and the Saints have been to the post-season in four of the past

METAIRIE, La. Billy Williams Authentic Jersey . -- Jairus Byrd was drawn to the Big Easy by New Orleans "winning culture" and an explosive offence, so much that the safety signed a six-year contract with the Saints. New Orleans efforts to make him a Saint began almost as soon as teams were allowed to contact agents of players on the free agent market. Though Byrd said other teams showed interest, it was ultimately up to him to let New Orleans have the first chance to sign him. They brought him in early Tuesday evening and shortly after, announced the two sides had agreed to terms. "The winning culture" put New Orleans over the top, Byrd said. "What coach (Sean) Payton has done and what Drew Brees has done here. Any time you have that explosive offence, it always helps." New Orleans 55 wins since 2009 are second-most in the NFL and the Saints have been to the post-season in four of the past five seasons. The offence, meanwhile, has finished No. 1 four times since 2006 and in the top five seven times. The Saints explosive offence really stood out to Byrd, who has 33 forced turnovers -- including 22 interceptions -- since entering the NFL five seasons ago. "If youre a guy on defence and you know a team is able to get leads on people, . that bodes well for guys like me who want to get turnovers and create turnovers because it makes another team one dimensional," Byrd said. "Thats a really big factor and what allowed me to weigh all my options and think about what the best situation was for myself." Hell get a chance now to play beside Kenny Vaccaro, the Saints first-round pick in 2013 whose hard-hitting style made an immediate impact in the defensive backfield. Vaccaro started 14 games as a rookie and finished with a sack, an interception and a forced fumble to go with 62 tackles. "Im really looking forward to seeing what he does really well," Byrd said. "And when he played against us, I know he made a lot of plays." Byrd saw firsthand just what hes about to join when the Bills, who drafted him in the second-round in 2009, lost in New Orleans 35-17 on Oct. 27. That day, the Saints finished with 386 total yards of offence and went 3-for-5 in the red zone. New Orleans defence, meanwhile, allowed only 299 total yards and just 5 of 13 on third downs. The Saints finished with one interception and had two fumble recoveries on four forced fumbles. It didnt hurt that the Superdome boasted its usual loud, energetic atmosphere. "Playing here last year, I saw how the atmosphere was," Byrd said. "It was electric. Theyre really behind their team. The Dome was rocking when I was here. They feed off that, and I think thats really big." Ryne Sandberg Cubs Jersey . Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema scored two goals each Wednesday night in a 6-1 rout of Schalke in the first leg of their second-round matchup. "We played a very, very good match," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We got well into the match, scored two early goals and that opened the game and left us able to counter and to use the speed of our players. Carlos Zambrano Jersey .S. international midfielder Michael Bradley. The club has already announced the signing of Defoe, with the 31-year-old Spurs star set to be unveiled at a news conference Monday morning at the huge high-tech sports bar owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment across the street from the Air Canada Centre.VILLANOVA, Pa. -- The court fight over NFL concussions should heat up soon as a judge in Philadelphia weighs the fairness of the proposed $765 million settlement. Lead players lawyer Sol Weiss expects the courts financial expert to advise the judge "shortly" on his view of the class-action plan. Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody has voiced concerns that the fund wont cover 20,000 retirees for 65 years. And critics believe the NFL is getting off lightly, given its $9 billion in annual revenues. "When you look at it objectively, it didnt matter how much money the NFL had, it was, Is there enough money to take care of (people)?" Weiss said Friday at a seminar at the Villanova University School of Law outside Philadelphia. The proposed settlement would pay as much as $5 million for men with the most serious neurological injuries, such as Lou Gehrigs disease. The awards would depend on a retirees age and diagnosis. Those with serious dementia would get $3 million, while an 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000. All plaintiffs would get cognitive testing, and follow-up care if needed. "Even if only 10 per cent of retired NFL football players eventually receive a qualifying diagnosis ... it is difficult to see how the monetary award fund would have the funds available over its lifespan to pay all claimants at these significant award levels," Brody wrote in January, when she asked for more actuarial details and appointed New York financier Perry Golkin to advise her. Weeiss remains confident the fund is sufficient, and that most players will sign on rather than spend years fighting the NFL in court. Kosuke Fukudome Authentic Jersey. The surprise settlement emerged in August, after several months of closed-door meetings with a mediator. "There were a lot of talks; they went on for a long period of time ... and the NFLs tough," Weiss said Friday. "We did get to a point where there was enough money on the table to take care of the sick players and their families, and thats the time we make the deal." Brody was expected to hold a fairness hearing in the coming months, when objectors can challenge the plan, and decide whether to opt out. "Those players and their lawyers who think its not enough money will get an opportunity to be heard," Weiss said Friday. Brody could approve the settlement, reject it, or perhaps suggest the two sides negotiate anew. However, the plaintiffs lawyers consider time of the essence, especially for families dealing with the dementia, depression and even violence associated with traumatic brain injuries. "These are profoundly injured people. Some of them are dead, and their families deserve compensation," said Weiss, whose lead plaintiff, former Atlanta Falcon safety Ray Easterling, committed suicide in 2012, a year after filing suit. "They forget things. They have a lot of anger issues. They cant hold a job. They really cant have a meaningful relations," Weiss said. "Their lives are upside down." ' ' '