Deuce's future with the Saints
 

With both Bush and Deuce having extremely large contracts, it's only a matter of time we try to trade Deuce. How much longer do you envision him in a Saints' uniform? And, what type of compensation would you want back for him?

a. Til the end of the season
b. 1 more year after this one
c. 2 more years

I personally think we starting fielding draft picks for him this upcoming offseason. I think with his large contract, a second rounder would be fair compensation.

Tough to say without knowing if he's fully recovered and durable.


8)

Neither Edge JAmes or Shaun Alexander drew 2nd rounders, but neither had more than a franchise tender as a contract though. After this year, Deuce will be at the start of the third year of his contract. Maybe that will make it palatable for some teams to go after him with a second. But for me, I hope we don't trade him for at least 2-3 years, and allow Reggie to grow into being an every down back, if that's the plan. I think a healthy Deuce this year can still go over 1300 yards and 8 TDs with Reggie here, and you don't just trade that off. I really just don't wanna see Deuce go, although it's probably inevitable. BUT, with the way the salary cap increased, and how far under we are, and the fact we didn't sign any big name FAs to huge deals outside of Brees, we might be able to keep him. Might.

2 years...we need to trade while he has value...big back (like Eddie George) are great but not for long. I love Duce and the Saints will need him for a few years, but as they put the pieces together, they will need to address the d and o-line. He is still our guy this year!

I think that's the ideal situation sw... but, that's a lot of money invested in two players at the same position. By trading him sooner than later, especially if he can have a good season, it would leave us more money to manuever in the market. It's been quite a while since we signed ourselves a big time impact defensive player.

And Tally, that's not one of the options!

I think that there is plenty of room, both in the offense and in the salary cap to accommodate both Bush and Deuce. Bush may wind up playing more of a role in the passing game than in the running game and the salary cap is expected to go up another $6-8 million next year. Plenty of room. I just wish we didn't pull the trigger on Bennett so fast...

until he retires

That's what I am saying. We are not in a position where we are FORCED to trade Deuce at any point. Unless we pick top 3 again. We are well under the cap, and freed up more by cutting or trading several players this year. Not more for this year, cause we don't need it, but more for the future. We can keep both, and STILL have money for big name FAs should the team choose to spend it. And with Deuce basically being a jack of all trades on offense and special teams, his value goes way beyond just running.

I was watching ESPN, and they said that the salary cap is expected to reach $150 million in five years. That is why teams have made signing first round picks to six year deals such a high priority.

With that in mind, keep him.

If the Saints feel that they will trade Deuce than do it in the next two years so we can get something good in return,
I just would hate to see us trade him though..

Interesting wheelman... that's definately something that I wasn't aware of.

Ratings Daily Lines News Wire Photo Wire Message Board NFL in español Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 7:57 PM ET
McAllister pushes through pain to speed recoveryAssociated Press


JACKSON, Miss. -- Deuce McAllister was never one to avoid playing through pain.


"That's just somebody's opinion. ... Nobody's been there with me. Nobody's been in the training room and with the strength coaches when we had to put in that time or that work. You listen to it, and that's your motivation. ... My goal is to make the Pro Bowl and put this team in the playoffs. And if it's going to take 1,300, 1,400 or 1,500 yards, that's what I'm going to do."
Deuce McAllister on the doubters who say it takes two seasons to fully regain form after a torn ACL
Reconstructive knee surgery has done little to change that.

"Everybody's going to be sore. If you can go out there and practice, you should practice," McAllister said Wednesday after his seventh straight practice in 3½ days. "There's a difference between playing with pain and being injured."

When training camp opened last Friday, McAllister suggested that he may practice only once per day, even as the New Orleans Saints launched into double sessions.

Yet on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday -- as temperatures rose into the mid-90s and humidity left even the casual spectator a soaking mess -- the star running back appeared in two strength-sapping practices each day.

McAllister suggests that he is ahead of schedule -- not that recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament is ever easy.

After the operation last October, atrophy stole the muscle tone from McAllister's tree-trunk thighs and left his right leg looking like "a banana," in the running back's words. After months of strenuous rehabilitation, his 27-year-old legs once again resemble those of a power running back, but he continues to experience swelling and soreness in his right knee on a daily basis.

A black sleeve on the recovering knee and a periodic, subtle limp between drills are other lingering signs of the injury.

When his number is called, however, he makes sharp cuts and blasts into the line. On pass plays he holds firm while blocking against blitzing defenders. And he dismisses the doubters who say it takes two seasons to fully regain form after such an injury.

"That's just somebody's opinion. ... Nobody's been there with me. Nobody's been in the training room and with the strength coaches when we had to put in that time or that work," McAllister said. "You listen to it, and that's your motivation. ... My goal is to make the Pro Bowl and put this team in the playoffs. And if it's going to take 1,300, 1,400 or 1,500 yards, that's what I'm going to do."

There are only a few players in the NFL who inspire genuine awe among their teammates. McAllister developed into one of them from the 2002 through 2004 seasons, maintaining a productive, bruising running game even while hindered by a series of high ankle sprains.


The former Ole Miss standout became the Saints' all-time leading rusher, with 4,529 yards, before his knee injury in Week 5 last season, his fifth year in the NFL. His exit from the 2005 lineup coincided with the first loss in a seven-game skid that left the Saints at 2-9 and well out of playoff contention.

"With the knee injury he had, him rehabbing in the offseason has been spectacular. He's basically showed everybody he wants to be a starter," receiver Joe Horn said. "Him being lackadaisical wouldn't even be a subject" of discussion.

With the arrival of versatile running back Reggie Bush, McAllister is expected to get fewer carries. The last time McAllister shared the running back role with another standout -- Ricky Williams -- it lasted one season before the Saints decided to trade Williams to Miami and keep the younger McAllister.

McAllister suggested that he and Bush will fit better.

"We really complement each other as far as our playing styles and how we approach the game, McAllister said. "Me and Ricky had similar running styles so it just never really blossomed or never really worked while we were together. One thing about Reggie is he can line up in the slot or at receiver or obviously at tailback. He's definitely going to help us."

In the meantime, McAllister looks to maintain a leadership role that demands he set an example for toughness and hard work.

"The biggest thing is, when you can go out there and work, a lot of the guys see Deuce is coming off an injury and he's fighting through it," McAllister said. "You don't want anyone to fall into that trap of, 'My ankle is a little sore. My muscle is a little tight.' You've got to stretch it out and fight through it -- try to give everything you have to make your team successful. At the end of the day that's what it's going to be about. Were you productive? Were you counted on whether you were injured or not?"



On that note comming from Deuce, I mean how could u trade a guy like that. I think it is to early to start speculating on if it is time to trade him, he is still a dominant back and to me it will be just like in kansas city in that having two backs with two diffarent styles will be hard for dfences to stop us in the runnig game.

so back to the question at hand do u try and trade deuce for a 2nd. Hell No!!!!

Let the man retire as a Saint!!!!

8) WORD 8)

Amen

He's right that they can co-exist just fine. Bush won't have to power run or do short yardage, and Deuce can save himself some carries and reduce the cutting down to the 1 cut type running in Denver. Ricky was contemplating retirement and was trying out for the Astros when we drafted Deuce so comparing the scenario to Deuce and Bush doesn't stick. Plus, Deuce said they ran the same. Atlanta is very successful with Dunn and Duckett and they co-exist just fine.

When you have a guy like Deuce on your team, being he's never gotten into on or off the field trouble, you keep him. He's a total team guy from what i can see. Also he's got many years left in him barring injury of course, but that can be said about anyone. Just think about Stephen Davis for a minute. He hed a lot of years with the Redskins, then when they thought he was about done, he put out 3 good years with the Panthers, (maybe just 2, time is flyin by).
I don't think that in todays game you can afford to have just average runners in the game. Having two great backs on the team suits me just fine.
Also if we end up in the playoffs consistently and go to the superbowl, all the payroll will have been worth it.

Though Dunn and Duckett co-exist in Atlanta, the difference in pay is huge which is why they can keep both. Deuce and Grant are my favorite players on the team so I'd definately love to watch both retire a Saint. But, is it best for the team in the long run? Can anyone name another team in the league that carries two backs with such a high cap charge?

Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson maybe, but Jones isn't exactly making Bush/Deuce type money. It's probably a luxury we can afford, but it's a luxury. What if Stinch and Brown falter at the tackles? Tackles are expensive. What if Fred Thomas or Mike slow down a couple of steps? Corners are expensive. What do we do at linebacker... a lot of people here have complained about us not making a big acquistion. They're also expensive. Something to think about.

Expensive is relative to how much cap room you have. We have the cap room, and have created space to gain more. Plus, Loomis is a cap genius. PLUS, as I said in the beginning, and ha sbeen expanded upon, the cap room will only keep growing. That's why no one was worried about June 1st cuts of veteran players, and why the Redskins didn't have to cut like 25 guys. The cap room is there, luxury or not. It's best we take advantage of it. Deuce is a Saint, and it should always be that way. Also, Reggie's contract is 6 years. Deuce has what, 5 left on his? That takes him to 31. At 30, he will prob get another deal, not quite as expensive as the last one. We'll be fine if we keep him. Pitt had Bettis and Parker, and Deuce and Bush are better than both of those guys respectively. Keep the man.

would love to see the two ride off into sunset together but age difference keeps that from happening. I will hold out for 2 years baring injury. who would replace duce? till that question is answered he stays. each year the contract will be easier to take as long as the the cap keeps spiraling up and out of this world. we need to address to many positions on the team to take a step backwards at the RB position before those 2 years. Bush dropping into or laps put the RB into solid shape. alot is riding on duces knee. if he can stay solid, three years form now we could have one of the best foundations in the NFL. this year the WR,S,QB,TE and RB have all been a great upgrade so far this year. lets see what positions get glutted next year.

Good points given by all. Debate and discourse is always a good thing.
However, I will just sit back for now and enjoy the possibilities ahead for our team.
0-16? 16-0? More likely somewhere between the two.
The future is just that. The Future.
I am enjoying the present like never before. The possibilities are before us like no time in recent memory.
Who knows what will transpire?
Not I for sure.
Will Deuce stay?
Shoud he?
Can we sustain two backs with those salaries?
Don't ask me.
That is what Mickey is paid to answer. :wink:
But, Boy am I excited to see.
Who Dat Say They Gonna Beat Dem Saints?
I can't wait to find out.
What a ride it will be!

I agree with whodi's original statement, there is no reason right now, or IMO, the foreseeable future for us to HAVE to do anything with Deuce. He's a high character guy who when healthy is damn good. I think especially with the rising of the salary cap, it will allow us to keep both Deuce and Reggie. I mean if you really think about it, it's not hard to imagine how good we can make it having both of those guys in the same backfield. There are so many different things we can do, so many mismatches that we can exploit with Reggie splitting out or going in motion and Deuce pounding it inside or even busting it to the corner. I think for now we need to keep him because he's such an asset still. I hope he's a Saint until the day he quits football.

I say they'll keep the both of them as long as they can!

as long as both guys are happy about sharing the backfield, I say leave it alone.

Well it has been said a million times..having Reggie Bush on the team helps Deuce. it helps him prolong his career by not having to be the workhorse. Yes, he will still get the bulk of the carries, but Bush takes a lot of heat off of him. Whats funny to me, is that when Deuce came in, he was lightning, and ricky williams was thunder...now deuce has evolved to thunder. People tend to forget that Deuce has top end speed for a RB. I dont see why getting rid of him is necessary. I think we should keep the two of them and keep the defenses guessing. Getting rid of Deuce just means the saints would have to go out and get another quality back to play his role.