Rating: (0 votes - average)

The New Orleans Saints are on the verge of bringing back a veteran from their Super Bowl XLIV championship team.

The Saints are expected to sign free agent center Jonathan Goodwin as the two sides are working on a deal Monday, according to a source. Nothing is set in stone, but chances are that Goodwin will be back with the Saints this week, the source added. NFL Network first reported the story.

Goodwin, who played for the Saints from 2006-10, has been linked to New Orleans since the San Francisco 49ers chose not to re-up his contract after he became an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Those whispers only became more incessant when the Saints brought in Goodwin for a visit April 16.

Goodwin, 35, will bring a veteran presence to a position thin on depth with Brian de la Puente signing with the Bears this offseason. The Saints chose not to take a center in the 2014 draft, leaving them with only Tim Lelito, a second-year swing lineman who filled in Jahri Evans for two games at guard last season.



Read more: New Orleans Saints expected to sign center Jonathan Goodwin, source says | NOLA.com

we all expected this to happen sooner or later

lee909

Good
The depth on the line was a massive worry. One injury at guard and we were in bad shape

brees84

Good. O-line depth. He may not start but he is much needed vet presence.

Danno

Yep, he's simply insurance against injuries and setbacks in Lelito's development.

My guess is he's here to learn the new system and get acquainted with the new players.

He'll be a final cut and possibly resigned after week one to avoid guaranteeing his entire salary for the season.

Lets just hope he doesn't go all Olin Kreutz on us.

biloxi-indian

Mike Triplett ‏@MikeTriplett · 3m
#Saints and Jonathan Goodwin have agreed to deal, per league source. Terms not disclosed. He should officially sign on Tuesday.

|Mitch|

Wonder if he can beat out either Lelito or Armstrong to start?

exile

Welcome back big guy. My money is on him being our starting C. Drew spoke highly of him a fees weeks ago.

Jack Vegas

IMO, he is washed up. I think he stays on the roster as a depth guy who knows the offense, but if he starts we will have serious problems in the middle.

exile

How is he washed up Vegas? He is only 35 and played great for the past 8 years. No major injuries that I remember. Maybe I'm missing something. I'm not as big a Lelito fan as some Saints fans.

Jack Vegas

A. "Only 35"...35 is ancient for a football player, even an o-linemen.

B. Ask 49ers fans what they think of Goodwin's performance the last 2 seasons.

Jonathan Goodwin is washed up - SportsHoopla.com Sports Forums

"This guy needs to go. He used to at least run-block relatively well, but he doesn't even do that any more. His play has been lacking ever since he came to SF, and now it's just downright bad. He's drafting behind Iupati & Boone. The guy has one foot in retirement IMO. He needs to go. Now. Not next week. He's washed up."

"He's washed up like Randy Moss was last year."

"Kilgore will be the starter next season and Goodwin will be gone, no worries."

"I agree its time to let kilgore take the job"

"Agreed Goodwin should have been cut and the cap savings gone towards signing a FA WR to fill in for Crabtree and if Kilgore or Looney can't take over at center by now and get the job done they can both go as well."

"Good I hope so, because if I have to see Goodwin poor snapping for another year I will scream"

"The OL would be an unstoppable force with a good C."

"Remember how he killed the first drive in the Cardinals game? 3rd down, two rushers over top of him and he passed both of them to Gore and went ahead and tried to help Boone with a double team but pretty much just ended up standing by himself while Kap got sacked."

"How do you have two rushers right in front of you and then decide to block neither of them because you think it is a better idea to go after the guy Boone is engaged with?"