Saints sign Olin Kreutz
 

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RT @BradBiggs: Former #Bears center Olin Kreutz signing a contract with #Saints

Saints agreed to terms with C Olin Kreutz on a one-year, $2 million contract.

The Matt Tennant experiment didn't last long. Kreutz replaces Jonathan Goodwin in what projects as a downgrade in on-field performance. While Kreutz has a big name, the 34-year-old graded out 33rd among 34 qualifying centers in Pro Football Focus' 2010 ratings. Perhaps a change of scenery and better offense around him will help Kreutz, but he's clearly on a career downswing.

Related: Bears, Matt TennantSource: Brad Biggs on Twitter Aug 5, 1:21 PM

nice move

I wounder how much.

Wow, just wow.

Whoo-Hoo!!:doh:

All I can say is WOW !!!

Happy.

Geaux Loomis!

Nice bridge to Tennant. While he supposely struggled the past few years, a change of scenery should do him well. People thought Jerry Fontenot and Kevin Mawae were washed up... and their next teams were able to squeeze more quality years out of them.

Great Move! Center is one of those positions where it actually pays to be old! I mean look at Jerry Fontenot. Experience with calling out blitzes and line assignments is invaluable and Kreutz has it. He's a future HOF'er and has been the Bears offensive captain since I can remember. His leadership and locker room presence alone are enough alone to justify spending money to bring him in.

Championship!

They signed him for a 1yr - 2 mill with a chance to double depending on play.

Looks like he just did not believe the bears were a contender.

Were going to get good play outta him

I think Olin has a career year here, seems to me he was sick of being under a garbage QB and the only competent lineman on his team. Surrounding him with pro-bowl talent in Brees, Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans in addition to having a shot at a ring will bring out the slumbering beast in Kreutz.

Holy smokes we have been active this FA period!!

But here's my concern: what about next year? All these little one year-deals...is that going to reach up and bite us in the ass this time next year???

HELL YEAH!

Gotta remember that a lot of these one year guys (Kreutz, Franklin) are at positions where we are developing young talent. This season will be strong, then our young guys will have to step up next year, which may be a down year, but will make us much more of a dynasty team, with young talent taking over from HOF bound vets. (Sharper --> Jenkins for instance)

No because their contracts will come off the books... and if they perform well and we continue to win, there's a chance we could just re-sign them. If not, we'll just go after the next wave of free agents to fill their role.

You beat me to it! LOL

:mrgreen:

Good signing. Let's try to get this guy a ring!!!

If he ranked 33rd out of 34 qualifying centers last year he needs to step it up this year. The past is the past.

Their line was absolutely awlful at the beginning of the year... but they played much better the second half. You also have to take into account that Martz doesn't give his lineman much help with play calling and design. He will be better this year.

It's a good signing. The price is right. But, I still wouldn't be shocked if Tennant wins the job.

Hope you're right. I didn't watch the Bears much, but I remember Cutler being in the grass alot. Once Brees gets a hold of him he should be ok.

I still think you give Tennant some work in the preseason...just in case ....this is a good signing. and should make those that felt worried about Goody being gone feel a little relief...One thing to mention also is Cutler holds onto the ball a lot longer than Drew...he got better and getting rid of it later in the season...

Week 2 was already going to be quite an interesting game...It just got even more interesting. I bet the fact that we play the bears early on this season was a factor this guy considered when signing. lol

Meh. Not sold on this signing. Maybe he will prove me wrong, but he was awful last year. Could have been Martz's system, but that line got Cutler absolutely destroyed. Hope this is more of a hope that Olin has some gas left in the tank and not an indictment on Tennant... because if it is, we are dangerously thin at the position.

I don't think 2 million guarantees him starting... at worst, he's going to provide solid depth behind Tennant. If he starts, Tennant provides depth at both C and G... where we are also thin. Cheap contract that could pay very good dividends.

From a recent article

Kreutz had surgery after the 2009 season and the doctor said he wouldn't be right until late in the 2010 campaign.

"Sure enough, that's why Olin started playing better at the end of the year," Bartelstein said. "He got his range of motion back. Now in the offseason, instead of rehabbing, he was training. He's going to have a great season."

Kreutz is looking forward to playing for the Saints, and it has nothing to do with the money, Bartelstein said.

"It's funny, so many players -- and I represent so many guys and have done this for so long -- you often hear people say it's not about the money, but it usually is about money," he said. "And this is one guy who walks the walk. He got offered more from other people.

"He'll come in and be the leader of that offensive line. They have a great team."

The agent never thought Kreutz would retire.

"I think after 13 years with a team, the way it ended really, really bothered him," he said. "It just bothered him and left a bad taste in his mouth. He was emotional about it, but he worked so hard in the offseason and he was in the best shape he's been in. I knew he wasn't going to retire."


Ex-Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz, New Orleans Saints agree - ESPN

Very nice signing! Even with all the negatives associated with his play during the past two years SP and FO felt like it was a good move and that's all I need to know in order to be convinced this was a good signing team-wise. Furthermore, 2M/y is supposedly good market value for him, and even the Bears fans would've wanted him back at that price.

As for the O-Line improving during the latter half of the past season - that's when Roberto Garza returned from injury and took over - at least according to the Bears fans.


Seems that Kreutz was as much to blame for how things went down as the Bears management. 2M/y is probably fair market value for him, Bears offered 3M/y as a starter, Kreutz wanted 5M/y, Bears increased their offer to 4M/y, which Kreutz and his agent turned down.

**** da bears and their POS fans..Kreutz will shine between Evans and Nicks on this line...

He knows all their defensive adjustments....lol

Here's a couple of good tweets.
ESPN's John Clayton says Adding Olin Kreutz between Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans creates one of the best interior line blocking units in recent memory.

Deuce Former #Bears center Olin Kreutz signing a contract with #Saints"now this move here makes me go hummmm. I can fall fwd for 5yds

LOL...Deuce!

I still hope that they won't just hand out the starting position to him, but instead share the reps between him and Tennant through the preseason games, and then make the decision.

Still, I have to think that SP didn't feel like Tennant was ready to step up this season or that he needed a veteran backup.

We were worried about 26+ UFAs this year biting us. No, trust in Loomis. He has earned the trust.

Aah...

Aah...

I hope we feel the same way the 49ers are feeling right now.

Alaska

Sean Payton has already said in recent interviews that he doesn't hand starting jobs over to anyone period. Every starter has to earn the position by working his ass off

I'm pretty sure Tennant is going to get his reps.

He is officially signed and will wear #50 at this afternoons practice.

I smell a stronger TwoDat!

Good point! I still miss Jerry, and Mawae was workin' his
bootie off in a whole DIFFERENT way this summer, godbless'im.