While Vilma is the biggest name, the other three players carried the bigger cap numbers for 2014. Smith ($13.9 million), Greer ($6.8 million) and Harper ($5.9 million) were set to make too much, and the team has a major free-agent priority in tight end Jimmy Graham to consider.
The Saints enjoyed a defensive revival under coordinator Rob Ryan, but none of those players were vital to their 3-4 scheme going forward.
Head coach Sean Payton thanked the quartet for their past contributions, which included helping the team win Super Bowl XLIV after the 2009 season under previous defensive coordinator Gregg Wiliams.
“I have coached and been around a lot of great players and I put these four guys right there at the top,” Payton said in a statement. "These are disciplined, smart, tough and team-oriented individuals. They all played an important role in helping this team and this city win its first Super Bowl and they have all enjoyed multiple playoff appearances and wins.”
General manager Mickey Loomis echoed Payton's sentiment, but also made it clear the moves made the most financial sense for the Saints.
"These are the kinds of players and people you hope to acquire," Loomis said of the departing veterans. "However, a new NFL year is about to begin and, with the start of free agency in March, these difficult moves allow us to position our team under the salary cap to move forward for 2014.”
INCOGNITO'S BRIGHTER FUTURE
More than three months in, we’re still waiting for the results of the independent investigation into Richie Incognito’s alleged bullying of soon-to-be former Miami Dolphins offensive linemate Jonathan Martin.
Incognito, however, didn’t wait for Ted Wells’ report to make his closing arguments, taking to Twitter on Wednesday to say the “truth will bury” Martin.
Here’s another truth: Incognito has a better chance of playing (and starting) for another team in 2014 than Martin. In his attempt to “move on with his life and career," it’s safe to say Incognito is neither an on-field nor locker room enigma.
Like him or not, no one can accuse Incognito of not speaking his mind. Or say that the 30-year-old can’t help someone other than the Dolphins on the field. He’s an above-average starting guard who can be had for under $4 million to plug an immediate hole.
Incognito, who had his suspension lifted by the Dolphins early last week, will be a middle-tier free agent in March.
As for Martin, he’s more of a flyer. Beyond the controversy of the 2013 season that will make his time in Miami end after just 23 games, the 24-year-old has struggled with his play at tackle, shaky at right and overwhelmed at left.
Incognito won’t come out of the investigation looking like Mr. Nice Guy, but he hasn’t tried to. There’s a reason his mean streak is one of his biggest assets as a player. For teams needy of interior line help, he’s Mr. Nice Price. Martin won’t come out of this with close to the same kind of value.
2014 SCHEDULE STRENGTH
The Indianapolis Colts have been to the playoffs in two consecutive seasons with Andrew Luck as their quarterback. The chances are good for the AFC South champions to make it back in 2014, as their opponents had the combined worst winning percentage in 2013.
As for the Oakland Raiders, who haven’t been to the playoffs in a dozen years, they are saddled with the strongest schedule in the NFL. That’s what happens when the rest of the AFC West just made the postseason.
That includes the Denver Broncos, who are ranked right before Oakland with a daunting slate as they try to repeat as AFC champs. Here's a look at 2014 strength of schedule for all teams, from easiest to toughest:
1. Indianapolis Colts (.430) 2. Tennessee Titans (.438) 3. Houston Texans (.441) 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (.453) 5. Baltimore Ravens (.461) 6. New York Giants (.465) 7. Cleveland Browns (.465) 8. Pittsburgh Steelers (.469) 9. New Orleans Saints (.469) 10. Cincinnati Bengals (.469) 11. Carolina Panthers (.473) 12. Minnesota Vikings (.477) 13. Philadelphia Eagles (.479) 14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (.484) 15. Dallas Cowboys (.488) 16. Washington Redskins (.490) 17. Detroit Lions (.492) 18. Chicago Bears (.496) 19. Buffalo Bills (.500) 20. Green Bay Packers (.504) 21. Miami Dolphins (.508) 22. Atlanta Falcons (.512) 23. New England Patriots (.516) 24. New York Jets (.520) 25. Arizona Cardinals (.547) 26. Kansas City Chiefs (.559) 27. Seattle Seahawks (.561) 28. San Francisco 49ers (.563) 29. San Diego Chargers (.563) 30. St. Louis Rams (.564) 31. Denver Broncos (.570) 32. Oakland Raiders (.578)
ELWAY’S CONTRACT EXTENDED
The Denver Broncos have extended executive vice president John Elway's contract for three years and added general manager to his title.
The Broncos have gone 37-17 since Elway rejoined the team in 2011 and are coming off an AFC Championship, but also a 43-8 blowout loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl.
Elway guided the Broncos to five Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career, winning his last two before retiring in 1999.
When he returned to the Broncos after a 4-12 season in 2010, Elway hired coach John Fox, who has led Denver to three straight AFC West titles.
Elway has hit the jackpot in free agency, first with Peyton Manning in 2012 and last year with Louis Vasquez and Wes Welker among others.
BROWNS MAY HAVE WANTED PARCELLS
Before announcing a major shakeup in its front office, the Cleveland Browns did their due diligence.
Bill Parcells confirmed to Bleacher Report that he spoke to owner Jimmy Haslam about the Browns, though the Hall of Fame coach told BR that he was not offered the job of general manager. Ray Farmer was named GM on Tuesday.
Parcells said he talked to the Browns “only about how I believe organizations succeed and others fail.”
Surely, Cleveland has had more of the latter. It appears Haslam is trying to make it right, though, with swift and unexpected moves. He fired head coach Rob Chudziski, now on the Colts’ staff, after just one season. Michael Lombardi and Joe Banner were let go, as well.
Parcells likely had good advice to share, even if at 72 he wasn’t interested in taking on a new challenge, like the one the Browns present.
Contributors: Rana L. Cash, Vinnie Iyer
