The Saints struggled through a scandal-ridden 7-9 season that featured more news in the courtroom than on the field and a game of musical chairs at the head coaching position. This offseason, they will be trying to purge the memory of last year's mess, and star linebacker Jonathan Vilma may be one of the casualties.
Vilma was at the center of "Bounty-gate," the controversy involving then-defensive coordinator Gregg Wiliams and Vilma offering financial rewards for hard hits on opposing players and even bonuses for injuring them, most notably a $10,000 prize for knocking then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2010 NFC Championship game. When the scandal got the attention of the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, Williams was suspended indefinitely by the league while Saints head coach Sean Payton and Vilma were slapped with season-long suspensions. Vilma fought hard against the ruling, despite the fact that he was on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list until week six. He denied involvement in the bounty program and countersued Goodell for defamation. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue was brought in to hear the appeal of the players' suspensions and eventually lifted them, deeming Goodell's punishments to be overly harsh.
This offseason the Saints hired Rob Ryan, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, to be their defensive coordinator and Vilma is a 4-3 linebacker. Vilma had 20 tackles, a sack, and an interception in 11 games last season, 10 of which he started. He represents a cap hit of over $8 million though, and will likely be cut if Ryan doesn't believe he fits the 3-4 defensive scheme.
Another player who could be cut is defensive end Will Smith, who was suspended four games for his role in the bounty scandal. Smith, who has been with the Saints since 2004, had 33 tackles and six sacks in 2012, is owed nearly $14 million in 2013.
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