WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

METAIRIE, La. — Nick Toon is neither a rookie nor a veteran.

He’s neither experienced nor inexperienced.

And he’s also not assured of a roster spot with the New Orleans Saints, the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft out of Wisconsin.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound receiver was having what appeared to be a standout training camp last August when a foot injury sent him to the injured reserve list.

Now in his second minicamp, he’s not looking at roster spots as much as he’s looking for positives.

“Obviously I’m still a young guy,” said Toon, all of 24 years old. “That’s what it boils down to. … Still have a lot to learn. Obviously last year was beneficial in terms of being able to be here, be around the guys and get acclimated to this level and get acclimated to the offense.”

Yet, his maturity stood out when asked about the Saints drafting another receiver in April’s draft. For some, especially other young receivers, that could have set off a rash of negative thoughts.

For Toon, it was merely the selection of another teammate.

“Kenny is a great player,” Toon said of Kenny Stills, whom the Saints took in the fifth round this year. “He had a great collegiate career. He’s a great addition to the room and we’re happy to have him.”

Toon wasn’t too bad in college, either. The son of former Pro Bowler Al Toon finished his four years at Wisconsin with 171 catches for 2,447 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was a second-team all-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2011, his senior season.

But that was in the past and now he’s battling for the one receiver position that’s open this year for a team that has had little turnover there since 2006. New Orleans didn’t re-sign Devery Henderson, leaving the team with a battle for the spot he held down for nearly nine seasons.


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Saints WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him.

Re: Nick Toon...
 

I hope he can step up this year. We need all the young guys we can get.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

Toon, it's time to go to work!

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

It is a bad break to get put on IR your first season. Hopefully he makes the roster and can contribute this year.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

I've been optimistic about Toon from day one. His dad definetely one of the best ever. Like this post states though he's fighting for a spot at a deep position.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

Nick Toon is neither a rookie nor a veteran. He just off his Red Shirt year. Time to go make the money.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

I really hope Toon and Stills can develop for us. I'm a little worried about our WR corps at the moment thou.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

If Toon can stay healthy, something he never managed to do in college or last year for the Saints, he can contribute. He has the skills. He's in the perfect spot with the Saints, Payton, and Brees having only Colston and Moore locked in ahead of him on the depth chart. It's going to be a fun and interesting training camp.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

Learning the play book can't save you........but it does give you a leg up on the competition.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

Toon will have to step in for Marques Colston if, knock on wood, something happens to Colston injury-wise.

They are basically the same type of receiver so Toon had better pick Colston's brain, and watch him carefully during TC.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

The Saints do seem to be rearming themselves with the recent drafts - Toon to eventually take over for Colston, Stills for Moore, and Morgan for Meachem.

Hopefully these young guys can grow into even close to the guys they'd be taking over, that would certainly give Saints the receiving tools to continue to be great under SP.

Oh, and Tanner has looked pretty good in the past, so there might be something in there too.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

big things for nick this year

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

It would great to see him go off & have a crazybawesome year. Then we could call him Looney Tune

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

In New Orleans we call it Rookie Injured Reserve, other teams call it "a redshirt first year"...

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

Yep, you can guess the IR candidates based on the last 2 weeks of pre-season. Anyone rook who stubbs a toe or tweaks an ankle is on the list.

Re: WR Toon healthy, says IR season was beneficial to him
 

LOL Yes, indeed