QBREES9

New Orleans

Potential UFAs: WR Terrance Copper, C Jeff Faine*, S Steve Gleason, OG Jonathan Goodwin, WR Devery Henderson, TE Eric Johnson, QB Jamie Martin, TE Billy Miller, OG Jamar Nesbit, WR David Patten, RB Aaron Stecker, CB Fred Thomas, DE Renaldo Wynn, DT Brian Young.

Potential RFAs: SLB Alfred Fincher.

Analysis: Head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis like the chemistry of their team and will make it a priority to re-sign many of the Saints with expiring contracts. Although few key contributors are up for new deals this offseason, two veterans will be under consideration for long-term extensions. Jeff Faine has a voidable contract after this year and is still operating on his original contract, which he signed in 2003 after getting drafted by the Browns. New Orleans may decide to invest a large portion of its resources in re-signing him to a long-term deal. Saints DE Charles Grant signed a seven-year extension with the team last year, and it may be time to give a similar deal to DE Will Smith, a 2006 All-Pro who is a more valuable member of the D-line than Grant. The team will look to fill holes in its porous secondary and will spend heavily to add a marquee free-agent cornerback. Defensive tackle, tight end and kicker will also be high on the list of needs for New Orleans.

JOESAM2002

There are several of these guys I'd like to see us keep. I won't go into it tonight because it's late and I have company coming in tomorrow for thw weekend. But Monday or Tuesday I will address this issue. I know you will be hanging on a small rope waiting but you'll make it.

TheDeuce

Keep:

WR Terrance Copper, C Jeff Faine*, S Steve Gleason, OG Jonathan Goodwin, TE Eric Johnson. Maybe OG Jamar Nesbit.

Release:

As many as you can. Devery has to go. We can't keep a guy around who cotninues to play like a rookie when he's 4 years into his career.

I like BY, but I think that maybe if we let him go, it will force this FO to make a concerted effort to sign a good DT, not just some guy they found on the free agent market that nobody else wanted.

hagan714

Face facts we have a ton vets that are in the twilight of there careers. Youth is needed on the defense and the young players on offense need to play. We are in the dark as to what will happen in the off season without the rotation picking up. This is developing into a thing I am really negative on with Sean. Look at NE and Indi. they get the young guys out there and play them. So the bench improves. Then when FA hits you have an idea of what players can do and not what they maybe able to do. You have to take risks. Till then it nothing but a guessing game. Besides we still have to see if the saints blew this year draft or not. Hard to say when the players are not playing. So are we to believe we got one good player in the draft and one as an UDFA? If so the grade is a solid D. Live and lets hope Sean has learned. Something, anything from this.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins