ESPN Gives Saints Average Grade for 2012 Free Agency
 

'B' is a helluva average grade; and I always thought C was average!!

Key additions: QB Drew Brees (franchised), DT Brodrick Bunkley, WR Marques Colston (re-sign), LB Curtis Lofton, G Ben Grubbs

Key losses: G Carl Nicks, CB Tracy Porter, WR Robert Meachem

Analysis: What an offseason for the Saints. Despite the scandal and controversy, New Orleans was able to add and retain quality players for its roster. However, it lost a ton of talent as well. The loss of Nicks is significant, as he very well could be the best guard in football, although Grubbs is a strong consolation prize. He was often the best O-lineman on the field for the Ravens last season. The Saints and Colston probably realized that Colston being in New Orleans was the best move for both player and team. The Saints made an excellent signing by adding Bunkley, one of the better run-stopping 4-3 defensive tackles in the NFL. Along those lines, adding Lofton could pay serious dividends, particularly in run defense. It has been a roller coaster offseason in New Orleans ... and the Saints still need to get Brees locked up with a long-term contract. Not to mention that Bill Parcells could be coming to town.

Grade: B

ESPN Gives Saints Average Grade for 2012 Free Agency - Canal Street Chronicles

A B is average huh?
Canal Street Chronicles... What can I say?

A "B" is fair, until Drew signs a long term.

i have been surprised by the signings. this is the first year i have to say nice work guys. based on the previous years i give the fa period so far an A-. loss of nicks keeps it from an A+

Bress is in unform for 2012. 2013 FA will not be so tight so getting it done will happen - check

DT position has gotten a lot younger and stronger - check

Nicks for Grubbs - I can live with it all season long.

Lb position is being addressed - check

I know Loomis is not done squeezing FA just yet.

Considering that out of a total of 16 NFC teams, ESPN graded 5 of them better than the Saints and 6 of them worse - with everyone else sharing the same grade of B - I'd say using the term 'average' was quite accurate.

Danno...What can I say?

Well you can say B is above average, like everyone in the universe knows.

Thats some really weak reasoning for calling a B average. You must affiliated with Canal Street Chronicles.

Your headline sucked, deal with it and move on. Try better next time.

You seem to be slow in grasping this concept, Danno, so here's the definition of average and a quick little visual to help you along. Hope this helps your understanding.

Definition of average: Mathematics - a quantity intermediate to a set of quantities.

I'm not sure why I'm jumping into a meaningless argument, other than the fact that common sense compels me to do so.

You are correct in the definition of average, but there's a small point that is missed there. If the Saints graded out in the middle of all those teams, thus making them indeed average, then they should have been given a C, because C is in fact average. Not that it really matters in this case.

But I don't think the writers who graded the teams were giving out A's B's or C's relative to where their position was among other teams. It was just their opinion of how well each team did individually with it's available resources, relative to it's own needs. Therefore, if the Saints earned a B in the opinion of these guys, then it should be stated as an ABOVE average grade.

Exactly, even though it's semantics...

If the title states that the Saints were given an "average grade" then it can't be a B if there are also D grades given out. A better wording would be that the Saints' FA moves were evaluated as average among the teams in question.

Yes indeed. And if it's true that we signed David Hawthorne, then that grade should probably be moved up to an A.