Saints Gab

The Saints have a new long snapper, as the team has signed veteran Jason Kyle, in the meantime releasing long snapper Kevin Houser.

“Jason is a quality veteran player and we saw in him a chance to upgrade our kicking game,” Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement. “I’ve known him since we drafted him in Seattle and going up against him twice a year for the last eight seasons with Carolina, he has always been impressive. I’d also like to thank Kevin for nine seasons of excellent service to the Saints and wish him all the best in the future.”

The 37-year-old Kyle had spent the past eight seasons with the Panthers and has played in the league for 14 years. He’s a former fourth-round draft pick with the Seattle Seahawks in 1995, Kyle has also had previous stints with the Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.

Houser was drafted in the seventh round by the Saints in 2000.

Pete Prisco of CBSSportsline.com has come out with his annual list of the Top 50 NFL players, and the Saints have two players on the list, including the number five overall – Drew Brees. Here’s the Saints on the list:

5. Drew Brees, QB, Saints: It’s too bad he plays in an era with those two top guys. He’s had an amazing three-year run in New Orleans with amazing numbers. Now he needs to win a ring.

40. Jahri Evans, G, Saints: Most don’t pay enough attention to this athletic, strong guard. He should be in Pro Bowls. Scouts rave about him.

The New Orleans Saints have one of, if not the best QB in the league in Drew Brees. While that much is fact, who is going to be Brees’ backup for the 2009 season is very much still up in the air. The News Star reports that the battle for the backup job appears to be coming down to two veteran guys – Mark Brunell and Joey Harrington.

“Those two are going to compete for that position, much like most of these jobs,” coach Sean Payton said about Brunell and Harrington. Harrington was the third-string QB most of 2008, but is looking to come in and unseat the veteran Brunell, who has also played with the Packers, Jaguars and Redskins.

“I feel good because we have experience there,” Payton said. “We have a relatively young player in Harrington and I do think we’ll have competition at that (No. 2) spot. With just three on the roster now, that will afford us an opportunity to give those guys plenty of reps in training camp, especially in the preseason games.”

Harrington played with the Falcons in 2007, and the former first-round pick also has played for the Lions and Dolphins.

From: Fox Sports

Cornerbacks Randall Gay and Tracy Porter worked with the starting unit for most of the spring, but they are just two of the options for new Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The Saints signed Jabari Greer in veteran free agency and then drafted Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins in the first round, so those starting positions — as well as the all-important spots in the nickel and dime packages — will be up for grabs during training camp.

Tuesday during a chat with Gil Brandt, a question came up about who he felt would win the NFC South, and the former long-time Cowboys personal man thinks the Saints will take home the South:

I like New Orleans. I feel they’ve really helped themselves on defense, and they have a special player in QB Drew Brees. Somehow he finds a way to win the NFC South, though it should be a pretty good three-horse race when you throw in the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.

The Monroe News Star reports that if the Saints are going to take a step to the next level in 2009, the key is going to be RB Reggie Bush:

To throw less and run more, the Saints need a healthy Reggie Bush, who missed six games with a knee injury. Pairing Bush and Pierre Thomas might allow the Saints to find what’s been missing of late — a 1,000-yard rusher. They released Deuce McAllister, who posted their last 1,000-yard season in 2006 while working in tandem with Bush and helping the Saints reach their first NFC Championship Game. Thomas stepped in last year and led the team with 625 rushing yards.

“Pierre Thomas is a guy we have a lot of confidence in,” Payton says. “He’s someone that rarely takes minus-yard runs. He moves the pile. He’s intelligent. He’s an extremely good blocker in his blitz pickups.” The Saints will also look at Mike Bell and Lynell Hamilton as part of a backfield mix. The injury histories of Bush and McAllister have taught Payton this about backs: “You can never have enough of them.”

Saints WR Marques Colston finally is feeling 100 percent for the Saints, and today’s Times-Picayune reports that the WR is set to have a big season for the team and QB Drew Brees:

Marques Colston figures he’s as healthy right now as he’s ever been at this time of year since joining the Saints. “I feel great,” he said. “It’s probably the first offseason that I’ve gone away (from organized team activities) feeling 100 percent.” Probably, he’s right, even though that includes offseason knee surgery this year.

The Times-Picayune reports that TE Dan Campbell should be ready to go for training camp:

Saints tight end Dan Campbell emerged from arthroscopic knee surgery in good shape Monday. After going through three weeks of rehabilitation, Campbell should be ready for the start of training camp July 30.

The Times-Picayune reports today that the Saints don’t seem rushed to go out and get a big-name free agent running back anytime soon:

The Saints were reported to be interested in Edgerrin James, but today when head coach Sean Payton was asked if he had any more thoughts about bringing in another veteran running back he responded with “No. Right now we’re content with the guys we have.”

Linebacker Dan Morgan has retired from the New Orleans Saints for the second time in a year.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus announced the move on his Twitter account and said Morgan’s decision is final this time.

“Dan Morgan has informed the Saints that he has decided to retire due [to] continued injuries,” Rosenhaus said. “Dan would like to thank the Saints for the chance to come back this year, but injuries would not let him continue his career. His decision [is] final and he will be moving on to focus on his restaurant business in Charlotte. Dan also wants to be able to spend more time with his wife and children.”

Morgan retired last spring, only a few months after signing with the Saints. He sat out all of last season but decided in January that he wanted to return and was healthier than at any time since his rookie year in 2001. He had been working out with the Saints throughout the offseason and was viewed as a possible starter at weakside linebacker.

But Morgan’s star-crossed career took a final hit Friday afternoon when he strained a calf muscle in a minicamp practice. Morgan was with Carolina from 2001 until 2007. Although he was spectacular at times, he was never able to stay healthy.

Morgan never played a full 16-game regular season as constant injuries, including at least five reported concussions, held him back.