Budsdrinker

Yeah, Long will want too much money, Winston is better suited for RT.
McKinnie is intriguing but he really only played half the year last year but played well. He may also want too much money but I would take a look. I would like to take a look at drafting Terron Armstead. He might last until the 3rd round.

xan

Face it. We blew our wad overpaying for marginal players in upfront restructured contracts in the hopes of "keeping the band together" when we got incredibly lucky to win that SB in the first place with that crew.

There are too many players on the team who would be backups or look squadders on other teams that start for us because we just can't let go of "popular" players who show glimpses of talent during practice.

We can't afford FA and we have little to trade due to the Goodell screwing. we're in a holding pattern until we can jettison the deadweight over the next three years.

Calvin: "I wish I was a Tiger."
Hobbes: "Common lament."

FinSaint

I'd like to see Winston brought into the fold if he won't brake the bank and another OT from the draft to develop into a starting LT from 2014 onward if not earlier.

voodooido

Not quite ure we have a choice now. OT in the first is 75% chance now. Unless they go big and get Jake.

lee909

Unless we move up we won't get any of the top three tackles.The rest are far to much of a reach to take at 15.
I would go after a serviceable vet and go all out next year for one of the top two tackles.Too many hrs and no second rounder to play with this year.

voodooido

I agree with the OT's not being there. Maybe trade back into the 2nd and pick up a 3rd to go with it. It seems a stud may not be what we need. With glaring needs at OT, DT, SS and CB we need value with extra picks

lee909

It would be nice if we could pick up both Winfield and Cox in FA.Sort the secondary out in one go then go for the pass rusher & OL/DL in the draft.

FinSaint

I don't how affordable Winfield will be since he refused to renegotiate his contract with Vikes in order stay with the team while taking a pay cut.

I know many here don't think too fondly of the Vikes, but Winfield hadn't had any issues with the FO or coaching staff prior to this and I've never seen a report saying he was unhappy in Minnesota.

He'll probably end up in Seattle, since they seem to be building the Seattle Vikings over there.

SaintsBro

Sheez louise. Do we really need to think like this? Sorry to GO OFF on you like this, but let's review:

2006-2011 - 3rd best winning record in NFL overall
2006-2011 - 67 victories during this period, with just one NFC team securing more wins
2006-2011 3rd best road record in the entire NFL
2009-2011 - tied for best overall record in NFL
2008, 2009 and 2011, first in scoring
2012 - #2 offense in NFL, yardage
2012 - #1 offense in NFL, passing
2012 - #3 offense in NFL, scoring


2 Pro Bowlers 2009
7 Pro Bowlers 2010
5 Pro Bowlers 2011
2 Pro Bowlers 2012

5-3 in the post season
three division titles
2 wild card appearances
3 playoff appearances in a row
11+ wins in 3 consecutive seasons
.500 or below in 3 seasons

That's "incredibly lucky"?

We had ONE bad year, my friend. And even that year wasn't that "off" from normal, except in defense (which was horrible but wasn't really that off, either) and of course, the wins column. And we went 7-9 WITH NO COACH.

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Now let's look at the Saints disappointing ".500 or below" seasons under Payton - we've had 3 of them.

During the same period, 2006-2012, the Ravens (a very winning team) had only 1 sub-.500 season, 5-11 in 2007. But they had another that was close to .500, a 9-7 record in 2009. And all three of the Saints' ".500 or below" seasons were either 8-8 or 7-9. So, is there really that much difference there, over time, between the two clubs performance? Three middling break-even seasons to two? Are their fans sitting around in their forums in Baltimore, moping about how they "got lucky" to have one of the best overall records in football, year in and year out? Come on, man -- we have a really good freaking team.

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Teams With Most Regular Season wins 2009-2012 (including this past year, no Payton):

Patriots - 49
Packers - 47
Falcons - 45
Saints - 44
Ravens - 43
Steelers - 41
San Fran - 38
Giants - 36
etc.

We're "lucky"?

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And "keeping the band together"? Let's look at that:

Number of Super Bowl offensive starters still on roster = 5 = less than 50%
Number of Super Bowl defensive starters still on roster = 5 = less than 50%
No. of Super Bowl substitution/backup players still on roster = 13 out of 53 = much less than 50%

Number of Super Bowl roster, offensive starters who left the team for more money elsewhere: 6
Number of Super Bowl roster, defensive starters who left the team for more money: 2 definitely, but really more like 5 -- Fujita and Porter, but there's also McCray, Usama Young & Hargrove, who DID leave and sign elsewhere. You can't get much more freaking "popular" with the fans than Tracy Porter, and the front office apparently had no problem letting HIM leave.

Number of Super Bowl Roster, defensive starters who stayed for less money: 2, maybe actually 3...I don't know for sure if Sharper stayed in 2010 for more or less money, but he stayed only one more year, and it could easily have been only the bare vet minimum since they didn't "disclose" the terms.

So...they held onto 5 defensive guys, 2 of which just re-signed for less, and they lost 6 to other teams ...that's keeping the band together?

I guess this winning stuff was all a mirage. It was just dumb luck.

*sigh *