ChrisXVI

It's funny because I was thinking yesterday about how we really should move Jenkins back to corner because it's just not working out having him play safety. You guys read my mind! I want to see Quddus get a shot starting at safety. I can't put my finger on it, but I think he has some potential.

jeanpierre

Information (r) per Spotrac

2013 New Orleans Saints Free Agent Tracker

2013 Free Agents:

Jermon Bushrod, T, UFA
Rafael Bush, S, UFA
Jonathan Casillas, LB, UFA
Chase Daniel, QB, UFA
Alex Daniels, DT, UFA
Brian De La Puente, C, RFA
Justin Drescher, C, RFA
Sedrick Ellis, DT, UFA
Junior Galette, DE, RFA
Devery Henderson, WR , UFR
Michael Higgins, TE, UFA
Nick Hixon, CB, UFA
Ramon Humber, LB, UFA
Chris Ivory, RB, RFA
Elbert Mack, CB, UFA
Turk McBride, DE, UFA
Eric Olsen, G, RFA
William Robinson, T, UFA
Courtney Roby, WR, UFA
Scott Shanle, LB, UFA

jeanpierre

We can't have Drew Brees' level of play at all positions with a salary cap; the guy still shows up and busts his ass, even when he does whiff on plays; but his age and salary demands will get many what they wished for...

His knees are old, specifically, he has a degenerative condition that has been with him since HS; he's still a playmaker, he just has a ceiling on his total number of plays which doesn't justitify his salary hit; a smart guy and knows as painful to face this reality than the knee condition he lives with everyday; I for one want him back with limited snaps and a salary that doesn't embarrass him but allows him to finish as a Saint and allows the team add'l talent...


I want everyone to pay attention to Ellis and learn that when you have a lot of money and don't get what you want (Glenn Dorsey) you should back away rather than compounding your pain with a waste of add'l draft picks and money to try and polish a turd into a gold nugget...

He has played poorly and I think his mental state (and I'm not calling him dumb) is better suited as a Cornerback or a Strong Safety; he has taken bad angles, but don't confuse him with the other guy...

I have been critical of Smith; and he seems to be a contract guy who is smart enough to get his stats in bunches against inferior talent - he's a classic case of paying a tier 2 salary to a defender that has slightly better stats than many, but is very inconsistent as he really no better than the rank and file in the league...

And he probably knows this; but he's still out there, but his groin yet again because he a team player; I want him back as prior to Stinchcomb leaving, he was the best utility lineman in the league...

I don't lay all of this disappointment at Ingram's feet; when you've got a 100 million dollar quarterback, 40 million dollar receiver, a soon to be highest paid TE in Jimmy Graham, Darren Sproles - Do you really think we're committed to the run?!?

The Danger here is that Starting Left Tackles, despite our system, are a premium in this league; question is - are we stuck overpaying for Bushrod to protect the investment in Brees?!?

De La Puenta? Are you kidding? You think we can afford anyone else? Besides, whatever liabilities he may have, the guard investment and quick release QB will hide same; and I think he's been pretty solid and he did win the job in training camp last year...

Harper? As an SEC fan and now that Hat with Wind Blows Thru Ears has taken LSU out of it, yet again, I'm pulling for Bama and don't want to upset my Alabama brothers about my disgust in a guy who's not only a slow-footed, over-paid, tired-@$$ excuse of a defensive back, but is also afraid of the ball and tackling...

P Rob? He has definitely improved; but he wasn't a first rounder and he didn't pick himself; but who was complaining about the FO dropping the ball after we had just had Lombardi Gras; this is what happens when you get 'happy'...

Hawthorne? Has a great resume; he can play, but what player will emerge from this forgettable season?!?

Matt Giordano, S (Really want this guy on our squad)
Kenny Phillips, S (Great size, NY just didn't agree with 'em)
Jairus Byrd, S (most expensive of this bunch)

Glenn Dorsey, DE (Get him home, get some gumbo in him, and wouldn't it be ironic that...)
Jaqua Parker, DE (Cleveland's got some good defenders and with that offense, he'll be in great shape)

Andre Smith, T (Talent is there, He's Older, He's from AL, Our Track Record w/OL)
Ryan Clady, T (I know, it was just a thought)

Danario Alexander, WR (This would make the passing game nearly unstoppable with the sheer size...

Rolando McClain, LB (He's a bad man...)

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

mutineer10

Now that our playoff hopes are almost certainly dashed, it would be a fine time to get the young guys some playing time. The salary-cap cock is coming home to roost, and - for good or ill - we're gonna lose a good many of those UFA's.

We've gotta get better in the trenches, but heck knows how we're supposed to do that on the cheap. I wouldn't cry if both starting OT's depart, but - no matter what Halo says - we can't just click over to Craigslist and pick up quality starters.

Jake Long, Ryan Clady & Branden Albert will be FA's next season, but are far outta our price range. The quality 2nd-tier guys come with issues: Sebastian Vollmer (injuries), Sam Baker (injuries), Andre Smith (chili cheese fries with extra bacon), etc.

Things are much the same on the DL side. Elite guys like Dwight Freeney, Osi Umenyiora, and Cliff Avril won't get a sniff from us. Randy Starks and Henry Melton are interesting, but it's doubtful their teams will let them go. Glenn Dorsey is a possibility, if an unexciting one ...

EDIT: Here's a nice little link to some 2013 FA's:

2013 NFL Free Agents

SapperSaint

I am going to skip the Shales and Will Smith's.

Ingram. How many more years does PT have? That is the question. You put Ingram on any other team and he starts every game and becomes a Fantasy football star over night and the Saints look like the dumbest team for letting him go. He needs to play every to every other down. He needs to work and he's not getting it. He is a good RB; he just doesn't get to play a lot. The person that is holding him back is Sproles.

I say we keep him.

"We are number one. All others are number two, or lower."
-The Sphinx
http://blackandgold.com/groups/28-ou...tsman-s-corner

jeanpierre

And Ivory is holding back Sproles and PT is holding back Ivory - first we run out of RB in a playoff game and then we have so many that our OC is like a Mom with six kids trying to share the love...

Marlboro Man

I agree with most of your selections but I'd add Bushrod and De Le Puenta. While I think De Le Puenta has done a fair job, he's too small to really contribute in the run game and too short to do a good job of keeping the d-linemen's hands down so they can't bat down Drew's passes. Bushrod has been borderline for 3 years now and has been needing to be replaced. I think Brown and the next guy are pretty good RT's so I'd leave that alone right now.

We all know that we can't realistically replace every player we want or need to replace so we're going to still have some of these players on the team next year. So far, I'm disappointed that Tennant hasn't made enough progress to move into the starting lineup so it's time to upgrade. Our defense is still the area that needs the most improvement so I still say make our move in the first round on the defensive side of the ball. We've been very good and proven we can pick outstanding o-linemen in rounds 4-6 so I'd say we need to look for an impact DE or DT with our first pick, then LB, then CB/S and then look to the o-line. JMHO

D_it_up

Originally Posted by jeanpierre

Information (r) per Spotrac

2013 New Orleans Saints Free Agent Tracker

Added my thoughts within the quote of the previous post.

FinSaint

Since Ivory is RFA, the Saints can just hand him the tender without him being able to even have any contact with other teams, which is why I'm fairly certain he'll be re-signed by the Saints.

Nemesis

Yet the Colts were perennial playoff threats, sporting a top 3 winning percentage over the last decade...