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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Have you had much contact with the Saints?

“I did, my first meeting with them was at the combine. Coach Payton and everyone was there. We went over some plays, and like I said, it went really well. “

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

“I would say my strengths are what happened to me at BC. I went through a lot of different coaches in a lot of different systems, and I was able to adjust and be successful. That’s what I plan to do in New Orleans. My weaknesses, if any, is my weight. I had trouble maintaining my weight at BC but right now I am sitting at 300 (lbs) and its feeling pretty good to me. “

Are you just a center, or could you potentially play guard as well?

“I am a center and a guard. I can play anything they ask me to. It can be center, guard, or maybe tackle. Whatever the team needs me to, I can do. My true position is a center.”

What did you think when you found out that the Saints traded up to get you?

“I was extremely excited. This whole day has just been a whirlwind. I was sitting in the backyard hitting golf balls trying to relax. I’m ecstatic to be going to a team that had so much success last year, and I plan on going there and contributing and helping add to it this year.”

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Tennant Talks About Coming To New Orleans

QBREES9

Great move Boston College in the House

joker-saint

What did we give jacksonville?

QBREES9

Tennant thrilled to join champion Saints

Matt Tennant settled in yesterday, confident that his future in the National Football League would unfold shortly. Thirty-three selections in the fourth round. No calls.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 300-pound Tennant stepped outside his parents’ home a short drive from Cincinnati, on a two-acre lot in the village of Morrow, and started chipping golf balls.

A few minutes later, the phone rang. Mickey Loomis, general manager of the New Orleans Saints, was on the line.

The Super Bowl champions had traded back into the fifth round, sending a fourth-round pick in 2011 to the Jaguars in order to select Tennant, a third-team All-America center from Boston College who started his final 41 games as an Eagle.

“This whole day has just been a whirlwind. I just kept telling myself, ‘It’s going to happen,’ ’’ said Tennant, the 27th pick of the fifth round and 158th overall who spent the day with his parents, Kurt and Pam, his sister, Abby, and his girlfriend, Alex, a graduate student at BC.

“I’m extremely excited to be a member of the Super Bowl champs, excited to be a part of their organization.’’

Tennant, along with Connecticut wide receiver Marcus Easley (Bills, fourth round), UConn cornerback Robert McClain (Panthers, seventh round), and Brown defensive tackle David Howard (Tennessee, seventh round), were the only players selected from New England programs on the final day of the draft.

Boston College linebacker Mike McLaughlin signed a free agent deal with the Ravens, who plan to work out the former Woburn High standout at both fullback and linebacker. “Coach John Harbaugh said that I could do a lot of things for them,’’ said McLaughlin.

Five UMass players agreed to free agent deals or tryouts: receivers Victor Cruz (Giants) and Jeremy Horne (Chiefs), safety Jeromy Miles (Bengals), fullback Chris Zardas (Eagles), and nose tackle Kyle Harrington (Dolphins).

BC High grad Chris Marinelli of Braintree, an All-Pac-10 right tackle as a senior at Stanford, reached agreement on a deal with the Broncos.

The Saints’ depth chart lists nine-year pro Jonathan Goodwin as the starter at center, with Nick Leckey in reserve. Tennant arrived at BC as a guard before making a rather seamless transition to center as a sophomore. He will compete for time at both positions with New Orleans.

“They expect me to come in and contribute and help out,’’ said Tennant, who, according to one scouting report, has the intelligence of Matt Birk (Ravens), the tenaciousness of Olin Kreutz (Bears), the trapping ability of Brad Meester (Jaguars), and the consistency of Jeff Saturday (Colts).

“Whatever position they want, I’ll just work hard and try to learn from the veterans.’’

Tennant was a quick study at BC, rapidly developing into an indispensable anchor at the pivot, allowing just 1 1/2 sacks his final two seasons. He also continued the Eagles’ decade-long tradition of producing NFL offensive linemen, the 10th drafted since 2000, and the first center since the Patriots tabbed Dan Koppen in the fifth round in 2003.

“You just embrace the BC mentality, it’s a brotherhood on the offensive line,’’ said Tennant.

How far has Easley come? With no scholarship offers after starring at Bunnell High in Stratford, he walked on at UConn as a sophomore. He caught five passes his first three seasons, but thanks to a breakout 48-catch, 893-yard, eight-touchdown senior season, along with an impressive showing at the combine, he quickly emerged on draft boards. Yesterday, the Bills chose the 6-3, 210-pound flanker with the ninth pick in the fourth round, the 107th selection overall.

“Hopefully, my best football is yet to come,’’ said Easley, who hauled in 46 catches in his final nine games, topping 100 yards five times. “I always felt like I had the ability, it was just a matter of opportunity. The previous two seasons, we had [All-American back Donald Brown], so I just blocked for him.’’

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homerj07

SOunds like a good kid & a good choice. We has success with trading to get Moorestead so.... I tend to trust their judgement.

QBREES9

He was the best Center in College football. I bet we didn't miss on this one.

joker-saint

A 4th round pick. Is that all? How stupid was Jacksonville.

QBREES9

Jacksonville, not a good football operation