFO Pat Doyle said at a Wednesday investors conference that, if the price goes up too high when the current NFL Sunday Ticket deal expires after the 2014 season, DirecTV would consider "striking a non-exclusive deal with the NFL or possibly even dropping the popular package," writes the Hollywood Reporter, via SportsBusiness Daily.

WWL - AM870 | FM105.3 | News | Talk | Sports - Ravens Thank New Orleans With Big Donation
To show the team’s gratitude, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti purchased and donated two 2013 Harley Davidson FLHP motorcycles to the New Orleans Police Department Traffic Division.

Southern hospitality appreciated by Super Bowl Champions - WhoDatDIsh
New Orleans native Jacoby Jones of the Baltimore Ravens presented the New Orleans Police Department’s traffic division with a set of 2013 Harley Davidson FLHP motorcycles.

Peyton Manning's blog from USO trip a must read; QB meets Newman classmate | NOLA.com
Capt. Edmund Barnes attended Newman kindergarten with Manning

Former Saints on ballot for College Football Hall of Fame | Black and Gold
Tackle William Roaf, a 2012 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is one of three former Saints on the Football Bowl Subdivision ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Vince Young: I was the victim, I was taken advantage of | ProFootballTalk
"I really want teams and organizations to know that I was young at a time and I put my trust in a lot of people, and I was getting taken advantage of," Young said. "Basically, I’m the victim of the situation. So I’ve just got to clean up that mess, just to let teams know I’m a little bit more mature than I used to be, I’ve grown a whole lot, and I just want teams to understand that you’re getting a little bit more mature quarterback that understands the professionalism of the game."

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Sean Payton Audio Interview

Sean Payton: "I Am Fired Up To Have Rob Ryan"
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton speaks with WWL Radio about the NFL Draft, free agency and Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Audio provided by WWL Radio