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Over the last few days, we’ve seen the New Orleans Saints are anything but shy about forging ahead in the aftermath of their unprecedented Super Bowl glory.
They’d been locked in a battle of wills with two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jammal Brown, who didn’t play last season because of hip and sports hernia surgeries. With the uncertainty of the NFL labor picture after the 2011 season, it was obvious the Saints weren’t going to extend Brown a long-term offer.

So the Saints shipped Brown, their first-round draft pick in 2005, to the Washington Redskins, for a conditional draft pick next year. The better new Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb plays, the better it will be for the Saints. But it won’t be anything higher than a third-round draft choice next year, with a possible late pick in 2012 if Brown returns to form with the Redskins.

On the surface, you might say the Saints could have done better in their compensation for Brown, a solid player who can play either left or right tackle.
The truth of it is there’s some unknowns now with Brown, and Jermon Bushrod proved to be more than a capable replacement last year.
Sure, there were times when the Saints had to give Bushrod some help against premier pass rushers, like the Minnesota Vikings’ Jared Allen in the NFC championship game. But Bushrod was up to the challenge, for the most part, and the Saints allowed just 20 sacks last season, fewer than any NFL team.
You could see the chemistry between Bushrod and left guard Carl Nicks, the quote machine who keeps it real at just about any cost in the locker room. You could see his confidence on the rise. You could see Drew Brees’ confidence in him.
The Saints and Jammal Brown were headed their separate ways and the two teams that were most interested in him were the Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys.
Don’t think for one minute that the Saints were anxious to make a deal that could help the Cowboys, who were the first team to beat the Saints last season after their 13-0 start.
The Redskins are planning to use Brown at right tackle, with another Oklahoma product, rookie Trent Williams, slated to play the left tackle spot.
The Redskins used the fourth pick of this year’s draft on Williams, and they need all the help they can get on the offensive line.
The Saints used their second-round pick on Southern California offensive tackle Charles Brown in April, because they wanted to get stronger at a critical position, and they liked his value at that point in the draft.
Much like Monday’s decision to waive veteran defensive end Bobby McCray, at this point, you’ve got to give them the benefit of the doubt.
They’ve erased a lot of doubts over the last few months.

strato

The"Rod is forging"

SmashMouth

saintsfan1976

Dammit Smash LOL!!


The Brown trade reminds me of how much we were supposed to suffer without Jeff Faine.

We'll be fine.

SmashMouth

Yes she will!

504state

Why in the hell would the Skins start a rookie at LT instead of Brown? Wouldn't you think that they would at least start the other way around?

foreverfan

Saints announce 50,000 to be handed out at every home game.

darstep

Between Bushrod and young Mr. Brown, they'll get the job done. I hope that youngster makes Bushrod go the extra mile; or watch from the sideline if he's dragginass. I like the way Sean Payton makes the guys earn their spot every year and I hope this spot is no different.

saintsfan1976

Yes, she will....

the-commish

I know what you're saying... but it does show exactly why the Saints did not get any better value for Brown (RT is nowhere near the value of LT). They could have traded him to the Cowboys to replace Flozell Adams, and may have gotten more in return, but why make a sure Super Bowl contender better.