Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that they should or are going to go through with any of these moves, nor am I predicting them; I’m just listing out a couple of them and providing why I could see the Saints doing them.

1. Using a mid-round draft pick on British Olympian Lawrence Okoye – The Olympic athlete turned down an offer from the very prestigious Oxford University to chase his dream of playing in the NFL. If that’s not dedication and drive, I don’t know what is. He impressed at the super regional around a week ago and was scheduled to visit the Saints on Friday. I would love if the team snagged this guy late in the draft because of that determination and drive I mentioned earlier. Teams say they can’t measure the intangibles, but I highly disagree. While he doesn’t boast the best “NFL talent”, he has all the physical attributes to be a star DE in this league and as everyone knows that’s one position the Saints could use a star at.

Opinion: I would love this move.

2.Saints acquiring Tim Tebow? – I haven’t heard any rumors or anything like that on a move like this, but it makes sense to me. Tim Tebow gets the worst deals ever when it comes to the NFL. He wins the starting job in Denver and gets ridiculed for finishing out the season with a winning record. The next year, he takes his teams to the playoffs and knocks off the NUMBER ONE defense in the league in the Steelers and then gets traded to a team who obviously didn’t know what they had. If the Saints picked Tebow up through trade or even as a free agent, I wouldn’t disagree with the move. The Saints like to run trick plays and gamble in games sometimes (Super Bowl 44), and Tebow would be the best person for this. Could use Tebow for many exotic packages, such as running fake field goals, punts, and even line him up at RB / TE sometimes to maybe get that 3rd and goal or 4th and 1 conversion. Not to mention learning behind one of the best in the league in Drew Brees, Tebow might be able to turn into a viable backup.

Opinion: I’d be excited to see what the Saints used him for.

3. Saints drafting Manti Te’o - Put down your pitchforks and your spears and hear me out here. All girlfriend (or lack thereof) jokes aside; Manti Te’o has some of the best intangibles in the draft. Moreover, regardless of what his National Championship performance showed, the rest of his tape FAR outweighs that one game against ALABAMA, (A.K.A. The best team in the SEC which is on a different level than any other conference). The Saints love an intelligent football player and that’s what they would get if they drafted Te’o. Te’o could sit behind Vilma, Lofton, and all the rest of the linebackers and learn the ropes for a while and then come in when he’s ready. I personally believe in Manti Te’o and think he will be a good (potentially great if he is in the right system) linebacker in the NFL. Intangibles can carry someone a long way and this guy has all of them.

Opinion: I’d be extremely skeptical about this and question the decision highly, but would not completely shoot it down as a stupid move.

4. Saints trade for Darelle Revis – Watching NFL AM earlier on Revis’ rehab process and the Buccaneers being the only team really in the mix for Revis and I thought maybe the Saints were a secret player in the mix that nobody would expect. The jury is still out on who the team is going to draft with their first pick, and the Jets obviously want a first-rounder and then some for the star cornerback. I got to thinking about how the Saints would draft from then-on. This is a deal that came to me in this thought process: “Would the Jets take our first and third this year and our 2014 second for Revis and their second rounder this year?”. The Jets would get a heap of picks that they are dying for, and the Saints could still salvage this draft by getting a second-rounder back in return. However, that being said, the Saints would be in the same position they are this year, next year with the missing 2nd. If the Saints did get Revis, that would not only allow Revis to go from one Ryan brother to the other, who in my opinion, is better with Cornerbacks going back to Nnamdi in Oakland, but it would also completely remake our entire secondary, making it 10-fold better in my opinion. Revis and Lewis as starters with Robinson or Greer as the nickel corner would be much better than Lewis and Greer starting with P-Rob as the nickel corner (or the other way around with Greer and P-Rob). The only concern with the Saints signing Revis is his contract and the Saints having very little wriggle room for signings.

Opinion: I would welcome this move with open arms and would be even more jacked for the season to start.

All these moves are something to think about and maybe discuss as the draft is quickly (thank goodness) approaching us. I could see the Saints going through with any of these moves and I would be completely open-minded about every single one of them. What are your thoughts on the moves I’ve mentioned here? Would love to hear your thoughts and maybe any other moves that you could see the Saints gamble on!

thesaintsnation.com

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Great post. I don't post as much as I should on here but I read anything and being from England, I have an interest in Okoye at the moment :) S0...

1) I like this but how far do you have to go down the draft to snag him? We have limited picks unless we trade down and this is a bit of a risk. I don't think he will get to be a UFA though. Gamble on 6th or 7th round? Totally happy with that.

2) I thought I was the only one who thought Tebow landing in New Orleans was a great idea! A good backup and a unique weapon for Payton is an offensive Mastermind. Perfect. I don't want to give up anything for him though so could we use the Ivory trade to get him? Straight swap or we get Tebow and like a 6th or 7th rounder? Like this a lot.

3) Not going to shoot you down as I appreciate your opinion but I am the complete opposite on Manti. I have seen so much tape of him missing tackles that it concerns me and as we have Vilma we might as well use him. Lofton will be in the hole for a while yet and not starting a 1st rounder like this immediately seems a waste. For me I would be absolutely distraught if we drafted Te'o as I would see it as a chronic waste.

4) There's something about Revis that concerns me. I think he is going to suffer with injury for the rest of his career now. I'm not a doctor and that is nothing but a hunch but I am concerned. Sure he is an amazing player, that is undoubtable but what we need to trade in order to get him and the fact we have little money and even MORE work to do next year with our cap, I will happily see him go elsewhere. Not for me at this time.

So there's my twopenneth :)

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that they should or are going to go through with any of these moves, nor am I predicting them; I’m just listing out a couple of them and providing why I could see the Saints doing them.

1. Using a mid-round draft pick on British Olympian Lawrence Okoye –

Opinion:

Darth Vader NO! - YouTube

Darth Vader NO! - YouTube

2.Saints acquiring Tim Tebow? –

Opinion:

Luke says No - YouTube

Luke says No - YouTube

4. Saints trade for Darelle Revis –

Oh Hell No - YouTube

Oh Hell No - YouTube

.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Great post, but
1. I'm ok with a mid rounder on this guys potential

2. I love Tebow, but he's a terrible fit for this team. Maybe if he agrees to play TE only.

3. Mantei is a classic fit as a 4-3 MLB. I just don't see him as a good fit in a 3-4.

4.

http://mybfolder.com/pics/4921-1271618494.jpg

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Danno - Why do you think Tebow is such a terrible fit?

Agree re Te'o and Revis. Think it has to be late round for Okoye though. Unless you have lots of picks. Like San Fran!

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Its gimicky. We have Drew Brees and an arsenal of weapons. Using Tebow takes the ball out of Drew's hands. We're a team built on timing and execution. We don't need a gimmick to move the ball down the field on anyone. Me no likey.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

My opinion on each scenario without :biggun: them all down,

One at a time, unless we just wanted someone to come in and help the defense practice against the spread option, I see no reason to dress tebow in the black and gold, that's giving away money. We would do better drafting EJ Manuel in the 4th or 5th than putting tebow on.

Manti I like the idea, but not in the first and not early in the second.... The bcs championship game did happen, the combine did to.... He's gonna be an okay linebacker ( may malaluga light) and that might be best case.... Js.... Of the scenarios this on is most likely....

Revis, this would be the biggest move we made in a long time, where would his 10 mill salary come from though, this would also put resigning JG in jeopardy and you don't wanna risk that.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

I wouldn't mind this, if we pick up a mid round pick from the Ivory trade
Absolutely not!
No!
We can't have the cap space...

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

I just saw Tebow and I stopped reading.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Am i the only one who wouldnt want Revis even if we did have the cap room?

I dont like him and his hold out for money every couple of years.
It sets a bad example and once one starts doing others will follow,we are not the Jets(thank the lord)and i dont want to go down that road.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Who wrote this ****, a Clowns fan? Waste a draft pick on a guy who thinks football is kicking someone else's balls while wearing short shorts? Tebow? Really? Might be okay at TE or RB, but we're pretty flush at those positions. Can he play SS or NT? Te'No, nuff said. Revis- at minimum with a a boatload of performance clauses. How much did Matty Brown Spot and Smith pay this guy?

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

1. Not a bad move.

2. Tebow doesn't fit this team. He would be a poor fit for a back-up QB because he could not run the offense with his skill-set which would require a complete reworking of the offense. And when Brees is the QB, why would you create packages that take him off the field? It doesn't make sense.

3. Te'o is not a 3-4 LB. Under the old 4-3, he's a fit. He isn't the type of player who will typically excell in 3-4.

4. Revis is a great player, but it would cost the Saints the first pick in this draft and maybe more. Maybe the first plus Ivory gets it done, but the Jets probably would want more. Also, I'm not sure the Saints have the cap room to satisfy a contract for Revis even if they could trade for him.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

ok read it
went to can an thought about it
flushed it all away

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

•Lawrence Okoye? Who? Spend a draft pick on someone who has never played football? What is this guy smoking? At best, sign him to a practice squad ala Brock Lesner. What's next? Should start scouting sumo wrestlers for our offensive line? Just because one's an athlete, doesn't make them a football player.

•Tim Tebow? Last I checked, we were a passing offense. We so do not need the extra publicity having him on our roster. Heaven forbid Drew has a bad game and we start having a bunch of wackos clamoring for Tebow. His cult following is very strong.

•Manti T'eo may wind up becoming a good football player, but mercy... how stupid is he really? How would he react to a fake reverse? How confident are would we be in him reading a play action pass? Fake punt? Fumblerooski?

•Darelle Revis. Not only does he suck up a ton of money, it'll cost us at least 2 draft picks. So instead of potentially picking up 4 solid players(through free agency and draft), we get a great CB who's coming off a major injury. Pass.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Wow there's some pretty aggressive opinion here!

As for Okoye, sure he has good measurables but has never played football. If we're talking about a 6th or 7th round pick, how many times do you genuinely land anyone worth remembering there anyway? Take a chance I say. It's hardly going to set the franchise back years is it!

I still don't understand the general dislike of Tebow. Sure he doesn't fit our offence. Does he really fit an offence out there? All I am saying is if you give a chess piece like that to Sean Payton, it gives him options even if he doesn't use it. I wouldn't waste a load of money on him nor give away any picks, but having him on the roster doesn't seem so terrible to me. Also if Brees goes down, you're saying you would rather have McCown see the game out? I'd rather stick Roman Harper in there and tell him to air it out!

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

The thing here is that he's talking about a mid round pick... not a late round gamble. Big difference.

I mean if we brought Tebow here to play H-back, I could be okay with that. It would certainly be interesting to say the least. Now if we're bring him in here to play quarterback, I think all our skilled position players on offense would suffer from depression should anything ever happen to Drew.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

1. Sure why not.
2. Getting silly now.
3. Closer to rational but still short a few brain cells.
4. Clinically dead. Brain no longer functions.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

OKOYE IS COOL
TEBOW IS A PREACHER NOT A FOOTBALL QB
NO WAY WE GET A MEDIA DISTRACTION LIKE TEO he isn't a top 15 talent and isn't there in the 3rd rd! So no way!

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Tebow doesn't really give you any options worth having. If Tebow is on the team, then you have two ways to use him. One way is to have him and Brees on the field at the same time. The other is to use him in the place of Brees. The first option is designed to fool defenses, but it's only effective if Tebow is used behind center in some fashion at least enough for teams to think it's a threat. If not, then Tebow is in the place of a RB or TE which the Saints have personel better suited for those roles. If Tebow lines up under center and Brees goes out wide, etc you give teams a chance to take free hits on Brees since he isn't a QB in that formation and no way in hell do we want teams taking those.

In the second scenario, why on earth would we ever want Tebow to take snaps away from Brees? Especially since there's no way he could run the Saints verticle style offense which means practice time would have to be wasted on a gimmick.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

All Tim Tebow does is win and do good, all people do is hate and crucify him..... Reminds me of a guy in a well published book....naaa I'm not gonna say it

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

So, you're actually saying because Tebow is a good man, you would rather him take snaps from Brees? Cause that's freaking crazy.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Really? He doesn't win. He didn't win. Live in the Broncos market and then tell me why he still isn't in Denver. It had nothing to do with his personal beliefs. The defense won those games for him. He played in the weakest division in the league, the D would keep the game within six which wasn't all that hard to. Then Tebowed manage to eke out a touchdown at the end of the game when he hadn't done anything else the other 55 minutes. The Pats pretty much exposed him. There's a reason the most interested team in him plays in an arena, he's not an NFL quarterback. And no, there's no hate. I could give a crap about him. Just don't want to see him wreck a team I do give a crap about.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

I really like 4.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

The guy has a career completion percentage of less than 50%. You call it hate, I call it justified criticism.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Somebody once said that if a team wins or loses the QB is usually the one that is either glorified or put on the chopping block. The Broncos were on a bad road inserted Tebow and began to win and get into the playoffs

I think it is crazy that SO many people want to an enjoy seeing this guy down.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

I have no feelings ill or good toward Tebow. But, seriously, I think it is evident his skill set doesn't fit the current offense. So to utilize him in anyway either means he's a gimmick or the Saints run offense for Brees and one for Tebow. Tebow cannot run the verticle passing game the Saints run and Brees can't run the read-option that is the only offense Tebow is successful running. So, Tebow is a bad fit as a back-up QB for the Saints. Now, if there's a team that runs the read option and wants Tebow, then maybe he'd be a good fit. It's nothing against him personally.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

My thing is, has anyone ever tried to work with Tebow or has every team that he has been in just decided to take for the physical specimen that he is

I am saying that as a question. It seems like that offense that he has been on have all tried to just cater to the player that he is instead of train him to the player that he could be

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

It is the same question that keeps being asked about our defense.

The thing is, with all of our needs do we really want to spending any money on what is basically going to be a gimmick player at least at first? Not to mention deal with the attached circus.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

You're right. The higher you are, the more want to see you fall.

But let's be real here...

WEAK division. Denver's D was strong and the offense was often stagnant. Tebow threw for less than 2,000 yards, 12 td's (Drew can throw that in two games) and 6 turnovers...

Two words - QB Rating. Timmy's was a paltry 29.9 the year he started.

But we want him to be a Saint???

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

No
F--k no
No
No

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

I think that outside of the draft we're done with gambling this year.

Re: Big Gambles for the Saints to Consider
 

Yeah, you're not kidding. The guy can't throw the GD ball to save his life.