Free Agency / Draft

stockman311 · 01-03-2005, 12:58 PM

Hope this isn't too early to ask who we will be resigning and who we will be letting go.

I am assuming we can't afford to resign Howard with Smith waiting in the wings. We have to resign Duece. Do we extend Horn, our only Pro Bowler on offense.

Does anyone know what our cap situation looks like?

Also who do we target in free agency? The draft?

Halo · 01-03-2005, 01:08 PM

I don\'t think Horn will ever leave. He will retire a Saint.

There will be many changes on Defense, the target will be a premier free agent (or 2) at linebacker.

I think we\'ll let Tebucky Jones go, among others, to free money to pick up Lb\'s, a premier free-safety, and some new offensive tackles.

Immediate needs:

Offense:
Needs: Tacles, Backup QB
We\'ll lose: Stallworth, Folou, Riley

Defense:
Needs: LB\'s, Another Cornerback, and Free Safety
We\'ll lose: Howard or another D-lineman, James Allen and perhaps another LB or 2, We\'ll dump Tebucky Jones and another back (I don\'t know who)

stockman311 · 01-03-2005, 01:23 PM

For some reason I feel like the team will focus on Strong Safey and Linebacker. I just think Jones is to athletically gifted to give up on just yet. And after a stellar 2003 season Bellamy dropped off the face of the earth this year.
I would like to see the Saints go after Smoot who will be let go by the Redskins and move Brown to the nickel slot.
Does anyone have a list of the potential Sam and Will linebacker free agents out there for next year? I think Watson will be good to go at Mike for some time for us.
Also, when do we cut ties with that waste of space Sullivan. Of all the moves the team has made, wasting a 6th choice in the draft for this guy irrates me the most.
As for backup QB, Frye from Akron or Smith from Utah may be intruiging guys to look at if they are around in the second round.

Euphoria · 01-03-2005, 04:03 PM

I think Sullivan and that Van guy whoever his name is we have on practice roster I can\'t think of it right now... is good!!! Mark My words he could be the 3rd QB if not beat our sullivan for the two spot.
Still Like to see WR black up to the 4th WR.
I see revamping CB\'s like Bringing in Smoot, Ambrose is gone. Thomas and Craft will be nickel and dime. I think going after some Safties who have a nose for the ball, but not to crazy on the idea right now.
KEEP HOWARD!!! Will Smith isn\'t a all-around DE. He is a pass rusher. What you do is let Smith line up in different spots to give DE breaks or LB and blitz him, blitz him, blitz him. You only use him as a rusher. Use the players to there strenghts here.
Re-do that whole O-line geez they suck.
I\'d hate to say this but you\'re going to have to bring in another WR... Horn Stays but you\'re going to have to complement him and Pathon isn\'t getting any younger although is still good. Stallworth isn\'t going to ever be a number one guy he is the speedster you send deep or slant him... not a go to guy and wasn\'t drafted to be...

FireVenturi · 01-03-2005, 06:17 PM

get rid of sullivan and riley without a doubt. extend horn and resign deuce, trade howard(prob a 2nd rd pick)

Halo, just curious why do u have us losin Donte

BrooksMustGo · 01-03-2005, 06:40 PM

Here\'s my take on free agency.

1. Linebacker
Julian Peterson, Edgerton Hartwell , Adalius Thomas, Kendrell Bell and Will Witherspoon are all UFA\'s. It would be stupid for us not to make a play for and sign at least one of these guys.

Bold Prediction--If we don\'t sign one of these guys or a guy of their caliber we\'ll be sitting at 8-8 again next year.

2. Offensive Tackle
No way Gandy is worth the money and Riley can\'t be depended on. The Tackles are quickly becoming critical needs. I\'d like to see us make an ALL OUT PUSH to sign Ryan Diem (RT-Colts) and then draft a LT. Stockar McDougle, Jonas Jennings and Tra Thomas are all UFA\'s too. We need to make an effort with one of these guys.

Bold Prediction--We can\'t expect to compete for the division or make the playoffs with the status quo at Tackle. If we re-sign Riley and hope for the best, 8-8 seems optimistic.

3. Defensive Tackle
Seth Payne is an UFA and has spent the last 3 seasons playing NT for Houston. He\'s always worked hard, never slacked and played for teams who made defense a priority. With our current scouting department, I don\'t trust us to try and draft a solution at this position. Better to pick a proven player. My distant second choice would be Pat Williams from Buffalo.

Obvious Prediction--If we aren\'t light years better against the run, we\'re not going anywhere next January. The Panthers want to run the ball, Vick is only dangerous when he runs the ball and I can\'t imagine John Gruden not addressing the RB position in Tampa this year.

With having to deal with Deuce, Howard and Horn this offseason, I can\'t see us making more than 2 big moves in free agency. If we release Howard, Joe re-writes his deal and we can deal Brooks, we might be able to get 4 players at these positions and be in a MUCH stronger position on draft day.

We are kidding ourselves if we think that we can depend on the draft and only the draft to fix what\'s wrong with this team.

FireVenturi · 01-03-2005, 06:49 PM

Here\'s my take on free agency.

1. Linebacker
Julian Peterson, Edgerton Hartwell , Adalius Thomas, Kendrell Bell and Will Witherspoon are all UFA\'s. It would be stupid for us not to make a play for and sign at least one of these guys.

Bold Prediction--If we don\'t sign one of these guys or a guy of their caliber we\'ll be sitting at 8-8 again next year.

2. Offensive Tackle
No way Gandy is worth the money and Riley can\'t be depended on. The Tackles are quickly becoming critical needs. I\'d like to see us make an ALL OUT PUSH to sign Ryan Diem (RT-Colts) and then draft a LT. Stockar McDougle, Jonas Jennings and Tra Thomas are all UFA\'s too. We need to make an effort with one of these guys.

Bold Prediction--We can\'t expect to compete for the division or make the playoffs with the status quo at Tackle. If we re-sign Riley and hope for the best, 8-8 seems optimistic.

3. Defensive Tackle
Seth Payne is an UFA and has spent the last 3 seasons playing NT for Houston. He\'s always worked hard, never slacked and played for teams who made defense a priority. With our current scouting department, I don\'t trust us to try and draft a solution at this position. Better to pick a proven player. My distant second choice would be Pat Williams from Buffalo.

Obvious Prediction--If we aren\'t light years better against the run, we\'re not going anywhere next January. The Panthers want to run the ball, Vick is only dangerous when he runs the ball and I can\'t imagine John Gruden not addressing the RB position in Tampa this year.

With having to deal with Deuce, Howard and Horn this offseason, I can\'t see us making more than 2 big moves in free agency. If we release Howard, Joe re-writes his deal and we can deal Brooks, we might be able to get 4 players at these positions and be in a MUCH stronger position on draft day.

We are kidding ourselves if we think that we can depend on the draft and only the draft to fix what\'s wrong with this team.

Deal Brooks???Who is gonna throw the ball. No free agents could hold Brooks\' errr water bottle, and da Chargers are not lettin go of Brees! And even if they did we dont have an Antonio Gates in da Red Zone.

BrooksMustGo · 01-03-2005, 07:00 PM

Deal Brooks???Who is gonna throw the ball. No free agents could hold Brooks\' errr water bottle, and da Chargers are not lettin go of Brees! And even if they did we dont have an Antonio Gates in da Red Zone.

Please reference this thread for a comprehensive discussion of the relative merits of dealing Brooks this offseason:
http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...hread&tid=7074

And just to stir the pot a bit--doesn\'t it seem like Venturi\'s unit has come through over the past month and made all this playoff talk possible in the first place?

Boogro · 01-03-2005, 07:52 PM

Well, I am all for getting the best of our needs in FA if possible...Seems I read somewhere that there are a few linebackers going after.... With that said, If we can land two real quality linebackers in FA and pick up at least one tackle then I will feel much better going into the draft.

I like what I see at corner and safety coming out in the draft....Thomas and Ambrose have to go....We payed a lot of money for Thomas to stay so I say move him somehow and Ambrose just sucks....I hate savvy, prefer physical....

You have You have Rolle, Webster, Carlos Rogers, and Marlin Jackson who I would like to see with us next year....That\'s jsut corners off the top of my head, if I missed some.......sorry.....Brodney Pool looks like a good safety too....I wouldn\'t mind bringing in a linebacker even in we pick two up in free agency

Our O- Line needs help without a doubt and I like the play of Jamaal Brown, he\'s been one of the best in the nation for a few years and would love to have him....If we can get Devery on the field next year then I dont see us really changing the wide recievers....Donte come a long way and I just see him getting better next year....

FireVenturi · 01-04-2005, 11:46 AM

Deal Brooks???Who is gonna throw the ball. No free agents could hold Brooks\' errr water bottle, and da Chargers are not lettin go of Brees! And even if they did we dont have an Antonio Gates in da Red Zone.

Please reference this thread for a comprehensive discussion of the relative merits of dealing Brooks this offseason:
http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...hread&tid=7074

And just to stir the pot a bit--doesn\'t it seem like Venturi\'s unit has come through over the past month and made all this playoff talk possible in the first place?

Yes as soon as Haz \"took over\" Venturi\'s unit. If he would have used the same scheme the whole year instead of the last 4 games we would be looking at a first rd bye

01-03-2005, 12:58 PM	#1
stockman311 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,137	Free Agency / Draft Hope this isn't too early to ask who we will be resigning and who we will be letting go. I am assuming we can't afford to resign Howard with Smith waiting in the wings. We have to resign Duece. Do we extend Horn, our only Pro Bowler on offense. Does anyone know what our cap situation looks like? Also who do we target in free agency? The draft?

01-03-2005, 01:08 PM	#2
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,206 Blog Entries: 45	Free Agency / Draft I don\'t think Horn will ever leave. He will retire a Saint. There will be many changes on Defense, the target will be a premier free agent (or 2) at linebacker. I think we\'ll let Tebucky Jones go, among others, to free money to pick up Lb\'s, a premier free-safety, and some new offensive tackles. Immediate needs: Offense: Needs: Tacles, Backup QB We\'ll lose: Stallworth, Folou, Riley Defense: Needs: LB\'s, Another Cornerback, and Free Safety We\'ll lose: Howard or another D-lineman, James Allen and perhaps another LB or 2, We\'ll dump Tebucky Jones and another back (I don\'t know who)
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01-03-2005, 01:23 PM	#3
stockman311 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,137	Free Agency / Draft For some reason I feel like the team will focus on Strong Safey and Linebacker. I just think Jones is to athletically gifted to give up on just yet. And after a stellar 2003 season Bellamy dropped off the face of the earth this year. I would like to see the Saints go after Smoot who will be let go by the Redskins and move Brown to the nickel slot. Does anyone have a list of the potential Sam and Will linebacker free agents out there for next year? I think Watson will be good to go at Mike for some time for us. Also, when do we cut ties with that waste of space Sullivan. Of all the moves the team has made, wasting a 6th choice in the draft for this guy irrates me the most. As for backup QB, Frye from Akron or Smith from Utah may be intruiging guys to look at if they are around in the second round.

01-03-2005, 04:03 PM	#4
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Free Agency / Draft I think Sullivan and that Van guy whoever his name is we have on practice roster I can\'t think of it right now... is good!!! Mark My words he could be the 3rd QB if not beat our sullivan for the two spot. Still Like to see WR black up to the 4th WR. I see revamping CB\'s like Bringing in Smoot, Ambrose is gone. Thomas and Craft will be nickel and dime. I think going after some Safties who have a nose for the ball, but not to crazy on the idea right now. KEEP HOWARD!!! Will Smith isn\'t a all-around DE. He is a pass rusher. What you do is let Smith line up in different spots to give DE breaks or LB and blitz him, blitz him, blitz him. You only use him as a rusher. Use the players to there strenghts here. Re-do that whole O-line geez they suck. I\'d hate to say this but you\'re going to have to bring in another WR... Horn Stays but you\'re going to have to complement him and Pathon isn\'t getting any younger although is still good. Stallworth isn\'t going to ever be a number one guy he is the speedster you send deep or slant him... not a go to guy and wasn\'t drafted to be...
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01-03-2005, 06:17 PM	#5
FireVenturi Cold as Ice! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Da Big Easy Posts: 2,978	Free Agency / Draft get rid of sullivan and riley without a doubt. extend horn and resign deuce, trade howard(prob a 2nd rd pick) Halo, just curious why do u have us losin Donte

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01-03-2005, 06:40 PM	#6
BrooksMustGo 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,762	Free Agency / Draft Here\'s my take on free agency. 1. Linebacker Julian Peterson, Edgerton Hartwell , Adalius Thomas, Kendrell Bell and Will Witherspoon are all UFA\'s. It would be stupid for us not to make a play for and sign at least one of these guys. Bold Prediction--If we don\'t sign one of these guys or a guy of their caliber we\'ll be sitting at 8-8 again next year. 2. Offensive Tackle No way Gandy is worth the money and Riley can\'t be depended on. The Tackles are quickly becoming critical needs. I\'d like to see us make an ALL OUT PUSH to sign Ryan Diem (RT-Colts) and then draft a LT. Stockar McDougle, Jonas Jennings and Tra Thomas are all UFA\'s too. We need to make an effort with one of these guys. Bold Prediction--We can\'t expect to compete for the division or make the playoffs with the status quo at Tackle. If we re-sign Riley and hope for the best, 8-8 seems optimistic. 3. Defensive Tackle Seth Payne is an UFA and has spent the last 3 seasons playing NT for Houston. He\'s always worked hard, never slacked and played for teams who made defense a priority. With our current scouting department, I don\'t trust us to try and draft a solution at this position. Better to pick a proven player. My distant second choice would be Pat Williams from Buffalo. Obvious Prediction--If we aren\'t light years better against the run, we\'re not going anywhere next January. The Panthers want to run the ball, Vick is only dangerous when he runs the ball and I can\'t imagine John Gruden not addressing the RB position in Tampa this year. With having to deal with Deuce, Howard and Horn this offseason, I can\'t see us making more than 2 big moves in free agency. If we release Howard, Joe re-writes his deal and we can deal Brooks, we might be able to get 4 players at these positions and be in a MUCH stronger position on draft day. We are kidding ourselves if we think that we can depend on the draft and only the draft to fix what\'s wrong with this team.
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01-03-2005, 06:49 PM	#7
FireVenturi Cold as Ice! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Da Big Easy Posts: 2,978	Free Agency / Draft Here\'s my take on free agency. 1. Linebacker Julian Peterson, Edgerton Hartwell , Adalius Thomas, Kendrell Bell and Will Witherspoon are all UFA\'s. It would be stupid for us not to make a play for and sign at least one of these guys. Bold Prediction--If we don\'t sign one of these guys or a guy of their caliber we\'ll be sitting at 8-8 again next year. 2. Offensive Tackle No way Gandy is worth the money and Riley can\'t be depended on. The Tackles are quickly becoming critical needs. I\'d like to see us make an ALL OUT PUSH to sign Ryan Diem (RT-Colts) and then draft a LT. Stockar McDougle, Jonas Jennings and Tra Thomas are all UFA\'s too. We need to make an effort with one of these guys. Bold Prediction--We can\'t expect to compete for the division or make the playoffs with the status quo at Tackle. If we re-sign Riley and hope for the best, 8-8 seems optimistic. 3. Defensive Tackle Seth Payne is an UFA and has spent the last 3 seasons playing NT for Houston. He\'s always worked hard, never slacked and played for teams who made defense a priority. With our current scouting department, I don\'t trust us to try and draft a solution at this position. Better to pick a proven player. My distant second choice would be Pat Williams from Buffalo. Obvious Prediction--If we aren\'t light years better against the run, we\'re not going anywhere next January. The Panthers want to run the ball, Vick is only dangerous when he runs the ball and I can\'t imagine John Gruden not addressing the RB position in Tampa this year. With having to deal with Deuce, Howard and Horn this offseason, I can\'t see us making more than 2 big moves in free agency. If we release Howard, Joe re-writes his deal and we can deal Brooks, we might be able to get 4 players at these positions and be in a MUCH stronger position on draft day. We are kidding ourselves if we think that we can depend on the draft and only the draft to fix what\'s wrong with this team. Deal Brooks???Who is gonna throw the ball. No free agents could hold Brooks\' errr water bottle, and da Chargers are not lettin go of Brees! And even if they did we dont have an Antonio Gates in da Red Zone.

01-03-2005, 07:00 PM	#8
BrooksMustGo 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,762	Free Agency / Draft Deal Brooks???Who is gonna throw the ball. No free agents could hold Brooks\' errr water bottle, and da Chargers are not lettin go of Brees! And even if they did we dont have an Antonio Gates in da Red Zone. Please reference this thread for a comprehensive discussion of the relative merits of dealing Brooks this offseason: http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...hread&tid=7074 And just to stir the pot a bit--doesn\'t it seem like Venturi\'s unit has come through over the past month and made all this playoff talk possible in the first place?

01-03-2005, 07:52 PM	#9
Boogro Nose Digger Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 341	Free Agency / Draft Well, I am all for getting the best of our needs in FA if possible...Seems I read somewhere that there are a few linebackers going after.... With that said, If we can land two real quality linebackers in FA and pick up at least one tackle then I will feel much better going into the draft. I like what I see at corner and safety coming out in the draft....Thomas and Ambrose have to go....We payed a lot of money for Thomas to stay so I say move him somehow and Ambrose just sucks....I hate savvy, prefer physical.... You have You have Rolle, Webster, Carlos Rogers, and Marlin Jackson who I would like to see with us next year....That\'s jsut corners off the top of my head, if I missed some.......sorry.....Brodney Pool looks like a good safety too....I wouldn\'t mind bringing in a linebacker even in we pick two up in free agency Our O- Line needs help without a doubt and I like the play of Jamaal Brown, he\'s been one of the best in the nation for a few years and would love to have him....If we can get Devery on the field next year then I dont see us really changing the wide recievers....Donte come a long way and I just see him getting better next year....

01-04-2005, 11:46 AM	#10
FireVenturi Cold as Ice! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Da Big Easy Posts: 2,978	Free Agency / Draft Deal Brooks???Who is gonna throw the ball. No free agents could hold Brooks\' errr water bottle, and da Chargers are not lettin go of Brees! And even if they did we dont have an Antonio Gates in da Red Zone. Please reference this thread for a comprehensive discussion of the relative merits of dealing Brooks this offseason: http://www.blackandgold.net/site/mod...hread&tid=7074 And just to stir the pot a bit--doesn\'t it seem like Venturi\'s unit has come through over the past month and made all this playoff talk possible in the first place? Yes as soon as Haz \"took over\" Venturi\'s unit. If he would have used the same scheme the whole year instead of the last 4 games we would be looking at a first rd bye
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