Rating: (0 votes - average)

The New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with quarterback Luke McCown, the team announced Wednesday.

McCown signed a one-year deal with the Saints last year and spent the season as the primary backup to Drew Brees. He became a free agent this offseason, but both sides indicted for several weeks that they were working toward a new deal.

The Saints carried three quarterbacks on the roster last season. Rookie Ryan Griffin, an undrafted free agent from Tulane, was the third quarterback.

The 6-foot-4, 217-pound McCown was a fourth round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2004 NFL draft.

The former Louisiana Tech quarterback has appeared in 38 career games with nine starts in the Browns (2004), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005-08), Jacksonville Jaguars (2009-11), Atlanta Falcons (2012) and Saints (2013).

McCown has completed 184-of-317 career pass attempts for 2,035 yards with nine touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

McCown is also the holder on field goals and PAT attempts.

TheOak

Sort of answers a question or two.

Jack Vegas

CHAMPIONSHIP

I don't think this says anything about Griffin except, they believe that McCown is more capable of winning games right now if you-know-what happened.

TheOak

1 year contract (Have not seen terms but i doubt it is guaranteed)... Could mean a lot of things..
Competition for Griffin.
Camp Body.
Veteran Back Up.
etc...

What it does tell me is that it is highly unlikely we draft a QB this year.

saintshrimp

I don't think we needed to sign him at all I think two qbs are enough let Griffin be the backup. He'd get a lot more snaps in practice to develop. Besides if Brees were to go down do we really think Luke would be all that much better than Griffin season would pretty much be over either way IMHO. I would have rather they spent the money on Rafel Bush signing or a Center. Just think a 10 yr vet has to be pushing close to a mil in vet min pay

TheOak

The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year deal with veteran backup quarterback Luke McCown. Terms were not disclosed.

McCown
The deal makes perfect sense, considering the Saints were happy with McCown in that role last year. However, he'll have to beat out second-year pro Ryan Griffin if he wants to hold onto the job in training camp.

The Saints are high on Griffin's potential after signing him as an undrafted rookie last year from Tulane. Griffin played in college under former Saints receivers coach Curtis Johnson. And Griffin's former college position coach, Mike Neu, is now the Saints' new quarterbacks coach.

Head coach Sean Payton broke down New Orleans' quarterback outlook earlier Wednesday morning at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., when he was asked when the Saints will consider seeking a future replacement for Drew Brees.

"No. 1, we're always in the business of developing young players. They come in all rounds, too," Payton said. "You know, Ryan Griffin from Tulane was a free agent last year, really impressed a lot of us. Luke McCown has a clear role and is someone that we'd like to sign back.

"So I don't know that you go into a draft and say, 'Alright, put on your gloves guys, this is it.' But you are paying attention to that market, that specific position market, each year. Because it's a little bit like that high-end delicatessen item that doesn't come in every day. So you're always waiting to make sure that something's not on the shelf. ..."

Payton continued: "And we're fortunate to have a player like Drew [in the meantime]. You either have one or you're always looking for one. And then I think it's important that that constant development or vision of developing one exists."

My personal opinion -- it's still too early for the Saints to invest a high draft pick on a young quarterback. Brees should have at least three good years left in him, if not more. So a draft pick this year would practically be due for free agency by the time the Saints are ready to make a switch.

McCown, 32, won the Saints' backup job last summer over fellow veteran Seneca Wallace. But he only attempted one pass all season (an ill-fated fake field goal attempt). McCown was also in Saints camp in 2012, but he lost the job to former backup Chase Daniel and wound up with the Atlanta Falcons that year.

The journeyman has made nine career starts during a 10-year career spent with Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Atlanta and New Orleans. He has a total of 2,035 passing yards, nine touchdown passes and 14 interceptions.

There's always hope for a late renaissance, though. And he need look no further than his own brother for inspiration. Luke's older brother Josh had a breakout year with the Chicago Bears last season at age 34, and now he has signed on to become the projected starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New Orleans Saints re-sign backup QB Luke McCown - ESPN

hagan714

i like the signing. he has looked good when has played the little he has, i rather a vet step on the field than a rookie in the regular season if needed.

Rugby Saint II

Laces Out!

ChrisXVI

Competition for Griffin in training camp/preseason QB. I'd be surprised if he's the backup QB come September or even if we carry all 3 of them on the 53 man roster like we did last season.

hagan714

ok got me on that one