Tebucky out at free safety
 

SAINTS AGREE TO TERMS ON FIVE-YEAR DEAL WITH S DWIGHT SMITH

For Immediate Release: March 7, 2005

The New Orleans Saints have added a playmaker to the secondary, agreeing to terms with S Dwight Smith on a five-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice-President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

Smith, entering his fifth season after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a third-round pick in 2001, has posted 12 interceptions over the last three seasons and has started the last 32 regular-season games. He has experience at cornerback and both safety positions, opening all 16 contests in 2004 at free safety and recording 83 tackles (72 solo), three interceptions and 10 passes defensed.

"We believe Dwight is a top free-agent safety and will come here to play free safety," said Head Coach Jim Haslett. "His experience at cornerback and safety shows his versatility, and he is a solid, hard-hitting presence with the ball-hawking skills we are looking for in the secondary. This signing improves our entire defense and our speed on the backside of the unit."

In his career, Smith has played in 63 games (34 starts) and has 223 stops (192 solo), 12 interceptions and 34 passes defensed. He has also been one of the Buccaneers' top special-teams performers, including stints at kick returner. In 2003, Smith started all 16 games (nine at free safety, six at cornerback and one contest at strong safety) and led the club with a career-high five interceptions. In 2002, he had four interceptions and added a team-leading three in the postseason.

Along with the recent signing of T Jermane Mayberry (formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles), Smith is the second unrestricted free agent the club has added with Super Bowl experience. Smith became the first player in Super Bowl history to return a pair of interceptions for touchdowns (44 and 50 yards), accomplishing the feat against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Okay, there goes my idea of him playing corner. I hope he doesn\'t pull a Dexter Jackson on us.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Gee..I wonder if that has anything to do with the two signings...

Tebucky out at free safety
 

So, what happens to T-Buck. Can he be traded, or are we stuck with just cutting him for no compensation?

I know we need to free up that cap space.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Good question! I was wondering the samething. I don\'t know what the fall-out is going to be with Dwight Smith having been signed.

It\'s possible Tebucky could play SS. I know, it sounds laughable. But, Tebucky led the team in tackles last year. He improved his tackling tremendously.

Trading Tebucky seems unlikely to me. Cutting him seems even less likely.

It\'s gonna be interesting :exclam:

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Tebucky is long gone. He will be cut.
Darren Howard will be traded for a 1st rounder and a late rounder and the Saints should be able to package our two first rounders to move up and get Derrick Johnson at OLB.
Nice cornerback depth in second round. Corey Webster would be a steal for us in round 2.
No chance of signing Hartwell. $$$$$$
Should lock up Horn and McAllister before the season starts.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

i don\'t know if I want to trade our two first rounders to move up..bad mojo from last time we did that.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

I think I read that TeBucky can\'t be released until after June 1st. It will be less of a hit then. But PLEASE don\'t hold me to this.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

It\'s all hypothetical....we don\'t even have 2 first rounders. Besides....DJ is no Jonathan Sullivan. However, since we seem to be making some moves in free agency, I no longer see the need to trade up to get a DJ.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

While it didn\'t specifically say Tebucky is out, it sure sounds like it to me. Unless we\'re gonna play 2 FS at the same time?

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Gator, at this point it\'s still an assumption. Who knows what this bunch will do. They might try TeBucky at DT. ;)

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Hmmmm....if you had a team what would YOU give up for Tebucky??????

4 or 5th round pick at best.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Remeber Tennessee cleaned house so they might be available for a trade. I heard we were trying to get something done with them involving picks anyways. Throw in T Jones and see what happens?

Tebucky out at free safety
 

I think tennessee just signed a DE..not sure though.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Maybe we can promote him to the Dolphins as the next Sammy Knight!!!

Oh yeah, can\'t do that, he sucks...

Tebucky out at free safety
 

This is some of the best news we have had all year thus far...

It shows that just maybe, the F.O. is really going to try to put a good D together...

It alos makes for an intersting Draft Scenario...since many, including myself, predicted teh Saints would choose a Safety with the 1st pick...

if they did still get a Safety..we would be much improved in our secondary....

This also may be an indicator that they plan on trading up to get Johnson..the coveted Lb....

Either way..this pick has got me exicted again...I can\'t wait for the Draft...

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Something has to be done with Tebucky. His contract is too fat for him to sit around next to Sullivan collecting a paycheck.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Didn\'t you hear....Sully is making a comeback this year. :casstet:

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Correct me if I\'m wrong, but a trade would keep T-Buck\'s contract as is.... and no GM will want that contract as is (much less give up a player or a draft pick for it).

I doubt we\'ll get any trade offers for T-Buck.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

No team will give us anything for T-Sucky. The Saints will either make him a new offer at much less money and a back-up Special Teams role or cut him. Teams will wait to see if he gets cut and then anyone interested will get him for next to nothing.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

Not only that....we\'d have to eat up his signing bonus. Believe me....any GM with a VCR knows that Tebucky sucks.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

hahaha. I said that same thing about :censored: . Too funny.

Tebucky out at free safety
 

well i like the pick up and not sure what this does for tbuck. but it cant be good for him

Tebucky out at free safety
 

And :censored: is still here. Guess Tesucky\'s safe too...

:(