tweeky

Its a done deal
SAINTS SEND SEVENTH-ROUND PICK TO MIAMI FOR LB DERRICK RODGERS
For Immediate Release
May 27, 2003


Continuing the effort to add speed and experience to an improved defense, the New Orleans Saints have traded their seventh-round pick in 2004 to the Miami Dolphins for LB Derrick Rodgers, it was announced today by the club.


“Rodgers is the kind of player we have targeted for the defense since last season ended,� said Coach Jim Haslett. “He can fly to the ball and close gaps. Derrick is also a proven veteran, having played in over 90 games and seven postseason contests. We have gotten deeper, more experienced and faster with this trade, and we’re excited to have him.�


Rodgers, 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, started 89 of 93 games at weakside linebacker for the Dolphins after being drafted in the third-round in 1997 (92nd overall). In his career, he has posted 378 tackles (248 solo), nine sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. Rodgers twice won the Dolphins’ Leadership Award (2000-01), as voted on by his teammates, and was named Sports Illustrated’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1997. In 2002, he started 15 of 16 games and recorded 74 tackles and two interceptions.


Rodgers attended St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, but he did not play football, instead playing the trumpet as a member of the school’s nationally-renowned marching band. He graduated from high school in 1989 and then served four years as a medical technician in the U.S. Air Force – where he was stationed for more than two years in Okinawa, Japan – before enrolling at Riverside (Calif.) Community College in 1994. Rodgers played for Riverside for two seasons before attending Arizona State in 1996, where he was named first-team All-Pac-10 after posting 12 sacks. He left school following his junior season.

lumm0x

I don\'t have a problem with adding a veteran OLB to our current fleet of LBers. This guy was going to be a June 1st cut. Why give up a pick for him? If there were rumors flying around that a few teams were speaking to his agent about contracts if and when he is available then I could see trying to secure his rights. Decent move though as a back up plan if Allen or Hodge fail to impress.

tweeky

Thats exactly what happened. The packers wanted him too. The Saints gave up a draft pick that probably wouldn\'t have made team anyway for the rights for a LB with starter quality. This was a very cheap way to add SOLID depth to a position with some unproven youth. I\'m guessing they didn\'t want to get into a bidding war with anybody.

Yea, this guy ain\'t the 2nd coming of Pat Swilling, but he gives us \"Experience & Depth\" at a position that needed both.

As a starter, he\'s about average,
As a back-up, he\'s WAY above average.

Whether we agree or disagree; its all for Him.

ejc0921

Giving up a seventh round pick next year (since a 7th rounder has little chance of making the team) for a veteran OLB with some speed is a great move since we have very little experience at the LB position.

BillyCarpenter1

I don\'t know much about the guy but for a 7th round pick, who cares.

lumm0x

I\'m assuming he\'s in the last year of a contract. Anyone know what his current salary is?

I hadn\'t heard the Packers were interested in him, so I agree in the decision to give up a late pick for him. I\'m just wondering what his impact is to our financial position and what he may be looking at next year.

SuperbowlSaints

Well, we\'ve got him now, so I hope he improves the team.

billybignuts

His current salary is over 2 million with incentives, but he has agreed to restructure his contract. I think this is a good addition to the team, and definitely a step forward in helping the defense.

Saintuary

I think we stole the cheese on this guys and dolls. This is what I liked the most. Wannstedt said \"this is where Derrick wanted to be all along.\" So the phins did what they could to satisfy him, so it appears sombody up top respected the player.

On a Phins forum one of the posters replied, \"his salary was not so high it warranted getting rid of a starting calibre player for next to nothing.\"

2002 stats:

91 tackles
51 solo tackles
40 asst.
4 qb hurries
2 ints

Saints management the real good on this one. Plus he has high leadership skills.

Cooky591

I hope he does great. I remember he played DE at Arizona State and then converted to OLB, just like a recent Raven draftee. He had a lot interest his senior year because he had a big game against the then unstoppable Cornhuskers. I do not know how he has performed the last few years, but he will probably be a good pass-rusher. More importantly, this may allow either Hodge or Allen to go to the middle, which could be a good move.