The Saints do not yet have the reputation required to secure free agents such as Moss. Moss took a pay cut to go to the Pats so that he could win his elusive championship. So I think that point is moot.

The Saints passing offense was in the top three in passing yards, completion percentage, and attempts. Unfortunately they were also #2 in on target drops.

If the passing offense were 26th in the league and the defense were #3, maybe we could have a different conversation. But as it stands, very little needs to be done to the receiving corps or to the offense in general.

I'd be totally ticked off even if the receiver were all world. The defense sucks. It needs to be improved at all costs.

Absolutely. However when you defense cannot stop the explosive play (of which the Saints were #1 in the league), cannot get off the field on third down (ditto), and make insurance salesmen and rookies look like Joe Montana (I guess it's Tom Brady now), then guess what? The other team is the one that ends up with the most points.

The Saints are badly unbalanced at this point. They should only do enough work on the offense to keep it stable. I mean we already have a #1 BPA receiver from last year. The guy got a year to get healthy and to learn the system. Next year Meachum should be that solid #2 receiver. And if not, then the other guys certainly did well enough to keep it stable for another year.

But the defense is horrible. Putrid. Abysmal. An embarrassment. And their current state is what generally destabilizes the offense because the offense feels like it must score a TD each and every time they are on the field.

Of the 8 teams that played this weekend, 6 of them were in the top 10 in scoring defense with 3 in the top 5. Only the Giants are out of the top 15. And they have improved their scoring defense by 9 PPG in the playoffs.

You cannot win championships in this league without solid defense, no matter what kind of offense you have. Offensive juggernauts like the 1999 Rams and the 1989 and 1994 49ers each had top 5 scoring defenses the years that they won the championship.

So when it comes to offense this offseason, my answer is absolutely not. No to receivers, no to backs, no to TE, and no to QBs. Stellar linemen are always considered because they improve the foundation of your team.

The Saints need 6 or 7 new defensive starters. More than half of our starting defensive lineup couldn't get a sniff anywhere else in this league. Our #1 corner is going to lose virtually a complete season next year.

We need standout defensive help and we need it badly. So when you've found me 2 new corners, a stud DT to complement big Hollis, 2 new LBs to go with Fujita, a pair of safeties I can trust, and a nickel guy that can prevent the big play downfield, then and only then can you talk to me about a receiver or any other skill position on offense.

SFIAH