NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints made their first major moves of what is expected to be a challenging off-season on Wednesday, releasing strong safety Roman Harper, outside linebacker and defensive end Will Smith, and cornerback Jabari Greer. Kris Bryant Jersey . General manager Mickey Loomis also says the club does not intend to re-sign free-agent linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who has been hampered by recurring knee injuries the past few seasons. "These were not easy decisions to make," Loomis said in written comments released by the club. "Since we acquired them, Jabari, Roman, Will and Jonathan have all been excellent players on the field for us. Each of them were integral parts in turning this program around and winning a Super Bowl. They were a great example to our players as team leaders in the locker room as well. "However, a new NFL year is about to begin and, with the start of free agency in March, these difficult moves allow us to position our team under the salary cap to move forward for 2014," Loomis added. The Saints have said they intend to retain free-agent Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, either through a franchise tag or long-term extension, and both options will require financial flexibility. Wednesdays moves will save nearly $17 million in 2014. Saints coach Sean Payton said Smith, Harper, Vilma and Greer were "right there at the top" of all the great players he has coached or been around in his coaching career. "These are disciplined, smart, tough and team-oriented individuals," Payton said. "They all played an important role in helping this team and this city win its first Super Bowl and they have all enjoyed multiple playoff appearances and wins." Smith is a former first-round pick of the Saints in 2004 and had a team-leading 13 sacks during New Orleans Super Bowl season. However, he was widely expected to be released after this season, which he missed after tearing knee ligaments late in the preseason. He was scheduled to be paid $10.4 million in base salary alone this season. He has played in 139 games for the Saints, accumulating 67 1/2 career sacks. Harper was New Orleanss second round draft choice in 2006 and has since started 104 games. He went to Pro Bowls after the 2009 and 2010 season and his 17 career sacks are the most ever by a Saints defensive back. His base salary for 2014 was set at $2.35 million. As the moves became public, Harper posted a note on the social media website Twitter, thanking New Orleans fans for "the 8 years of .GreatMemories .WHODAT .SBXLIVCHAMPS." Greer, scheduled to earn $4 million in base salary next season, joined New Orleans as a free agent in 2009, immediately sliding into a starting role he held until a serious knee injury against San Francisco in mid-November, which ended his season. He intercepted nine passes in his five seasons in New Orleans, returning two for TDs. Vilma was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets in 2008. He led New Orleans in tackles during his first three season with the club and selected to Pro Bowls in 2009 and 2010. In 70 games with New Orleans, he was credited with 530 tackles, eight sacks, six interceptions, five forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. Last season, however, Vilma began the season on the physically unable to perform list because of his recurring knee problems. He returned for only one game before sitting out the rest of the season, and on Wednesday he seemed to be comfortable with the Saints decision not to engage him in further contract talks. On Twitter, he wrote: "Couple pro bowls and a superbowl ring later, I couldnt have written that chapter any better. .WhoDat" Like Smith, he was a defensive captain, but also like Smith, was implicated by the NFL as a ring-leader in a cash-for-hits bounty program that the league said the Saints ran from 2009-2011. Both players have always denied they ran a bounty pool as described by the NFL and successfully overturned suspensions. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, meanwhile, has maintained the leagues findings were accurate. Rick Reuschel Jersey .S.-Portugal game on June 22 in the Amazonian jungle city of Manaus. FIFPro, the international soccer players union, had pressed FIFA to avoid the earliest kickoffs in the hottest and most humid weather. Todd Hundley Jersey . Lynn was tied for 16th entering the fourth round, six shots behind leader Paul Waring. He started with two birdies and added three more on his last five holes at the Oceanico Victoria course for an 18-under total of 266. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/custom-joe-maddon-jersey-large-750n.html . PETERSBURG, Fla.Sky Sports is opening its doors for a live Thanksgiving show on Thursday, November 24. Thanksgiving traditionally means turkey, pumpkin pie and NFL, and we certainly have the last of these covered, with all three live games broadcast as part of our 24 hours of the NFL coverage on Sky Sports 1.And you could watch the first two of those games from the studio. Join Dara, Neil and Shaun, as well coach Jeff Reinebold, from 5pm as we invite 90 audience members into the live broadcast. NFL Pick Six: Week 10 Ezekiel Elliott and Marcus Mariota top performers in week 10. Our first game sees the 5-4 Minnesota Vikings travel to Detroit to take on the Lions, who have won four of their last five games and currently lead the NFC north. Following that the 8-1 Dallas Cowboys, looking for their first Super Bowl championship since 1995, host Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins. We will bring you all the action, as well as hosting a fan forum-style event, allowing you the opportunity to quiz our hosts throughout the night. Join us at Sky Sports studios for a live Thanksgiving show on Thursday November 24 Want to be part of the action? To be in with a chance of selection, please fill in the below application form, by 8pm on Sunday November 20. Winners will be selected at random, and contacted no later than Tuesday November 22.Please note you must be over 18, available between 3:30-11:30pm on Thursday November 24, and available to make your own way to Sky Studios (Isleworth, Middlesex), as transport is not included. Parking is limited and, due to the timing of the games, all applicants should check their transport routes before applying. How many tickets would you like? 1 2 Title Mr Mrs Miss Ms Other First Name Last Name Email Address Home Telephone Mobile Telephone Date of Birth 1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th21st22nd23rd24th25th26th27th28th29th30th31st JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember 20012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988198719861985198419831982198119801979197819771976197519741973197219711970196919681967196619651964196319621961196019591958195719561955195419531952195119501949194819471946194519441943194219411940193919381937193619351934193319321931193019291928192719261925192419231922192119201919191819171916 House Number or House Name Address Town County AvonBedfordshireBerkshireBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCheshireClevelandCornwallCumbriaDerbyshireDevonDorsetDurhamEast SussexEssexGloucestershireHampshireHerefordshireHertfordshireIsle of WightKentLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireLondonMerseysideMiddlesexNorfolkNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNorth HumbersideNorth YorkshireNottinghamshireOxfordshireRutlandShropshireSomersetSouth HumbersideSouth YorkshireStaffordshireSuffolkSurreyTyne and WearWarwickshireWest MidlandsWest SussexWest YorkshireWiltshireWorcestershireClwydDyfedGwentGwyneddMid GlamorganPowysSouth GlamorganWest GlamorganAberdeenshireAngusArgyllAyrshireBanffshireBerwickshireButeCaithnessClackmannanshireDumfriesshireDunbartonshireEast LothianFifeInverness-shireKincardineshireKinross-shireKirkcudbrightshireLanarkshireMidlothianMorayNairnshireOrkneyPeeblesshirePerthshireRenfrewshireRoss-shireRoxburghshireSelkirkshireShetlandStirlingshireSutherlandWest LothianWigtownshireAntrimArmaghDownFermanaghLondonderryTyroneAntrimArmaghCarlowCavanClareCorkDonegalDownDublinFermanaghGalwayKerryKildareKilkennyLaoisLeitrimLimerickLondonderryLongfordLouthMayoMeathMonaghanOffalyRoscommonSligoTipperaryTyroneWaterfordWestmeathWexfordWicklowNot Listed Country IrelandUnited KingdomOther Postcode Remember my details Yes, Sky Sports may contact me Yes, I agree to the terms and conditions. Ryan Dempster Jersey. Submit Also See: NFL week ten highlights Rams to start Rookie Goff WATCH: Sunday Blitz Latest standings ' ' '