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Player Suspensions in Bounty Scandal Overturned: What Does It Mean for Washington?

By Steve Shoup
August 17, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith (91) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of a preseason game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE
August 17, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith (91) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of a preseason game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

In a bit of a shocking development the players involved in the Saints Bounty Scandal had their suspensions overturned.

Appeals panel has vacated suspensions of Bounty 4 and remanded case back to commish for a redetermination of appropriate penalties

Now apparently Roger Goddell could still try to hand down some sort of punishment, but it's hard to imagine suspensions will be involved at this point, and if they are they almost surely won't impact this weeks games. Now the Saints only still have two of the four players, DE Will Smith and LB Jonathan Vilma on their roster. Of those two Vilma was recovering from an offseason surgery and according to reports hasn't been working with the team. He will almost certainly be inactive. The Saints added three linebackers this offseason including top free agents David Hawthorne and Curtis Lofton, so Vilma's continued absence will have little impact. Will Smith on the other hand is a big addition to the Saints line this weekend. He's been a very good defensive end throughout his career and is very capable of getting pressure on the quarterback. Unlike Vilma he has been working with the team and has looked strong this preseason.

Does the addition of Smith worry you at all for this Sunday's game?

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