Center blurb
 

It might be worth looking into. Cleveland can't expect too much for him. I'd be surprised if Romeo played Bentley at guard. Faine would take some pressure off our draft.

i like the guy. a first round draft pick. only knock has been injuries- missed 11 games in 3 years. started 14 games last season and went out with a torn biceps that was expected to heal fully.

the cleveland plain dealer also said:
If Cleveland can get a fourth-round pick for safety Chris Crocker, they may be able to pull off another late-round selection for Faine, a decent starter.

he certainly is worth a 4th or later in a heartbeat. i'd love to see him come here for a moderate cost, make all pro, and make cleveland wonder what they were doing making bentley the highest paid center in history (tho i liked the dude).

Re: Center blurb
 

I addressed this on another forum, but i'll do it here as well. Would anyone else see the irony here if we traded for Faine? Cleveland not only would have gotten our best O-lineman for nothing, but then they would be TAKING something from us for us to get his replacement? I just don't know if I could live with that. If it was a back-up player or a low round pick for Faine, i'd do it. But no high picks, they already got Bentley without giving us anything. We could have traded them Bentley for Faine AND a pick. It would kill me if we gave up anything good for this guy.

let the pride go whodi. whatever it takes to win. LOL

Sorry man, but I chat with Cleveland fans, and I want to be able to still say this regime is changing the history of the Saints. I'd sit back and see what offers there were for Faine before I did anything, hell they may just release him. But I could not bear to trade anything decent for him. What this team needs IS some pride, and to stop making foolish decisions. I don't think letting your best player ride for nothing then trading something decent for his back-up is "whatever it takes to win" territory for me. But if he goes to a pro bowl, I could stomach it. :wink:

how bout this- can you envision getting a player in the 5th that would be better? he probably rates higher than any FA's left.

the bentley decision was a separate issue. i agree they could have gotten something, a 3rd rder at least if he was franchised. still there is some risk being stuck with a center at top 5 ogden-like pay.

Hey Kelly... why do we need a center that can't stay healthy? Faine is not the answer. We might as well line up Chase Lyman. Why do you think they wanted Bentley?

:crowd:

Moves like this Kell, are why other teams' fans laugh at us. Like I said, if he's cut, fine. But anything higher than a late second day pick or a role player would be an image blow IMO.

Well, one thing we got was not to pay that big ass contract.... :)

Little consolation, but point taken.

I agree with Whodi on this, we can't let Bentley walk to the Browns, and then trade for their new backup OC. Especially when we can just sign somebody instead of trying to trade for them.

So what is next? We can't take Drew Brees if the Chargers pick up AB and he starts? I don't have a problem with getting a starter for a 6 rounder... But we all can look at big picture from different angles..... just opinions :)

Oh and don't get the impression that I really care about this Faine guy because I have never heard of him .... but one thing that is certain is that Bentley is a Brown and we have to move on.

Yup, we can sign for somebody else. But who's left that is better? No one IMO. 14 games started last season is a pretty fair track record for healthiness- especially when compared to some of our walking wounded. Yes, some guys do establish a long running injury hex. This guy is only in his third season though. If you don't like that aspect of him you sure better not be a fan of Anthony Simmons. I could care less WHO signed Bentley, we weren't even at the table to offer anything. If he chose another team over a close offer from NO then it would be an issue. Should we not try to sign McKinney cuz the Fins picked up Hodge? X off Mike McMahon or Jon Runyan cuz the Eagles signed Howard also. If the FO made a mistake in not retaining Bentley is the next good decision to not take the best center available (at a reasonable price)? Oh, we did sign a guy that was HIS backup Dwayne Ledford. Is that one okay or a better move?

Well put whodi. I totally agree.

You're comparing apples and oranges. If we let Howard go to the Eagles for nothing, then traded for the guy he replaced, THAT would be a similar situation. No other situation is like that, so there is no comparison to make. Hodge IS NOT a franchise player. But that just might be my opinion. Simple facts: We could have put a non-exclusive tag on Bentley, and gotten Faine AND a pick from Cleveland. Here it stands they would get our best player without giving us anything AND we would give them something to take Faine?? To me, that would be like someone kicking me in the nuts with slippers on, and me BUYING them steel toed shoes to do it again. This would be a double nut shot from Cleveland. I can't have that.

No biggie just a little different take i spose. To me there is pride and there is foolish pride. Letting Bentley slip away for nothing was a mistake. It was our mistake, nothing Cleveland did to us. To think we are standing for something or getting them back somehow by not taking the best available center at a discount price (4th or lower IMO) is another mistake. Letting LeCharles slipping away was more like whacking your own self in the nuts. Not taking the best replacement deal on the board is like saying that did hurt, I'm starting to see clearer again now, let me whack away one more time.

Strongly disagree there. Who says Faine is the best available? He played for Cleveland right? They suck. No running game, QBs sacked more than kastle burgers. IMO, the best available is Nick Mangold in the draft. We get him, we get a stud center for a long time, and don't look like dumb asses in doing it. There is no way I would be on board with trading for Faine, NONE. Agree to disagree here. I am tired of being the laughing boy for other teams' fans.

Hey Whodi, don't be talkin bout my White Kastle now, dem some good burgers.

HAHA and people thought we were gonna just move on and easily replace Bentley. Now come to find out we might be trying to get the guy he replaced. It would be typical poetic justice for the Saints. I say draft a C and pass on Faine, if for no other reason, to save face.

Amen there brotha. Amen. I don't know how there is the impression he is the bast available anyway. Kells, can you tell me where you got that idea?

Wassup whodi.....the artist formerly known as GoldenTomb here. I was vehemently opposed to letting Bentley walk, and if this joker isn't even good enough to start for the Browns....WE'RE supposed to take him just because he may possibly be the best available?????? Lets go with the rookie.

He has been the starter for the Browns for three years. Best available only IMO. Who ya have out there that is better? Maybe Jeff Mitchell. Faine was a first round pick. To dismiss him cuz the Browns suck is like dismissing the Howard or Bentley signing as stupid cuz we sucked even more.

Don't get me wrong, I like Mangold a bunch. It is a very dangerous proposition to bet on getting Mangold. He is the only (maybe Eslinger) true starting C to be had in the draft. If you miss him, how would it stand to have Mayberry and Ledford (Faine's backup) only with all the FA centers signed and gone?

Actually, Bentley is regarded by all experts as one of the best centers in the league, recognized by the fact he went to the pro bowl. Faine doesn't and hasn't, so no again, it's not the same. Like I said, agree to disagree here. I want no part of Faine, in a trade. If he is released, new ball game.

He's been the starter for a horrendous Browns offense for the past 3 years. Obviously they were itching at a chance to replace him with a top notch talent. When they saw us letting a top notch talent go, they jumped all over the opportunity. I'm sorry....if this guy is the best out there we'd be better off with a rookie.

No, i meant who do you have out there as an available FA center that is better. That is all my take is, get the best players ya can at good prices. Faine at 4th or lower is a buy IMO. We need somebody else and not just bet on getting one guy in the draft. We have no additional picks at this point and Mangold could easily be gone by #34. Again, I'm not touting him as an All-Pro but do suggest a better option. Miss Mangold and you are in the 4th Rd as stands now.

Well. for me and my ego, a trade for Faine is a no go. I just couldn't stomach it. Might noy make business sense, but it's how I feel. Again, if he is released, new ballgame. Like GT said, they were eager to replace him with a better option. How much worse could the next guy really be? I mean, saying a guy started for Cleveland is like bragging on a guy the 49ers and saying you gotta have him just cause he started.

Kinda amazing, the guys we are talking to and about-

Rimington Trophy (best college C)
2001- Bentley winner, Seth McKinney first runner up, Melvin Fowler finalist
2002- Faine, first runner up

<bye, bye, fowler to Buffalo>

okay, nuff said. It's okay to yield to ego. I can accept saying no on those grounds. If ya really own a team you can sign T.O. LOL it's all good brutha

Final info blurb for those who have no clue about him-

Rookie Profile:
Positives: Has an even proportioned frame with adequate upper- and lower-body muscle definition … Frame has room to add more bulk and muscle with no dropoff in quickness … Has adequate quickness off the snap to gain advantage and above-average lateral agility to make the reach block … Engages with force and uses his leg strength and balance to gain movement … Shows good hand placement and agility to drive and sustain contact … Will position and wall off with quickness and consistently sticks and finishes … Has good body control on the move and can reach the second level with ease … Sets quickly with good awareness and engages with leverage in pass protection … Uses his hands well to control and sustain … Shows the agility to slide and adjust on the move.
Negatives: While he shows good hand usage, he is not really that forceful upon contact … Little bit of a waist bender … Needs to improve his upper-body strength and extend his arms better to prevent the swim moves … Can be pushed back into the quarterback as he does not always keep his feet flat … Has good lateral agility, but that quickness is not always evident when attempting to adjust to linebackers when working in space … Does not have the ideal power needed to turn up, seal and find the defender at the edge after his initial block.

CAREER NOTES
Three-year starter who has led the team's down linemen in minutes played during the last two seasons … A solid drive blocker with good quickness off the snap, he shows superb hand usage when attempting to sustain blocks in pass protection.
All-America first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, ESPN.com and The Sporting News … Consensus all-independent first-team pick … Finalist for the Rimington Award (nation's top center) and semi-finalist for the Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman) … Recipient of the team's Nick Pietrosante Award (player who best exemplifies courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and pride) … Started every game, registering 102 key blocks/knockdowns while grading 84 percent for blocking consistency … Did not allow a sack as the Irish averaged 315.8 yards per game.

what about the real reason bentley was let go?
imo, it was benson...................smitty