blacksaint

While there are always some things to be done, the Saints' front office will have an unusually quiet month before the start of training camp.

That's because the Saints, led by general manager Mickey Loomis and senior football administrator Russ Ball, signed all but one of their seven draft picks before the end of June.

When the team starts the countdown to the reporting day for training camp, which is July 25, first-round draft pick Robert Meachem will probably be the only unsigned player after the team signed their other six selections in a busy three-week stretch in June.

As of June 24, it was reported that about 50 draft picks had been signed around the league and the Saints accounted for nearly one-eighth of that total. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that the Saints had signed more draft picks than any other team and were the only team that had just one player to remain unsigned.

At that time, no first- or second-round picks had been signed and the highest-drafted player that was under contract was cornerback Usama Young, who went in the third round to the Saints as the 66th overall pick.

"I don't think we set out saying, 'Hey, let's get this done before July 1' or anything like that," said Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis, who was still pleased to have most of the hay in the barn already.

"To be honest, I'm not sure I could put my finger on it. (Russ) has worked hard on a number of the deals, and we've had some agents who were very receptive to getting something done."

In addition to Young, the other Saints' draft picks to sign were guard Andy Alleman, who was also chosen in the third round; their two fourth-round selections, running back Antonio Pittman and tackle Jermon Bushrod; cornerback David Jones, who was taken in the fifth round; and linebacker Marvin Mitchell, their seventh-round pick.

Pittman was the last of those six draft picks to sign his contract, getting his deal done on June 21.

Last year, the Saints did not agree to terms with any draft picks until July 17. But only one rookie was late for training camp as first-round pick Reggie Bush agreed to a deal after missing three days of practices.

--After turning a lot of heads with their magical season in 2006, the Saints are clearly turning their attention to 2007 -- and making sure they limit the distractions from the first whistle of training camp.

While most teams are scrambling trying to sign their draft picks as training camp approaches, the Saints will have a lot less to worry about when they open the doors to their camp at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss.


" Finally, the Saints are dong all the right things to move back into the realm respectability."

saint4life
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FireVenturi

im thinkin Meachem will be in by the start of camp, or short after that.

avlsaint55

I think that meachem will be signed and in camp on time. From what I've read from his agent, front office and meachem this deal will be done before camp starts. Meachem really wants to prove himself after getting off to such a poor start and he can only do that by being in camp on time with the rest of the team.