METAIRIE, La. (AP) -With the specter of his four-game suspension lifted for now, Will Smith half-jokingly pointed out that there was still one game he’d probably have to sit out.
That game would be the Pro Bowl, Smith said with a grin, “because we’ll be in the Super Bowl.”
Indeed, the Saints have high hopes that their 2009 squad has the potential to get the Saints back to the postseason for the first time in three seasons, and are off to a positive start after handily beating Detroit in their season opener.
Their playoff chances might have taken a blow had both Smith and fellow starting defensive end Charles Grant been forced to sit out four games because of positive 2008 tests for a banned substance. Instead, it now appears the matter won’t be resolved until after this season.
Smith said Wednesday that he and Grant “know we’re big components to this defense and we feel if we’re not here, we would be hurting the defense.”
ay football – worry about football and not worry about that other stuff,” he said.
On Tuesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said it would be unfair to suspend the two Saints players now, when the league has been blocked from suspending Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams (no relation) for the same offense while their case is pending in Minnesota state court.
“We’re happy with the decision that the commissioner has made,” Smith said. “I feel as if we can move on and focus on the Philadelphia Eagles,” who the Saints play this Sunday.
Smith, Grant, the Williamses and former Saints running back Deuce McAllister all fought their suspensions last season after they tested positive for the banned diuretic bumetanide, which can be used to mask the presence steroids.
In May, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson dismissed the NFLPA’s lawsuit and several claims in the Williamses’ case, then sent two claims involving Minnesota workplace laws back to state court.
Last Friday, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Magnuson’s decisions, meaning the NFL could have suspended the Saints players.
Grant said the commissioner’s decision to treat all the players equally “came as a … relief yesterday for us to be able to go out and help this team accomplish something.”
one of the premier (defensive) bookends they consider us to be in this league.”
Saints teammates were hesitant to comment on whether they thought the NFL’s ruling was fair to other players who have already been suspended for similar violations, such as their own teammate, offensive linemen Jamar Nesbit. They said only they were pleased to know their starting defensive ends apparently would be able to play all season.
“All I can say is I’m really glad to have Will and Charles playing for us,” quarterback Drew Brees said.
Nesbit, like Smith and Grant, was using the StarCaps weightloss supplement that apparently contained the banned substance, though it was not listed as an ingredient. He chose to accept his suspension without any appeal, lost his starting job in the process, and later sued StarCaps in civil court in an effort to recoup the income he lost while suspended.
Nesbit said the civil case is ongoing and that he could not comment on it. He added that it was too early to tell whether he made the wrong choice by not fighting his suspension.
“I would have loved to have finished last season” as a starter, Nesbit said. “But on the flip side of that, I probably would not enjoy having (the suspension) hanging over my head.”
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NOTE: RB Pierre Thomas practiced fully for the first time since spraining his right knee on Aug. 22, but he wore a large brace. He said he hoped to play against the Eagles on Sunday. “We need to be smart about it, but I think I can go,” he said. … TE Jeremy Shockey rode a stationary bike during practice. Head coach Sean Payton said he only wanted to give Shockey some rest. Shockey offered a thumbs-up sign when asked if he expected to play Sunday, adding with a smile, “I’m all right. I’m walking.”
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