Tobias-Reiper

Don't forget that Reggie Bush being here also helped ease the oust of Donte. Reggie caught 5 balls on 3rd down and turned them into 1st downs.

Bobaganoosh

Here is the thing that you are missing...Donte did not want to play here next year...everyone knows this is his contract year, and had we kept him, he walks away next year and we get nothing in return. Would you rather that? Are you one of the people who is upset we didnt trade Darren Howard last year when we had the chance and then watched him walk away without getting any compensation? The fact is, the got something for him, they thought they would be fine without him...and i agree with the move.

saintswhodi

Are you talking to me, or the guy that started this thread?

saintswhodi

Reggie in the receiving game is big for us. I love seeing him in the slot, or split wide. I just imagine him taking one of those to the house every time he gets it.

yasoon

I have no problems with Donte. I don't really have any problems with the Eagles...as NFC East teams go, they're my favorite.

I think Donte is just irresponsible and probably did not do the things Payton wanted to see in camp. So....Payton found him expendable. I don't see any big deal with that.

I believe saintfan said it. He and Devery are the same guy. SEC guys, blazing speed and huge playmaker ability with an occasional drop that always seems to happen on third down. The drop by Devery on Sunday was vintage Donte....so was the touchdown. No need for 2 of those guys so you keep the younger cheaper guy and grab a vetaran and a pick.

I would not call it a great deal for the Saints, but I don't see it as a monumental screwup either. Call it a wash. Donte gets a fresh start and his clone steps up the depth chart.

I also don't see receiver as any sort of a problem for us right now. Colston is the type of guy we would have never seen during the Haz era. We now have a reliable Vet in Horn, an up and coming burner in DH, and a large, hard working rookie in Colston. Throw in Bush and I'm good. I like the diversity and I like the mix.

Good luck to Donte till he faces the Saints. I like seeing Colston and Henderson on the field. Just another clean slate that we may have needed.

And LK is dead on with the way this team is playing win or lose. They looked like the old stinkers in Q1, but the D and the composure on Sunday was fantastic. I have faith in Payton based on the intelligence of his comments and the squad he runs out there on Sunday. If Donte wasn't part of his vision for this team, I stand with that for at least a couple of years. I like what I see.

RDOX

Shelldog? Are you sure that your name ain't Billy or GumboBC? You sound really familiar with all the Fumbles loving and the Donte' worship. Stallworth has "potential" He was ruined by Hazlett and Mike Riley as well as the dipsnit that we just beat in Green Bay. Mike (Carl Smith Clone) McCarthy. EWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Sarsippius

I'm sorry...i can't hear you over the 2-0!

Donte would not have been here next year. Donte put up good numbers last year, but they were not #1 numbers - granted brooks was throwing to him. Payton was not enamored with donte whatsoever and we would never have made him an adequate offer to keep him here after this season and so they shopped him around and got a serviceable linebacker which has performed very well for us as well as a 3rd round pick next year. We have 3 - possibly 4 - starting rookies from our 7 picks last year and so far I believe we got 9 picks for the upcoming year. I wont question payton anymore until the things he does stops working out so well for us.

Huge game coming up....could be our coming out party. There has never been a homefield advantage of this sort in the history of the NFL i would say, and with all eyes upon us (this will be the most highly rated cable program ever) we will become the feel-good story and media darlings of the world - even the middle east thanks to Al-Jazeera. Dallas will have to hand over its title as America's team.

I wish Donte all the luck in the world and love to see him doing wwell except when they play us. I think it was a win-win situation for all involved, but it would have been nice to get more for him than a 3rd...but had he played for us the way hes played so far this year we would have gotten more....we got more than fair deal for what he was worth at the time. You draft on talent, but you trade on stats.

-Sars

<center>http://www.blackandgold.net/site/sig...sunshiners.jpg</center>

papz

I can actually agree with some of the things sheldogg said (or at least see where he's coming from), but someone earlier pretty much covered it... Donte wasn't going to be back with us next season. And it's about damn time we didn't let a player walk away and not get any type of compensation. Love Donte and I hope he explodes in Philly... just not against us.

FireVenturi

I was always one of Donte's biggest supporters, and even though he had a good year last year, I guess the admin. was concerned with his willingness to play hurt.

sheldogg

Thanks for all your candor fellas...

Just two quick points. First, the dropped passes were largely because (and I'm not just kidding here) Donte was shocked that Aaron hit him in the hands OR it was a 90 mph zinger on a 6 yard slant route or a little fade. Brooks did make Stallworth look bad.

And second, I am thrilled that we've beaten two teams we should have beaten and did it loking good and coming from behind in the Green Bay game. But I'm not sold on Payyton's decision making and whatever influence he has over Mickey this offseason. Why do we have no TEs? And why does everyone have to fall in step to the Jarhead theme right away or be shipped off for nothing? Sure Donte was likely gone next year...but it would be great to have him now.

Devery does NOT = Donte. Sorry. His routes look wild and he dropped a higher percentage of balls. I know Donte has a couple years on him, but BS. And the 3rd round pick you all think is in the bag? Why? Half of you think Donte's inconsistent and won't perform well enough to earn us that high a pick.