PT not going after all?
 

This is encouraging to me. PT is still our best all-around back and we still need him. In my opinion.

Pierre Thomas’ agent says things are “status quo” with Saints | ProFootballTalk

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Things are always "status quo", until they stop being 'status quo". Teams were allowd to start talking to agents yesterday at noon, they can start talking and negotiating with players Tuesday...

Nothing would surprise me at this point... stay or go..

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Welcome back PT!

Your understudy at Illinois is hanging them up before you.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall to retire from NFL - ESPN

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Hope he stays. Still one of the most underrated running-backs in the NFL.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

I don't mind him staying. I still think we need to shorten this rotation and keep Mark Ingram on the field more often. Two back rotation. Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson (aka Trent Richardson) with the occasional Pierre Thomas (aka Eddie Lacy). I hate it had to be a Bama reference...yuck.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

I'm more than likely in the minority on this but I think it is time to make some moves with the roster. If we were going to keep a veteran running back around it would have been Sproles. If the idea is to improve our running game, and move to a power running game then Ingram and Robinson are the guys to go with. As much as I like Thomas, and what he has done for the organization, 3.7 yards a rush is 3.7 yards a rush. It just won't cut it moving forward.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

3.7 ypc behind an O-line that was always one snap away from getting Brees killed is good in my book.

Once the O-line is stabilized, PT will be back to cruisin'.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Not necessarily. PT is 30 now right? Bad time for running backs.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Ingram also has to pick up his game though. I think party why PT isn't going is not to put all our eggs in one basket.

Chances are they are going to find a diamond in the rough that they can just plug in... like they have time and time again it seems.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Not likely. Both Ingram and Robinson averaged a higher yards per carry on far fewer carries. I love Pierre but his time has come and gone. It happens to everyone.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Till Ingram and Robinson can prove they can pick up a blitz it would be the stupidest move the saints could make. look at what happened to drew last year. he got hammered like never before as a saint. now take his best blocking back away? well then again i was amazed the saints let the OL fall so far into the dumps since the super bowl, many saw it falling apart yet the saints did nothing.so what the heck lets get rid of a pT and pray to god drew makes through the season

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Hagan, I agree the offensive line has fallen in ability this past season. But Thomas is not going to make it any better if he is on the roster next season. I don't think I would have a problem with Thomas on the roster if his price tag was not as high as it is. If you are going to pay Thomas a couple of million, and he is not starting, I don't think it's the right way for a team in the cap situation that the Saints are in to utilize $2+million dollars. Consider their are potential openings at other positions as well, I'd rather see the Saints go all in on both Ingram and Robinson and take the $2m and use it to sign another corner and or another back like McCluster who fills the role that both Bush and Sproles filled the past 8 years.

I just think every dollar counts right now...

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Thomas is the best all around back on the team, he's the best blocking back, and he's probably the back Drew trusts the most. With questions about the line, and possible rookies starting we need to keep him to help with blitz pickups and protection.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

You're forgetting about pass catching. Those screen plays are a HUGE part of this offense and PT is probably the best screen back in the NFL.

I really liked what Ingram did late last year, but even at his best he is not a very good safety valve, much less dangerous on screen plays. We can't forget that on the Saints running backs are just as important in the passing game as they are running the ball.

I think Payton is very aware of this and that is why we will keep PT around.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Jack, lets take it a step futher... I agree the screen game is a big part of the Payton offense. Would you rather Thomas? Or a younger play maker in say a Dexter McCluster? Again, I think Khairy Robinson plays a much bigger role in this off-season. Where is his development, and what kind of hands does this kid have? We still don't know who this kid is, and what he really brings to the table.

Bill Parcells used the comparison of Curtis Martin with Robinson. If his game is similar, then I think Loomis and Payton have a pretty good idea as to what they have in Khairy.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

This game is all about matchups, when Loomis/Payton let Sproles who is arguably one of the biggest matchup people in the NFL go you can rest assured it wasn't a move they wanted to do or feel good about.

They are HARD against the cap.

A decision was made, one that involved Jimmy Graham in one hand and Sproles/Moore/PT in another.

You cant get young, keep veterans, draft talent, keep Graham, and get better all at the same time. There are limits to both Spending and Roster.. Something has to give.

I am shocked at how many people are shocked. There have been plenty of discussions about all of the mentioned players moving on this year and i know I wasn't the only one to read them or comment on them.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Saying that Robinson and Ingram averaged more yards per carry on far fewer carries kind of works against your own opinion of Thomas. Because that's just it... Those two guys had far fewer carries. I do very much like what Robinson brings to the table, and Ingram finally had a few good moments (still need to see more consistency out of him) but you don't know how they would have done with more carries.

Those guys tended to get more carries when games were out of hand and we had worn down the opposition, whereas Thomas was the guy being counted on to do the aforementioned wearing down. Plus he's a great receiver as opposed to Ingram being very one dimensional, and I frankly don't know yet what kind of receiver Robinson is.

PT is still very valuable at a cheap cost, in my opinion.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

I say trying to keep our best back is a no-brainer.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Our running game only just got going when PT stopped getting the ball. i love PT just as much as the next guy but he lost a step this year. Some argue he had his best year but ill argue it was his worst. Lowest YPC and lowest YPR of his career.

Part of losing Sproles and possibly PT is a changing philosophy. I think Payton looked back on the year and realized he was too predictable and most of that centered around formations and the backs he used in them. We need to get back to a strong PA which means a strong running game which needs a back that can pound the rock. Sproles was always a key that it was a passing play and Ingram was always the key that it was a run and when PT was in you keep an eye out for the screen. Far to predictable because of the way we used our backs. Now that Sproles and PT (maybe) are gone what do you key in on?

Re: PT not going after all?
 

I fear we have found a trade for PT. looking for a draft day deal if one is made. last year on a basically cheap contract and being one of the better all around backs in the nfl i would not be surprised.

I will stick by my guns and say that PT departure will hurt more than most people realize. If he does leave Drew will be wishing he stayed ever time he is peeling himself off the turf.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

PT is a great blocker!!! And he is by far our best blocking back. If our O-line doesn't improve he will be an tremendous asset again.
What we need is a veteran leading three young candidates in the last year of a reasonable contract. He is still shifty and strong. He is the perfect back for this rotation.

And I would trade Ingram in a heart beat then draft another back to keep them young and hungry......Possibly a draft day trade for Ingram.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

My friend, if we have to get rid of every back we have because they make us predictable, then that sounds like a play calling problem. I agree that we got too predictable with Ingram and Sproles. But in Sproles' first season with us they used him in the running game very well, also, and he had an awesome all around season. They stopped doing that when our o-line starting struggling (which really is our biggest problem on offense). Even though our line was bad, it was still a mistake to call so many screen plays to him, because of the predictability. With Ingram, he just hasn't been any kind of factor in the passing game, and really doesn't fit this team because of that. Pierre has never been predictable. He's been a very good all around back.

I disagree that we started running better when we stopped giving Thomas the ball. When did we stop giving him the ball? It is my recollection that we started running the ball better when we started committing to the run game more and our line started to play better.

I don't think there is a change in philosophy going on. I think there is a youth movement going on that will hopefully allow us to better execute what Payton's philosophy has been all along. I just happen to believe that Pierre Thomas is still useful to this team.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

PT had a severe fall off in carries and yards/carry after week 11 vs Atlanta, and he fell off the map after week 14.
Pierre Thomas 2013 Game Log - Pro-Football-Reference.com

He didn't play in the playoffs:
2013 New Orleans Saints Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com
Eagles - We put up 185 yards @5.1 YPC
Seahawks - We put up 108 yards @ 4.15 YPC

We ran better and more consistently in the playoffs. Not saying it was all on PT, but that is where the idea is coming from.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Mark Ingram will start this season for sure !

Re: PT not going after all?
 

That's interesting, I didn't remember that much of a drop in carries, but I remember he started running the ball well around the midway point of the season, along with everyone else. I'm not sure what the reason would be as to why he didn't get the ball. Generally if there was a hole he was going to find it. Couldn't always say the same about the rest of our backs.

Nevertheless, I still like his versatility as a rotational guy. I'd hold onto him going into camp, at least, and if someone else emerges as a quality third back, then maybe release PT if he happens to struggle.

Re: PT not going after all?
 

Re: PT not going after all?
 

WE'RE GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER