Rating: (0 votes - average)

The Black and Gold are in off-season mode with the Scouting Combine under way in Indianapolis and free agency set to begin. Free Agency begins this Friday night at midnight with Darren Sharper and others preparing to hit the market.

Here is the buzz surrounding the Black and Gold prior to the start of free agency:
Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports says Payton Manning could easily command 25 million a year from the Indianapolis Colts. He also says Drew Brees will be watching the Manning situation very closely as Brees is looking to ink a long term deal with the Saints. Cole also speculates that Manning’s new deal will send a ripple effect throughout the league with Brees contract in that mix.

Pat Yasinskas of ESPN says the Saints are ready should Darren Sharper sign with a new team come free agency. Yasinskas says the Black and Gold may convert CB Malcolm Jenkins to safety if Sharper does not come back to New Orleans. He says the Saints have not made a strong effort to resign Sharper but speculates that there is still a decent chance he may end up back with New Orleans.

Rotoworld.com reports per an ESPN source that the Saints and guard Jahri Evans are close to a long term deal.

Gregg Rosenthal of NBC Sports reports that running back Mike Bell got the lowest right of first refusal tender as a restricted free agent per a source. Rosenthal says that the Black and Gold are not going to be worried if Bell leaves and goes elsewhere. He says the Saints will not get compensation if Bell is signed elsewhere because he was undrafted.

The Black and Gold are the final NFC team to get the traditional George Halas trophy awarded to the NFC Champions. According to UniWatch, the NFL is changing the design of both conference champion trophies to make it resemble the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Sean Jansen of the Chicago Sun Times wonders if Darren Sharper was serious when he stated he is willing to return to the Cover 2 with the Chicago Bears. Jansen thinks Sharper will be back with the Black and Gold because he will need to have another year like he had last year in order to boost his resume for the Hall of Fame. Jansen says Gregg William’s scheme can allow him to do that.