Canal Street Chronicles

Is There Any Truth to the Tomlinson-to-Saints Rumor?

2009-03-09T11:00:11Z

Reuinted and it feels so good? (Photo Source)

For the past ten days, the blogosphere has been rife with speculation that LaDainian Tomlinson might leave the San Diego Chargers for a spot on the New Orleans Saints--this despite a total lack of either confirmation or denial on the part of the two teams involved, or Tomlinson himself. Yet the story refuses to die, in part because such a move would make this offseason's blockbuster move so far--the acquisition by Buffalo of Terrell Owens--look like the signing of a backup guard by comparison.

Is there anything to it? We here at the corporate lair of Canal Street Chronicles wish we had a definite answer to that question. Alas, we don't. What we do have, though, is a track record of baseless speculation that is second to none, and a reputation to protect. Therefore, we propose to treat this rumor as though it were legitimate, and examine the circumstances that might lead it to become, in fact, fact.

First, some background: LaDainian Tomlinson is under contract to the San Diego Chargers. That may seem to go without saying, yet a lot of people who cover this story seem to have forgotten what this means: that nothing rests in Tomlinson's hands except his decision not to accept a restructured contract. Tomlinson cannot decide of his own accord to leave the Chargers: he can't quit, he can only be fired.

And he seems to be setting himself up for that. On Friday, March 6, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that talks had broken off between Tomlinson and the Chargers. The day before, Tomlinson's mother, in a radio interview, had publicly expressed doubts that he would return to San Diego in 2009. Given Chargers GM A.J. Smith's reputation for being a fiscal tightwad and a hardnosed negotiator, it looks as though San Diego has staked out a position and refused to budge from it: Tomlinson can play for them only if he agrees to take less money. Tomlinson, on the other hand, has refused the "offer." That puts the ball squarely in Smith's court--the next move is up to him.

While all this is happening, rumors started with the publication in the National Football Post of an article by Joe Fortenbaugh:

"Sources close to the situation have informed me that the New Orleans Saints are "looking closely" at San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson. The Saints would have a "high level of interest" if the Chargers were unable to come to terms on a new deal with Tomlinson." [Source: National Football Post]

What sources these may be was never explained, of course; they never are. But the rumor refused to go away, despite the fact that it made little sense on several counts:

The Saints cannot afford to take on Tomlinson's contract.
Tomlinson, as already explained, isn't a free agent--he can't simply sign with the Saints should he choose to do so. The Saints would essentially have to buy him, and they have very little they can afford to offer the Chargers in return.
The Saints are already committed to their own superstar running back, Reggie Bush. How would the two get along in the same offense?

As it turns out, there is one scenario that could remove all those obstacles: if New Orleans trades for LaDainian Tomlinson by offering a straight-up swap for Reggie Bush.

Can rumors be taken seriously?

In the lead-up to the 2008 season, speculation was rife that the Saints would trade for tight end Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants. After denials and reports of failed negotiations, that trade never materialized--until, suddenly, it did. The rumors had been right, all along.

This offseason, the major speculation was that the Saints would replace defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. Even though much of the rumor was based on pure wishful thinking by fans, it turned out to be true as well. Next, the rumor mill took on the matter of Gibbs' successor, and very quickly focused on Gregg Williams. Despite Williams' being wooed by Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, and Tennessee, both professional sportswriters and bloggers tenaciously stuck to the Williams-to-New-Orleans story. It, too, turned out in the end to be true.

The rumors of Deuce McAllister's release turned out to be true, as did the rumors of Jonathan Vilma's desire to return to the Saints--which he did without apparently taking any serious stock of his real market value.

None of this is to suggest that the Tomlinson rumor must therefore also be true; only that its sheer persistence marks it out as having the same sort of quality as earlier rumors that did become fact. It just won't go away.

Imagine this backfield. (Photo Source)

Do the contracts stand in the way?

Reggie Bush signed a six-year, $52.5 million contract in July of 2006. That means he's signed through the 2011 season, as is LaDainian Tomlinson. Reportedly, his base salary this season is $2.6 million, plus a $4 million roster bonus, while his cap figure (which includes bonuses) stands at a hefty $12.1 million. [Source: Rotoworld]

Two years before Bush was drafted, LaDainian Tomlinson signed the richest contract ever for a running back, an eight-year, $60 million deal. His base salary this year is $6.725 million, while his cap charge is $8.791 million. [Source: Rotoworld] What this means, incredibly enough, is that the Saints would actually stand to save over $3 million on their cap by trading Bush for Tomlinson!

What would San Diego gain? To answer that, we have to ask, what do they stand to gain in their current standoff with Tomlinson?

As of January 23, the Saints were $1 million over the salary cap. The Chargers, on the other hand, were $18 million under the cap. It is doubtful that A.J. Smith pursued his strategy of renegotiating Tomlinson's contract purely in order to save money--you don't alienate your best player, and your fan base, unless something happens to make you believe the player, not the position, is seriously overpriced.

What happened was the drop-off in Tomlinson's production in 2009, his advancing age, and his recent history of minor but nagging injuries, plus the emergence of the soon-to-be-franchised Darren Sproles as a viable alternative starter. By all reports, San Diego believes it has already had Tomlinson's best campaigns, and doesn't intend to overpay for a running back who is over the hill. Only a team that believes it can be just as well off without its superstar goes to the extreme of forcing a renegotiated contract on him.

But they face a problem with their fans if they unceremoniously dump the man who has become the face of the franchise (as heartbroken Saints fans can attest to). What they need is another face. Enter Reggie Bush: born in San Diego, educated at Helix High School (along with Alex Smith), and a football god at USC.

Bush has many of the same problems as Tomlinson--the hefty contract, the history of nagging injuries--plus one more: he has never come close to Tomlinson's numbers as a running back. Even though Bush also runs back punts, his total yardage in three years has given him an average of 1,215 a season. Tomlinson's has been 1,945. And he has been remarkably consistent, too: in his last three years, corresponding to Bush's entire career, his average has been 1,936 yards per season.

But the Chargers apparently believe those days are gone. So do a lot of others. On March 2, Greg Cosell published a major piece in the Sporting News in which he claimed that Tomlinson had clearly lost a step. Cosell analyzed the percentage of carries that running backs typically have over 10 yards, and compared Tomlinson's earlier career with last season. His conclusion was that in the 2008 season, "Tomlinson did not have that same look, that shiftiness and "wiggle" that made it appear he was moving at a different speed. This was reflected in that telling statistic of runs of 10-plus yards. Tomlinson only had 17 runs of 10-plus yards in 292 carries. That computes to 6 percent. That's a significant decrease, one that demands close inspection."

If the Chargers believe Tomlinson is used up--and more importantly, if they believe his trade value is used up as well--they may well leap at the chance to get a dynamic, younger player with great potential and huge popularity--even though he has yet to deliver on that potential in his three years in the league. It helps if that player is a local hero.

Brees and LT remain great friends. (Photo Source)

Enter Drew Brees

On Sunday, March 8, Saints quarterback Drew Brees made news with an interview he granted to a radio station in San Diego in which he stated that he would love to see Tomlinson in a Saints uniform.

"I’d love to be his teammate again. I think L.T.’s got a lot of great years left in him, so we’ll see what happens." [Source: NFL.com]

In that interview, Brees stated his belief that Tomlinson should not accept a pay cut.

"Look at his track record," Brees said. "Many people could say he had a decline this year, but I disagree with that. He was banged up for the majority of the year, and I think that’s just part of the game at times."

Brees and Tomlinson share the same agent, Tom Condon. It has been pointed out--for instance, here--that given their business relationships with Condon, what Brees had to say comes perilously close to tampering. That would implicate not simply Brees, but the Saints. Yet, apparently, the Saints are doing nothing to rein in Brees--he's made such statements before (but not during the progress of contract negotiations).

What's more, in saying this Brees has seriously dissed his teammate, Reggie Bush. Surely everyone understands that if LaDainian Tomlinson joins a team--any team--there is no starting role left for any other running back. The same would go for Reggie Bush--which is precisely why it makes sense for the Saints to acquire Tomlinson only if they intend to part ways with Bush at the same time. Trading Reggie would also nip in the bud any locker room problem between a star running back and a quarterback who very publicly lobbied for his replacement.

The Silence of the Saints

Through all of this, the Saints have been typically silent. They never divulge much of the inner workings of the team; but on March 5, in an interview with WWL radio, Payton denied the Saints had any interest in either Terrell Owens or Roy Williams. "I'm hearing all this talk about T.O. and I wanted to put a stop to all that business," Payton told Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellavia. Apparently, it was Payton's idea, rather than Hebert's or Bellavia's, to explicitly quash a minor rumor that, frankly, we never heard. Yet he made no mention of the Tomlinson rumor, which has been making national news.

That's not necessarily surprising: both Owens and Williams were free agents at the time, while Tomlinson was still under contract. A coach would naturally be reticent to say anything regarding his interest in a player on another team, especially while that player and team were in the process of negotiating a contract. With this exception: if the coach were to take the opportunity to kill a rumor by expressing no interest. Payton had the opportunity to do so, and didn't. This suggests that the Saints may indeed have some interest in Tomlinson.

In conclusion...

It must be admitted that we're not reporting on the Reggie-to-the-Chargers rumor--we're starting it. But we're not asserting that this is something going on behind the scenes; we have no idea what's actually going on. Rather, it would seem to be the only way the Tomlinson-to-the-Saints rumor could actually be true. The Saints can't afford Tomlinson unless they jettison a large contract, such as Reggie's; they can't entice San Diego into a trade unless they make a tempting offer themselves, such as Reggie; they can't work both players into the same offense; and they must find a way to nip any Brees-vs-Reggie feud in the bud. Maybe Reggie and Drew will just get together and laugh it off. Maybe.

Meanwhile, it looks less and less likely that Tomlinson will play for San Diego. And the rumors won't go away.

Poll

What has MtnExile been smoking?

L.T. a Saint? Imagine the possibilities

2009-03-09T06:14:58Z

L.T. a Saint? Imagine the possibilities

Outside the Press Box

Entire Drew Brees audio interview

2009-03-08T22:19:50Z

Entire Drew Brees audio interview

I found this link to a mp3 of the Brees interview concerning LT over at ProFootballTalk.com. I searched and couldn't find it posted here already. Feel free to remove this if it is already here somewhere.

He talks about a lot more than just LT, whom he discusses about 15-20 minutes in. There's talk of the Saints' offseason moves so far (he briefly mentions that Deuce and Patten could still come back at a reduced salary), hIs new son, something about his wife once asking him if he had a sausage in his pocket, and then the discussion of LT. The real meat of the interview has already been posted here and other places, but it's still interesting to hear the entire interview.

"Many people could say, 'Oh he had a decline this year,' but I disagree with that," Brees said. "He...

2009-03-08T21:54:22Z

"Many people could say, 'Oh he had a decline this year,' but I disagree with that," Brees said. "He was banged up for the majority of the year, and I think that's just part of the game at times. I mean the guy has missed one start his entire NFL career, so if you're going to sit here and tell me he's not a durable guy, then you're crazy.

"I think he's still got a lot of motivation. I think he's got a lot of fight and fire left in him. And you know he can still be a very productive player. So I don't see any reason why he should be taking a pay cut at this point."

Drew Brees
Times-Pic

CSC Reader Survey

2009-03-08T17:00:09Z

Remember her?

You know it's summer when Da Chronic's weekly Getting to Know You! posts return and mean old Mrs. Frumplesworth makes an appearance. For those of you who are new to the community or didn't join us until after training camp, this was something we did every week during the dog days of the off-season last year and I think it's about that time to start it up again. It's a great way for everyone to get better acquainted with each other and share personal tidbits all while strengthening our community and just having some plain old fun. With a much larger readership now this ought to be much better than last year. The rules are simple: I ask five questions, you answer five questions. This weeks theme will be the 2008 season. And away we go.

How many games did you attend last season?
What was your favorite game last year?
What was your favorite play from last year?
Which players 2008 performance were you most disappointed by?
Which players 2008 performance were you most impressed by?

The Only Thing We Know Is That We Don't Know Anything

2009-03-08T12:00:10Z

I first thought about writing this post as a reaction to Pat Yasinskas' article yesterday in which he praised the Saints off-season thus far.

Very quietly, the New Orleans Saints might be having the best offseason of any NFC South team.

But I left it alone and put it out of my mind. Then the guys over at the Times-Pic apparently read Pat Y's piece and decided to regurgitate the information in their own write-up today.

By almost any measure, they've had the most successful offseason of any NFC South team

So now I'm forced to say something about this theoretical concept.

It's ridiculous!

Judging an off-season while it's still taking place is like evaluating the NFL draft in May. Like reviewing a restaurant before even looking at the menu. The success of an off-season can be determined only by the success of the season(s) that follow it. We don't know how the 2009 season is going to turn out, do we? And without this information - which we won't have for another nine months or so - this is all just pure speculation; a guess. Listen to the contradiction and presumption from the Times-Pic...

Of course that doesn't guarantee success six months from now, when these teams finally will kick off in the competition that counts. But it's sure been a good start for the Saints...

This doesn't make sense to me. If they don't know whether the Saints will be successful when the season starts, how can they label this start as "good?" Should the Saints wind up with yet another disappointing season in 2009 then I would say we are right smack dab in the middle of a fruitless off-season filled with bad moves and bad luck. I think what all these guys really mean to say is that the Saints appear to have done the better job at addressing their needs this off-season and we hope that will translate on the field this year. Period.

Yeah, the Saints seem to be on the right path; I get it. But for crying out loud do you not know anything about this team? Is this your first year as a fan? Do we have to go through this every...single...year? We know how this could all really end so let's not make such a big deal about it. But instead of re-typing the truth of the matter all over again I am just going to quote myself from a post I wrote last off-season. It is as relevant this year as it was last year.

If we are truly being honest with ourselves, there are a lot of question marks still out there that we still don't have answers to and I think, at least in my case, this optimism is causing me to gloss over some serious issues. This team might just be a mere illusion, a house of cards that could topple over at any moment. Remember this time last season? We were all as excited and hopeful as we are right now, but now looking back we can easily pinpoint certain moments or flaws that are quite obvious but didn't seem so obvious at the time. Be prepared, because by the end of this season, I could easily imagine ourselves looking at each other in sheer confusion, and in total shock of how it all went so horribly wrong. No matter what we think right now about this team, we have to admit to ourselves that we really know nothing. That we're all just fans and the only control we have over the situation is how tightly we can keep our fingers crossed. The season will inevitably play itself out and reveal devastating injuries, last second field goals, goal line stands and complete blow outs, among other things, all with incredible excitement and surprise, reminding us all why we love this darn game so much in the first place. But it is sad to note that the Saints may very well be on the wrong end of some of those unbelievable moments .

I was right, wasn't I? So for the love of all that is holy can we all please just be cool. At least until the draft.

BEST REMAINING FREE AGENTS: OFFENSE

2009-03-08T07:40:41Z

BEST REMAINING FREE AGENTS: OFFENSE

2. Lance Moore, WR (Restricted free agent): He'll cost a second-round pick to acquire, but it may be worth it for this Wes Welker clone.

DT Shaun Cody to visit Saints

2009-03-07T21:42:21Z

DT Shaun Cody to visit Saints

Don't know too much about him, but he was a second round pick in 2005 from USC. I Can't hold not knowing him against him because he played on the Lions. At 6'4 310lbs, he could be young starter next to Big Sed and help stop the run.

Who Dat Draft Prospect: Brian Cushing

2009-03-07T18:00:13Z

"Cushing is arguably the draft's most versatile defender."
--NFLDraftScout.com

It's not a foregone conclusion, of course, that the Saints will use their first-round pick on a defensive back--especially since the signing of Jabari Greer--or even, for that matter, on a defensive player. But unless Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis have an escape plan already in place, I feel confident that we will go defense. Just not necessarily cornerback or safety.

In fact, Loomis has stated on the record his adherence to the "draft the best player" philosophy. If Cushing somehow falls to the 14th draft slot--and a lot of draft pundits think he might--there is an excellent chance that this is the guy who will be donning a fleur-de-lys when the season starts in September.

STATS
Height: 6-3	Weight: 254
40-yard dash: 4.74	20-yard shuttle: 4.22
Broad jump: 10-0	225-lb. bench: 30
3-cone drill: 6.84	Vertical jump: 35

Brian Cushing is known as a relentless attacker and reliable tackler. (Photo Source)

So, let's meet Mr. Cushing.

Brian Cushing played SAM (strong-side linebacker) at USC. But he has the reputation of being very versatile, with good football intelligence. "Shows good instincts. Seems to play a step ahead of everyone else, as he locates and gets to it extremely fast. Recognizes play action quickly and does a nice job of staying home against misdirection." [ESPN] "NFL scouts don't admire Cushing for his statistics, but for his versatility. Athletic and instinctive enough to star at linebacker and yet big and strong enough to compete at defensive end -- as he did in starting 13 games at the position in 2006 when injuries forced the Trojans to be creative -- Cushing is arguably the draft's most versatile defender." [NFLDraftScout.com]

We already know that Gregg Williams places a premium on versatility and intelligence in his players, so Cushing would seem to be a natural fit in the aggressive, attacking scheme the Saints will unveil in 2009. Unfortunately, with the positives come the negatives, and with Cushing there is some concern that he may be, in one sense at least, the second coming of Dan Morgan: he is frequently hurt. "Durability is a concern, as he missed nearly half the 2005 season with a shoulder injury. Also missed three games in 2007 due to a sprained ankle." [ESPN] "Has struggled with injuries throughout his career -- missing five games due to a shoulder separation in 2005 and three games in 2007 due to a high ankle sprain, as well as undergoing surgery after the 2006 (shoulder) and 2007 (knee) spring practices." [NFLDraftScout.com] "He had arthroscopic surgery on his ankle prior to 2008 spring practice and was limited in spring drills." [USC Trojans]

These durability concerns--which seem to be nearly unanimous--are not the only knock on Cushing. There is also a strange and probably unfair belief that he may, just may, be involved in steroid use. Cushing himself addressed that concern at the Combine press conference:

"I don’t understand where it is coming from," Cushing told me. "I was tested last December at USC and passed, one of several tests I have passed. I was tested this morning here at the combine and those results should be out in a couple of weeks to a month, I believe. I think people are trying to find something, anything, that would detract from what I have done on the field. You learn in life if it’s not one thing, it’s the other. I hope once I pass the test here that this will be put behind me. I’m really hoping for that." [Thomas George, NFL.com]

The fact is, Cushing has been heavily involved in dietary supplements since he was in high school: "For the past 3 years Brian has followed a program very similar to the one that I posted on 4-01-05. We work on getting brutally strong, eating a clean diet, incorporating the proper supplementation, getting flexible and mobile and then a couple weeks before training camp we get him in shape." [Joe DeFranco, DeFranco's Training] There's no real evidence of steroid use--Cushing is simply a workout warrior from an early age, and his long-term regimen may account both for his athletic prowess and his propensity for injury. But the "pattern" of heavy supplement use suggests to some that he's more willing than the average athlete to rely upon chemistry rather than natural athletic talent. In fact, some have even gone so far as to suggest that if you take away the supplements, Cushing would not be the player he is-- "There’s a big difference between supplements and steroids but what happens if he finds himself maxed out already?" [NFLDraftDog]--and an NFL player reliant upon OTC nutritional supplements is a suspension waiting to happen.

Yet with all these concerns, Cushing is universally considered a can't-miss NFL prospect, a surefire first-rounder, and most draft boards have him rated the second-best outside linebacker prospect, behind only Aaron Curry. His ranking seems not to have risen or fallen since the Combine, which suggests that most people's minds are made up, and Cushing's status is secure--pending only a rise or fall in his positional competition.

COMPARISON

Sporting News has a unique feature in which they compare each draft prospect to a current player. According to them, Cushing most resembles Kansas City linebacker Derrick Johnson, a former big star at Texas and first-round choice. Here's a description of Johnson from a Chiefs fan posting on Arrowhead Pride: "Maxed out his potential at OLB -- We’ve all been waiting for DJ to "reach his potential". How many times have you, me, and every other Chief’s fan said "THIS is going to be DJ’s break out probowl year". He should have figured that position out by now. It’s time to face facts. He should be in his prime right now. He’s a mediocre OLB. He’s not the game changer we thought he would be." Johnson has since been moved to middle linebacker...something that isn't going to happen here as long as we have Vilma.

Not good.

It comes down to this: do the Saints need Brian Cushing?

The first question is: where would he play? Certainly not MIKE, because Jonathan Vilma is the heart and soul of the defense. Cushing could play either SAM or WILL, and would displace either Scott Fujita or Scott Shanle. He would be an upgrade over either in terms of speed, but he isn't known as a great pass rusher: "He is a good blitzer, but will not make a name for himself as a sacking outside linebacker in the NFL." [FFToolBox.com]. His strengths--a great combination of speed and strength, quick recognition, proper technique, solid tackling, and good pass coverage, especially against the tight end--dictate using him at the strong-side position. But it is usually Shanle that is considered the weaker of the two incumbent outside linebackers.

What's more, Cushing wouldn't do much to help patch the problems in the secondary, other than perhaps occasionally taking a tight end out of the picture. So the question to be asked is: Does Cushing represent such a significant upgrade over either Shanle or Fujita that the Saints cannot pass him up if he's available? Even more: Is Cushing so much better a football player that the Saints should draft him over a lesser player at a more critical position?

Not many experts think so. A lot of amateur mock drafts have the Saints choosing Cushing, but although many of the professional draftniks have Cushing rated just about at the Saints' slot, most are sticking to the same script and giving us a defensive back--more often than not, Vontae Davis. We'll do him next.

TRIVIA

Cushing played running back in high school--so maybe he can double as the power back that Payton salivates for. Talk about versatility.

He's a good Catholic boy, having graduated from Bergen Catholic High in New Jersey. So he ought to fit in quite well in New Orleans--although he should know that our version of Catholicism is perhaps a bit different from his. I doubt he has a St. Expedite medal.

Poll

Should the Saints...

"Emotionally, it was hard, but business-wise, it was a simple decision," said Evans yesterday....

2009-03-07T16:59:53Z

"Emotionally, it was hard, but business-wise, it was a simple decision," said Evans yesterday. "Emotionally, doggone it, I was going to take far less money and far less security and come home to Boston; I had no intentions of leaving. I never expected the Patriots to be the highest bidder or even close, but it was just too much of a distance to feel comfortable.

"That being said, it will be tough going elsewhere, and knowing you leave something that is so great. This is one of those situations where you're hoping the grass is greener. I definitely think this [Saints] offense is one I fit in well with, and I'm excited about being part of an offense that's been at the top in all of football for the last two years. But at the same time, I lose some good friends and people that I will miss and miss drastically."

Heath Evans
Boston Globe

CSC Public Service Announcement

2009-03-07T13:00:08Z

Got to admit, it's getting better. Getting better, all the time.

Ladies and gentleman, today I would like to announce a a couple of additions to the CSC team. You may have already noticed the upgrades down in the masthead (not a dirty word, I swear) at the very bottom of the page but this post serves as a formal introduction.

Starting later this afternoon you'll be able to read the first post from CSC's newest front page contributor, MtnExile (not to be confused with his twin, MT_Always. Both arrived on the scene curiously at the same time). In an effort to bring you guys more quality content with greater depth, I thought M-E would be the perfect solution. He has been with us quite a while and he's consistently put together well researched and well written FanPosts and comments. This, of course, he can credit to his past experiences with the MSM and it makes him well qualified for the job. I know you will all enjoy it and will now have to check back even more often than you already do. M-E will be kicking off his career here with our "Who Dat Draft Prospect" series, which will take a look at all of the Saints possible draft picks. By the time MtnExile is done with these, you will all be draft gurus and have no reason to think the Saints should draft Michael Crabtree. I've already read some of his stuff and it's great. I consider M-E to be a real meat and potatoes kinda guy and so his posts are just chock full of knowledge nuggets. I think this is the kind of stuff we will mostly see from him but he is more than welcome to write about whatever he darn well feels about, whenever he darn well feels like it. MtnExile has been one of CSC's most valuable members and he's here every day making this site better. I figured it was only right to allow him a slightly taller platform from which to express his voice. But remember...with great power, comes great responsibility. Thanks for everything M-E. Have fun.

And I can't forget the new sherrif in town, Stujo4. Stu is the first serious CSC member that I can recall. He's been with us since the very early days and I am pretty sure we haven't gone one day without hearing from him. You may know him from such memorable comments as "Gaaa," "GAAA" and his most famous comment to date..."GAAAAAAA!!!" Since he's hooked on Da Chronic (and showing no signs of stopping) I figured no better person to moderate and keep things fair and friendly around here. With lots of new members joining in on our great community every day, I will need help making sure everything runs smoothly. Being a moderator will give Stu the power to delete comments, warn users and even ban your naughty behind. So keep it clean. We'll be talking more about community guidelines in the near future. I admit I have been somewhat lax on language and for the most part you guys aren't so bad. But I think we should try and clean it up a bit. I would like your children (or your imaginary children) to be able to read this. Congrats Stu! You've earned it and I thank you for helping create all of this. You really deserve some credit. I remember the days when you were the only one commenting on my posts and open threads. Seriously...thank you.

Also, thanks to everyone else out there who has made this website what it is. It's because of you guys that I even do any of this. We've got a big birthday coming up soon so I will save all the mushy crap for then but I just wanted to make sure you losers knew how I felt about you.

I would like to now open this up to the rest of you for any kind words and congratulations you may have for M-E and Stu or just to voice your feelings about or new upgrade. And always remember that as CSC continues to expand there may be opportunities for other members to make the jump so stay active and show us your stuff.

Mocking the Draft Reviews Saints Recent Draft History

2009-03-07T03:52:34Z

Mocking the Draft Reviews Saints Recent Draft History

Hey, guys and girls. Go check this one out @ our fellow SB Nation site. In this piece the writer tries to figure out what we're going to do based on analysis of Pay-Loo's draft history.

Free Agent Acquisition: Heath Evans

2009-03-06T12:00:10Z

Welcome to the jungle baby! (Photo Source)

I know we're all sad about the loss of Mike Karney. He was a good guy and we'll miss him. And being let go the day before his wedding just plain sucks, no doubt about it. But we're Saints fans and we move on with the team so it's time for all of us to embrace our new #44.

No matter how we feel about Karney personally, popular logic suggests that Heath Evans is an upgrade at all levels. Mike was always a gritty run blocker but never much of a running back or pass catcher. The new guy, however, has a little bit of everything. Take it from Mike Riess of the Boston Globe...

What do the Patriots lose with Heath Evans agreeing to terms with the Saints?

A little bit of everything, really.

Evans (6-0, 250) is a solid teammate, an effective lead blocker, occassional ball-carrier, effective pass-catcher, and special teams presence.

Call him a back-of-all-trades.

Even Heath would agree with that...

"I always try to tell people I'm not the best at anything, but I think I'm pretty good at a lot of things."

Evans is also incredibly durable, never missing one game in the last three seasons in New England. But he was never used to his full potential because of a very pass heavy, shotgun-oriented offense run by the Patriots. Look for all of that to change this year however.

Here are a couple of random videos with Heath. Nothing spectacular.

Stats at a Glance

Heath Evans #44
Position: Running Back/Fullback	Height: 6' 0"
College: Auburn	Weight: 250
Experience: 9 seasons	Birthday: 12/30/78
High School: The Kings Academy; West Palm Beach, FL	Age: 30

Season	Team			Rushing					Receiving					Fumbles
Season	Team	G	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	FUM	Lost
2008	New England Patriots	16	4	11	23	2.1	4	0	3	59	19.7	28	0	--	--
2007	New England Patriots	16	1	34	121	3.6	11	3	4	43	10.8	29	0	--	--
2006	New England Patriots	16	3	27	117	4.3	35	0	7	34	4.9	11	1	1	0
2005	New England Patriots	6	1	51	192	3.8	21	0	10	88	8.8	19	0	--	--
2005	Miami Dolphins	6	2	1	0	0.0	0	0	4	17	4.3	5	0	--	--
2004	Seattle Seahawks	15	0	7	20	2.9	7	0	2	12	6.0	9	0	1	0
2003	Seattle Seahawks	14	0	7	24	3.4	8	0	2	34	17.0	20	0	--	--
2002	Seattle Seahawks	16	1	17	53	3.1	8	0	8	41	5.1	13	0	1	1
2001	Seattle Seahawks	16	0	2	11	5.5	7	0	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
TOTAL				157	561	3.6	35	3	40	328	8.2	29	1	3	1

Do the Saints need him?

Well, the answer to this question is pretty inconsequential since we're now stuck with Heath Evans but the answer is still relevant. The acquisition of Evans may mean more dedication to a running game by Payton in 2009. Or not. I won't even begin to speculate how Payton will actually utilize Heath but I know he's got a plan for him. It might be strictly in a running capacity or it might be as a pass catcher out of the backfield. But best of all, it could be a little bit of both. In fact, the versatility of Evans gives coach just a bit more of the element of surprise and the genius of Payton will keep opponents on their toes. Regardless, the relationship between the two is already evident...

"To be completely honest with you, it was the head coach; he sealed the deal," said Evans, who also was excited about joining an offense that led the NFL in total yards last season.

"At the end of the day, it just felt like, one, it was nice to be desired by a team that had their kind of success. And sitting with Sean and (running backs coach Bret Ingalls), you see opportunities for what they would like the fullback to be there, and those things excited me. And just turning on the film, maybe there's a possibility of adding to an offense that doesn't really need anything else."

Darren Sharper is running low on options

2009-03-06T03:43:43Z

Darren Sharper is running low on options

From the Chicago Tribune

"Darren Sharper said he has an interest in the Bears, but don't expect him to land in Chicago. According to sources, the Bears' interest in Sharper is not mutual. Look for Sharper to end up in either New Orleans or Atlanta."

It looks like the Saints are the only team to really show an interest. Since the Bears are no longer interested, we may get him at a reduced price. Is he the best we can do?

Out with the Old (Mike Karney), In with the New (Heath Evans)

2009-03-05T23:19:07Z

Pat Y's rumor is confirmed. Say hello to Heath Evans and goodbye to Mike Karney at FB. I'm more than a little shocked at this. I always thought Karney was much appreciated by Pay-Loo. I guess I was wrong. Well, there can be no doubt that Payton means to do a slight overhaul to the offensive backfield. I don't really understand why they would bring in a 30 year old back when they just released one in Deuce McAllister, although I know the knee injuries were a large part of that decision. I'm stunned. Goodbye Mike! We're sorry to see you go. Here's a link to the Times-Pic.

The Saints just confirmed that they have agreed to a deal with free agent fullback Heath Evans and will release fullback Mike Karney.

What do you think?

Saints to release FB Karney

2009-03-05T22:08:16Z

Saints to release FB Karney

From Pat Y at ESPN. He says he heard this from a league source. So far, the TImes-Pic isn't saying anything about it. I can't believe they would just cut him without having an option already signed.

Other Teams Should Start Looking at Lance Moore

2009-03-05T12:00:11Z

Now that they've got Jonathan Vilma and Jon Stinchcomb locked up and made their mark in the early free agency frenzy by signing Jabari Greer, the Saints are close to entering the second wave of free agency. And so are many, if not all, of the other NFL teams. This means the unrestricted players who couldn't land the big bucks will start accepting more modest offers. It also means it's time for teams to start taking a look at restricted free agents.

Would Lance really leave us? (Photo Source)

While we've all been pre-occupied thinking about who is the hottest cornerback on the free agent market that the Saints can grab, we may have overlooked the fact that we've actually got a pretty hot commodity ourselves; Lance Moore. And while he is restricted, he is by no means unattainable. Moore was tendered a one-year, $1.545 million dollar offer. If Lance accepts a deal with another team then the Saints receive a second round draft pick as compensation. However, the Saints have the option to match whatever offer he receives.

And offers he should receive. Following a breakout year, Moore has been mentioned a number of times as a very desirable wideout this off-season. USA Today had him listed as one of this off-season's biggest free agent prizes while Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post thinks he would be well worth the second round pick. Lombardi is right. You know it and I know it.

Unfortunately, I think a lot of teams in the league might know it too. In an off-season when second round picks can buy a lot, Moore appears to be a steal. Don't forget also that the Saints don't have a second round pick in the draft. Or a third for that matter. To make matters worse, the Saints should be getting pretty darn close to that salary cap right about now. If Moore receives a decent sized offer it might be really difficult to match it and make the numbers work. All of a sudden this is looking like a real possibility.

So what team might actually try and take our beloved Lance away from us? New England would be a team that could very well show a lot of interest in Moore. He is often compared to Wes Welker - both are quality posession receivers and similar in size - so we know Lance could fit in Belichick's system. The Pats also have a top-flight quarterback who would be able get the most out of Lance and maximize his potential. And, oh yeah, they have three second round picks so they could afford to lose one. Just a thought.

I don't know. Maybe no teams will think Moore is worth it. Or Maybe the Saints have financially prepared for a rainy day should he get a nice offer. But we might want to prepare ourselves should some stuff start hittin' the fan. Things could get ugly.

Poll

You worried about Moore leaving?

"It just came down to what was the best fit for me,'' Greer said. "New Orleans has the pieces in...

2009-03-05T03:31:02Z

"It just came down to what was the best fit for me,'' Greer said. "New Orleans has the
pieces in place, and they have the best opportunity for me to succeed. The No. 1 offense in the league twice within the last three years. They're getting their defense together. They signed (Jonathan) Vilma. They have two All Pro defensive ends, which makes a corner's life so much easier. They have an excellent fan base that supports and embraces their players. They have an owner, a GM and a coach that's all on the same page and committed to winning. They have the things in place to make this a winning football team.''

Jabari Greer
ESPN

Saints Sign Jabari Greer

2009-03-04T22:54:02Z

From the official Saints website

The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with unrestricted free agent cornerback Jabari Greer.

“Jabari is a young and energetic corner and will fit in nicely into our defensive backfield,” said Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. “He’s an aggressive player and has outstanding speed and athleticism and translates the skills very well to the football field. We are excited to have him join our team.”....

And a Q&A with our newest cornerback from the New Orleans Saints official website.

NewOrleansSaints.com: “You took the hard road into the NFL as a rookie free agent. How would you describe your career to this point?”

Jabari Greer: “I would describe it as a work in progress. I am one not to rest on my laurels and the things that I have done in the past. I’m blessed that I have an opportunity to play in the NFL and am very proud of the road that I have taken and wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve had to work very hard to get to this point in my career and I think that’s why I’ve been so blessed with the opportunities I have been fortunate enough to come across.”

NewOrleansSaints.com: “You have been pretty busy touring some other teams and cities since the start of free agency. What were some of the things that you liked best about New Orleans and led to your signing?

Jabari Greer: “The corn grits that they served in the cafeteria (laughing). No, honestly I sensed something different here when I walked into the building and met the people that work here. I got the sense that every single person I have come in contact here are pulling in the same direction and there is a real hunger and passion here. From the coaching staff to the front office to the players that were here working out, I just came away really impressed and knew this was the spot for me. No one here said, “We are this, and we are that.” Instead they told me what their vision is for the team, what the expectations are. They treat you like a man. They showed it to me through their hard work and I appreciate that. At the end of the day, to me it made the most sense to sign here because of the feeling I got that everyone here is on the same page.”

NewOrleansSaints.com: A lot of fans that follow the fans may not be all that familiar with you as a player. How would you describe yourself as a player?

Jabari Greer: “Above and beyond all else I am a hard working guy and think I am very coachable and I put the team’s best interests above anything on an individual basis. I’m determined and ready and willing to do whatever is asked of me. I can line up and play in the slot, or cover out wide and am not afraid to come up and support the run. I will do whatever it takes to help the Saints win.”

NewOrleansSaints.com: Do you know any players on the team and did they talk to you when you said you were going to visit the Saints?

Jabari Greer: “I know Meach (Robert Meachem) and Marvin Mitchell very well from our days at Tennessee and I spoke to them and they both said I would like it here and it’s a great place to play and live. I also met Mike McKenzie and Tracy Porter on my visit and they couldn’t have been nicer or more gracious. They talked to me and encouraged me to sign here and get a deal done. I met a few other guys on the team and it really helped in my decision-making. There’s a lot of energy here and I feed off of it and am thrilled with my decision to sign with the Saints and am eager to get started.”

Saints Wide Receiving Corp is "Full House"

2009-03-04T22:21:43Z

Poll

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BEST REMAINING FREE AGENTS: OFFENSE

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Mocking the Draft Reviews Saints Recent Draft History

Free Agent Acquisition: Heath Evans

Stats at a Glance

Do the Saints need him?

Darren Sharper is running low on options

Darren Sharper is running low on options

Out with the Old (Mike Karney), In with the New (Heath Evans)

What do you think?

Saints to release FB Karney

Saints to release FB Karney

Other Teams Should Start Looking at Lance Moore

You worried about Moore leaving?

"It just came down to what was the best fit for me,'' Greer said. "New Orleans has the pieces in...

Saints Sign Jabari Greer

Saints Wide Receiving Corp is "Full House"

Who do you think won't be on the 2009 Saints team?