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And he's dirt cheap.

ScottF

Yep, Smith and Vilma were gone 5 minutes after they were hurt. They knew it, and we knew it. Harper and Greer were only slightly more surprising.
Those 4 players, combined, played in a total of 20 games (being generous w/ JV's cameo vs the Jets) and had 70 tackles.
We can probably find a way to replace that

TheOak

Seems like getting under the cap created more questions than we had when we were over the cap...

I figure it played out like, and is playing out close to this.

Sean looked at Rob and said - "Who do you not need to keep". Rob is a do it sort of guy and it took him about 7 minutes to compile his list. Mostly because we did fine with out all 4 being on the field, and I believe Rob Ryan is tired of having so many players on IR in his career. They are all 8+ year vets as well.

Harper missed games 3-9
Vilma played in 1 game
Smith missed the season
Greer missed the last 8 games

Payton got the list, made the cuts. Now he pines. But he isn't pining because of the salary cap, he is pining because he knows in his head he has to reformat his offense and rebuild it. What got us here, isn't going to get us there.

He needs a T and a C for the line at least.
He needs at least 2 WRs to compliment Colston/Stills.
He needs a place kicker.
He wants to keep Jimmy Graham but knows what that will mean.
He wants to keep all of his running backs but knows he cant, that luxury is gone.

I see Sproles, Graham, Ingram, DLP, and Moore, not returning.
For offense draft (in no particular order), WR, WR, C.

Thomas stays and takes on the Sproles roll (Probably why PT had so many receptions this year, testing), while K. Robinson, Collins, Cadet take on RB duties.

He is under the cap so he has plenty of time. Ingram, Sproles, Moore will be shopped for draft picks.

The dawn of a new age approaches. It has to, we will do no better next year if it doesn't.

Budsdrinker

Nope, not true. Fujita was gone in 2010 and Vilma and Lofton didn't play much together because of Vilma's suspension and injuries. Lofton was Vilma's replacement. Will Smith was asked to do many things in his tenure, put on weight to be a run stuffer, drop weight to be a pass rusher and he did all of that. I think Smith had a nice career with the Saints.

TheOak

Correct, Lofton was the only oddball out.

He was asked to do many things, and he did them. But not successfully.

Will Smith spent the season on IR, never made a home game to support his team on the sidelines. I know because I have him on my Instagram and I can show you what he was doing on game days. That is no leader, nor is it a 10m a year player.

SmashMouth

RaginCajun83

Happy to see Will Smith gone, he should of been cut after Lynch ran through the entire defense back in 2010. Just wish someone was still around to try and prove why he was so great just for the laughs it would bring me. Anyways really only the Greer release surprises me but when you are going to make that much while on IR for a team strapped for cash, it really isn't a surprise

Saintaintso

We must be about to make a few huge signings on defense. If Graham doesn't return ( he will ) well have even more cap space to improve in different ways ... Defense and Reciver preferably ... I'd Never guess our defense could be there with seattles and San frans yet behold ... We're two guys on defense away from having the best defense period ... My guess , Talib is one , the other can be acquired via draft ... Michael Sam would fit nicely ... He definitely would have something to prove we could steal him ...


I want baptiste in the draft ... And a monster at end or lb

Historically defensive players pan out better when drafted higher than offensive stars

Hell why not trade up for Clowney if he falls past 6 ? Let's build defense , I doubt Drew has 2 off years offensively

You Can't Say Impossible without first saying Im Possible ...

Danno

And this is a great illustration of why I laugh when someone says we're better than Falcon fans.

We aren't.

papz

Saints an estimated $2.6 million under cap - New Orleans Saints Blog - ESPN