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Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

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About a month ago, we opined in the "Tip Sheet' that teams seeking a proven pass rusher in free agency might do well to look at New Orleans veteran end Darren Howard. The assessment was based on the supposition that the Saints, who used the "franchise" marker to keep Howard around in 2004, wouldn't exercise the tag again on him. And that with former first-round ends Charles Grant and Will Smith as the starters, and Howard relegated to playing tackle over the second half of the season, New Orleans would not attempt to retain the five-year veteran. And now we say: Oops. It now seems, we have learned, that the Saints might slap the franchise tag on Howard for a second consecutive year, with no intentions of signing him to a long-term deal. It will cost the Saints a whopping $7.8 million (20 percent more than his "franchise" qualifying offer from a year ago) to "tag" Howard, but that seems to be the direction the club is headed. Despite just 12 starts in '04, and having lost time to injury, Howard still posted a team-best 11 sacks, tying his career high. Its glut of defensive ends aside, New Orleans realizes how tough it is to find proven pass rushers, and how you can never have enough of them.

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Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

This could be a way of getting something for him. If they put the tag on him, they could make a trade.

I\'d like to see him stay around, but he must be asking for some crazy amount.

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

If Benson is as cheap as they say, no way this will happen. ;)

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

If we \"tag\" him, he\'ll be harder to trade. Commanding such a large salary and an injury prone history will make him hard to dish.

If I had to bet, I say we\'d try to set up a deal for him, then sign him for something reasonable to the team who wants him.

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

We can\'t trade him unless we tag him Kool cause he is unrestricted. If we sign him, we will be responsible for the bonus associated with signing him. Also, if we were to tag him, I guarantee another team will have a deal on the table, and a contract ready. He is not guaranteesd the tagged salary once he is traded and his new team can work out a new contract, which I am sure again will be worked out before they decided to tag him. The Saints, hopefully, aren\'t dumb enough to blindly tag him.

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

If he is traded, can\'t the other team work a new deal for him?

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

This is how things have to work in order for us to trade Howard.

1. We MUST tag him.

2. We seek and find a trade partner.

3. Howard agrees to sign a deal with the new team.

4. We make the trade and Howard signs with the new team.

It all starts with tagging him. If not, he will walk on March 2, and we will get no compensation.

If we tag him and cannot find a trade partner, we have two choices. Keep him at the monster salary or remove the tag and let him go. (There is a deadline for doing this but I don\'t know what it is.)

My opinion is that there is no way that we should not use the tag. To let him walk without even trying to get compensation would be rediculous.

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

Isn\'t that what I said.? ;)

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

Yeah, well you can kiss my :o ....j/k.

We\'ve both said this before, but it\'s not registering with everyone. It\'s not even opinion really. Fact is: tag him or get nothing for him.

Len Pasquarelli on Darren Howard

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If Benson is as cheap as they say, no way this will happen.

Come now Danno - I know you recognize the difference b/w spending on players (within the cap - $ that he will spend anyway), and $ that he spends on his own.