saintz08

Young vows to go full speed ahead

Saints' new DT says he still has work to do


Tuesday March 09, 2004


By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer

The Saints want Brian Young to lead. Young just wants to play -- the only way he knows how, full speed and with non-stop intensity.

If teammates follow his lead, then so be it.


"I'm not going to scream and holler and all that crap, but I'm going to play hard every down," said Young, who signed a four-year, $10 million contract with New Orleans on Monday. "I've still got a lot to learn myself. I've only played four years, so I'm still a long ways from being a finished product. I'm nowhere near being able to play at the level I want to be at."

When the Saints started free agency they identified defensive tackle as their primary need. They wanted a young veteran with a blue-collar work ethic who, in football jargon, played with a high motor. When they started to evaluate prospects, the 6-foot-2, 278-pound Young stood out. They plan to start him opposite rookie Johnathan Sullivan.

Young, 26, starred at UTEP and eventually won a starting spot with the St. Louis Rams after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft.

Young beat out first-round draft pick Damione Lewis in 2001 and had 78 tackles and 6½ sacks. In 2003, Young began the season as a reserve but started 12 games, in part because of injuries to Lewis and Ryan Pickett, another 2001 first-round pick. When Lewis returned from an ankle sprain Nov. 30 against the Minnesota Vikings, Young kept his starting job. He finished with 35 tackles, a franchise-record five fumble recoveries and two sacks.

The cash-strapped Rams knew they wouldn't be able to afford Young. Still, he gave them a chance to match the Saints' offer before agreeing to the deal Sunday afternoon.

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