Written by :
Published on :
The New Orleans Saints 2013 Super Bowl odds still had great value at 15/1 odds following word that four key players will be reinstated Friday.
The suspensions of Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove were lifted after a three-member appeals panel said commissioner Roger Goodell did not have jurisdiction to hear the players' appeals of their punishment as it related to a Saints bounty program that paid out cash bonuses for hits and injuries to opponents.
"Consistent with the panel's decision, commissioner Goodell will, as directed, make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed for violating the league's pay-for-performance/bounty rule. Until that determination is made, the four players are reinstated and eligible to play starting this weekend," the NFL said in a statement.
The panel's decision affects the players only, not suspended coaches Gregg Williams, Sean Payton and Joe Vitt.
The Saints will play Washington on Sunday where the New Orleans line was fluid at press time, moving between -7.5 and -9.
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
