You are aware that Bushrod is the highest payed O-linemen in the Saints in 2012? He is making more than f.e. Evans, who is considered one of the best guards in the league -> Evans 2012 = ~4.7M vs. Bushrod 2012 = ~6.25M.

In terms of players I wouldn't mind seeing the Saints let go are, and I'm looking at them from the value standpoint as in salary vs performance:

Smith: just like it has been mentioned already he is making too much money for the performances he has put in, but if he is willing to restructure his contract he might be very good value. Also, the emergence of Gallette this year and being optimistic about Romeus stepping up next season - the Saints might have a good group of young versatile DTs with Jordan, Gallette, Romeus & maybe a draft pick (also Charleston is a good value back-up).

Vilma: I really like him as an individual, player and as a leader on the field, but it seems that he has struck a wall with his physical endurance... and while I understand the issues with his knees this past season - who's to say it'll get any better in the future? I would've liked the Saints to have gone after Paul Posluszny last FA period, because he would be what I think the Saints need as a MLB with almost the same salary as Vilma (6.6M vs 7M). Otherwise, the LB group isn't as bad as it could be - Wilson , Dunbar, Casillas, Humber and Bussey are all young promising LBs, who could blossom under the right DC f.e. Spags or Del Rio , both with LB coach backgrounds.

Shanle: I mean he wouldn't be unacceptable as a back-up, but with a 2M contract I think it would be financially better to get rid of him for picks if possible.

Ellis: I have been defending him on many threads during this past season, but I think the time has come to see him leave the black & gold. He'll be making over 6M next season after which he becomes an UFA, so if some team would be willing to make a trade for him it might be a good time to pull the trigger. But, if he would be willing to restructure his contract like Smith, he might be good value in the DT rotation. Also, maybe Mitch "Mama's Boy" King can step up to the next level this coming season along with my personal favorite Tom Johnson making Ellis even more expendable.

Rogers: didn't get things going the whole season long, and when looking at his career stats - he has only had a couple of really good seasons and all of those were during contract years, and that alone tells me this guy has a problem with his attitude towards competitiveness. Now this is no surprise and was something what we debated about during the pre-season, but I guess the thinking was that GW would be able to whip him into a beast in NO... unfortunately that never materialized. I would much rather see Franklin signed to a new contract and after the lackluster season he had - he might be willing to sign for about 2M/year, and with that price tag he'd be good value in the DT rotation.

Meachem: I think that RM is a good WR and if he'd be willing to sign for about the same as he made this season (1.5-2.5M/year) I'd like to see the Saints sign him and maybe trade away Henderson, who only has 1 more year left in his contract for 3.5M. Although, I doubt Meachem will want to sign for that "little" money in which case he becomes an unnecessary signing for the Saints. Depending on how much Colston wants to stay in NO, I think he would be a "no brainer" as a signing. If he wants about the same as f.e. Roddy White with 6.5M/year, I think the Saints should sign him, but if he wants Top 5 WR money then the Saints should let him go after that money on the FA market.

Porter & Greer: I'm not saying both of them are expendable or even that it would be wise to let both of them go, but there are some issues with both of them. Porter is an UFA, so his price tag might be too much to make his re-signing a viable option in regards to what he brings to the field if this season is anything to go by. I'd like for the Saints to keep Greer, but he is another player entering his last season before becoming an UFA and he will be making around 6M in 2012, so this might be the last chance to get something in return for him in a trade. Robinson is someone who the Saints should definitely keep, because he will only become better and has improved steadily, which makes me wonder why some of you want him gone?!

Of course it'll all depend a lot on what the new DC will want do with the Saints' offense and, therefore, there might be some surprises in store for all us when it comes to the Saints' roster for the 2012 season.

I'd have no issues giving Meachem a contract similar to what Devery and Lance are making... especially if we let Colston walk.

Good stuff, but I disagree with the trading parts. I can't see many of the players you suggested trading bringing us any picks at all.

Shanle wouldn't net us a 7th

Ellis makes way too much for anyone to give us picks AND take on that salary.

Henderson might net us a late round pick, but why not keep him? He's not exactly breaking the bank. Renegotiate a long term deal with Devery and Meachem both. We could reduce the cap hit and stay stocked at WR.

BUSHROD MAKES MORE MONEY THAN EVANS BECAUSE BUSHROD IS A PRO BOWL LEFT TACKLE AND EVANS, though the best guard in the league, IS STILL JUST A GUARD! Left tackles make more. Who are we going to replace our reasonably price pro bowl tackle with? A 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round shot in the dark? We're trying to win now. When the Brees window closes...this success thing is over.

Technically Bushrod makes more money than Evans... but it's only because of the way his contract is structured. Usually when you give a large signing bonus, the first couple years of the contract carries a lower base salary. Don't be mistaken... Evans makes the big dollars. NFL contracts are tied into guaranteed money and signing bonuses, not a bunch of f aux money players won't see.

The whole damn defense! We need some CRIMINALS on defense. Not real criminals but criminals on the field. One that will knock the piss out of someone, fast as hell and take the ball away! We dont have that now and GREGG DUMBASS WILLIAMS cant seem to coach it.

I get your point, but I'm not sure you get my point... Of course left tackles are paid more than guards, but in relative terms Evans is the highest paid guard in the league (last time I checked) just about making the list of Top 100 highest paid players in the NFL.

Now do you honestly think that Bushrod deserves to be paid almost a third more than Evans for his services regardless of the position he plays and, furthermore, saying that the Saints are paying him very little in terms of left tackle money?

Which one is more important to the Saints' O-Line in your opinion... both protection and blocking-wise?