Joker

I can agree with that assessment, don't really agree with your opinion on big twinkie (Ellis) but it's yours and you're entitled to it.

Papa Voodoo

I bet Sean could get really creative with Tebow and be successful. The Pats as well. Not saying we should sign him, but it would be interesting.

jeanpierre

Even If Ellis were to pay back money he stole, and that would increase available cap spending money, I'm not sure I want to see him in the black and gold...

saintsfan1976

The same has been said about Will Smith over the years. He adds value, just like Ellis could.

Seer1

Between the two, I'd take Smith hands down.

burningmetal

No disrespect man, but you should go a little further back in this thread to see where I'm coming from. I said he failed to make the defense better, which is what he's supposed to do no matter the circumstance, and he deserves blame for that. The whole reason I'm talking about him is because I'm tired of everyone defending poor player performance and putting it all on him. Most of these players were already bad, or on a severe decline (i.e Smith, Vilma, Greer).

There's no excuse for being the worst defense in the history of the league. But these weren't Spags' players, and giving him one year to work with them (plus, an historically horrific off-season) didn't help him. I'm fine with the change the Saints made. I'm just not fine with people acting like these players weren't bad to begin with.

I disagree that Spags had no credentials of coaching defense outside of New York. He had very respectable defenses in St. Louis with less talent (you might remember what they did to us in '11).

And while no one denies the front 4 talent he had in New York, they haven't been the same since he left, and have had basically the exact same rotation, minus Strahan who was at that point probably their 3rd best lineman. What talent did they have past the defensive line? That team started the year horribly, couldn't cover a sleeping baby with a blanket, and he made some adjustments that completely turned them around. I surely didn't say Steve did a GOOD job here. I'm saying stop pawning everything off on him.

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

FinSaint

I couldn't agree more with that sentiment.

Shoe.

Just my opinion, but trying to pin last year's "performance" on just one thing or one person is a mistake. Last year had some 'perfect storm' qualities to it

Budsdrinker

I'm fine with vet minimum. Very few successful runs against us were up the middle. Most were bounced outside where it was more DE or LB responsibility.
So Ellis was decent, has better numbers than Dorsey and some people still wanted us to go after him.

Utah_Saint

I think he's worth the vet minimum. Probably a little more. I don't think the Saints would find better for that kind of money. I'm sure there will be camp bodies that he'll have to prove himself against.