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. 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. Nike Vapormax Suomi . Solomon Elimimian did not make the trip with the team after suffering what appeared to be a right leg injury in the teams regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders. Vapormax Ale . So much so that even a simple foul pop up to the first baseman turned into a run. Houstons four-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Monday night was capped by a bizarre play that started as Crowe fouled out to first baseman Justin Smoak with runners on second and third. http://www.vapormaxsuomi.com/vapormax-97-ale.html.Cameron sustained his third concussion in three seasons last week on a hit by Oakland safety Brandion Ross, who was fined $22,050 by the NFL for the helmet-to-helmet blow. Nike Vapormax Naiset . Perhaps as important, shes sending a message to 17-year-old gold medal favourite Sara Takanashi of Japan. Iraschko-Stolz relegated Takanashi, who has 10 World Cup victories this season, to second place in two of three training jumps Saturday. Vapormax Plus Ale .That means, of course, that John Wall beat the Spurs for the first time ever — within weeks of his first wins in head-to-head games against nemeses Chris Paul and Derrick Rose.Aitor Karanka has revealed Jose Mourinhos tutelage at Real Madrid was decisive in his transition from coaching to management. After a trophy-laden playing career at the Bernabeu, the Middlesbrough boss returned to the Spanish capital in 2010 to take up the role of Mourinhos assistant.Having been nurtured by the Portuguese early on, Karanka would go on to play a crucial role in Reals title-winning campaign in 2011/12, to date their last La Liga triumph. And, in an exclusive interview with Guillem Balague, Karanka revealed Mourinhos honest, and at times volatile, approach presented opportunities that convinced him to take the step into the dug-out.With Jose you learn every single second. From the first minute he was always teaching me, the Boro boss told Sky Sports.Since I arrived with him he was really supportive with me and he told me that I was going to be one of them. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. One of his best traits is that he is honest and, for me, that is the main thing because as a coach you have to be honest.Sometimes in my career, managers would tell you something to keep the peace but with time you would realise their explanation wasnt the right one. Aitor Karanka spent three seasons working under Mourinho at Madrid. Now some players leave my office thinking that Im not a nice person but a few weeks later they know I told them the truth. Its difficult but you have to be honest.When I arrived I didnt have experience of working with kids in Spain but I did in my first season with Real Madrid.In the second season I started to hold more training sessions and in three years I did a load of press conferences too. R Madrid vs Leganes November 6, 2016, 10:55am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Jose was sent off for a few games which meant I even had to manage the team, so I learnt a lot of things.dddddddddddd After those three years, I felt that I was ready to start my career alone.Karanka won seven major honours in fives season at Real as a player, including three Champions Leagues triumphs.The Spaniard has been able to bring some success to Middlesbrough during his three years on Teesside, ending the clubs seven-year exodus from the Premier League. Aitor Karanka led Middlesbrough to promotion from the Championship last season. And Karanka claims his constant strive for success was instilled at Madrid, adding: Real Madrid teaches you the most important, that is to win.When you arrive at Real Madrid, every single training session is designed to win and you have to win every single game.There are no excuses, its all about winning. With that mentality its difficult to survive because when you are not at the club you are going to lose a few games. Football Score Centre app Sky Sports customers can watch goals and highlights during Arsenal v Tottenham at no extra cost. However, when you lose and you are a winner with that winning mentality, its easier to stomach.Guillem Balagues chat with Aitor Karanka about his journey from northern Spain to the north of England - and the similarities to one of Teessides most-famous sons, Captain Cook - is available On Demand. Also See: Guillem Balague Boro video Boro fixtures Boro stats ' ' '