The Saints will be hosting a hometown boy on Friday, as Jason LaCanfora from NFL.com reports that they will have a sitdown with former Panthers QB Jake Delhomme:
Delhomme also is set to visit the New Orleans Saints on Friday and Saturday, a team source told NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora. Delhomme is a Louisiana native who began his NFL career with the Saints in 1998 and spent five seasons with the team.
Delhomme would back up Drew Brees in New Orleans, but he could have a chance to start in Cleveland. The Browns have been actively shopping for a quarterback, a position they haven’t been able to adequately fill since their NFL expansion return in 1999. Earlier this week, the team acquired backup Seneca Wallace in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks and released Derek Anderson, who took a swipe at Cleveland fans on his way out of town.
It’s well-known that the Saints will be visiting with veteran (to put it kindly) Rams defensive end Leonard Little.
We haven’t seen posted in many places the fact that former Rams defensive end James Hall also will be visiting the Bayou.
Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported it earlier this year, and we’ve confirmed it. (Balzer’s work rarely needs confirmation, but we like to point out whenever we can that we actually have a source or two.)
Hall, a 10-year veteran, made a splash in 2004 with 11.5 sacks, but never has managed more than 6.5 since then.
Posted by Gilberto Torres on March 7th, 2010 in Main
Tony Grassi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Cleveland Browns have lured Saints free agent Scott Fujita. Terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed.
Many around the league expected Fujita to re-sign with the Saints due to his strong ties with the Gulf South and its recovery. In 2008, the Saints players elected his as their Man of the Year for all his charitable work in the area. The Times-Picayune’s Bob Marshall wrote an article on him and his works with coastal restoration.
Fujita, drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2002, played four seasons with the Saints from 2006 until this past season. A four year starter with the Saints, Fujita recorded 245 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 4 interceptions.
What does this mean for the Saints at LB? One option is the Saints drafting a LB in this year’s draft. There is no talk thus far about the Saints pursuing any free agent LB out on the market as of now. More than likely, it’s time for a young guy like Jonathan Casillas, a surprise at training camp last season who the coaches are high on, or Stanley Arnoux, who showed great promise before suffering a season ending injury in camp last season, to shine.
The Saints today agreed to one-year free-agent contracts with offensive lineman Nick Leckey and safety Pierson Prioleau. General manager Mickey Loomis announced the deals on Saturday without disclosing financial terms.
Both players had signed one-year deals with the Saints last season and played reserve roles on New Orleans’ first Super Bowl championship team.
Leckey, a 6-foot-3, 291-pound, six-year veteran, played in eight games and all three postseason games in 2009, mostly on special teams with some work at center.
Prioleau, an 11-year veteran, led the Saints with 21 special teams tackles. He played in every game in 2009, making 18 tackles as a reserve defensive back with a pass defense and a fumble recovery.
I know it’s been almost a month since the Saints won the Super Bowl. And I’ve been hiding under a rock too…ok, maybe not hiding, but celebrating all that’s good in New Orleans.
Anyways, I’m a sucker for anything NFL Films. My older brother got me Football Follies for Christmas.I finally saw the NFL Films version of the Super Bowl and I enjoyed it. Another great video put together by the fine folks at NFL Films. You have to love all the added commentary. Scott Fujita’s Oreo taunts on Manning are priceless.
Posted by Gilberto Torres on March 5th, 2010 in Main
The Saints made three roster moves Thursday evening on the eve of the start of the free agent signing bonanza. LB Mark Simoneau and OG Jamar Nesbit, along with DE Charles Grant on Friday, were all released by the team due to the players’ large contracts and declining production.
Grant’s release should come as no surprise to those who follow the Saints. His production on the field is in decline and he has not been able to live up to the multi-year contract he had signed a couple of years ago. Not to mention he has finished the last couple of seasons on injured reserved, most recently with a torn triceps muscle.
Grant was due to make over $4 million this season. However, due to the lack of a salary cap this upcoming season, the Saints are off the hook in on paying him that amount and his $11.3 million in prorated signing bonuses. And of course, with no salary cap, the Saints don’t have to worry about that amount counting against any caps space as in years past. Confused? We’ll work on that over the next couple of days.
The defensive end, drafted by the Saints in 2002 out of the University of Georgia, played in 118 games for the Saints, including 106 starts. His 47 sacks in those eight seasons rank him eighth on the team’s all-time sack leaders list.
Mark Simoneau, a fan favorite at LB, was also released as the Saints cleaned house. He has completely missed the last two seasons, first 2008 with a back injury and a torn triceps muscle last season.
The veteran LB was signed from the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2006 preseason and started 30 of the next 32 games as a Saint. He was due $1.25 million in the final year of his current contract.
OG Jamar Nesbit, also a victim of the Saints’ spring cleaning, was expendable due to the emergence of a younger Carl Nicks. The 11 year veteran played in 84 games with the Saints, including 43 starts. Last season, he played in 13 contests, primarily on special teams.
Grant, Simoneau, and Nesbit are all free to re-sign with the Saints under restructured contracts or sign with another team.
Posted by Gilberto Torres on March 3rd, 2010 in Main
Am I the only person in America that likes the current overtime format in the NFL?
There has been a lot of talk around the league for years now about changing the current overtime system, especially after the way the Saints beat the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. After forcing overtime, the Saints won the coin toss and kicked a game winning field goal to send them to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Minnesota never got the ball or a chance to respond to the Saints score.
Under one proposal being thrown around the league, both teams would at least get the opportunity to have one offensive possession each. Let’s say Team A wins the coin toss over Team B in overtime. Under the proposed rule changes, if Team A scores a touchdown, then the game is over. If Team B holds Team A to a field goal or no points at all, then they are awarded an offensive possession to either win or tie the game. If the teams are still tied, the same rules go into effect, only with alternate possession. This tie-breaking procedure would be used in playoff games if approved by the NFL’s Competition Committee.
Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Dispatch offered an interesting proposal in the way overtime should be played. Why not just play an extra ten minute period? This should allow both teams ample enough time for at least one offensive possession and the defenses a chance to make a stop.
But why change try to fix something that is not broken? One of the biggest arguments about the current overtime rules is that both teams don’t have an offensive possession and that 60% of teams that win the overtime coin toss go on to win the football game since 1994. But, how accurate is that statement?
Shouldn’t defense also be part of the overtime equation in an offensive driven league? Of the fifteen overtime games played this season and in the playoffs, only six were won on the first possession of overtime. That’s only 40% if you’re keeping score. This means that in 60% of games last season, the defense stepped up and gave their offense a chance to win the game. Isn’t what defensive players are paid to do? So many of those overtime games came down to critical defensive plays. What do we remember most about the overtime in the wild 51-45 shootout on Wild Card weekend between the Cardinals and the Packers?
Giving both teams possessions would also take away from the drama of overtime. Would you still be sitting at the edge of your seat watching every critical play knowing that the other team’s offense is going to have the ball with a chance to tie or win? Part of what makes a sudden death over time exciting is that every play is crucial and has the potential to end the game.
The Saints magical season would not have been complete without some overtime drama as well. The Saints played in three overtime games this season, winning two and losing to Tampa in late December. Win #12 for the Saints this season came at the expense of the Washington Redskins, who won the overtime coin toss, only to fumble the game away and allow Garrett Hartley to kick his first of many game winners this season. Three weeks later, the Saints lost the overtime coin toss to Tampa, who ran the ball down the Saints’ throats and kicked an easy game winning field goal.
The final overtime game for the Saints this season came in the NFC Championship game, a game many pro-ponents of changing the current system point to as a reason why the system needs tweaking. Late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings drove the ball into Saints territory with what seemed to be the final possession of regulation. The Saints needed a defensive stop just to force overtime and they certainly earned it. As destiny would have it, the Saints won the overtime coin toss and drove the ball into Vikings territory, but not without some trouble along the way. Twice the Vikings could have stopped the Saints, one on a tipped ball that should have been intercepted and the other on a critical fourth down. But they didn’t and the Saints marched on to the Super Bowl.
Simply put, the Saints won in overtime when they executed and lost when they simply could not. Isn’t that how the game works?
Posted by Matt Loede on February 25th, 2010 in News, Roster Moves
The Saints have signed fullback Zak Keasey to a one-year contract. Keasey, 6 foot, 237 pounds, didn’t play in 2009, but was with the 49’s from 2006-2008 and the Redskins in 2006. Veteran Saints fullback Heath Evans went out last season with a torn ACL and the team signed Kyle Eckel, who didn’t last the season either.
Posted by Matt Loede on February 25th, 2010 in News
The Times-Picayune reports today that the Saints have offered a second-round tender to OT Jermon Bushrod:
The New Orleans Saints have offered a second-round tender to restricted free agent offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod, according to his agent Richard Rosa. By making the qualifying offer of one year and $1.684 million, the Saints will have the right to match any deal Bushrod might sign with another team. And if they choose to let him sign with another team, they would receive a second-round draft pick as compensation.
Posted by Michael Bruck on February 21st, 2010 in Opinion
Of the many free agents that the New Orleans Saints have going into the off-season, running-back Pierre Thomas is one of them. It is always tough making decisions when you’re the Super Bowl winner and you have to choose who goes and who stays.
Other key players that are entering the free agency for the Saints are: Will Smith, Mike Bell, Darren Sharper, Scott Fujita, Jahri Evans, and Roman Harper. Thomas has become the Saints featured back in the last two years and many are asking if the star will return. Many like Thomas’ ability to break tackles and make plays in the open field using his blockers well.
Since he’s coming from the team that won Super Bowl XLIV, Pierre will likely get offers but he is a restriced agent. This means that if Thomas does decide to go with a new team, the Saints franchise gets a chance to counter-offer in hopes of keeping the player.
The question, though, is; should the Saint keep Pierre Thomas? This year, Thomas started in his most games as a Saint, got more touches, and yards. The back missed a few games due to injuries but had a career-high 793 yards (5.4 a pop) on 147 attempts.
In his best season Thomas didn’t have as many touchdowns this year (8, including receiving) as last season (12, including receiving). So, are the Saints more worried about keeping other players than Thomas or will the back stay. Other top running backs that hit the free agency in 2010 are: Leon Washington, Chester Taylor, Ronnie Brown, and Willie Parker. Something people may or may not have noticed is that Thomas handles and controls the ball well. In the 2009 season, Pierre Thomas fumbled the ball twice and lost only one fumble.
Personally, I think the running-back will stay. Thomas really is great through the tackles, and he is only in his third season. Especially since he is now becoming more featured this past season as compared to 2007 where he only had 52 snaps. Thomas is also great as a receiver and does a beautiful job following his blocks on a simple screen. Although Pierre Thomas will be at looked by other teams, there is no reason that Loomis shouldn’t counter-offer and keep the back for at least 2 more seasons.
