GumboBC

There's been several reports out there about our Saints. Some seem pretty accurate, others, well ... let's just say some seem far-fetched... ;)

Some of the far-fetched ideas seem to be the idea the Saints are going to draft a rookie QB in the 1st round. :P

One thing I do believe, though, is that Tebucky Jones won't be a Saint next year. He's making mega-bucks and hasn't put out that kind of production to justify his contract. Haslett has said that one of his top priorities is a safety. Considering Bellamy just signed a contract extention - it seems Tebucky is the odd man out.

The next guy out the door appears to be Victor Riley. Haslett is already trying to sign the ex-Titans' right tackle and says he'd like to find a RT in free-agency.

While Tebucky might not be that bad, we've got too much invested in him and we'd be better served getting someone else, IMO!! And Riley reallys needs to go.

The next thing on Haslett's list appears to be getting an OLB. It doesn't appear that he'll seek one in free-agency. At least not according to what I've read.

So, that leaves the draft if we're going to find a LB. Kinda risky if you ask me. It's never certain who will be avalible when your pick comes around. Of course, trading up is always an option. And Darren Howard could be used in this area.

Speaking of Darren Howard ... there are several teams out there who could use Howard and that could fill one of several key needs. It's not a bad situation to be in if you're a Saints' fan!

One last thing....

Haslett is planning to go with a simplified offense this year. NO, he's not "dumbing" down the playbook as some pessimists would have you believe... ;) Instead he's making the terminology shorter and he plans to take some plays out of the playbook. He feels some plays are redundant and are not needed. He thinks this will help cut the offisive mistakes down. And they did lead the NFL in mistakes last year.

It appears to me like Haslett is going back to a smash-mouth attack on both offense and defense. That's welcome news to me as I think we have lacked an idenity on both offense and defense the past few years.