Surprise pick in second round looks like safe bet to stick
Monday, May 15, 2006
By Mike Triplett
Staff writer
To many observers, the Saints' decision to draft safety Roman Harper in the second round seems a head-scratcher. With a significant rebuilding project in process, the Saints seemed to have glaring needs at so many other positions.



But first-year coach Sean Payton wasn't looking at specific positions. The reason, he said, is because he isn't looking for a quick fix. He wants to build a nucleus from the ground up, and that meant picking the players he liked best.

"When we selected Harper in the second round, people thought, 'You were set at safety.' Well, we were set at running back when we drafted (Reggie Bush) in the first round," Payton said.

The Saints have seven safeties on their roster, including three they have acquired during the offseason and three who started games for the team last season.

But, Payton said, "We're not married to any of these guys."

"Really, the competition is open," Payton said. "We were 3-13 a year ago, so it's hard to be set on anything. I'm not saying that in a smart way. It really is the truth. We haven't had pads on them yet, and we haven't seen them in the preseason. I want to go by what we see, and then you guys will see it the same way we see it."

So far, the Saints like what they have seen from Harper, a 6-foot, 198-pounder who started his final 38 games at Alabama.

Payton said Harper came into the weekend rookie minicamp in better shape than most of his teammates. Secondary coach Tom Hayes said he has seen the same things this weekend that he saw on Harper's college tapes.

"He's instinctive. He's mentally tough. He's a guy that flies around the field and has a good range," Hayes said. "And of course, when the pads go on, I think his stock goes up even farther, because he likes getting in the mix. Contact is his game."

Harper was well respected on and off the field at Alabama, where he was a favorite of coaches, teammates, fans and the media.

He has heard a few questions about the abundance of safeties on the roster, but he said he hasn't worried much about that yet.

"I guess I tricked them well enough to get me here," Harper said. "I didn't even know how many safeties they had on the roster. I just know that I got a phone call and I was excited.

"Hopefully I can get in here and bring some value to the team. I want to bring a little excitement to the locker room. I'm a fun, easygoing guy. I'm just looking forward to getting to know some of the older guys. I know they're going to be on me pretty hard, but I'm ready for it. I'm just looking forward to getting started. It will be fun."

On the field, Harper said he takes pride in handling his responsibilities and being in the right place at the right time.

"That's where you make most of your plays," he said. "Coach is going to put you in the right place. You just need to be there when it happens."


CORNERING THE MARKET: Some of those draft-day head scratchers might have suggested that the Saints draft a cornerback in the second round to improve their depth at a thinner position.

But the Saints might wind up filling that void yet.

The team drafted Pittsburgh cornerback Josh Lay in the sixth round, then signed Penn State's Anwar Phillips, Michigan's Grant Mason and Purdue's Ray Williams as undrafted free agents.

Phillips, in particular, was an accomplished member of the Nittany Lions' highly touted defense last season, and some national publications rated him as a first-day draft prospect.

"It was initially frustrating while the draft was going on. But the main goal is to make the team," said Phillips, 5-11, 190 pounds. "I just take it as maybe I just didn't show them something they wanted to see. And me being the competitor, I want to show them that. And I also want to establish myself and be notable in the NFL. So getting drafted or not, what it's all going to come down to is, 'Am I doing my job to the best of my ability?' "


WHY JACKSON? The Saints have not officially decided whether to hold training camp at their practice facility in Metairie or at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., but they seem to be leaning toward the trip.

Payton, who traveled for training camp as an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, said it adds a team-building value.

"Whenever you go away, there's always some sacrifices that everyone makes," Payton said. "The idea that you're going to leave families and go somewhere for a certain number of weeks to work on one thing, it's somewhat fundamental, I guess. I think it's beneficial from the standpoint that it develops closeness, a little bit of team. And the sacrifices that we ask them to make, we're all making.

"So the idea of just getting your dorm key, putting it on your shoelace or around your neck and going away for whatever how many weeks is somewhat appealing."

Payton said there is also a value in using the top-notch facilities in Metairie. But he said if the team left, it would be gone from those facilities for only three or four weeks.


BREES' PITCH: Saints quarterback Drew Brees will throw out the first pitch Tuesday night at Zephyr Field before the Wally Pontiff Jr. Baseball Classic between LSU and Rice.