Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

;) FIFY

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Former Concordia QB Neal signs three-year contract with New Orleans Saints | INFORUM

Former Concordia QB Neal signs three-year contract with New Orleans Saints
By Jeff Kolpack Today at 3:22 a.m.
FARGO—It's setting up to be quite a month for cousins Connor McGovern and Griffin Neal. McGovern, an offensive lineman from Fargo Shanley and the University of Missouri, is expected to be taken in the NFL draft in three weeks. On Friday, April 8, Neal, a former Concordia quarterback, signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.


The first one is expected. The second one and the length of the contract is blowing football fans everywhere away. Not to mention Neal himself.

"This day has obviously been a dream come true," he said. "I had a long workout today in front of the Saints staff, had a good workout and they signed me after that. It was pretty surreal. I'm just grateful they're giving me the opportunity."

The signature on the contract was the culmination of an unlikely story for the Fargo South High School graduate.

Neal didn't exactly take the conventional path for a chance to play in the NFL spending last season playing in Europe. But it worked. Perhaps the breakthrough came in mid-March when he attended Tulane University's Pro Day in New Orleans, where rain forced the Green Wave to move their event inside to the Saints indoor football facility.

The Saints happened to have a few folks on hand who were immediately impressed with Neal. Six Tulane players worked out for the scouts, but it was the big kid that nobody knew from some small school in Moorhead, Minn., that turned some heads.

"There's some fate here, too," said Concordia College head coach Terry Horan. "Right spot at the right time. He's just so dog-gone determined."

Neal played last season with the Hildesheim Invaders of the German Football League, an experience that not only kept his professional football dream alive, but allowed him to improve his trade.

The Saints took notice.

His contract is contingent on him making the team. There are no guarantees. He'll report to rookie mini camp in mid-May and he said he'll just take it from there.

"I'll do my best to stick around," Neal said. "I'm going to use this month to work really hard and learn the playbook to the best of my ability and perform well."

The key to getting the Saints' attention, Neal said, was training in Arizona over the winter with quarterback coach Rudy Carpenter. Neal also got hooked up with former Tulane receiver Xavier Rush, who got him connected to the Tulane Pro Day.

"I showed up there and nobody knew who I was," Neal said. "But the fact I was in the same facility as some key decision makers, I was in the right place at the right time and I had a great day. I was just hoping for any opportunity, now I have it and hopefully I can take advantage of it."

Neal finished his Cobber career in 2014 and is the school's all-time leader in passing yards with 5,614 and touchdown passes with 47.

"There were many times he was ready to say it was time for me to move on," Horan said of Neal's post-college experience. "He goes to Germany just thinking it will be his last hurrah, tour and play. He ended up doing well against competition that is probably in the middle of the MIAC pack with most teams. Still, he stayed fresh. He was just one of those unknowns—known in our area—and it's just so incredible for him."

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Man, I wish that we have guy like Elway in our Front office. They just traded Clady (dude was never in their plans for 2016). Jets gave up 5th rounder. Clady's contract runs through 2017. No dead money. And then you take a look at Saints players contacts, cuts, acquisitions in free agency (not specifically this year)... lol

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

The trend over the past few years has been scary. targeting one player and paying a huge salary to get him is just not a good practice so far. That is not taking into account the players history obviously. dead horse to most around here I know.

With all the signings this year I would have preferred

Osemle Kelechi
or
Damon Harrison

one and done

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

My biggest b*tch is the strategy long-scope view in identifying free agents and draft candidates for the Saints...

Last season, we should have signed LG Clint Boling, Cincinnati Bengals and taken CB Marcus Peters in the draft; instead we draft Andrus Peat who can't wrestle a OT spot and have released Brandon Browner with dead money; right now, we could have an offensive line of LT Terron Armstead, LG Clint Boling, OC Max Unger, RG Tim Lelito and RT Zach Strief and be drafting for depth on the line...

This season, we should have signed NT Damon Harrison, New York Jets (now signed with G'nats), he's proven in the league and would have shored up the middle; and then we should be looking to draft other positions, instead we're probably going to spend a first round pick on a two-down linemen at best - WTF?!?

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Will Nick Foles be a member of the Rams in 2016? | ProFootballTalk

If the Rams cut Nick Foles loose, hmm I could see another alum from Westlake High School (near Austin, TX) in the black and gold...

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

R1 CB Marcus Peters - I had my issues and assumed the interview tanked
R2 OG La'el Collins - never bought into the whole thing. no history of troubles

how different things would be.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

Well Collins actually didn't play all that great last year.

Re: 2016 Saints Free Agency
 

He was playing for Dallas...

In Payton's system, it'd be a whole other game...