2006 Draft
 

With the draft approaching it seems everyone is hyped up on Leinhart. I think with Brooks (Saints All-Time leading QB) and McPherson and Peyton's rep as a QB cultivator that selecting a QB is the wrong way to go.

We obviously can't afford Howard and we need to re-sign Bentley. We need a solid DT so maybe we can trade Howard to a team desperate for a great DE for a DT or solid LB (we need all of them so no particular spot - hopefully a MLB)

Hopefully we can trade down in the draft and pick up a second round pick and get D'Brickshaw at LT to replace Gandy. He along with Brown will give us bookend OT's to go with Bentley.

We need to use our remaining picks on DT, LBs, and DBs. Hopefully we can sign a free agent LB and DB and use the draft choices after D'Brickshaw to build up the DL and LB corp.

I know this is not popular opinion, but it would give us the most competiitve, well-rounded team.

RE: 2006 Draft
 

I agree with you 98%. we should get rid of AB and sign Griese from the bucs, and maybe draft a wr (sinorice moss).

RE: 2006 Draft
 

Why in the world would we do that? The guy is getting up there in age, just tore his ACL (which even the youngest guys in the league have trouble recovering from), and he's just not all that good. We have the opportunity to draft a franchise QB. Why settle for an over the hill QB who might never recover fully?

Moss will go no later than the 2nd round. Seeing as how we have the second pick in the second draft, and we have much more glaring needs, there's absolutely no reason to draft a WR that high.

DJ, I agree, this would be a very good situation, and I can't say that if we ended up doing this, that I'd be mad. However, I think that there are MUCH more glaring holes on this team. But you don't have to just listen to me, Scouts Inc. (who works with ESPN), has our needs listed as:

So even though having D'Brick and Brown at the tackles would be pretty intimidating, I think that our offensive line right now is pretty good. Also, there are a lot of good linemen in FA this year. And a franchise QB isn't just something that you find around the corner.

RE: 2006 Draft
 

Duece, i'm not saying that griese is a franchise qb. if check his stats out from before he got hurt he did a solid job. the most important stat was that he was 5-1 as the starter, and has playoff experience with the broncos. For all we know linehart and young could be busts....its been proven that all franchise qb's are picked in the 1st rd....I don't believe moss is worth that high of a pick. From my point of view, if we trade down and get an extra 2nd rd pick, then it might be a good idea.

RE: 2006 Draft
 

I just don't think we can pass up on a guy like Matt Leinart. He's graded too high and he has just shown too much skill the last three years. He has unbelievable accuracy and he's proved he's a winner. So while Griese is a decent QB, probably in the middle/bottom third of the league; there's just no way we can pass up on a guy who has the ability to do for the Saints what Manning did for the Colts.

And...

Well you might not, but experts who know more about the draft than anybody else do. Scouts Inc have him going #22 to Denver (from Washington). Mel Kiper has him going #29 to Denver. So, although I respect your opinion, I just don't agree with you. Moss had an amazing Senior Bowl, and really upped his value. He won't be there past the first round.

RE: 2006 Draft
 

The Saints need a face on their franchise in a bad way. That is why they will, or at least should, draft Matt Leinart. If drafted by the Saints, Leinart will probably be the opening day starter. He will draw major attention to the Saints organization, help fill seats in the Superdome, attract national tv audiences, and has the potential to be a darn good QB. In my mind there is no way they can pass on this guy. There are few opportunities to draft greatness. The Saints now have that chance. They better not blow it by doing something silly, like sticking with Brooks...

RE: 2006 Draft
 

the reason why I'm not sold on moss is that he performed really well in the senior bowl, but i dont believe in all stars games. I heard one the espn guys say that the defense for the senior bowl was vey limited. look what moss did in live action.....2 rec for 10 yds vs LSU; 4rec for27yds vs Va. TEch.; and only 23 total yds agianst flordia st. heere the link if you don;t belive me....http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoo...ayerpage/41736

RE: 2006 Draft
 

I believe you. But you also have to look at his raw talent. The guy is unbelievably fast, quick, and good hands. And it's not the Senior Bowl game that drew the attention of so many NFL scouts and experts as it was the Senior Bowl practices. He proved he was the best at the Senior Bowl week, and he did all of that with a broken finger.

And about his poor stats in some of those games, most experts who cover college football understand that he was underutilized by the Miami offense. So even though you might "not be sold" on Moss, the experts who do this stuff for a living are. He'll go in the first or early second.

RE: 2006 Draft
 

miami also didnt really utilize him in a way that he can showcase all his skills... i was at the peach bowl... they barely threw to him...

RE: 2006 Draft
 

I have a severe case of non sequituritis here:

OK. I get that. But the response?
Huh?

SFIAH

RE: 2006 Draft
 

AB is already packin and I don't mean in his jock either.

I only have one other word to say "HAWK".

You guys get the point.

RE: 2006 Draft
 

last thing we need is another small fast reciever last time i checked we had 2 starters and 1 as back up. So who would you get rid of? Stallworth is a bargin at his salary so he is the best trade bait we got. besides he has some hype left in him. Henderson? Still a project and with the beerman aging I want to see him do more return duties. I think he would be a big mistake. Horn our TO ? Only hands we got. And our biggest mouth linked to 2 pro bowl OL leaving. I am not sure. Go for hands, size and guts.

WR - Mike Hass - Oregon St.:
http://www.draftshowcase.com/MikeHass.wmv

I am all for trading down and going after QB next year, Brady Quinn ND with 2 #1 next year we should be able to break the bank next year. I think he will be better than VY and ML as a pro

RE: 2006 Draft
 

One word...........

well two.........

Matt Leinart

Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

You hope that AB is packing. I find it interesting that no one in the Saints organization either on or off record have had anything to say.

I too beleve that AB will be gone. As I have been stating for the last year or so, his contract is now too costly ($6.5 + $7.25 mil IIRC) to continue to pay.

But what happens when Loomis and Payton sit down with AB and his agent and negotiate to restructure with the bait of giving AB a chance to compete for the starting job?

Remember that Baltimore, Chicago?, Miami?, and other QB poor franchises will have to wait until after June 1st to get their hands on AB. They may feel compelled to go in another direction.

With no takers and some bait, the Saints may just get to keep AB on the cheap.

And that my friends is your worst nightmare. :D

SFIAH

Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

Guys, we can address all these needs & still take Leinart in the first. We need a good LB. O.K., Bobby Carpeneter or abdul Hodge in the 2nd. Both great LB's. If you want a good receiver, there will be 2 really good big receivers with good hands in round 4: Brandon Marshall-Central Florida (6'4"-222 lbs.) or Marques Colston-Hofstra (6'5"-222 lbs.). Both of these finally got a chance to shine in their perspective Senior games. We can address O-line in FA. There are some great O-linemen in FA this year. Once we cut Brooks' overpaid butt, we'll free up the money.

RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

great post gandhi.

i have seen where a lot of scouts think hodge and carpenter are not that far off from hawk and greenway.

as for wr, we have a solid(not great) core right now, but we lack a true #2. what we have is horn as #1, with stallworth and hakim being slot wrs.

RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

I've been saying this same thing for weeks. Take Leinart with #2, then take a LB with the #34 pick. At this point there should be at least one of these guys still available: Thomas Howard, Abdul Hodge, maybe Bobby Carpenter, D'Qwell Jackson. Then we can use the 4,5,6,7 round picks to address the other LB spots, DT position, and maybe even OL. And we also can't forget that this team can still make an impact in FA, especially with a new coaching staff who, unlike the last regime, is actually competent.

RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

If you guys think that Leinart will be the savior of the team, I hope you're right. Cuz if you're wrong the end result will likely be the Saints leaving New Orleans and that's why I'm so glad that all of you can't make the choice for the Saints this year. I really think that Payton will believe he can develop another QB in the draft and Benson won't want to spend the money anyway, but this is just one man's opinion.

Re: RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

Cher, Leinart could come in & be a pro bowler from the start & that won't change the NFL's plans for the Saints. One player (even at QB) will not make or break this ball club. However, Leinart's face & national stature will put more people in the stands. It's more about us as fans. If we want to keep this team in Louisiana we're going to need help from the fans across the state, not just N.O. Let's face it, there's not much business in N.O. right now & probably won't be for awhile. :( :(

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

The first part i do not agree with but as you ( gandhi1007 ) say for the saints to stay here it might be best to cash in on this year hype and not waite till next year. the nfl will be pushing for the pick for the media hype alone. It will be a way of keep the saints and the attendence in the front of the media eye the entire year. Then they can justify any move they may take.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

In my opinion if the Saints put a winning team on the field next year and the state continues the subsidy to Benson it won't matter what the NFL thinks. I will say it again, the Saints are one of the most profitable teams in the NFL and Benson and the NFL know that. Benson is not stupid and if he moved the team to LA or anywhere for that matter he would not be in the top 10 in profitable franchises anymore, more like the bottom 10.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

If Benson were to move the team and still have ownership, it would only be to San Antonio. The NFL, however, would prefer a franchise in L.A., so Benson would most likely sell the team to someone over there. Then it would be their headache of trying to keep the team profitable.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

That's just a ridiculous thought Cher. One player isn't going to decide the fate of the Saints. If it has come to this point, then it's a result of 40 years of crappy teams, bad financing, and an impoverished home-state; not a rookie QBs. Besides, what if we trade out of #2, take your LB, and then he turns out to be a bust? The draft is a gamble. Taking a risk on Matt Leinart gives the best chance for this team to succeed. No way the Saints can pass up on a player like Leinart.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

I really believe we need to win now not two years from now. I don't think we have that chance. We need as many trades, free agents and draft picks that can contribute now. Likke offensive lineman and linebackers. Positions that are alot easier to step into.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: 2006 Draft
 

my dear little chermy,
you and i have gone round and round about this for awhile now. you don't think leinart will help us win now, but i do. he will add a certain level of consistancy that has been muched missed the past few years. payton is smart enough to use the run and quick short passes to make leinart as successful as possible. he will not rely on leinart to win games, but instead just manage them. much like big ben has done his first 2 years in the pros. that has seemed to work our fairly well.