JKool

I agree that Champ is the best option. I just don\'t think we\'ll get a shot at him.

I\'m not sure what I think about our inability to bring players along. I think it is more likely that we just overestimate the ability of people we have. That is, they do improve, they just didn\'t have any where near the potential we were lead to believe. I\'m having some trouble thinking of examples, but it seems to me that C. Grant, F. Thomas, M. Lewis, J. Horn, and S. Knight are all counter examples to the claim that we have trouble developing people here in NO. At any rate, I think the argument may still hold: we shouldn\'t bring some new kid with potential on board because we may badly misestimate his potential (see anyone on our current linebacker corps).

On the Ambrose note, do you really think he is too slow to still play in a CB role? Even at nickle or dime? What about special teams? I didn\'t really get much chance to observe his play this season, but I have always really liked him.

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

Cadillac

I definitely think Ambrose is a great dime back and probably still has the skills to play the nickel role as well. I only made the safety comment because sometimes guys that were top tier cornerbacks move to safety for their last few seasons, and are able to keep play at very high levels. Letting an experienced player like Ambrose watch the QB instead of having to worry about running with the reciever might result in a lot of picks, and Ambrose has shown he has a nose for the ball. I didn\'t mean to question Ambroses ability to play nickel back, I was simply wondering what peoples opinons were on whether or not they thought he might be an upgrade at the safety position.

\'They want to give me $6 million. What do I do? - Fred Thomas

whowatches

No, actually I\'m not. As much as any of us want to hope and dream that our team will pull one of the top FA corners off the market this offseason, the reality is (as history has shown us) that we will not. I even think F. Bryant may be a long shot for us because of the negative fan reaction to T. Jones\'s first season. Either of the guys listed above would be an improvement over any corner on our roster (except F. Thomas).

What\'s more, every single cornerback in the draft (with maybe the exception of Hall) is at least a year or so away from starting. So, once again we would spend a first round pick on a \"project\" when our defense needs help now. The linebackers in this draft, however, are capable of joining our squad as starters.

Therefore, I would much rather see us sign a second (or even third) tier cornerback in free agency that could start and impact right away. Then we can use our first round pick on either a linebacker or a DT.

Would I rather have Champ Bailey or Chris McAlister? Sure. But Christmas is a long way off, and I would rather talk about what the Saints have a real shot at doing in FA than prognosticate about deals that will never see ink.

So, no, I wasn\'t kidding.

saintfan

Regarding Ambrose at corner (and in spite of what the conspiracy theorists would have us believe), the reason Sammy isn\'t around anymore is because of his lack of speed. There\'s NO WAY the Saints would put Ashley in at corner...servicable as a nickle and dime, but his starting days are over, period.