BlackandBlue

When I said that he had the stamina to play consistently over a full season, I was referring that he has the ability to play tough throughout the season, without showing signs of fatigue, unlike many players. Injuries can be so random, that I don\'t even take that into account, although I do feel that we should take a closer look as to why he seems so injury plagued and if this is going to continue throughout his career.

[Edited on 5/2/2004 by BlackandBlue]

JKool

I might have been mistaken B&B, but here was my thinking:

Of course Howard is a better player than Whitehead. However, I think if we are not going to commit ourselves to getting more help against the run, he will always be slowed by having to pull double duty (no matter which DT is playing next to him). Thus, we may as well go with an adequate DE and focus that money elsewhere, if we are not going to take making our line truly impressive seriously. This is perhaps misguided, and your question a good one, but that is what I was thinking. I also agree that I didn\'t express that very well, but I\'d have to say that I\'m a bit overworked these days.

I also agree that it is probably common sense that having other good players around benefits all, but I didn\'t realize that common sense was not to be employed here.

I\'m not sure what I think about Howard\'s stamina. Injuries can be freaky, but they also tend to happen more often under two conditions - the player is playing while worn out, or the player is overextending himself. Thus, Howard\'s injuries in both of the last two years indicate that he is either being asked to play beyond his reach or he does not have the stamina so claimed. I do agree with you that Howard can probably play more snaps that Whitehead, but given Howard\'s injuries, I\'m not sure which of the two has more Stamina.

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

BlackandBlue

I see where you are coming from. I think if we replace Howard with an above average DE, then others on the line will suffer, ie, Grant will be lucky to ever see the QB, much less sack him.

Mostly, it\'s not, but you can always count on a certain degree of common sense from me :P

Howard had started every regular season game up until this past year, where he missed the first eight games due to a dislocated right wrist that occured at the beginning of the season. That\'s not an issue with stamina, that\'s dumb luck. If it was stamina related, it would have occured halfway to 3/4 of the way through the season. Other than that, go back and check his numbers, he\'s been a stud for us, and every day that passes where we don\'t have this guy signed irritates me more and more. ESPN.com doesn\'t even have him listed as a Saints player anymore under the roster page.

The waiting drove me mad....
I don't want to hear from those that know...
Everything has changed, absolutely nothing's changed

Eddie is a....draftnik?

JKool

B&B,

Sold.

Well argued. I too will now fret over our resigning of Howard. Though, I will continue to maintain that we ought to really work to add DT with star quality. I am also still of the opinion that we ought to spend some big cash on a stud at MLB.

I also think that Grant is a stud - though much less effective against the run than Howard. Though, if he has to pull double duty, I concede your point that he may become a non-factor.

I guess I may have been talking out of my azz a bit. I probably got distracted by my excitement about agreeing with WhoDat.

Cheers.

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks