QBREES9

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When the Saints played at Chicago in Week 17, Pierre Thomas of New Orleans made his first NFL start. Thomas was an undrafted rookie out of Illinois, but you couldn't tell by watching him. He showed nifty moves, great vision and balance, power up the middle, soft hands and the ability to break tackles. He ran for 105 yards on 20 carries and caught 12 passes for another 121 yards. Reggie Bush has never had an NFL game like that.

Fact is, I'd take Thomas over McFadden, straight up. In a heartbeat.

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MatthewT

Obviously, finding Thomas eliminates the need to draft a RB high in the draft. McFadden could possibly fall to the Saints, if he does, I would have to pass, although that would be a very tough decision...

hagan714

No way he drops thats far

MatthewT

Hagan- If you would have asked me a few weeks ago I would have said he is a lock for the top 5. With some of the recent stories concerning him, it would not surprise me to see him fall in the draft, even though it looks like he is not going to be charged with anything. Even if it's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it's not a good sign for a draft prospect like himself to be hanging in bars. (Even so called harmless piano bars... LOL)

dasaints26

How about P Thomas' 1st start and he does something that hasnt every been done by a Saints rb ever. At least 100 running and 100 receiving yards in one game. Hopefully they will find a way to get him in the game before week 17 next year I think he has alot to prove. The coaching staff must have been really impressed to keep him and release a draft pick that they moved up to get.

WhoDat205

This was one negative article about D-Mac. There are 100 positive ones for every 1 negative. McShay said that the NFL was "not ready for D-Mac" on Sunday morning.

If he falls to 10, then you gotta take him, even if it's just for trade purposes. That's not going to happen, though.

MatthewT

Here is a story that was posted on profootballtalk:

BUYER BEWARE ON McFADDEN?

So now it's official. After his father denied reports that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden will enter the NFL draft, McFadden announced on Monday that he's headed for the next level.

Though last week's non-arrest arrest of McFadden hasn't seemed to damage his standing as a top-tier draft pick, it's not the first incident of this nature involving the two-time Heisman runner-up.

In 2006, before McFadden emerged as a figure of national prominence in college football, McFadden was involved in a fight outside of another bar (or, possibly, the same one).

The situation arose on a Saturday at 4:20 a.m. Strike one. McFaddden reportedly was fighting with someone he didn't know in a parking lot, while a crowd watched. Strike two. McFadden needed surgery for a dislocated toe because McFadden "was kicking and kicking at [the other guy] and his shoe came off and his foot hit the pavement."

And . . . strike . . . three.

Sorry, Darren. Too much money gets invested in players taken at the top of round one. And the Commish no longer messes around with guys who can't conform to the basic requirements of society.

We're not saying he should be taken off of the board. But the stakes are too high for him to be taken in the top three, possibly too high for him to be selected in the top ten.

TheDeuce

Look, I know Pierre is a fan favorite around here, but look at what you just said. You just said that you'd take a guy who has a limited ceiling and a 3rd or 4th string running back when everybody is healthy over a guy who finished second in the Heisman voting this past season. Sure, McFadden has had some legal issues over the past month, but that doesn't change the fact that he's probably the best all-around player in the country. Hell, he practically invented an entirely new offense.

Pierre can be a good back, but he will never be a great back. It's not even guaranteed that he'll make the squad next season. You're basing your argument on one game. Look at the rest of the season, the guy wasn't all that spectacular.

McFadden on the other hand has a lot of things that will prevent Pierre Thomas from ever being a great back. World-class speed, he's very very strong for a running back, good vision, and he's versatile (ie he can throw and catch the ball as well). McFadden is a game-changer, he can come in and on one play take it 80 yards for a score. If you don't believe me ask LSU, because he torched them on long runs numerous times. I just can't see Pierre ever doing that, his longest run this season was 17 yards.

I'm not really sold on Pierre Thomas being the future of the running back position. In fact, if Deuce is healthy come training camp, I'd take Deuce in a heartbeat over Pierre Thomas. But more to the point, if I had the chance between Pierre and McFadden, it would be silly not to take McFadden.

bobad

I don't care if he invented the Internet. We don't need any high dollar RB's, which seldom fulfill their expectations.

We need to spend the big bucks on the big hogs up front, better LB's, and DB's. All you have to do is look at the Patriots, or any team that's a perennial winner. With NE's O-line and D-Lines, any RB can look great.

Maybe McFadden will prove to be a better RB than Pierre, but that doesn't mean he's better for the Saints.

Boogro

With the way we run the ball, we need all the help we can get. Brees' arm is ready to fall off and you are not going to win many games throwing forty times per.