Name: Ben Talley
From: DeRidder, La.

Hey Mike. Enjoy reading your work and SaintsReport. I am also looking forward to getting your draft guide this year. Have you heard anything that leads you to believe that Tom Modrak will be brought in to take over all player personnel? To me, that would be a very good, positive signing. Also, have you heard anything on the Saints possibly getting rid of Aaron Brooks either by trade or release? As always, keep up the excellent work and thanks for all of your time and effort.


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From: Mike Detillier
To: Ben Talley
Date: 2/15/05

Ben, I haven't heard of any move this team will make as far as personnel people are concerned. The word is that no move will be made until after the April draft. I would love to see Tom Modrak have a position with this club and I know he and Haslett have a good relationship, but I have heard nothing about making a move for him. You can bet something as for as a shakeup in the scouting department will happen, but not until after the draft.

Ben, The Saints are going to keep Aaron Brooks. Now, they would like to bring in a veteran QB. to sub him or as they say push him, but Brooks will be on this club in 2005 and as the starter, as long as he stays healthy.

Elevating Mike Sheppard to offensive coordinator should tell us the story that they want to keep Brooks and not have him learn a new offensive scheme. The thing that bothers me with Brooks and I am repeating myself here because I have said this before, that they just have treated Aaron Brooks with "kit-gloves" because he is sensitive to criticism, but to me that makes you a tougher player. The one problem with this regime is that they rarely make a personnel move, unless it's because of injury. We would have never seen the defensive lineup we saw late last season until the injuries started to take their toll. Aaron is a talented player, but he doesn't take the blame if things go wrong and he is quick to shift the blame and that has caused some friction between himself and some of his teammates. It's the nature of the position as a QB., but you have to take the responsibility yourself and not point that finger at someone else. To be honest I believe this team will bring in a veteran QB. not to push Brooks, but because Todd Bouman has been so disappointing. Mike Sheppard likes the long range potential of young Kliff Kingsbury, but this team wants to bring in a veteran. Aaron Brooks will be the Saints starter in 2005.

Thanks Ben and take care..

The top offensive tackles are:

Alex Barron Florida State- Very athletic tackle, great size, quick feet and an excellent pass blocker. He is not a very motivated performer and he lacks great focus. Has Pro-Bowl skills, but he is must become more self-motivated.

Jammal Brown- Oklahoma- Huge right tackle, seems to always be on balance and he adjusts well to movement up-front. He is not an overly aggressive performer and he must upgrade his pass protection skills.

Khalif Barnes- Washington- Probably the most athletic tackle in the draft. Quick feet, very good pass protector and good lateral movement. Was very impressive in Mobile. Didn\'t play for about ½ of the 2004 season due to a broken wrist. Needs to physically get stronger and develop a better feel for blowing out linemen on running plays. May have well propelled himself into the 1st round due to his excellent showing at the Senior Bowl.

Adam Terry- Syracuse- Still a young pup, but he has great size and quick movement skills for a 320-pounder. Tough guy, who plays with a chip on his shoulder. Does a nice job punching out and locking out defenders. Technically he is still rough around the edges, but he looks like a real keeper and someone that could be a real good NFL starter.

Adam Snyder- Oregon- Versatile OL., who go also project to the guard spot. Aggressive performer, who is real strong at the point of attack on running plays. Shows some real power in the lower-body. Needs work on his pass protection techniques and he needs to upgrade his upper-body strength.

Jeremy Parquet- USM- Huge right tackle prospect, who could be a dominant run blocker, if he can raise the intensity mark. Does a good job pulling out and leading the way on sweeps and traps.

Long-armed tackle, who knows how to tie up defenders. Needs to add some strength and get in better physical shape.

Wesley Britt- Alabama- Got hurt in Mobile, stress fracture in his leg, but he has excellent size and he is a good position-type blocker. Has played left tackle in college, but he looks more like a right tackle in the NFL. Good strong run blocker. Needs work on his foot work and his pass protection techniques. If he gets his hands on a defender the play is over, but the real quick DE\'s have given him trouble.

Brad, the draft guide will be mailed out in late March..
Thanks again..

On Deuce, agent sources tell me they are not close to a long term deal. Money, as usual, is the problem. I suspect this is why all this talk is going around about bringing in another back to challenge Deuce. This makes no sense other than they are having trouble in negotiations. I have always thought the world of McAllister and he certainly has shown he is the \"franchise\" when healthy, but right now I am being told they are not close in negotiations. Hopefully that will change and it will not be a distraction for 2005 for Deuce. Right now I am not overly optimistic on a long-term deal anytime soon.

So Deuce plays out this year, if his conditioning is off or he does not return to 2003 form but he has value, we trade him, if there are better options available. RBs seem easier to come by than QBs though. Next year we may have a shot at Reggie Bush in the draft or some other stud. Deuce like anyone else needs to be realistic about what he is bringing to the table and what his demands should be. If he goes through next year injury free and produces, pay him, but keep the weight clause. That is now a must in any contract signed in New Orleans.

well im sorry if you can be released before your contract is done and the team doesnt have to pay out the entire contract then players have the right to ask for another contract with one year to go. they have every right. this is how they earn a living. how can you say the players should play out their contract, and then at the time say that a team can let theese guys go without paying thier enire contract, that doesnt make much sense to me. sorry.