What a roller coaster week for former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson: Sunday, he seemed well on his way to making is NFL dream become a reality when the Tampa Bay Bucs signed him after watching him at rookie mini camp.

Tuesday old ghosts returned to haunt Jefferson when 4 men sued him for injuries they say they sustained during last summer’s infamous bar fight outside of Shady’s . That incident triggered a suspension from football and a police investigation where dozens of pairs of Jefferson’s shoes were confiscated.

Today, Tampa Bay waived Jefferson, sending him back to Louisiana to re-strategize about what to do next.

I’m going for the idea of switching to wide receiver, even though Jefferson has consistently resisted that idea. I think he could find the seemingly elusive NFL success he craves here.

Jefferson is fast, plus he has good size and eye-hand coordination. While Jefferson’s accuracy throwing was always a question mark in Tigerland, his ability to run hard with ball in traffic was not. True, he would need to learn how to run proper pass routes, but it’s a change he could make if he decides he wants to change.

We see a proto-type in his little brother Rickey, a stand out high school wide receiver with scholarship offers in his pocket from LSU, USC, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State and more.

Former prosecutors duel over Saints Bounty Gate:

“It’s about as egregious as you can get for these kind of programs. The players sanctioned all activity and enthusiastically embraced this program. They always had the option to say no. They didn’t say no. It is no defense that coaches were involved in it, this was an individual responsibility each player has and each coach has. Each player had the responsibility to say no to this program and they didn’t do that. They obviously had the option to report this to the union and they didn’t do that.”
—— Mary Jo White, Outside Counsel for the NFL.

“I was at the meeting with the NFL’s lead investigators in March. She was not there. Anyone, especially former prosecutors like both of us, know that what the League provided could never be called ‘substantial evidence’ of player participation in a pay-to-injure program. Worse yet, Mary Jo provided nothing new or compelling today beyond another press briefing. My guess is that a veteran FBI agent like Joe Hummel would agree as well.”
——— Richard Smith, Outside Counsel, NFLPA

Joe Hummel is one of the lead investigators in the Saints bounty probe. He’s resigning from the League in June.

Quite possibly the toughest player loss in the Bounty Gate suspensions will be Defensive End Will Smith.
He’s the Saints best answer for a pass rusher, at least right now.
“This is back to back years he won’t start the season for the Saints. You don’t have your top pass rusher, your top defensive lineman for the first 4 games. That’s critical because if you’re going to get off to a quick start – and I think it’s important to get off to a quick start for this team to get a little confidence and put some of this negativity behind you – having him out on the field hurts,” says NFL analyst Mike Detillier.
Now Turk McBride and Junior Gallette will need to step up big those first 4 games against some of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league, including Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers.
Why isn’t Jonathan Vilma the tougher loss? Because the Saints have already bolstered their linebacker corps.
This off season, the Saints signed a trio of veteran linebackers: Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne and Chris Chamberlain.
Whether the Saints were anticipating a lengthy suspension for Vilma – or just looking at the knee injuries he’s been battling – all three additions have immediate starting talent.
“Thank Jonathan Vilma for what he’s done fo rthis football team: he’s been your emotional and physical leader on this team. He’s been productive. He played a major role in bringing that championship here. But Father Time was also knocking on his door real hard,” says Detillier.
Detillier says Vilma’s shoes should be filled by Curtis Lofton, who was a productive on the field leader for the Atlanta Falcons.
Given Vilma’s injuries, Detillier says Lofton is the better football player.
“This is a young man’s game. It’s not made for older people to play. I think at that position right now you made an upgrade bringing Lofton in for Vilma. That might be tough to say, but it’s accurate, if you look at them both on film the the last 2 years,” says Detillier.
Vilma has been the heart and soul of this Saints defense – providing emotional support and motivation for his teammates – the way Drew Brees does for the offense. But Detillier is confident that’s something Lofton can do as well.
“Curtis Lofton has always been a leader. You look at his background. He comes from the toughest neighborhood there is in Oklahoma. He came basically from a poverty situation: dad was never around, his mom was in and out of prison, his grandmother raised him. Things could have turned for him easily. He’s a guy where nothing has been handed to him. He take it the hard way, and he’s done a great job. When he gets in that locker room and he looks you in the eye and says something, you listen and you respect what he’s done,” says Detillier.
On the field, many people compare Lofton’s success to that of Baltimore’s Ray Lewis, one of the best middle linebackers to ever play the game.
Lofton has played pro football for 4 years, and is now within about 25 tackles of Ray Lewis.
Impressive track record by the numbers and by reputation for Lofton.
Time will tell whether he embraces the now open leadership role on this Saints defense under a new Steve Spagnuolo system.

Drew Brees is fighting a war on 2 fronts. First – his coveted long term deal with the Saints that would allow him to end his career in New Orleans.

“Ah, well… it’s a process and obviously, there’s been quite a few distractions this off season, as you can imagine, but we’re just looking forward to getting onto more positive things,” says Brees.

But NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it all comes down to money – not the total amount, but how much Brees gets when.

“This is a contract that’s been well over a year in progress. I don’t think any of the punishments or Bounty Gate scandal issues had anything to do with them not cutting a deal with Drew, to be honest with you. If that was the case, you would have done this last fall. I think the hold up in this deal is not how much, but when it’s laid out. This is going to be a 5 or 6-year deal, but if I’m Drew at 33 years old, I want my money in the first couple of 3 years,” says Detillier.

Here are recent top quarterback contracts:

Peyton Manning: 5 years, $96 million.

Michael Vick: 6-years, $100 million, $40 million guaranteed.

Eli Manning: 6 years, $97.5 million.

Tom Brady- 4-years, $72 million, $48.5 million guaranteed.

Phillip Rivers: 6-years, $ 92 million, $38 million guaranteed.

Brees is also juggling his role as the Saints’ union rep. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants the Players Union to recommend a punishment for the players allegedly involved in Bounty Gate, but it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen:

“The job of the union and certainly, my position as an Executive Committee Member of the Players Union, is to certainly look out for the best interest of players and obviously to understand, too the entire situation and exactly what we’re being accused of. And so, I think what we’ve been pushing for as a union this entire time is to actually see the evidence that the NFL claims to have on players, and it just happens to be that I’m on the team that they’re trying to come after,” says Brees.

Detillier predicts Goodell will move without the Union’s input and soon. Detillier expects a severe punishment in the next 24-48 hours.

“Goodell has delayed this for timing – to send a message to every player, every coach, every executive in the National Football League that I am going to guard these NFL gates with everything I have because I do not want to lose it in a courtroom. I see these lawsuits popping up all across America due to head injury, head trauma out on the field,” says Detillier.

Goodell doesn’t need the union’s input: the new CBA gives him full power to decide this punishment.

The players and the NFLPA could appeal whatever punishment comes down, but chances are high it will have the same outcome the Payton/Loomis/Vitt appeal did.

If you’re a Treme fan, you’re familiar with the chef who lost her restaurant to post-Katraina issues? Janette Deusatel? Bayona chef Susan Spicer coached her.

Bayona on Dauphine in the French Quarter is one of my favorite restaurants. Turns out Spicer is now mixing things up with BP: she’s filed a lawsuit against the company becuase of this oil disaster.

Here’s what she has to say:

Bayona Corporation brought a class action lawsuit on behalf of restaurants in New Orleans who are impacted by the ongoing oil spill.

The lawsuit is more about the restaurant industry in New Orleans than about Susan Spicer and Bayona.

Spicer said, “It is not as if the situation is under control and we are in the process of recovery. We still don’t know how long it will continue and how drastic the effects will be on our industry and our culture.”

In spite of the oil spill, Bayona and many New Orleans restaurants are able to put out amazing food and meet their customers’ needs. “It is important for people to realize that all of great reasons to come to New Orleans still exist,” Spicer said. Although this lawsuit encompasses current damages, prospective damages to the New Orleans restaurant industry are the primary focus.

Spicer said, “Just as after Katrina certain restaurants were able to survive, we are now losing many of the smaller restaurants and seafood related businesses that make up the fabric of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.”

Access to local Gulf seafood is diminishing and more expensive than it was before the oil spill. Despite stringent safety measures being taken to ensure that no tainted seafood is sold, customers — both locally and nationwide — are beginning to avoid Gulf seafood products. “I have great confidence in my local vendors and the local products that I am serving, but I know my suppliers are suffering from the reality of a diminished supply and the misperception that all Gulf seafood is unsafe,” said Spicer.

“I’m proud to be a part of such a resilient community. I also feel strongly that British Petroleum needs to be held accountable for its negligence,” Spicer said.

May 13, 2010, New Orleans, LA – The lineup for GULF AID’s two stages is set. Great music from noon – 10pm, with Lenny Kravitz closing out the daylong concert that features a spectacular offering of musicians, all of whom are pitching in to raise money for the wetlands/coastal environmental issues and the well-being of fishermen and the regional seafood industry . GULF AID takes place Sunday, May 16 at Mardi Gras World – River City from noon-10p.m.

There are two stages – the Wetlands stage(indoor) and the Coastal stage (outdoor). The attached schedule provides performance times for: Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Mos Def, Allen Toussaint, Ani DiFranco, The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars (featuring Tab Benoit, Dr. John, Cyril Neville, George Porter Jr., Waylon Thibodeaux, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone, and Johnny Vidacovich), Zachary Richard, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Beausoleil, Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys with Jon Cleary, Marcia Ball, Irvin Mayfield’s Playhouse Review, Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers, Rebirth Brass Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Shamarr Allen, Jeremy Davenport and MyNameIsJohnMichael.

Tickets are $50 and are available exclusively via Elevate (www.elevate.com). Kids under 10 years of age are free. VIP tickets are now available, also via Elevate for $250 and include an open bar, access to the Mansion (an indoor area with AC & casual seating), balcony view of indoor stage and upgraded bathrooms.

Local restaurants are also stepping up for the benefit and will have food booths at the festival. Confirmed restaurant and food vendors include: Acme Oyster House, ARAMARK Convention Centers, Bacco, Besh Resturant Group-Luke, Bourbon House, Bourbon Vieux, Broussard’s Restaurant, The Crazy Lobster, Crepes a la Cart, G.W. Fins, Galatoire’s, Juan’s Flying Burrito, Lucy’s, Manogo Freeze, Mr. B’s Bistro, Praline Connection, The Rib Room at Omni Royal Orleans, Sun Ray Grill, and Wolfe’s Restaurant.

Folding chairs will be allowed at GULF AID’s outdoor stage.

All funds will be managed and distributed by Gulf Aid in partnership with WWOZ. Donations may be made at gulfaid.org or mailed to Gulf Relief Foundation, a 501 C3 non-profit corporation located at P.O. Box 6917, Metairie, LA 70009.

The event is taking place through donations from numerous businesses, restaurants, musicians and media partners including WWOZ FM, Rehage Entertainment, Sidney D. Torres, IV, owner of SDT Waste and Debris, Barry Kern and Joe Jaeger, partners in Mardi Gras World.

Donations site: gulfaid.org

Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/gulfaid

Twitter: twitter.com/gulfaid

Oil Spill Latest: Plaquemines Parish Braces….

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