ScottyRo

I found this blurb about the Saints offseason likelihood on FFMastermind.com.

The Times-Picayune reports even though the Saints are more than $16.5 million under the $80.5 million salary cap, the Saints, for various reasons, aren't expected to be big spenders this offseason. One, the market is considered one of the weakest in recent memory. Two, the club is operating with shallower pockets. And three, the roster is deeper and has fewer holes than ever. Team officials would like to find a veteran defensive tackle to complement 2003 first-round draft pick DT Johnathan Sullivan. The line is inexperienced and the coaching staff would like to add a veteran leader. With that in mind, veterans DT Brian Young of St. Louis, DT Paul Grasmanis of Philadelphia, LB Kendrick Clancy of Pittsburgh and DT Chad Eaton of Seattle are possibilities. On offense, signing a back-up for Pro Bowl RB Deuce McAllister is a priority. The Saints have expressed interest in RB Aaron Stecker, formerly of Tampa Bay. They also will consider re-signing RB Lamar Smith and RB Ki-Jana Carter, who spent parts of the 2003 season with the Saints. Still, unlike past years, the Saints aren't in the market for any of the big-ticket players who are expected to be available.

http://www.ffmastermind.com/bits/hot.shtml

Here's the link to the Nola article:

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...4213246360.xml

rAge

Well whoever wrote that is an idiot. When talking about the free agent class - \"one of the weakest in recent memory\"? More like the strongest.

BlackandBlue

George?

WhoDat

That is EXACTLY what I am terrified of. Saintfan - revising my predicion now. It just fell from 11-5 to 10-6. Stand by, more to come.

Just another year under Haslett.

SaintWill

Anyone surprised?

ScottyRo

The Bears might have thrown a monkey wrench into this plan by signing T. Jones away from the Bucs. According to FFMastermind:

The Tampa Tribune reports free-agent RB Thomas Jones, projected to be the Bucs\' feature back after he put together a strong finish to the 2003 season, agreed to contract terms with the Chicago Bears early this morning. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

http://www.ffmastermind.com/bits/hot.shtml

We wont know for sure until something happens, but I have to think that this would increase the Bucs\' desire to retain Stecker.

deadflatbird

I don\'t think there will be a major splash from the Saints either. OL, DT, RB and maybe a CB but average or just above average players. I think the way to go is make some good solid draft pics with the pics we have.

ScottyRo

Len Pasquarelli wrote about his top 30 unrestricted free agents. Of the top 30 players only two were named as possibilities to land with the Saints. Of these two, one is Fred Thomas (#27) and the other is LB Carlos Emmons (#24) (Eagles) who broke his leg last year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=1749175

Of course, it\'s just Len\'s opinion, but with the help we need at CB I just don\'t understand not bringing in another veteran. I\'d like to see Thomas resigned, but the Saints certainly need more competition at the position. Even if it\'s a veteran \"who has lost a half-step\" like Troy Vincent, I\'d prefer to sign him to a decent contrct rather than keep Dale Carter at any price.

[Edited on 3/3/2004 by ScottyRo]

[Edited on 3/3/2004 by ScottyRo]

Danno

I don’t think he’s implying we’ll just sit on our hands, but we’re not going to overspend on the marquis guys. Top tier FA’s are always way overpriced. It’s the fastest way to salary cap hell. I don’t want to be in that situation again where we have to jettison a Roaf, Glover or Johnson because we’ve busted our cap with overpriced free agents.

We paid a B+ safety A+ money and all I heard was constant whining that we way overpaid. We also did the same with Gandy. Now I hear we’ve decided not to overpay some alleged top tier talent and everybody’s back on that erroneous “Benson’s cheap, what’d you expect� bandwagon. How can anyone say that when we paid Gandy and Jones top dollar.

Also: I’m not sure anyone would include a Robaire Smith, Bryan Young, or even a Fernando Bryant, Ahmed Plummer in that big splash category but if we landed any of them I’d personally consider it a major success heading into the draft.

It could also be a smokescreen.

deadflatbird

Well it could be a smokescreen if it was the Saints organization saying such malarky but its a reporter/someone owns a site saying his opinion... no need for that person to lead us into a fog but just someone giving others something to read.