tiggerpolice

NFC South teams were active in free agency, but expect the unexpected this fall Sunday, March 16, 2008By Mike Triplett
On paper, the Saints should have won the NFC South in 2007.

On paper, they never should have had a chance in 2006.

In other words, be careful with any opinions you might hear regarding this division.

Nobody knows how the flurry of offseason moves made the past two weeks will affect the NFC South in 2008. It's the time of year when every team feels like a winner, or at least a contender. And optimism flows from one city to the next.

It's a time when one team's trash can become another team's treasure. The Carolina Panthers released injured linebacker Dan Morgan, and the Saints were happy to pick him up. The Saints didn't feel like center Jeff Faine was worth a super-sized contract, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made him the prize of their free agent shopping spree. The Buccaneers also picked up veteran tailback Warrick Dunn after he was dumped by Atlanta.

On paper, it looks like the Saints have had the best offseason of any NFC South team so far, followed closely by Tampa Bay. But we all know what that means.

Here's a breakdown of this year's NFC South makeovers:

SAINTS

Added: LB Jonathan Vilma (trade), CB Randall Gay, DE Bobby McCray, LB Dan Morgan, QB Mark Brunell.

Kept: DT Brian Young, LB Mark Simoneau, WR David Patten, WR Devery Henderson, WR Terrance Copper, TE Eric Johnson, TE Billy Miller, RB Aaron Stecker, G Jamar Nesbit, C Jonathan Goodwin, K Martin Gramatica.

Lost: C Jeff Faine, LB Brian Simmons, LB Matt McCoy, K Olindo Mare.

Analysis: Clearly, the Saints were determined to spice up their defense, which was one of the league's worst in 2007. If only one or two of these moves pan out, New Orleans will be significantly better.

Vilma could be spectacular. Morgan is a low-risk investment. And Gay and McCray will immediately jump into the defensive rotation, if not the starting lineup. Plus, the Saints didn't lose anyone of note, and they could add one or two playmakers in the draft.

TRASH or TREASURE?- NOLA.com

cajunasian61

This guy seems to think the Saints are having a better offseason than the Bucs. I agree