Official NFL Release

2013 PRO BOWL TO BE PLAYED IN HAWAII ON NBC

WEEK BEFORE SUPER BOWL XLVII

The 2013 Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii for the 33^rd time, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced today. The game will be televised live on Sunday, January 27 on NBC at 7 PM ET and again serve as the signature event to kick off the week leading up to the Super Bowl. CBS will televise Super Bowl XLVII a week later on Sunday, February 3 from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

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The support of Who Dat Nation never ceases to amaze me, particularly in times of strife. Never has that been more evident then now, with Drew Brees' contract status in complete disarray.

It appears that a small group of devoted Saints fans - or at least one - has started a fund and is accepting donations with the purpose of paying Brees a bonus for all that he's done for our city thus far and, for all intents and purposes, as a bribe to stay in New Orleans and continue playing for the Saints.

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Special Master Stephen Burbank will hear the NFLPA's second grievance, filed on behalf of Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita, at 10am EST today at University of Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia.

The players association will argue that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did not, in fact, have the right to suspend the four players because the bounty case alleges salary cap breaches and in that case, punishment should instead fall under the jurisdiction of Burbank.

The league, on the other hand, will maintain their defense that the behavior alleged in the bounty scandal was "Conduct Detrimental" and falls under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement.

Unfortunately, there's nothing really to get excited about just yet. No ruling is expected today. Sorry.

If you remember correctly, we are still waiting to hear a ruling from the NFLPA's first grievance, heard two weeks ago in front of arbitrator Shyam Das and arguing that Goodell isn't allowed to rule on alleged behavior that took place on the field. That could be coming very soon.

Official Release

HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Miami Dolphins team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE MIAMI DOLPHINS debuts in August. The first sports-based reality series - and one of the fastest-turnaround reality series - kicks off its five-episode seventh season, presented in HD, TUESDAY, AUG. 7 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Other hour-long episodes debut subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, with an encore play every Wednesday in August at 11:00 p.m., culminating in the Sept. 4 season finale.

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Below are answers to reader questions submitted Monday. Special thanks to all those that participated. Feel free to continue the discussion on any of these topics in the comment section below.

How long did you think the twitter war between Andrew and papillon was going to go on before papillon called Andrew a nazi, and do you think he really understood what Andrew was trying to say??? -Michael M

To be honest, I didn't know about it until Hans posted the hilarious recap on Saturday, but I can't believe it spanned the course of two days. That's one hell of an online feud. As far as Pamphilon's comprehension of what was being argued, I'm really not quite sure. The entire debate seemed to consist mostly of Andrew scolding Pamphilon and Pamphilon deflecting it with his free-loving hippie ways. I thought this part from the filmmaker was most interesting:

I was waiting for the blessing of the friend you think I f***** over, genius...

go ask Steve what I brought to his life. Seems to me his profile has grown... I have no I'll will toward Steve whatsoever, but Team Gleason is a marketing machine that lied about me.

Pamphilon seems to be saying that he originally received permission by Gleason to release the Williams audio but that Team Gleason denied giving permission once the backlash occurred. Looks like releasing that audio tape has definitely strained that relationship.

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Sick of our 'What Up With Dat?' mailbag series, where you guys submit your Saints-related questions and I answer them? No!? OMG, me either! That is so awesome because you don't have to wait any longer for the next installment. We've got another one here for you right now! Cha-ching!

So if you've got a burning question you've been dying to know my answer to, send an email to blogandgold@yahoo.com, send me a tweet @csctweet, post on our wall at Canal Street Chronicles Facebook page or just ask me in the comment section below. They can be about the Saints, the NFL, the blog or even personal. Don't forget to leave your first name and last initial so we can give you credit for your question if we wind up using it. I will round up the best questions and answer them in a timely fashion in a second follow-up post.

The Saints quietly opened their wallets for running back Chris Ivory recently when they rewarded him with back pay in the form of a signing bonus, according to Brian McIntyre of NFL.com.

Though the Saints were not required to, a source with knowledge of Ivory's contract said the team has tacked on a $72,900 signing bonus to the final year of his contract, making up for the income he lost while on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list last season. No additional years were added to the contract, and Ivory is still scheduled to be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Classy move by the Saints, in my opinion. Ivory certainly deserves it. But am I the only one who thinks it's slightly ironic and immensely hilarious that the team is volunteering to throw money unnecessarily at their young running back with one hand while pinching pennies and causing strife for their franchise quarterback with their other?

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Welcome to the first edition of Canal Street Crotchicles Guess That Saints Crotch. The objective is simple: be the first person to identify which Saints player owns this crotch?

The photo was taken during organized team activities this past week at the team's practice facility in Metairie.

Good luck!

Saints running back Pierre Thomas screws around during organized team activities yesterday at the team's practice facility in Metairie.

If you had to caption this photo, what would it be?

Also, be sure to click the photo to browse more photos from yesterday's action.

Below are a few remaining answers to some of the other reader questions submitted Monday that I didn't have time to answer earlier. Special thanks to all those that participated. Feel free to continue the discussion on any of these topics in the comment section below.

Jimmy Graham will make around $550,000 in 2012. Assuming he has another breakout season, do you think Jimmy will play for similar in 2013? Or could he also expect a huge pay raise like many of the other signed and restructured players that are currently on this team? - Ryan E.

First of all, there's no such thing as another breakout season. A player can only have one breakout season. Once they break out, they're out there for good as a top level player. Jimmy Graham has already broken out. But if he has another awesome season like he did last year and assuming your salary figures are correct, then yes, he should probably expect a huge pay raise.

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Since the Saints were not the lead story on ESPN's Sportscenter or the national evening news the boys go off topic this week. Kevin lays into Colin Cowherd about his stupidity and about New Orleans being unsafe and unworthy of hosting the Super Bowl. Dave explains why the media might be turning against Roger Goodell.

He also wonders whether Canal Street Chronicles will be able to handle it if July 10 rolls around and Drew Brees is still unsigned, Plus, Kevin finds the show some awesome New Orleans intro music and may or may not have murdered and buried a hooker during this podcast. To wrap things up Kevin and Ralph debate the Maxim Hot 100 list like it's a constitutional amendment.

Remember if you want to join the fun, email us at cscpodcast@hotmail.com.

Listen right now below, get the feed right here and/or download it on iTunes right here.

Warning: explicit language and adult content.

Yet another lawsuit has been filed against the NFL today, this time by the NFL Players Association claiming all 32 NFL owners imposed a secret salary cap for the 2010 season despite it being an uncapped year.

Basically, their complaint is that even though the 2010 season was supposed to be uncapped and teams should have been free to spend as much as they wanted on player salaries, the owners formed and stuck to a secret agreement that they wouldn't spend more than $123 million. Pretty believable considering the owners' reputation for being cheap.

The Saints, along with the Redskins, Cowboys and Raiders, are named specifically in the complaint. More off-season drama? Sure, why not!

For full details and the entire media release from the NFLPA, make the jump.

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Below are my answers to just some of the reader questions submitted Monday. Special thanks to all those that participated. Feel free to continue the discussion on any of these topics in the comment section below.

Why do you let critics like Prisco , Freeman , King and countless others bother you ? I dont think you are suppose to take them seriously. - Can 1.

They don't really bother me, they're just fun to pick apart and insult. Like Wallace wrote yesterday, I don't take it personally. It's pretty much my civic duty as a blogger to defend my team and point out ridiculous or flawed logic. Plus, I know that a lot of other Saints fans get frazzled by those guys so I enjoy throwing fuel on the fire and getting them riled up.

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NFL owners voted yesterday on potential rule changes during their owners meeting in Atlanta this week and three new rules have passed as a result.

Starting with the 2013 season, thigh and knee pads will be mandatory equipment for all players to wear, news players were not happy about but a requirement Goodell has been pushing for years.

Goodell pointed out something a Nike executive told him recently: NBA players are wearing more pads from the hips down than NFL players.

"There is something wrong with that," Goodell said.

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New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees walks out after a "paddle out" in honor of NFL star Junior Seau on May 6, 2012 in Oceanside, California.

If you had to caption this photo, what would it be?

More than a week ago we were offered two predictions about when Drew Brees would sign a new long-term contract, one from Times-Pic beat man Mike Triplett and the other from former Saints Executive VP Jim Miller. Triplett believed the "chances of Drew Brees signing a long-term contract with the Saints before the first OTA practice May 22nd are practically zero" while Miller told us we "can bet, or merely feel reasonably confident, that Brees will be signed by that date."

Related: Jim Miller or Mike Triplett: Who is Right About the Drew Brees Signing?

Well, today is that day. And, unfortunately, Brees still doesn't have a new contract. Which means Triplett is our winner, Miller the loser. So what does all this mean? Not much, really. I suppose it means Triplett might know what he's talking about and Miller's opinion simply can't be trusted. I will let each of you form your own opinion, but I definitely wanted to make sure I followed up with this and reported the outcome.

As far as the predicting prowess of our readers is concerned, it's a pretty even split. Most of you agreed with Triplett that Brees wouldn't be signed but many were a little too hopeful. Here is how you guys voted at the time:

Just caught Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback article for Sports Illustrated this week, and it includes a little bit of conversation about the Drew Brees contract negotiations. Surprise!

King basically attempts to put a number to Brees' value and does so by looking at contracts of the other two top quarterbacks in the league, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, over the past six years.

But I'm going to show you some numbers, and then I'm going to make a point about why I think Brees is more in the right in this case of Saints vs. Brees in the big-money department.

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It's time, once again, for another edition of our 'What Up With Dat?' mailbag series, where you guys submit your Saints-related questions and I answer them. I know, I know, but please try and contain your excitement. You guys should all know by now how this whole thing works. Let's not waste anymore time.

So if you've got a burning question you've been dying to know my answer to, send an email to blogandgold@yahoo.com, send me a tweet @csctweet, post on our wall at Canal Street Chronicles Facebook page or just ask me in the comment section below. They can be about the Saints, the NFL, the blog or even personal. Don't forget to leave your first name and last initial so we can give you credit for your question if we wind up using it. I will round up the best questions and answer them in a timely fashion in a second follow-up post.

I don't know what it is about CBS Sports writers but they just really don't seem to like the Saints or their fans. The latest post-Bountygate vitriolic rant against the Saints comes not from Pete Prisco, surprisingly, but rather from Mike Freeman this time. It's titled, 'Vilma's lawsuit against Goodell underscores Saints arrogance" and it's actually a couple of days old but I didn't find it mentioned anywhere else on CSC to date. I hate to even link to it, but I must.

The title alone lets you know exactly how Freeman feels about the Saints and he pulls no punches in the rest of the article either. Which is fine. If that's his opinion, so be it. The only problem being that his opinion is based on unproven allegations. That's not really fair so I'd like to present a rebuttal of impartial proportions. I hate to be so petty and immature here, but it's the offseason and there's not really else to do. Kids, don't drink and blog.

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The New Orleans Saints are having their Hall of Fame announcement ceremony as we speak and the members of the class of 2012 have been announced. Tom Benson and Deuce McAllister will both be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame this year. Obviously, it's an honor they both deserve equally.

It was also announce that Jim Henderson has been chosen as the recipient of the Joe Gemelli Fleur De Lis award for his contributions to the team over many, many years. No word on when I will be receiving mine.

Lastly, the team revealed that a wing in their hall of fame will be renamed Steve Gleason Hall in honor of #37.

Congratulations to everyone receiving honors. They are all very well deserved.

In our previous episode Kevin Held laid out the nightmare scenario for 2012. This week, Andrew Juge of the Saints Nation stops by and lays out such a beautiful dream scenario for 2012, Ralph says if it happens the Saints could never win again...and he'd be fine with it.

Before they indulge in dreams of Roger Goodell handing the Saints another Lombardi trophy, they discuss Jonathan Vilma's lawsuit against Goodell and if it means the NFL might be forced to show the evidence it has against the Saints. Andrew also wonders who will win the competition at kicker between Garrett Hartley and John Kasey. Plus, where will Sean Payton's loss be felt the most?

Remember if you want to join the fun, email us at cscpodcast@hotmail.com.

Listen right now below, get the feed right here and/or download it on iTunes right here.

Warning: explicit language and adult content.

Things just took an interesting turn in the Bountygate saga, with Jonathan Vilma filing a defamation lawsuit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday. And Drew Brees hasn't spoken to the Saints in, like, forever and he's pissed. So I think it's high time to take the pulse of Who Dat Nation with another Fast Five.

In case you need a reminder, the rules are simple: I ask you guys five questions and you answer them in the comment section below. I look forward to reading your answers and getting to know each of you a little better through your opinions. The more participation the better, so let's hear it!

Here are your five questions:

1. Do you think Jonathan Vilma has a chance to win his lawsuit against Roger Goodell?
2. Fill in the blank: Once Bountygate is all over the Saints will ______ .
3. Which side do you blame for the lack of a Drew Brees contract: the Saints or the Brees camp?
4. It's July 16th and Drew Brees still hasn't been offered a contract. Will he sign the tender or sit out the 2012 season?
5. Just what the hell is Sean Payton going to do in that Benson Tower office of his?

Ralph gives Dave mega-props for getting a shout-out from profootballtalk.com and then the boys discuss Drew Brees calling out the Saints about his contract situation. Kevin lays out a scenario that can best be described as horrible, awful, and it will drive you to drink heavily. Why isn't this deal done and is it time to panic?

After Dave exits to shoot pool, Kevin and Ralph try to figure out the first moment where everyone will realize, "Oh #$%& Sean Payton is gone and we really need him to fix this." Kevin also explains why Morning Call is superior to Cafe Du Monde.

Remember if you want to join the fun, email us at cscpodcast@hotmail.com.

Listen right now below, get the feed right here and/or download it on iTunes right here.

Warning: explicit language and adult content.

Drew Brees just finished up an exclusive interview with Deke Bellavia on WWL and boy did he sound unhappy. Obviously the lack of a contract for Brees was the topic of discussion. Below are just a few quotes from Drew during the interview:

"Over last few years I have not said a peep about wanting a new contract or being unhappy...I fulfilled certainly my end of bargain."

"There should be a sense of urgency and yet it seems like there's not."

"We've reached out on a number of occasions and at times I've been frustrated by the lack of response."

"Maybe not as close as people would be led to believe. I would say that the numbers that have been thrown around by ESPN and some of these other places, at times, have been pretty heavily inflated."

"It's been extremely frustrating for me," Brees said. "The negotiation shouldn't have been this difficult."

"I'm not going to get into the numbers but I feel our position is very reasonable and appropriate for situation I'm in."