TreyThomas

According to Pro Football Focus, Bushrod has allowed more combined sacks, hits and hurries than any available offensive lineman over the past two years. While Jay Cutler has a mobility edge on Drew Brees, the latter has a superior pocket presence with a quicker release. Brees often covered for Bushrod's weakness against speed rushers.

After reading this, I'd say we couldn't get much worse. Bushrod is a product of Brees, not the other way around. On to the next one, so that in 3-4 years, they can be overpaid, too.

rezburna

Bushrod was good. The Bears overpaid, but Bush is good. People are so used to it now that they don't realize Drew has a lot of moments where he holds the ball forever. Quick release doesn't matter when you stand back there 5-8 seconds waiting on the big play. Now Strief is a different story....

burningmetal

When Brees holds the ball too long he gets sacked. When he's not holding it too long he either uses the quick release or steps up in the pocket. He has always had some of the best pocket awareness in the game, though it waned a lot this past year. It's hard to give Bushrod or any other tackle credit for making Brees run for his life, or get sacked if he decides to hold it too long.

I've been saying it since his first start. He's not a total push over like Charles Brown, but he isn't a true starter either. Drew, the system and all of the chipping assignments that were used to help, are what masked Bushrod's weaknesses.

As for his pro bowl selections. People tend to pick players from the best teams. It's a lazy excuse many use to avoid doing any homework. They just go "oh, look, this guy was the starting left tackle on the best offense in the league, so he must be good". They don't bother to watch film on how hard the team works to patch up both of our tackles. I would rather have him then the other options we have on our roster, but I'[m pretty sure we can find someone out there who at least won't be worse than Bushrod.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

TreyThomas

I disagree. Brees may hold it too long at times, but nothing compared to other QB's, like let's say, Cutler. Allowing more combined sacks,
hits and hurries than any available offensive lineman over the past two years is a major red flag in my opinion. No loss here.

rezburna

He would usually have the opponents best pass rusher, so on those rare occasions when he wanted to hold the ball forever, he'd sometimes have to pay for it. We won the Super Bowl with Bushrod. He was good. He can be replaced, but this loss hurts a bit

TheOak

Be careful defining everyone on a Super Bowl Winning team as good... That was also 4 years ago... Tike takes its toll on players.

Trent Dilfer has a SB ring...

rezburna

he went up against Freeney and Mathis, and did his thing. Just sayin'...

TheOak

In 2009 this is 2013. Should we try to get Willie Roaf under contract this season? He was better.

alleycat_126

Cutler has the balls of the immortals to keep getting back up..... His offensive line has held together by Elmers glue and pieces of duct tape..... Hell even our DL who had never been known to get after the qb posted six sacks on there OL a few years ago. Have you seen the bags under Cutler's eyes in his NFL commercial.... He ain't sleeping, he's having nightmares of getting sacked again, and again!!!! They needed to over pay, Bush might not be perfect, but he just may be the best starting OL they have right now!!!!

Cruize

Glad for Bushrod. He got paid. He was a very solid starter for the Saints. People seem to forget the revolving door the Saints had at RT last year. Now, they have to find a stater at LT along with the RT uncertainty. The loss of Nicks hurt last year and the loss of Bushrod will hurt this year unless the Saints find a gem in the draft. Being without a 2nd rounder and with the needs on the defense, it's not going to be easy to do.