Exterior » lt on ice. The Frenchman made it three in the 52nd mi

METAIRIE, La. -- Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has travelled to Philadelphia to have arthroscopic knee surgery, but how long hell be sidelined remains unclear, coach Sean Payton said Thursday night. "Well have him back and well kind of go from there," Payton said. The 31-year-old Vilma has had numerous surgeries on his left knee during the past two seasons. He missed five games in 2011 and started last season on the physically unable to perform list. However, Payton stopped short of saying he viewed Vilmas latest surgery as a setback. "This is a little different procedure, so well how he does when he gets back," the coach said. Vilma opened training camp working as a first-team middle linebacker in New Orleans 3-4 defence, but had missed a handful of practices lately. His absence will move veteran David Hawthorne, who was acquired as a free agent last season, up to the first team in advance of Friday nights preseason game against Oakland in the Superdome. Payton portrayed Vilmas absence during preseason as an opportunity to better evaluate other linebackers before coaches have to decide who to cut and who to keep as current 90-player roster is trimmed to 53 by the start of the regular season. "The most important thing is getting the chance to evaluate all these players," Payton said. "A guy like Jon Vilma, I know exactly what we have in that player. It gives us a chance to see not only Hawthorne more, but then if hes going earlier, the guys behind him are getting to play quicker, too." The 28-year-old Hawthorne started 10 games last season but was hampered by left knee and right hamstring injuries and said he is eager to show he can provide more support to his unit than he did a year ago. "I came here to play football and then when you get sidelined by injury after injury, it kind of gets you down, you know. You dont really know your place," Hawthorne said. "Thats kind of all behind me and Im feeling good and Im feeling healthy." Meanwhile, Curtis Lofton, the strong side middle linebacker, was absent from practice Thursday and Payton did not offer an explanation for that. Lofton practiced Wednesday without showing any apparent limitations. Ramon Humber worked in Loftons spot Thursday and sounded as if he expected more playing time against Oakland. "I definitely feel comfortable," Hawthorne said. "As a linebacker, you kind of have to learn the whole defensive system. You have to know what everybody is doing because youre the quarterback of the defence." Jeffery Simmons Youth Jersey . Cleveland has won the first two of this set and has won six straight games since losing back-to-back tilts to open the year. Seattle, on the other hand, has now lost six in a row following consecutive wins to kick off its campaign. Nate Davis Youth Jersey . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. http://www.titansstoreonline.com/Black-64-Nate-Davis-Womens-Jersey/ . The agreement comes a little more than one week after the video game manufacturer agreed to a $40 million settlement in a similar but separate case, bringing the total payout planned for athletes to $60 million, said Steve Berman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, and the NCAA. A.J. Brown Titans Jersey . But its also a smart game. Theres more to the Kings than banging bodies. They take a toll mentally on their opponents. A.J. Brown Jersey . Ortiz hit a pair of two-run homers, including his 400th shot in a Red Sox uniform, and drove in a career high-tying six runs to power Boston past the Houston Astros 10-7 on Saturday night.Madrid, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Cristiano Ronaldos absence on Saturday proved to be a moot point as Real Madrid overturned an early deficit to collect three points from a 4-1 defeat of Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu. The Portuguese star was unavailable for selection due to suspension, and it appeared as though his services would be needed after Aritz Elustondo nodded home a corner kick in the opening minute to give visiting Sociedad the lead. But the hosts cruised the rest of the way, equalizing two minutes later with a headed goal of their own as James Rodriguez got on the end of Marcelos chip into the box and guided the delivery into the upper corner. Sergio Ramos handed Real Madrid the lead in the 37th minute when he occupied an advanced position and slammed home a rebound from Karim Benzemas shot. Benzema then got in on the act in the second period, scoring twice to put the final result on ice. The Frenchman made it three in the 52nd minute after working a give-and-go with Gareth Bale, taking the return pass and sliding it into an empty net.dddddddddddd The dagger was the pick of the lot as Benzema ran on to a soft pass from Isco in the 76th minute and curled a sensational first-time effort into the upper corner. The commanding victory sees Real Madrid improve to 51 points to stay atop the La Liga table. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, stays put on 22 points. Atletico Madrid kept pace with Real Madrid by earning a 3-1 victory at Eibar on Saturday. Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring for Atletico in the seventh minute while a brace from Mario Mandzukic put the visitors in a comfortable position. Federico Piovaccari pulled one back for Eibar in the 89th minute, but it was merely a consolation goal as Atletico climbs level with second-place Barcelona on 47 points apiece. Also on Saturday, Jhon Cordoba produced the lone goal in Granadas 1-0 defeat of 10-man Elche and Nolito bagged the only strike in Celta Vigos 1-0 victory over Cordoba. ' ' '