...their contracts to remain with New Orleans.The 31-year-old Smith and 30-year-old Vilma, both veteran defensive captains, would have taken up about $23 million combined in salary cap space without the redone deals.? Minnesota finalized...

...The leadership we have on this football team, that's going to be the spine of the bridge, if you will," defensive captain Justin Tuck said. "I think we're in a good place as far as where we want to be coming into the game."The Giants...

...well."During the NFL lockout, Weatherspoon followed the lead of middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, Atlanta's defensive captain, and veteran linebackers Mike Peterson and Coy Wire in participating regularly in conditioning workouts and in 7-on-7...

...9-5) with the NFC South Division crown on the line."We're peaking at the right time," Saints linebacker and defensive captain Jonathan Vilma said. "I'm talking about jelling as far as a team ? offense, defense, special teams ? the camaraderie...

...in the series with a three-point victory in Week 3."It's a divisional game," said Lofton, the Falcons' defensive captain. "It's going to be physical. I mean, we hate them, they hate us, and let's go get it on. We've got to...

...at linebacker entering the playoffs.When the Falcons visit the New York Giants on Sunday, Lofton, the team's defensive captain and starting middle linebacker, says Atlanta will be just fine.Lofton believes Atlanta (10-6) can contain...

...visit to the Capitol."This is my first time in the Capitol. It feels great," said Derwin Butler, the Bears' defensive captain. "It's kind of like I thought, with a whole lot of statues and pictures and stuff.""This place is huge...

...on Tuck not playing through neck and groin injuries last week, maladies that will keep Umenyiora's bookend and defensive captain out for his third consecutive game Sunday against Buffalo (4-1)."It's very, very disappointing," Umenyiora...

...record against Florida as a player.Muschamp began his college career as a walk-on safety in 1991 and ended it as a defensive captain in 1994. He played in 44 games and had four shots at the Gators.He lost them all.His memories? "There weren't...

Hoping to close the book on bounties, the NFL suspended Saints defensive captain Jonathan Vilma without pay for all of next season Wednesday and gave shorter bans to three other players for their leading roles...