Danno

From CBS top FA's
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/6911680

2. Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey: This is a corner's market, but no cornerback in the NFL is as talented as the athletic Bailey. While some say he has not had the type of year that one would expect, Bailey is still the best in the NFL. The best get paid.

8. Raiders CB Charles Woodson: Talent-wise, Woodson is as solid as it gets. He's a prototypical shutdown corner who, when healthy, is a legitimate playmaker. But how his stock is affected by the Raiders' locker room turmoil could play a major factor in his market value. There were also reports in the offseason that the Raiders had peeked around to see if there would be any takers in a trade but found nobody to bite. The Raiders denied it. Still, some teams will likely be turned off by his comments about coach Bill Callahan, despite the fact that the coach in turn referred to his team as the "dumbest" in the country.


The other thing working against Woodson is the fact that the cornerback position is so deep this year. After Bailey, Woodson and McAlister, Buffalo's Antoine Winfield, Philadelphia's Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, Jacksonville's Fernando Bryant, Seattle's Shawn Springs and San Francisco's Ahmed Plummer are all first-line corners who are eligible to hit free agency. This might be the deepest free-agent class the position has ever seen in one year. Last year's elite was linebacker. This year, it's at the corner.

BrooksMustGo

This team has not made a meaninful move on the cornerback position since Haslett was hired. If he sticks around next year, I don\'t see that changing.

Danno

I think Haz thinks the CB\'s are the last piece of the puzzle. I see him addressing this position with 2 FA\'s (1 stud and an up and comer) and a draft pick.

He might be stubborn, but he\'s not stupid. He thought Carter could last another year and with Ambrose and Thomas on the other side, we were set. Well it backfired in his face so I think he now sees the light.

WhoDat

I agree with BMG. The BIGGEST concern coming into this season was linebacker. Everyone talked about how we would get studs there too. Who did we get? Orlando Ruff, Derrick Rodgers (which was a good move, but we gave up a 7th rounder for him, that\'s not exactly going after the big names), and... oh yeah, no one else.

I hope they sign a big name CB, but I\'d expect to see them sign a middle of the pack guy at best and draft someone. The FA market is deep, but they won\'t wade into the water.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse


\"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"

DarkSaint504

We can go after these players but if the same coaches around that means the same scheme than good players will look like bad players. I will always say this: WE NEED BETTER COACHING FROM THE COACHES OR GET NEW ONES!!

-RVD-

I wish we could get Camp Baily or Charles Woodson, but I know thats not going to happen.

Danno

Buffalo\'s Antoine Winfield, Philadelphia\'s Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent, Jacksonville\'s Fernando Bryant, Seattle\'s Shawn Springs and San Francisco\'s Ahmed Plummer.

If we got one of these 2nd tier guys I\'d do naked cartwheels in my front yard!!

-RVD-

Yeah, your right. I would be extremly happy if we got one of those guys.

BillyC

I think one thing is very clear about Haslett\'s philosiphy on how to build a defense. Well, here\'s the way I see it anyway.

I think Haslett\'s master plan was to get players on the defensive line FIRST and start there. I don\'t think he\'s been too concerned about anything else on defense but this. Think about it................ He has drafted or signed these players.

1. Johnathan Sullivan
2. Darren Howard.
3. Grady Jackson.
4. Norman Hand.
5. Kenny Smith
6. Charles Grant

And that\'s not even listing all of them. Clearly he has concentrated on this area more than any other on defense. I also think that\'s the smart thing to do. Hasett would probably have gone after a top linebacker last year but I don\'t think he was happy with Norman Hand and he decided to fix what he considered a mistake in Norman Hand.

To make a long story short. I think Haslett is more or less happy with the defensive line now, and will address the linebacker and cornerback position in the offseason.

If you really want to think about what Haslett has tried to address in the draft and offseason signings. I think you would have to say he has concentrated more on the offeensive and defensive lines more. The problem is.............He\'s made some mistakes there and had to address them again.

[Edited on 11/12/2003 by BillyC]

[Edited on 11/12/2003 by BillyC]

WhoDat

That\'s an interesting philosophy considering two of his first moves were to ship out La\'Roi Glover and Joe Johnson (say what you will the man was productive in New Orleans). Think maybe he\'s simply been trying to make up for that? Now he has to address the LBs and secondary b/c he messed with them too.

Clemons is the perfect example. As an OLB the man led the team in tackles, led the team in sacks with 13.5, and had a few INTs too. He was the defensive captain and called the plays. So let\'s move him inside right? OK, he fails miserably inside (was that his fault or Haslett\'s?). OK, well, just move him back outside to where he was a stud a year ago right? Wrong. Clearly he\'s a problem so let\'s ship him outta here.

Sammy Knight goes to the Pro Bowl one year so let\'s involve him more in the defense. OK, sounds good to me. But now he\'s playing behind a different line (the Fatty McFat lunch bunch are bleeding yards in front of him and he\'s got a first time MLB who realy should be playing OLB and basically two rookies in Hodge and Allen at OLB). But he still leads the team in tackles, has one less INT the year before, but the deep pass hurts us (think maybe that Knight may have had a problem b/c he had to come up in the box to help out against the run b/c our front seven sucked and still cover deep as well with only Bellamy - whose play sucked last season - to help out?). OK, fine, if we get better up front Knight, whose numbers didn\'t change from at all really compared to his Pro Bowl year, will be a stud again too right? Wrong. Ship him out and put in a Rookie... oops, he\'s hurt, now what?

My point is, Haslett has caused his own problems. It\'s not like players have retired or been injuried and not able to return. He finds a scapegoat and ships them out. The cornerstones of our D when he got here: Howard was a rookie, Clemons, Knight, Glover, Johnson, (was Fields still here?), Hand came in, Ambrose... and what did he do? Let every one of those guys leave. Whose fault is that? I don\'t feel bad for Jim. He did it to himself, and now he wants me to give him another chance? Sorry.

\"Excuses, excuses, excuses. That’s all anyone ever makes for the New Orleans Saints’ organization.\" - Eric Narcisse


\"Being a Saints fan is almost like being addicted to crack,\" he said.[i]\"You know you should stop, but you just can\'t.\"