APHow Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma fit into the Saints new 3-4 defense remains to be seen.
But they’ll fit into their pants easier today, because their wallets are much thinner.
According to Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, both players took significant pay cuts as part of yesterday’s restructurings, which cleared more than $10 million worth of cap space.
Smith took a $6 million cut, from $9 million in base salary to $3 million. He will keep a $1 million roster bonus and a $150,000 workout bonus. His compensation for 2014 was unchanged.
Vilma’s $1.1 million roster bonus went away, and his base salary was reduced from $4.8 million to $1 million, though his workout bonus was doubled from $100,000 to $200,000.
That’s a steep price for the players to pay, but they apparently decided it beats looking for work.
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Looks like a bounty program is a good way to keep your guys on the cheap!
Obviously bounties will be returning so these guys can make up the money.
Sorry boys, but Drew needs the money.
They figured with all that bounty money up for grabs they could afford to take a cut.
Vilma’s punk ass shouldnt even be in the league anymore.
Vilma took a pay cut last year too
“Loyalty is Everything”
While I am no fan of Vilma, he did let his actions do the talking here when he said he wanted to stay a Saint.
He took the hit that alot of players wouldn’t to stay where he is happy.
Ahem. Jonathan Vilma is very old by NFL standards, with multiple injuries and multiple surgeries over the past few years. He is far past his prime. I love Vilma, don’t get me wrong, but it would have been a smarter move to just cut him or for Vilma to retire gracefully.
Vilma you helped the Saints win a Super Bowl and you were a beast.
I wish the Saints would go after Israel Idonije or Osi Umenyiora, or John Abraham bigtime.