Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

one player will not make a difference but it is a start. At least the quick drop back passes will have more than one read. Thats gives the DL some extra time to get the pressure on the QB. It is a start. Upgrading LBs will also help. It frees up the DL from some of its run reads and allows them to pin back their ears a litttle bit more. The safty play needs to improve also. Way to many hits after 5 yards. It all goes hand in hand. Its a start.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Just a rumor but according to this blog ...
- Asante Samuel has been offered a deal with the Eagles for 5 years/$55 million.
FanBlog: Texans: 2008 Free Agent Tracking Chart (and lastest updates)

Which may be moot since I understand that he's seeking a 10 year / 10 Million type deal...

Anyway just getting my spoon in the pot.

Also they are reporting that Briggs is signing with San Fran.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

One player will not make a difference, but having someone in the secondary with actual ball skills and the ability to read and diagnose a route would be something that no Saints fan can say that we ever had. Adding him would certainly ease a lot of the pressure of HAVING to draft a Cb in round 1, and since rookie CB's dont generally make an impact, we wouldnt be helping ourselves for this year by relying on a rookie to stabilize our secondary. Adding Samuel and still drafting a CB in round 1 or 2 makes this team better for the long haul...now and later. Then we turn our attention to finding a LB and a DT and our defense will make a quantum leap in effeciency.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Good post bobaganoosh. I have said for a while that we should get a corner in free agency that can play right away. Draft a LB or DT in the first round that can have a positive impact in the first season

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I am glad you agree...that would be the best way to get maximum improvement THIS YEAR and also for the future as well. You usually have to wait a year or two for CB's to get comfortable. Especially given the fact that this year all of us are in love with CB's from small schools. Their transition to the NFL may take even longer.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

i.e. Usama young. Not saying he isn't going to be good, but the jump from Toledo or wherever he came from to the NFL is a big jump.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Getting Samuel definitely frees us up to do whatever we want in the draft, which is a very good thing. I'm still a little leery about him -- he gets burned a ton, system guy, blah blah blah -- but the fact remains he's still heads and shoulders above any other corner the Saints have ever had. I guess the thing that's most exciting is the fact that the front office doesn't seem to mind opening up the checkbook these days. Maybe they actually want to see some decent product on the field.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

If the Saints land Assante Samuel, I say show Jason David where the Armstrong International Airport is.

Oh, don't forget about the 'soon-to-be-former Saintkiller' Alge Crumpler and Johnathan Vilma.

Add Lance Briggs @ LB and a solid DT opposite Hollis Thomas.

Kicker? PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE PARCELLS ROUTE!!!!

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/2941/hulkaho7.jpg

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

The Saints have to keep Jason David around for one more year...for financial purposes. And who knows, if he is defending as a nickle or dime CB, he cant be that terrible. As long as we dont line him up on the outside and ask him to defend someone on a fly route, we should be ok.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Wanna put money where ya' typin' is? :)