New Orleans Saints uncertain about decisions of Pierre Thomas, Jahri Evans, others

QBREES9 · 04-15-2010, 07:59 PM

New Orleans Saints uncertain about decisions of Pierre Thomas, Jahri Evans, others
By The Times-Picayune

By James Varney and Mike Triplett

The New Orleans Saints enter the final hours of restricted free agency Thursday with a handful of players still unsigned, although none of them appear to be another team's crosshairs

With the deadline for restricted free agent to sign offer sheets elsewhere coming at midnight Thursday, the Saints remain uncertain about the decisions of running back Pierre Thomas, guard Jahri Evans, wide receiver Lance Moore, safety Roman Harper, linebacker Marvin Mitchell and wide receiver Courtney Roby.

Some of them may well join safeties Chris Reis and Usama Young, who signed their offers from the Saints, according to announcements from their agents Wednesday.

Others, like Thomas, Evans and Moore, could be similar to offensive tackle Jammal Brown -- veterans who would have been unrestricted free agents this offseason were it not for the expiration of the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Brown said Tuesday he will not sign his tender Thursday and will not report next week for the Saints scheduled conditioning sessions.
"We'll assess all that tomorrow and cross that bridge when we come to it, " Thomas' agent, Lamont Smith, said. "We'll continue to have discussions with people, and we'll see what tomorrow brings."
Smith also declined to comment on whether Thomas plans to attend next week's sessions.

The Saints offered Thomas a one-year, $1.684 million qualifying contract last month. If he signs that deal, he would get a significant raise from the $460,000 he earned last season.

In addition, both sides have sent clear signals they are interested in a more lucrative long-term extension, the sort of deal that some teams are perhaps shying away from. The 2010 season will be without a salary cap, but should a new agreement be signed, the cap will kick in in 2011.

"I definitely want to work up a long-term deal with the Saints; I definitely want to get that done," Thomas said at a recent appearance. "but it's up to them. It's a business, and it's up to them. I'm putting my resume out there, showing what I can do. And you know, I love the New Orleans, I love the fans. But it's really not up to me. And now it's up to them if they want to keep me."
And Thomas also predicted he will participate in all drills.
"I'm going to show up, " he said. "Just because that's my attitude and personality."
Young joins several members of the Super Bowl XLIV champions who will return to the team. The Saints had offered a salary of just more than $1.1 million, and would have received a third-round pick as compensation if he signed with another team. Since being drafted out of Kent State, Young has been a backup in the secondary and a valuable member of the special teams.
Reis, who gained a measure of Saints immortality when he recovered the onside kick to begin the second half of Super Bowl XLIV, also signed his tender for $1.1 million.

Agents for Moore and Roby either declined comment or did not respond to calls and e-mails, leaving their status up in the air. Moore has been tendered at roughly $1.76 million and carries a second round draft pick compensation, and Roby was offered $1.17 million and would bring a third round pick.

Should any of these restricted free agents sign a last-day offer from another team, the Saints would have seven days to match it, meaning such an announcement would not preclude them returning to New Orleans.
That seems to be the case with players like Brown and Evans. Each of them have been offered one-year deals, Brown for $3.6 million and Evans for $3.1 million. Any team that obtained them would owe the Saints both a first and a third round draft pick.

New Orleans Saints uncertain about decisions of Pierre Thomas, Jahri Evans, others | - NOLA.com

04-15-2010, 07:59 PM	#1
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,989	New Orleans Saints uncertain about decisions of Pierre Thomas, Jahri Evans, others New Orleans Saints uncertain about decisions of Pierre Thomas, Jahri Evans, others By The Times-Picayune By James Varney and Mike Triplett The New Orleans Saints enter the final hours of restricted free agency Thursday with a handful of players still unsigned, although none of them appear to be another team's crosshairs With the deadline for restricted free agent to sign offer sheets elsewhere coming at midnight Thursday, the Saints remain uncertain about the decisions of running back Pierre Thomas, guard Jahri Evans, wide receiver Lance Moore, safety Roman Harper, linebacker Marvin Mitchell and wide receiver Courtney Roby. Some of them may well join safeties Chris Reis and Usama Young, who signed their offers from the Saints, according to announcements from their agents Wednesday. Others, like Thomas, Evans and Moore, could be similar to offensive tackle Jammal Brown -- veterans who would have been unrestricted free agents this offseason were it not for the expiration of the league's collective bargaining agreement. Brown said Tuesday he will not sign his tender Thursday and will not report next week for the Saints scheduled conditioning sessions. "We'll assess all that tomorrow and cross that bridge when we come to it, " Thomas' agent, Lamont Smith, said. "We'll continue to have discussions with people, and we'll see what tomorrow brings." Smith also declined to comment on whether Thomas plans to attend next week's sessions. The Saints offered Thomas a one-year, $1.684 million qualifying contract last month. If he signs that deal, he would get a significant raise from the $460,000 he earned last season. In addition, both sides have sent clear signals they are interested in a more lucrative long-term extension, the sort of deal that some teams are perhaps shying away from. The 2010 season will be without a salary cap, but should a new agreement be signed, the cap will kick in in 2011. "I definitely want to work up a long-term deal with the Saints; I definitely want to get that done," Thomas said at a recent appearance. "but it's up to them. It's a business, and it's up to them. I'm putting my resume out there, showing what I can do. And you know, I love the New Orleans, I love the fans. But it's really not up to me. And now it's up to them if they want to keep me." And Thomas also predicted he will participate in all drills. "I'm going to show up, " he said. "Just because that's my attitude and personality." Young joins several members of the Super Bowl XLIV champions who will return to the team. The Saints had offered a salary of just more than $1.1 million, and would have received a third-round pick as compensation if he signed with another team. Since being drafted out of Kent State, Young has been a backup in the secondary and a valuable member of the special teams. Reis, who gained a measure of Saints immortality when he recovered the onside kick to begin the second half of Super Bowl XLIV, also signed his tender for $1.1 million. Agents for Moore and Roby either declined comment or did not respond to calls and e-mails, leaving their status up in the air. Moore has been tendered at roughly $1.76 million and carries a second round draft pick compensation, and Roby was offered $1.17 million and would bring a third round pick. Should any of these restricted free agents sign a last-day offer from another team, the Saints would have seven days to match it, meaning such an announcement would not preclude them returning to New Orleans. That seems to be the case with players like Brown and Evans. Each of them have been offered one-year deals, Brown for $3.6 million and Evans for $3.1 million. Any team that obtained them would owe the Saints both a first and a third round draft pick. New Orleans Saints uncertain about decisions of Pierre Thomas, Jahri Evans, others \| - NOLA.com Attached Thumbnails
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