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It's easy to gauge the New Orleans Saints' annual in-season performance. The win-loss column tells us all we need to know.

You are what your record says you are, as Bill Parcells once famously said.

The offseason is not quite as clear. There's no concrete way to determine a team's success rate in coaching hires and/or player procurement. The results are more nuanced and nebulous.

But the two seasons go hand in hand. Rarely does a team win on the field in the fall without winning off of it in the spring. It's when coaches are hired, free agents are signed, rookies are drafted and veterans are acquired via trade.

This offseason, which for the Saints began the Sunday after a 23-15 loss to Seattle in the NFC divisional playoffs, is critically important to their immediate future.

Read more: This offseason critical for the New Orleans Saints' immediate future | NOLA.com

saintsfan1976

Having Sean Payton back will keep me glued to the internet for news all offseason.

halloween 65

I wouldn't mind us getting another OLB in free agency. Aurthor Moats- Buffalo Bills. I think this guy at the least would provide excellent depth, possible break-out year. I wanted him here before he went to Buffalo.

lee909

We cant re-sign all them players and get them under the cap.
The Brees replacement is in place in Griffin

ssvnewman

I do think we need to address the future quarterback of the Saints but would love to wait one more year to draft the new quarterback. There is a young man at Mississippi State who is a dual threat quarterback and comes from Louisana . He will be a junior this year and is going to be putting up some big numbers with his whole offensive team returning. He is a big man, reminds a lot of people of Scam but checks his ego at the door! 6'4" and about 240 and runs like a rabbit and had a very strong arm! With a year or maybe two of Drew instructing him, I have no doubt he could be a winner for us for many years to come. Put him with a more mature Robinson as a RB and we would see those scoring games in the 30's and 40's every Sunday. Let's face it, a dual threat quarterback is the next big step in football and if you do not have one then you will be sitting home during the playoffs. This is just a suggestion, Sean, but do watch for Dak Prescott in 2014!!!

Danno

Drews replacement is in high school.

Why do people keep trying to replace Drew 5 years earlier than necessary?

Utah_Saint

Because a lot of people are convinced he doesn't have 5 more years. I myself believe he's got 5 seasons left in him, but I understand why others might not. 40 is pretty old for a quarterback. Troy Aikman retired at 34, Marino 38, Joe Montana 38.

On the other hand Vinnie Testaverde played until he was 44.

We'll see.

halloween 65

I'm one that don't believe Brees has 5 more years. I think 2 possibly 3 at the most and be effective. I think Payton will go with Griffin after Brees if Payton stays after Brees goes.

The Dude

Luckily we don't have a whole lot to do besides add some to our offensive line. Our D is full of young talent and was awesome in spite of the fact that our bigger named free agents didn't even see week one. I think Morgan is our deep threat and we are loaded at running back. Give Brees the protection he needs and open holes for the run game and it extends Drews career by a couple of years. We are either going to be division winners or wild cards at the very least as long as Drew and Sean are here

Danno

And Brady and Manning are 2 and 3 years older than him right now. Is this their last year? Both look like they can play a couple more. And now that 99.9 % of the season is touch football on QB's their NFL life spans should increase.

I have seen zero evidence that age has started catching up to Drew Brees.