Photo: SI - Heinz Kluetmeier
- Troy BallardAnd by the Hammer of Thor -- Roger Goodell slams down a full 2012 season suspension on New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma for involvement in the Bountygate scandal.
It took Goodell three months to decided what a fitting punishment was for the group of Saints players that were most involved in the team's 'pay for play' scandal, but when the time came -- he didn't let anyone off easy.
Along with New Orleans' head coach Sean Payton, Vilma has been handed down a full season suspension, and will not be reinstated in the NFL until 2013 following the Super Bowl.
Other players that were heavily active in the scandal such as Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Scott Fujita have all been handed various suspensions, but nothing compared to Vilma's.
The real stinger -- all suspensions are without pay.
But beyond Vilma not getting that hefty pay check, New Orleans is losing one of the most important defensive cornerstones to the defense's success. Although being called the ringleader of Bountygate along with ex-defensive coordinator Greg Williams, Vilma played an incredibly important leadership role with the Saints.
Along with the absence of leadership, the Saints will also be forced to fill the void of Vilma on the field, as all of his talent will be sitting on the couch watching the game. New Orleans' front office made moves this off-season in the case that Vilma was handed a suspension (not even in the team's wildest dreams did a full season suspension seem possible), signing both Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne to add depth.
Despite Lofton and Hawthorne both being talented, they will not be able to come close to filling the gap left by Vilma in the Saints' defense. New Orleans is going to struggle to find an identity, as without a captain and intensity-setter playing, the Saints are going to be totally lost in transition.
Don't forget that Vilma's overall intelligence at the linebacker position is off the charts too. Sit down and watch any Saints game over the past three years, and Vilma is calling more audibles than a quarterback, as he reads and reacts to set up the defense for success. There are few linebackers in the NFL that have the ability to read offenses so easily, and it will be a huge loss for the Saints on critical third downs.
New Orleans is left without a head coach, a general manager, a star middle linebacker, and several other key players. The team hasn't re-signed Drew Brees, and the Saints lost Carl Nicks in free agency. It seems things have gotten totally and completely out of hand, and team is stuck in a total spiral.
If there was every a time to need a leader like Vilma -- it would be now.
The best case scenario the Saints can hope for is that another player in the locker room steps up and takes control of the team. Because at this point, there is almost no leadership, no direction, and a serious chip in talent on that defense.
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