Saints thinking smaller -- but is that smarter?
 

New Orleans has, as expected, eased into the free agency period -- signing key internal players and building depth at skill positions.

While those moves may upset fans hungry for a headline-grabbing signing, the Saints have in fact addressed some significant needs.

Experts say that's the right thing to do.

"There's a trend in the NFL that I'm not sure people are soaking in: You're never one player away, so don't go nuts chasing one guy in free agency," says SI.com's Peter King. "The New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers just proved this."

Here's Paul Attner of The Sporting News on the pitfalls of going the other way: "The Redskins, notorious overpayers for talent, have done it again. The contracts for Clinton Portis and Mark Brunell are way over-market, to the point where the team seems to be bidding against itself needlessly. And to toss in a second-round draft choice to accompany Champ Bailey to the Broncos is beyond anything rational."

Best to think smaller, they both say. Or at least smarter.


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Saints thinking smaller -- but is that smarter?
 

My favorite part of the article.

Saints thinking smaller -- but is that smarter?
 

I second that emotion. If we get Woodard and either Gold or Dhani Jones, I will not complain about the Saints until after the draft. :D

Saints thinking smaller -- but is that smarter?
 

Jones isn\'t that good. He\'s better than our LB\'s but he still isn\'t much of an upgrade.

Gold would be great tho. As long as he is fully recovered from the ACL injury. Hopefully we can ink him soon.

Saints thinking smaller -- but is that smarter?
 

?

Jones, in his third season last year, had 93 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and four passes defended.

Sounds good to me. I would also like to see Gold in Black and gold, too.

I\'m sure you meant, \"In my opinion, Jone\'s isn\'t that good.\"

Saints thinking smaller -- but is that smarter?
 

Thought of the day for linebacker and bears the 08 seal of approval .

Ed Hartwell - restricted free agent . Pay the toll keeper a lower draft pick and get this guy if has not already signed .

Whether it\'s rallying his teammates in the middle of their pregame huddle or barking out defensive assignments backed against his goal line, Hartwell has taken the charge of leader and has refused to let the Ravens\' defense fall apart without one of the game\'s most dominating defenders.

When Lewis injured his shoulder in the fourth game this season, the Ravens\' defense was giving up 345 yards and 15.7 points a game. Seven games later, the defense is allowing 6 fewer yards and three more points each game.

The defense\'s stability is a reflection of the consistent play of Hartwell, who has racked up 108 tackles, two sacks and two passes broken up. He likely will become the first Raven other than Lewis to lead the franchise in tackles in its seven-year history.

\"You can\'t replace a Ray Lewis, but he\'s taken that responsibility on,\" outside linebacker Peter Boulware said. \"Some people may get nervous or scared with that responsibility, but he\'s embraced it, saying this is my defense, I\'m going to lead these guys.\"

Saints thinking smaller -- but is that smarter?
 

Stats don\'t tell the whole story. As I said, he\'s not bad...but he isn\'t much better than the guys we got.