The New Orleans Times-Picayune considers Saints DE Will Smith and LB Jonathan Vilma both likely to be released in the offseason unless they are amenable to "substantial pay cuts." Both players are on the wrong side of 30, and due a combined $15.9 million in 2013. Vilma has made little impact as he's played through New Orleans' never-ending bounty drama, while Smith has graded out as one of the worst 4-3 ends in the league in Pro Football Focus' ratings. If either is back with the Saints in 2013, it will be at a substantially-reduced salary.

CBS' Jason La Canfora reports all four suspended players from the Saints' bounty case will meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday. Saints RE Will Smith, Browns SLB Scott Fujita, free agent DT Anthony Hargrove and Jonathan Vilma might finally learn their ultimate fate after their suspensions were temporarily overturned on appeal last Friday. A settlement that includes reduced bans for all four players may be the most likely outcome.

In a stunning development, players suspended for their roles in the Saints' 2009-2011 Bounty Scandal have had their bans overturned on appeal. Perhaps the most notable suspension lifted is RE Will Smith's. The Saints' best pass rusher will be able to start Sunday against the Redskins. Browns SLB Scott Fujita and Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma, among others, are now eligible to play football in Week 1. Vilma has been away from the Saints, so it's unclear how much time he'll need to get back into the swing of things. Smith's return will make life quite a bit more difficult on Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III.

NFL suspended Saints RE Will Smith four games for his role in the team's bounty scandal. The league found that Smith assisted former DC Gregg Williams in "establishing and funding the program," and "pledged significant sums to the program pool" for cart-offs and knockouts of opponents. The Saints will open the season perilously thin at defensive end, with only Junior Galette, Turk McBride, and Greg Romeus behind disappointing 2011 first-round pick Cam Jordan. Smith will be eligible to resume playing in games in Week 5.

A misdemeanor domestic abuse battery charge against Saints DE Will Smith has been dismissed. The charge dates back to 2010. Smith was indicted by a grand jury last March, but the Lafayette Parish DA's Office opted to dismiss the charges after the defensive end completed community service and participated in counseling. His wife also requested that the charges be dismissed.

The Saints have restructured RE Will Smith's contract, reducing his cap number by $4.78 million. Smith won't be released after the restructure. He lost no money in the deal, instead having a $6.175M signing bonus implemented into his 2012 pay on top of a $150,000 workout bonus, $1M roster bonus to be paid on March 27, and $825,000 salary. Smith's cap numbers do shoot through the roof in 2013 and 2014, however, so he may be playing his final season in New Orleans.

Yahoo's Jason Cole reports that the Saints are working to restructure RE Will Smith's contract ahead of the start of free agency. Smith is owed a $1 million roster bonus on March 27 and carries a $10.15M cap number, according to The Sideline View's Adam Caplan. By moving money around and guaranteeing some of Smith's base salary, the Saints could save $5 million to $6 million. Per Cole, the reworked contract "could be done today."

Saints RE Will Smith has a $1 million roster bonus due on March 27. Smith is also due a $7 million base salary, and his 2012 cap number is over $10 million. Now entering his age-31 season, Smith registered 6.5 sacks, 35 tackles, and two forced fumbles in 2011. The numbers aren't terrible, but certainly fall well short of elite and New Orleans was gashed by the run throughout the season. We wouldn't be surprised if Smith was a cap casualty.

Saints RE Will Smith will come off suspension and be eligible for Week 3. As is the case with Vikings DT Kevin Williams, Smith's two-game StarCaps suspension is up. The Saints got their pass rush back on track against the Bears Sunday, sacking Jay Cutler six times. Smith will add even more life to what projects as an explosive front four. New Orleans' defense is much more the unit that played against Chicago than the lifeless defense of Week 1.

NFL suspended Saints DE Will Smith two games for violating the league's policy against banned substances. He'll be back in Week 3. The Saints had been expecting a four-game ban for Smith's StarCaps case, so they should be pleased with this outcome. Turk McBride and a player to be named will open the year as New Orleans' starting defensive ends. Smith, 30, slumped along with the rest of the Saints' defense last season, managing just 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 15 starts.