The Ute Question
 

the more i have looked, the more i see the possibility of alex smith still being on the board at pick #16. the largest factors as i see them-
*SF- neither rodgers or smith are true #1 choices. the best for that in this draft are dj, rolle, and benson. i think they will feel much more comfortable acquiring another fa qb and going with one of those others. also there is the possibility of lienart going in the supplemental draft which they would be faves to get.
MIA- only slight possibility, rb fits better, committed to a year of feeley
CLE- the next biggest team decision. i think crennel knows the importance of D. if rolle or dj are here he goes with the best player and doesn't stretch for a qb here.
ARZ- if top 3 rb's are gone i don't see how green could pass on rodgers or smith

every other team either has a qb they are committed to (chi, tb, tn, min, det, sd, hou, caro, kc) or wash & dal are pushing to win with what they have and go for needs.

i have read increasing reports of the possibility of the saints moving brooks (sf, clev, etc.). that would make the decision no-brainer. but if no change is made, brooks manning the helm on draft day, and this scenario occurs, the question is- should the saints take alex smith? with such pressing defensive needs (tbuck and hodge likely gone) and a thomas davis, travis johnson, or justin miller there to be had it would be a hard call. my thought is they couldn't afford to not take him falling to 16. push brooks, replace him, whatever. it could be a fine value addition in the line of deuce and smith. what is your vote in this scenario? thoughts?

The Ute Question
 

I haven\'t seen any reports of Brooks being shopped around. Haslett is big on Brooks and don\'t see him ready to part with him just yet. We have to many holes to be making another one at QB... if you bring in a rookie you\'re saying you are going to take a chance for a couple of years and let him grow and develop. Rose in Pitt was a rare thing... and you saw what happen to him when the pressure was really on. I think the team is under intense pressure to make the playoffs and Smith isn\'t going to be the answer, at least for the next couple of years. The other problem is Smith will not be there at 16, no way, I see him going in the top 6 not 16. I don\'t see the Saints picking a qb when the likes of Alex Baron and Adam Terry stud OL on the board.

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I would love to move howard to cleveland for the number three and take derrick johnson..then grab smith at 16. but other than that I don\'t see it happening.

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not start him, just pick him along the lines of deuce while having ricky or sd picking rivers with brees

fox sports-
16. Saints Alex Smith* QB Utah 8th (-8) 8th / 24th
QB Aaron Brooks has needed a kick in the backside for years, and the selection of Smith would push Brooks to become the elite quarterback he is capable of being — or accelerate his departure. Smith would be a great value pick here.

blackandgold.net super saints weekly-
Finally, expect the Saints to take a look at the quarterback position. While it is still undetermined whether or not Aaron Brooks will be back next season, it is obvious that the Saints could use a young quarterback to develop over the next few seasons.

profootballtalk.com-
SAINTS WILL SAVE ON CAP BY DUMPING BROOKS
Earlier on Wednesday, we reported that the Saints are exploring the possibility of trading or releasing quarterback Aaron Brooks. Based on salary information we\'ve obtained for Brooks in 2005, clearing Brooks off of the books makes a lot of sense.
As it turns out, our estimate of the annual cap proration for Brooks\' signing and option bonus was on the money at $1.98 million per year for 2005 through 2007. Dumping Brooks before June 1 or trading him at any time will result in a $5.96 million cap hit.
Keeping him, however, will require the Saints to pay Brooks a salary of $5.5 million and a workout bonus of $250,000.
So with a 2005 cap number of $7.73 million, the Saints will save $1.77 million on the 2005 cap by trading Brooks -- even more by dumping him after June 1.
Our guess -- Brooks is at the end of the road in New Orleans.
Maybe he can hook up with the Falcons and play backup to cousin Mike.

profootballweekly-
QB Aaron Brooks / Saints
A base salary of $5.5 million isn’t ridiculous for a quarterback, but Brooks\' development seems to have plateaued or, in the eyes of some, completely regressed. Brooks has been enigmatic at best over the last 25 games. Also, WR Jerome Pathon ($2.5 million base) won’t be back in New Orleans at that price.


[Edited on 24/2/2005 by LKelley67]

The Ute Question
 

I guess Euph can\'t say he hasn\'t seen any reports to that nature now. ;)

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LKelley67--

There\'s nothing wrong with you idea.

But, instead of using a number 1 pick on drafting a QB, I would just as soon get a promising young prospect in free-agency. Or move down in the draft and find one...

IMO, we\'ve got more pressing needs for our number 1 draft pick and drafting QBs in the first round is risky business.

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personally i like somebody at #40 more, walter hopefully, maybe frye. but if such scenario evolved my question is it a value too good to pass up ala deuce-smith?

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I think that if we could get a high seocond we could grab frye-who might be better long term..might being the key word.

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They drafted Deuce for ONE reason and ONE reason ONLY!!

Why?

Because Ricky Williams walked into Haslett\'s office one day and told him he was thinking about retireing.

So, they knew Ricky was a basket case.

And that folks is why we drafted Deuce.

What a great move that was.

No Rickey and we got Deuce.

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it didnt hurt that deuce had dropped at least ten spots just cuz of the injury rep. smith was top ten or above everywhere. even with 2 top de\'s it was a so good cannot pass situation. randy moss was passed on by 20 teams cuz of character issues. well, he still has but he still had more catches in his first 5 years than anyone in history. sometimes the talent is too overwhelming for the pick spot. i am asking is that the case with smith (or rodgers possibly) at 16?

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If Rickey Williams wouldn\'t have been such an idiot, there was NO way we drafted Deuce in the FIRST round. You don\'t keep TWO probowl runningbacks on the same team. You just can\'t play them BOTH.

Will Smith was a totally different situation. All the players Haslett really wanted were off the board and Will Smith was to GREAT of a player to pass up. Also, Darren Howard has shown to be injury prone. And his contract was a BIG concern. I\'m sure all of that factored into it.

Now, as far as Haslett not passing up a QB if one drops to him? I don\'t think there\'s a snowballs chance in hell that Haslett is going to touch a QB in the first round.

I don\'t even think Haslett is THINKING of getting another QB. He might bring one into replace Bouman, but I ain\'t even so sure about that.

I\'ve read several articles that have suggested the Saints are thinking about doing this or that at the QB position. BUT, I\'ve haven\'t heard Haslett or ANYONE from the Saints utter ONE word about making a move...

These guys in the media will write anything this time of year.


That\'s my thought on the QB situation in Nawlins\'. Has nothing to do with the way I feel about Brooks.

The Ute Question
 

With the lack of talented Quarterbacks in the league, both Aaoron Rogers and Alex Smith will go in the top 10. I think Smith to San Fran and Rodgers to Arizona. Walter is a stud, love to get him in the second.

We should hold on to Brooks for the chance to compete now. No other Quaterback on the market gives us that option. He has talent lets hold he finally puts it together

The Ute Question
 

First, D-buck, welcome aboard. I hope you have fun here!

Second, I agree with you, but get ready for the onslaught.

The Ute Question
 

I am in agreement for keeping Brooks another year -- except for his egotistical comments and his huge head (surprosed they find a helmet that fits - must be the big&tall helmet shop) I think his play deserves another year. Besides I would really miss the blooper highlights he usually contributes to on a regular basis. All joking aside -- the guy has such tremendous talent and potential and I am just waiting for it all to come together that I will wait another year-- after all I say the same thing about our team every year. Still --- if we could not get an immediate impact player at the 16th pick and one of the 2 QBs were there I would have to take him -- maybe it will have the same effect as Rivers had on Brees

The Ute Question
 

i think the odds of rodgers or smith dropping past arizona will increase until we reach the draft. there is a high chance some of those teams wanting a qb above pick 16 will find that via free agency vs. the draft.
i\'m not talking here about trying to predict what the front office will do. if we wanna do that a lot of these threads could be abandoned. their history shows doing a lot less than more. and what is done is usually complimentary or second tier when it comes to free agents. again, as stands now and rodgers or smith was on the board, do you think it would be a must do?

thanks for answering 4saints

wellcome d-buck. i sure hope ya aint related to t-buck!

[Edited on 24/2/2005 by LKelley67]

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I\'d pass them by on my way to drafing a LB.

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there ya go bc, tks.

The Ute Question
 

I\'m of the view, mostly anyway, that in the draft you should take BPA and address needs in FA. It seems to me that if Smith were there at 16, he may well be BPA.

Who are the top three LBs in the draft? I mean, after Johnson, is there anyone else with overall top 16 talent?

The Ute Question
 

Those aren\'t really reports as say people like us or even so called experts giving hypertheticals... heck read the language of them. There are no reports from any team or any management where Brooks is being shopped around, unlike the Moss situation.
I am sure we could agree that anything is possible... but more realistic that Brooks is staying.
I however seem to think that Smith will be long gone before 16. I do seem to think the Saints are going to make a move on draft day and either move up or down, more likely down to get other picks and still get OL they want.

The Ute Question
 

I agree that in most cases you do need to draft the best player available.
However, the saints have so many needs that they can not follow that principle.
I mean, you can\'t tell me that between OT,DT,LB,CB,and S we can\'t find one player with first round value.
Some players I like at 16 are Justin Miller, Channing Crowder, Travis Johnson, Antaj Hawthorn, Shawnie Marriane, and Jammal Brown.
All of these players would make more of an impact in thheir first season than Alex Smith and would also have a good to great career with the Saints organization.

The Ute Question
 

kool, no one else near top 16 pick talent at lb. scanning boards that i follow the consensus would be something like-

crowder- lower first round or upper second

burnett- first round at best, upper 2nd more likely

morrison- solid 2nd rounder, surprise first possible

thurman- 2nd round, possibly at saint pick #40

blackstock, mitchell, ware- 2nd possibly 3rd round

i didnt list merriman cuz he is only a 3-4 lb or more likely a de.

any beside dj would be a stretch up in the first round. at pick #40 i think a best buy will be a top 6 cb still on the board.

at this point the most likely best need pick more likely to be availablein the first is thomas davis or travis johnson. i\'d love to jammal brown fall there as a good deal too.

[Edited on 24/2/2005 by LKelley67]

The Ute Question
 

I would love that too, but noone in their right mind will give us the third pick for howard. Howard and our 16th for #6.......maybe.

The Ute Question
 

Thanks for the info LK.

What do you think about a Smith pick?

I suppose, I\'m not opposed to trading down and getting Crowder (maybe we can get another LB in the second round that way?). I\'ve heard Crowder\'s got some off-field issues; is there anything to that?

The Ute Question
 

Frequent board viewer....not so much a frequent poster

If Alex Smith is on the board at 16, I don\'t see how you can NOT take him, if for nothing else than trade bait. I believe that AB has as much potential as anyone in the NFL right now, but as they say, u can\'t buy groceries on potential. At such a critical time for the franchise, I can\'t see how some people can be as complacent as they are on the AB issue. I don\'t think we should dump him but at the same time I think we should bring someone here to light a fire under his toosh. If he is the player that most of his supporters say he is then he will rise to the challenge. If AS came in here and took his spot, then obviously he\'s good enough to keep it. I would see it as a can\'t-miss.

Of course that would be contingent on the Saints being able to secure the teams\' needs through free agency, which would be contingent on the front-office savvy of the Saints\' organization, which historically has been lacking. :)

Post-Jim Finks era, of course...

The club has been known to be in denial about what the \"experts\" say our weaknesses are, so I wouldn\'t be surprised if our \"needs\" aren\'t met.

When\'s the last season all....or even the majority....of our team needs were met with any satisfaction?

All that being said I don\'t even think Haslett would pass up on A. Smith at #16

The Ute Question
 

I believe the 49ers will take him with the 1st pick overall. Should they? If I was the GM, I\'d say no, I\'d go with a more sure thing like Braylon Edwards, but hat\'s just me.
Remember this- regardless of where QB\'s are projected after the season ends, they seem to always find a way to climb up the boards. I keep referencing Rivers from last year, who many had talked about being selected in the middle of the 1st round, and he made his way up to the 4th overall pick.
Teams can fall in love with players, especially at skill positions. The 49ers have a need for a QB. This is one of those years where there\'s no clear cut #1 pick.

[/quote:44acf968e8]Also, Darren Howard has shown to be injury prone.[/quote:44acf968e8]

He has shown he can be injured, not injury proned. If he was injury proned, he wouldn\'t have started all 16 games for three straight years.

[/quote:44acf968e8]Who are the top three LBs in the draft? I mean, after Johnson, is there anyone else with overall top 16 talent?[/quote:44acf968e8]

If you would consider moving Thomas Davis to linebacker, like a few scouts already have, then he would be your next pick.

The Ute Question
 

i\'m about like golden tomb kool- i think it would be a pick ya couldnt refuse but i don\'t have high hopes for this front office to address needs in free agency.

i specifically think we need a veteran stud lb pickup. if ya figure we have two second year guys as our most viable lb\'s i do not see adding another rookie, even if studly, the answer for the coming season. thus my reasoning that a veteran stud like hartwell would not only have dynamics of performance but to be an on-field mentor for the younger guys. we have veterans that can help them like ruff or rogers but they are limited in their range of performance. allen seems to still be learning himself and has erratic performance at best.

right on bnb, whether thomas shakes out a ss or lb, both are areas of significant need.

The Ute Question
 

Welcome GoldenTomb and nice work. I agree whole-heartedly.