PFW Report
 

Whispers:

Although Saints DT Johnathan Sullivan has slimmed down a bit to the 325-pound range, we’re told he hasn’t looked all that good in workouts and might not be all that helpful to the team this season.


New Orleans is thrilled with the play of QB Aaron Brooks in workouts, but the same can’t be said of backups Todd Bouman, Adrian McPherson and Kliff Kingsbury. Bouman has been shaky at best, and McPherson and Kingsbury seem to be in over their heads in their battle for the No. 3 QB spot.

New Orleans

CB Mike McKenzie, who signed a new five-year, $22 million deal with the Saints last weekend, is known as being a surly guy, but the newfound riches seem to have changed his attitude. McKenzie has been laughing and joking with the fans in workouts recently, and he has been performing at a high level in practices. We hear the Saints’ coaching staff is counting on him to be a vocal leader in the secondary, an idea that he has taken to heart. McKenzie has never been a quiet guy, but he has been particularly active in encouraging teammates and leading by example. His presence should allow the Saints’ secondary to take a step forward. Head coach Jim Haslett has been very impressed with McKenzie’s play so far, and it appears the team will be building the defense around him. Sources say the team is excited that both the secondary and the defensive line can become strengths this season because the team has enjoyed some stability on “D,� returning 10 of 11 starters from last year.

RE: PFW Report
 

I'd be jokin' and smilin' too if I'd just signed a 22MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT!!!!
I think this group (defense) has the makings of a top 5 unit if they play with the same passion as the end of last year...........YAHERDME!!!

RE: PFW Report
 

Cha-ching! He's taking that big smile right to the bank. He deserves it though... he'll be a solid contributor for our secondary for years to come. Wouldn't it be great if we actually sent a cornerback, yes CORNERBACK, to the ProBowl? Wait... have we ever sent a corner to the ProBowl?

I know Eric Allen made numerous ProBowls... but did he go with the Saints?

RE: PFW Report
 

tRAIDERS and Philly...I think....

RE: PFW Report
 

All I know is that this team has locked up a ton of young talent for years to come. Vets too. Think about this - these are the players sure to be on the team for at least the next three years or so, and/or are likely to make big strides:

Josh Bullocks, Dwight Smith, Mike McKenzie, Allen, Watson, Buckwoldt, Fincher, (and if Cie Grant keeps playing like he's been reported to have been, he'll be here too), Charles Grant, Will Smith, Green, Leisle, Jefferson, possibly Brian Young, Brown, Mayberry, Bentley (if we resign him soon, which I think we will), Holland, Stinchcomb, Hilton, Meier, Horn, Stallworth, Deuce, Karney, and if Talman Gardner keeps it up, he'll be here too. A couple of tackles (DT and LT) and this team is set for a while. If Brooks has a good year in 2005, his contract will be restructured and extended next year. There should be plenty of stability for a while. These guys will all get to play together for a long-time, especially in NFL FA terms.

Now, again, it all falls on Haslett to coach these guys up and make them the contenders that they should be. Hasn't happened yet - let's hope it finally does this year.

^^^

Good analysis.

I kinda think the Saints's window of opportunity is within the next 5 years, as far as this particular unit.

Yeah. The Los Angeles Saints fans will enjoy their Super Bowl victories :wink: .
Sorry. I couldn't resist.

OMG! WhoDat is that optimism?

Optimism? No, it's realism. :)

Bottom line - in the last few offseasons, the Saints have actually signed a whole lot of young talent and key veterans to new contracts. That means that most of this group will be together for at least the next 3 years or so. As much as I've criticized Loomis in the past, it's hard to look at our roster right now, and our cap position, and not be happy. I mean, the Saints will likely go into next offseason with $20 million of cap space tied up in 3 players - Howard (8-ish), Brooks (7-ish), and Gandy (5-ish) - who could all but released or restructured. Meaning: you might see this exact team enter next offseason with $10 or $15 million in cap space, with essentially all of the key players back. That's real impressive. I have to give Loomis credit. I always knew he was a great cap guy, but the talent amassed on this team is the best it's ever been.

Again - that doesn't mean much unless these players can get their heads out of their arses and start playing up to potential, AND Haslett & company can learn how to coach. Without having seen a single snap, simply by looking at the talent on this team, it will be hard for me not to predict 9 to 10 wins out of this group. If you put Fox, Bellicheck, Fisher, etc. on this team as coach right now, I'd give them 12 wins. But with Haslett and company, 8-8 is always within our reach.

No No .

Teams only win Super Bowls when they move away from the Los Angeles area now .....

Re: RE: PFW Report
 

Saint CB's to the ProBowl...

1967...Dave Whitsell

1987...Dave Waymer

1995...Eric Allen


http://www.neworleanssaints.com/cust...cfm?pageid=200

RE: Re: RE: PFW Report
 

Waymer was a safety, no? I didn't think Eric Allen made it while a Saint. Hmm. Who knew? Allen was poo in NO - must have been his first season with the Saints. LOL

1992 K Morten Andersen (6), C Joel Hilgenberg, LB Rickey Jackson (5), LB Vaughan Johnson (4), LB Sam Mills (4), LB Pat Swilling (4)

Man - that was the year. We sent 4 LBs to the Pro Bowl. My how times have changed. I'd like to have 4 LBs who I feel confident allowing to start! :)

Re: RE: Re: RE: PFW Report
 

Yeah, WhoDat, those were pretty much my thoughts before I looked it up. For some reason Waymer came to mind before I looked it up, but I thought the same thing...that he was a safety. He played for the Saints from '80-'89, so I'm thinking that he played safety for most of the early years, and since he made the pro-bowl as a corner in '87, he must have been switched to corner near the end of his career. It seems like I remember him switching positions, but it's a little fuzzy.

I was also surprised to see that Allen made it as a Saint.

Whitsell, now that brings back some real old memories.

Waymer played safety with the 49ers after he left New Orleans, no? Yeah he did. Then he finished with the Raiders.

I don't remember him with the Raiders, but he definitely destroyed us with the 49ers. Wasn't there a year where Waymer and Lott played together? Ouch.

As for Waymer being moved, I dunno. Good corners are sometimes moved to safety as they age b/c their physical skills begin to decline, but I can't think of a single guy who has been moved from safety to start at CB. Doesn't make sense.

I don't remember how much he played corner, I always remember him as a safety. LB, are you sure it doesn't just list him as a DB?

Also, I don't know how much he played with the Raiders, but he finished there.

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/cust...cfm?pageid=206

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/cust...cfm?pageid=200

Here are two separate links to the Saint website that definitely list him as a CB in 1987.

DB... in 13 years, never suspended for drugs but died of Cocaine overdose.

Have him playing Saftey or listed as DB... I see he was tapped for Hall of Fame as a CB.