Atlanta 

The Falcons cut 31-year-old veteran fullback Ovie Mughelli.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution created a post-Mughelli depth chart for fans, quite interesting. 

Carolina

The Panthers signed former Jaguars punter Nick Harris, while a coveted WR opted to sign with the Ravens. 

New Orleans

Jonathan Vilma news, as his lawyer says the NFL has yet to respond to his request...this one is getting interesting

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson impressed the Bucs during the rookie mini camp and looks to stick with the team after earning a contract. 

Also, right now, here are my predicted records for each NFC South team next season. Way too early, I know, but it is for fun.

Saints 10-6

Falcons 10-6

Panthers 8-8

Bucs 7-9

The NFL.com's Elliot Harrison came out with his NFL Power Rankings today. Where do you think each NFC South team stands?

To find the list, you can click here. 

When I consider the NFC South teams, I would put the New Orleans Saints at six, the Atlanta Falcons at nine, the Carolina Panthers at 20 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 26.

Harrison has the New Orleans Saints at nine and this for his explanation:

Bountygate: Medieval
Saints: Reeling.
Rest of the NFC South: Improved.
But still ...
Brees > Ryan > Cam > Freeman.

For Atlanta, Harrison has the team at 17 saying:

The Falcons have morphed into a passing team, looking to ride the right arm of their fifth-year veteran behind center. It's hard to believe Matt Ryan has been in the league that long, but it's time this "franchise quarterback" takes the next step. This team has won 42 games in his first four seasons, but really has nothing to show for it. On defense, the onus falls on the pass rush, where Ray Edwards (3.5 sacks) hasn't complemented aging John Abraham the way the club envisioned.

The Panthers come in at 24:

Carolina chose not to grab a defensive tackle or give Steve Smith a viable No. 2 in the early rounds -- a bit of a surprise from draft weekend. What the Panthers did get is a big-time player in linebacker Luke Kuechly. The only pause here is the enormous amount of bad luck Carolina has had at linebacker.Thomas Davis can't stay healthy. The team's best player, Jon Beason, missed almost all of 2011 due to injury. Dan Morgan was a beast, but couldn't stay healthy, either. Let's hope Kuechly lines up 16 and knocks 'em down.

While Tampa rounds up the NFC South just two spots back of Cam Newton and company:

Who are the Bucs? Are they the club that lost the last 10 games of 2011 under Raheem Morris? Or are they a new-look team with a new head coach -- as well as new No. 1 receiver, new guard, new safety, etc. -- that can compete in a division whose champion is knee-deep in turmoil? The answer lies somewhere in between, but if the defensive line plays up to its potential, this is a completely different football team. All four players on the line were first- or second-round picks. Look no further than the Giants to see what a good front four can do for playoff hopes.

What do you think of these rankings? I guessed Tampa spot on, but I'm a bit surprised each of the first three aren't a nod higher. What say you?

Well, today was the day. Commishoner Roger Goodell brought down the hammer for the bounty scandal. 

The official release from NFL.com is below, and all of these punishments seem fair, when thinking about how Goodell goes about punishing people. He doesn't take crap, that is for sure, and this is just another example. 

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season, as the NFL handed down its player discipline Wednesday for the Saints' pay-for-performance "bounty" scandal.

Three other players -- Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith -- in addition to Vilma were notified that they have been suspended without pay for conduct detrimental to the NFL as a result of their leadership roles in the "bounty" program that endangered player safety over three seasons from 2009-2011.

"It is the obligation of everyone, including the players on the field, to ensure that rules designed to promote player safety, fair play, and the integrity of the game are adhered to and effectively and consistently enforced," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Respect for the men that play the game starts with the way players conduct themselves with each other on the field."

The discipline breaks down, per a league release, as follows:

• Linebacker Jonathan Vilma of the Saints is suspended without pay for the 2012 NFL season, effective immediately per league policy for season-long suspensions.

• Linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Cleveland Browns) is suspended without pay for the first three games.

• Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (now with the Green Bay Packers) is suspended without pay for the first eight games.

• Will Smith of the Saints is suspended without pay for the first four games.

"In assessing player discipline," Goodell said, "I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation."

"No bounty program can exist without active player participation," Goodell added. "The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules."

Now, it was reported that Vilma expected a suspension from two to eight games. Mr. Vilma, do you know who you are messing with?

This sends a big message league wide that there is no tolerance for any activity that results in a negative outlook towards the NFL. Now, the Saints, players, coaches and all, know first hand. 

Hey guys,

Welcome back. What a fun NFL Draft 2012 eh?

I'm hear to deliver the draft grades for each team, so why wait? Let's get started!

Atlanta Falcons

Best Pick: Peter Konz OC, Wisconsin -- The big man can play any position along the offensive line and was a nice grab by Atlanta in the second round. He should be a solid player for them for the next decade. 

Questionable pick: Trading everything they did last season for Julio Jones. It was way, way too much. 

Steal: Konz

Analysis: They were able to nab a nice player in Konz and Lamar Holmes, who could push for time. Solid, but not spectacular. 

Grade: C+ 

Carolina Panthers

Best Pick: Luke Kuechly LB, Boston College -- An amazing player, he can do it all as a defender and should help right away in Carolina. 

Questionable pick: None

Steal: Amini Silatolu, OG Midwestern State -- A powerful presence, the lineman has quick feet and just so much strength. Solid pick. 

Analysis: Landed some really good players to continue adding to an already nice pool of talent. 

Grade: B

 New Orleans Saints

Best Pick: Nick Toon WR, Wisconsin -- A fast receiver, he is just another weapon for Drew Brees. He should have a nice rookie campaign. 

Questionable pick: Bounty Scandal, of course. 

Steal: None. 

Analysis: The scandal cost big, losing a second-round pick. 

Grade: D- 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best Pick: Lavonte David LB, Nebraska -- This kid will be a star. He is so versatile and will start from Day 1 at outside linebacker. Another great Buc linebacker. The next Derrick Brooks. 

Questionable pick: None, addressed needs. 

Steal: Doug Martin RB, Boise State -- Martin, the Muscle Hamster, can do it all. He is the most complete back in the draft and will start. 

Analysis: Starting off with Mark Barron at safety, the Bucs struck gold in this one, picking up potentially four starters. 

Grade: A

Taking a look at Charles Casserly's mock draft on NFL.com, he has every NFC South team addressing a crucial need with a perfect fit. 

Here is who he predicts, followed by my letter grade on the pick and commentary.

At 5th overall, the writer has Tampa Bay taking stud corner Morris Claiborne out of LSU.

A : Stud player, huge play-maker. With Ronde Barber getting up there and Aqib Talib's legal situation iffy, this pick is a must. 

At nine, the Carolina Panthers select Fletcher Cox, the DT out of Miss. State.

B+: Powerful player that has what it takes to make an impact right away. Stick him in the dline for 10 years and forget it. All-pro player. 

At 36th, the Bucs take Virginia Tech RB David Wilson.

B+: Another position of need addressed. Needs to work on ball security but should be a good one. 

At 40th, Panthers take Cal LB Mychal Kendricks.

B: A versatile player that will provide depth. 

Lastly, at 55, the Falcons grab Zebrie Sanders, the OT out of Florida State.

B: You can never have too many tackles. Sanders has the size and tenacity to be a starter this season. 

Click here to see the entire mock draft. 

Check out this piece from WGAL.com. Carlos Rogers, who played for Gregg Williams in Washington, had some very, very interesting things to say:

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers came to the defense of former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, calling the entire bounty scandal overblown.

Rogers played under Williams for four seasons with the Washington Redskins and said the idea of a bounty system was not the idea of the embattled coach.

"It wasn't a bounty system. I'm close to Gregg, and I'm not trying to be biased," Rogers said. "He's one of the coaches I admire and would always love to play for," Rogers said. "But, it wasn't a bounty system."

Williams has been suspended indefinitely following a three-year NFL investigation that revealed players with the Saints were offered specific amounts for knockout or cart-off hits.

The heat on Williams intensified when a documentary filmmaker released an audio tape in which a person the filmmaker identified as Williams delivered a fiery, profanity-laced speech urging his club to injure 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, running back Frank Gore and wideouts Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams prior to a playoff game in January.

Rogers said some of Williams' remarks were typical of what players hear on a weekly basis in the locker room, pointing to San Francisco's playoff game against the New York Giants as an example.

"We're sitting here saying, 'We need to take (Giants quarterback) Eli (Manning) out.' That's how we were going to win this game, that's the person that was going to help New York win the game," Rogers said. "You don't think our linemen, linebackers were really trying to hit him? Not trying to hurt him as far as end his career.

"If you really want to hurt him, you'd take a player who normally never plays, and say, 'If you get a shot on the quarterback, take his knees out.' Because all they're going to do is fine him, and you pay his fine for him. If you really want to take somebody out, you can take him out. You'd tell somebody to take his knees out and really end their career and take them out."

Rogers said players have been the ones responsible for offering cash to take a player out of the game, stressing it was done legally.

"Not intentionally — if you think about it, when you play football, you knock someone out, hit them legally, you get some money," Rogers said. "If you hit him wrong, and you get $1,500? You're getting fined by the league $15,000. So what risk do you want to take? Getting this $1,500 in this defensive room and getting fined $15,000? You're losing money."

Saints coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. General manager Mickey Loomis was suspended eight games and assistant coach Joe Vitt was banned six games.

All three had their appeals heard by Goodell on Thursday