Patrick Robinson heavily linked to Tracy Porter's future with the Saints
 

The New Orleans Saints are facing an increasingly complicated off season when it comes to resigning big name talent on the roster — Drew Brees, Carl Nicks, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, and Tracy Porter — are all slated to become free agents.

Something has to give, and someone is likely to become the odd man out.

New Orleans is probably hoping to get Brees’ contract in place before the leagues deadline to franchise tag a player comes on March 5th.

Should they complete that deal it would allow them place the tag on either Nicks or Colston to keep them with the team for the foreseeable future.

Currently the general consensus is that Nicks will be the odd man out, even though he is the best guard in the league, as he will want to be paid like the best guards in the league — and that’s a price tag the Saints can’t handle.

Just how the attempted re-signing of these three players pans out will be the most compelling story line for the Saints leading up to the 2012 season.

Corner Tracy Porter is also another on the bubble players, and his future with the team likely hinges on how the Saints view the future of young corner Patrick Robinson — the teams first round pick in the 2010 draft.

Robinson started seven games for the Saints in 2011, and it was apparent that former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was beginning to trust Robinson more than Porter in the starting lineup.

He responded with 47 tackles, 15 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions.

Porter meanwhile started 11 games making 52 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and one interceptions.

As it became clear to all last year, Robinson has likely already leapfrogged Porter on the depth chart.

New defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is known to prefer the taller and stronger corner body type.

At first glance it would appear that Robinson would bet the favored starter in his defense, and he would likely thrive under new secondary coach Ken Flajole.

Robinson is much more physical than Porter, better in pass coverage, and a much better tackler.

In fact Porter has been criticized of late for poor tackling, often coming in with his head down which results in far too many broken tackles and extra yards for the opposition.

The Saints would most likely want to keep Porter around — he is good, not great — but as the league continues to move towards an ever increasing reliance on the pass good corners come at premium for all 32 teams in the NFL.

But Porter will likely want starter money, and the Saints are going to want to pay him that way.

With Robinson penciled in as the starter, Porter will have to accept less money and the “nickel” role in Spagnuolo’s defense.

When free agency begins on March 13th, and assuming Porter has no deal to return to the Saints, then it’s likely some corner starved team will be willing to give him starter money to make the move out of New Orleans.

If that happens the Saints will deploy Robinson and Greer as the teams starting duo next season, and a corner with their second round pick (59th overall) would be the most likely selection for the team in the upcoming draft.

Porter is not the only Saint who’s future is clouded by a teammate.

Wide receiver Devery Henderson will count for nearly $4 million dollars towards the salary cap next season if he remains on the roster.

He is a prime candidate for release, but his future will depend on what the team is able to do with impending free agent Robert Meachem.

If the Saints can’t re-sign Meachem then Henderson is safe, however if they do get him back under contract then Henderson will have to re-structure his 2012 salary or be shown the door.

whodatdish.com/2012/02/09/patrick-robinson-heavily-linked-to-tracy-porters-future-with-saints/

I am really hoping that we franchise Nicks and sign Colston for another 5 years. The dude is our #1 receiver and is a freakin stud. I know Nicks is just as valuable but I believe Colston over Nicks at this point. As we all know, Brees is the first thing that needs to get done and the front office needs to hurry the hell up. I dont know whats taking so long. He needs to feel that we want him to stay around for a long time and I hope that these on going discussions are not pissing off Brees. Just my OP.

As much as I like Colston, of the 3, Brees, Nicks, Colston; MC is the most expendable.

The Saints could pick up a good veteran in FA; Donald Driver may become available if the Packers decide not to re-sign him.

"If I get an opportunity to come back and play, I will," Driver said last month. "If not, I'll go somewhere else and play and I'll see them down the road. The thing is, it's not up to me. The Packers have to make that decision."

The decision on whether to bring back Driver is partially based on finances. Driver is scheduled to make $2.6 million for 2012, plus a $2.2 million roster bonus due in March.

Report: Driver may take pay cut to stay in GB

Why the hell would we pick a CB with our first pick? Obviously this person is forgetting we have Johnny Patrick waiting in the wings.

Thats WhoDatDish. They're getting a lot better but it seems like every article just misses something like that.

But I think that when we pick, if a CB is the BPA, we'll pick him.

Like always we'll address holes in free-agency allowing us to pick BPA.

Im not being mean, honestly. But there's no way in HELL that I would consider signing DD at this point in his career need an example. See Derrick Mason's 2011-2012.

I agree, but tagging Nicks will cost us 10 mill this year, so still no bargain. At least if JJ or some other free spending owner goes after him, we get 2 number 1's. I can see Snyder doing that, but very few others.

How would we get 2 #1's? And if so when?

I had to WIKI it yesterday--

Types of franchise tag

There are two types of franchise tag designations: the exclusive rights franchise tag, and non-exclusive rights franchise tag:

An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams.

A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position in the previous year, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation

Yeah, there is no way the Saints can trade Nicks for picks now when he's an UFA, not if he's tagged, and certainly not if he's given the contract he wants in order to stay.

It's either sign him to a new long-term contract, tag him to stay another year while the Saints can find somebody to replace him, or let him walk.

And you honestly think that someone would be willing to give up those two 1st round picks just for the honor of signing Nicks into a very expensive long-term contract?

When I think Colston I think "nucleus". He'll remain a Saint.

Nicks is a player I would like to have back but considering the team's history of releasing o lineman in line for that "big payday" (Faine, Goodwin) I wouldn't be surprised if he's allowed to walk. They'll find another player.

Henderson and Meachem ARE role players in this offense. I think Lance Moore is more important to the success of the offense than either DH or RM. I could see Henderson coming back bc he's affordable, durable and overall more valuable than Meachem.

Thanks, I did not know that!! Now from that I have a question: Could the Saints be thinking that we could get 2 #1 for Nicks, it would explain why they are dragging their feet with Brees? Also we would have 3 #1 next year, talk about revamping a team with all of those picks, there are a lot of ways to play those cards. Maybe Jerry Jones or Snider helps us out? I'm game!!

http://www.thebscorner.com/archives/042309_JS_GONNA.jpg


Not even Jones or Snider would be that stupid... I mean giving up 2 1st round picks for a guard that they would still have to sign to probably the biggest contract ever given to a guard.

A buddy of mine met porter once and said the dude is cocky as hell. I have a feeling he rested on his laurels last season thinking he was too cool for school. I have no prob with the saints letting him go. P rob is going to rock next season and we have Johnny Patrick in the stable ready to break out.

It still amazes me what Jerry does. He throws money around like beads at Mardi Gras, he might think Nicks is the final piece of his trouble, he thinks that way every year, why not? And he might feel he got one over on Payton for the bottle of wine? I hope the moron takes it hook line and stinker!!

No.
The point of franchising a guy is to buy time in the contract negotiations, or at the very least get another year out of him at a 'lower' rate. Maybe at this point next year Nicks isn't a pro bowler, or maybe we get a deal done before then, who knows. The tag basically keeps him as our property for another year.

big 'IF' -- if a team thinks he is worth two number 1's (which he is, btw), then they can sign him to an offer sheet. So, the tag then becomes an insurance policy

Jones did give up ALOT for Roy Williams.....i wouldnt count him out on the two #1's.....

And I for one would be overjoyed if they did that, since those picks would be extremely valuable in the coming seasons, but I just can't see it happening.

I think Loomis works his magic and the big 3 will stay - Colston is far better at this point the Driver

Jerry Jones err....Skeletor thinks he knows football. He has the money to prove himself wrong again and again. I doubt we see two #1s but it would explain the slow negotiations.

true... interesting that Driver has said he will stay for less money, whereas Colston has said nothing at all

Well they are in very different points in their respective careers, Driver is just looking to play out his career as a Packer while padding some stats in the process, whereas Colston is looking for that big once-in-a-career contract.

what has he done that is so promising?

He flashed big time during the pre-season just like Morgan, but both were hampered by their injuries. I do think he'll be a good CB and would benefit from the play time if designated to take the nickel role.

^^THIS^^

i believe you...i just dont remember that. i dont like putting my faith or gettiing my hopes up on players that cant make it out of the preseason. its like the whole romeus thing, stanley arnoux thing, the chip vaughn thing, etc.