Here is a flashback to what things looked like just over a year ago. Amazing how things can turnaround. Always good to put things in perspective. There are additional resource links at the end of the article. WHO DAT!

The saga of the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal continues. On July 23 a conference before Magistrate Judge Daniel Knowles of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has been scheduled in an attempt to resolve the New Orleans Saints bounty suspensions.
Jonathan Vilma has filed a case that has been combined with the case filed on behalf of Saints defensive end Will Smith, Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove, and Browns linebacker Scott Fujita who were also suspended.
The problem is there is little middle ground for negotiations. The NFL is not likely to dismiss the suspensions completely. The players on the other hand believe there is no ground for any suspensions.
The deadline for contract negotiations with Drew Brees are getting closer. July 16th is the day when Drew Brees will have to accept the franchise tender of $16.371 million. This would on the surface be a hard deadline however it is not.
Brees has options even after than date. Brees can hold out which he has said he will not do. He could also simply show up continue to negotiate and put pressure on the New Orleans Saints to come to some agreement before the season begins. Both Brees and owner Tom Benson have said a deal will get done. Time will tell
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