Something definitely going down today??

dberce1 · 03-14-2005, 10:43 AM

Do you guys think the trigger will be pulled sometime this morning? I think there's some sort of deadline at 3pm today w/ Howard, not sure about what. Something about not being able to negotiate w/ him till July if somethings not worked out???.....anybody have any info?

papz · 03-14-2005, 10:49 AM

My prediction is Tebucky either being cut or traded to Miami today. This process is long overdue. Trade him for a 6th rounder and let\'s get this over with. With Howard we can still take sometime and fish for the best deal possible... hopefully a second rounder and maybe a 4th in either this year\'s draft or next. We\'ve been swinging similiar type of deals the past couple of drafts for future picks.

saintswhodi · 03-14-2005, 10:50 AM

Basically the deal is if we don\'t trade Howard today, we are unable to work on a long term deal for him again until after July 15. If we did before July 15, we lose the right to use our franchise tag for the length of the contract he signs with us. This is the make or break date. We are against the wall in that we have not been working on a long term deal for Howard, and instead have been trying to trade him. If nothing happens today, I believe we are stuck until July. Which means we will have zero extra picks in this draft, and howard\'s franchise contract figure on the books.

Euphoria · 03-14-2005, 11:00 AM

I wish I could recall what all I was told Sat. but Howard hasn\'t signed the franchise tag tender either. So at 3pm the Saints can not work on a long-term deal until July with him and Howard becomes a 7.6 cap hit for 2005.

[Edited on 14/3/2005 by Euphoria]

saintswhodi · 03-14-2005, 11:06 AM

Howard did sign the tag offer, the link was posted here last week. Hold up let me find it:

For the second consecutive offseason, New Orleans defensive lineman Darren Howard will sign the one-year qualifying offer for a \"franchise\" player, ESPN.com has learned.

But while the move will guarantee the $7.8 million which accompanies the \"franchise\" designation for the five-year veteran, and means the club cannot rescind the marker, it doesn\'t ensure that Howard will be back with the Saints in 2005.

Despite the significance the \"franchise\" designation implies, Saints officials are open to trading Howard if someone meets their asking price. It is believed that New Orleans is seeking a second-round draft choice. League sources said there have been discussions with at least one NFC franchise.Agent Gary Wichard apprised New Orleans officials on Tuesday that he is filing the paperwork to accept the qualifying offer. Howard did the same thing last year, hoping to subsequently sign a long-term contract, but that never developed. In a surprising move, but one aimed at assuring that Howard didn\'t defect in unrestricted free agency, with New Orleans getting nothing in return, the Saints employed the \"franchise\" marker again two weeks ago.

There have once again been no negotiations, though, on a long-term contract.
The New Orleans financial situation does not dictate a trade of Howard, but moving him to another team would create substantial salary cap room and provide the team further flexibility in pursuing other players. Plus, the Saints already have two standout young defensive ends, both former first-round picks, in Charles Grant and Will Smith.

Howard, 28, should be attractive to teams seeking an accomplished two-way defender. Last year, the Saints often moved Howard to tackle in \"nickel\" situations and, despite little previous experience there, he was a force on the pass rush, tying his career best with 11 sacks. He also had 46 tackles, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, in only 12 starts.

A second-round pick in the 2000 draft, the former Kansas State standout has posted 229 tackles, 41 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, six recoveries and two interceptions, appearing in 69 games and starting all but one of them.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len\'s chat archive, click here

baronm · 03-14-2005, 11:13 AM

why odn\'t we trade him to the chiefs-that would be the perfect-win-win scenario.

saintswhodi · 03-14-2005, 11:15 AM

Just a follow up:

Howard, Jones on to-be dealt list
By Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com

The New Orleans Saints have retained \"nickel\" cornerback and unrestricted free agent Jason Craft, signing the six-year veteran to a four-year contract. But it\'s the players that the Saints don\'t plan to keep around who could make even bigger news.

Darren Howard
Defensive End
New Orleans Saints
Profile

2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int
46 38 8 4 11 0

New Orleans officials have ramped up trade talks in an effort to deal a pair of defensive starters, end Darren Howard and free safety Tebucky Jones, and hope to soon complete trades of both veteran players. The Saints and Miami Dolphins have spent considerable time in the past two days, in fact, working on a deal involving Jones, the leading tackler for New Orleans in 2004.

It is Howard, though, who is generating the most interest.

At least a half-dozen teams, most notably the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys, have discussed a possible swap to land Howard, a five-year veteran and a proven pass rusher. ESPN.com first reported two weeks ago that the Saints, who designated Howard as a \"franchise\" player, hoped to trade him for a high-round draft choice.

Howard, 28, last week signed the one-year \"franchise\" qualifying offer of $7.8 million and that is a prohibitive amount for the Saints to carry on their salary cap. New Orleans, which has a pair of first-round defensive ends in Charles Grant and Will Smith, would prefer to rid itself of that cap hit. By dealing Howard, the Saints would recoup the entire $7.8 million and perhaps use the savings to work on long-term extensions for veterans such as tailback Deuce McAllister and center LeCharles Bentley.

While he has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons, Howard remains a top-shelf player at a premium position. As usual, there is a dearth of quality defensive linemen in the unrestricted free agent pool and that has enhanced his value even further. Dallas has apparently suggested a trade package that might include starting middle linebacker Dat Nguyen and draft choices. The Cowboys have plenty of bargaining ammunition, since they own two first-round choices in this year\'s draft.

Despite having to play out of position at times in 2004, moving inside to tackle in some \"nickel\" situations, Howard still posted 11 sacks, tying his career best. For his career, he has 229 tackles, 41 sacks and 11 forced fumbles.

Tebucky Jones
Safety
New Orleans Saints
Profile

2004 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int
102 80 22 1 0 1

Jones, acquired in a 2003 trade with the New England Patriots, became expendable when the Saints signed unrestricted veteran free safety Dwight Smith last week. The Saints regard Smith as a better playmaker, a safety who can create takeaways, something for which Jones was not noted. A heavy hitter, who performs best when close to the line of scrimmage, Jones is probably better suited to playing strong safety.

He had 102 tackles in 2004, the first season in which Jones started all 16 games, but posted only two interceptions in two seasons with the Saints. If a deal is not completed for Jones over the weekend, the Saints will consider releasing him next week.

Craft, 29, appeared in 14 games for the Saints in 2004, after spending the first five years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A solid \"nickel\" defender, Craft has seven interceptions and 33 passes defensed for his career. Financial details of his new, four-year contract were not immediately available.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len\'s chat archive, click here .

saintswhodi · 03-14-2005, 11:19 AM

Just to answer your question baron, I don\'t think the Chiefs can afford the salary Howard is demanding.

Euphoria · 03-14-2005, 11:20 AM

Hey,saintswhodi
don\'t want to raise a fuss but Howard has not signed the tender. Saints just tagged him and tendered the offer to him. Even in your posted quote it says will not has. Not that it means anything, but the reason for not signing is so if Howard got a trade he could sign a long term deal with that team... if he signs the offer than which ever team gets him is stuck with the contract. If Howard/Saints make a trade, Then there is a 24 hour period for Howard and the other team has to work out a contract at this point. There isn\'t any talk of such dealings at this point.

Euphoria · 03-14-2005, 11:22 AM

I got money on Jones NOT being traded to day for picks with Miami...

03-14-2005, 10:43 AM	#1
dberce1 Chuck Liddells Right Hand Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Prairieville, Louisiana Posts: 1,227	Something definitely going down today?? Do you guys think the trigger will be pulled sometime this morning? I think there's some sort of deadline at 3pm today w/ Howard, not sure about what. Something about not being able to negotiate w/ him till July if somethings not worked out???.....anybody have any info?

03-14-2005, 10:49 AM	#2
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,744	Something definitely going down today?? My prediction is Tebucky either being cut or traded to Miami today. This process is long overdue. Trade him for a 6th rounder and let\'s get this over with. With Howard we can still take sometime and fish for the best deal possible... hopefully a second rounder and maybe a 4th in either this year\'s draft or next. We\'ve been swinging similiar type of deals the past couple of drafts for future picks.

03-14-2005, 10:50 AM	#3
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Something definitely going down today?? Basically the deal is if we don\'t trade Howard today, we are unable to work on a long term deal for him again until after July 15. If we did before July 15, we lose the right to use our franchise tag for the length of the contract he signs with us. This is the make or break date. We are against the wall in that we have not been working on a long term deal for Howard, and instead have been trying to trade him. If nothing happens today, I believe we are stuck until July. Which means we will have zero extra picks in this draft, and howard\'s franchise contract figure on the books.

03-14-2005, 11:00 AM	#4
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Something definitely going down today?? I wish I could recall what all I was told Sat. but Howard hasn\'t signed the franchise tag tender either. So at 3pm the Saints can not work on a long-term deal until July with him and Howard becomes a 7.6 cap hit for 2005. [Edited on 14/3/2005 by Euphoria]

03-14-2005, 11:06 AM	#5
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Something definitely going down today?? Howard did sign the tag offer, the link was posted here last week. Hold up let me find it: For the second consecutive offseason, New Orleans defensive lineman Darren Howard will sign the one-year qualifying offer for a \"franchise\" player, ESPN.com has learned. But while the move will guarantee the $7.8 million which accompanies the \"franchise\" designation for the five-year veteran, and means the club cannot rescind the marker, it doesn\'t ensure that Howard will be back with the Saints in 2005. Despite the significance the \"franchise\" designation implies, Saints officials are open to trading Howard if someone meets their asking price. It is believed that New Orleans is seeking a second-round draft choice. League sources said there have been discussions with at least one NFC franchise.Agent Gary Wichard apprised New Orleans officials on Tuesday that he is filing the paperwork to accept the qualifying offer. Howard did the same thing last year, hoping to subsequently sign a long-term contract, but that never developed. In a surprising move, but one aimed at assuring that Howard didn\'t defect in unrestricted free agency, with New Orleans getting nothing in return, the Saints employed the \"franchise\" marker again two weeks ago. There have once again been no negotiations, though, on a long-term contract. The New Orleans financial situation does not dictate a trade of Howard, but moving him to another team would create substantial salary cap room and provide the team further flexibility in pursuing other players. Plus, the Saints already have two standout young defensive ends, both former first-round picks, in Charles Grant and Will Smith. Howard, 28, should be attractive to teams seeking an accomplished two-way defender. Last year, the Saints often moved Howard to tackle in \"nickel\" situations and, despite little previous experience there, he was a force on the pass rush, tying his career best with 11 sacks. He also had 46 tackles, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, in only 12 starts. A second-round pick in the 2000 draft, the former Kansas State standout has posted 229 tackles, 41 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, six recoveries and two interceptions, appearing in 69 games and starting all but one of them. Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len\'s chat archive, click here

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03-14-2005, 11:13 AM	#6
baronm 500th Post Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 954	Something definitely going down today?? why odn\'t we trade him to the chiefs-that would be the perfect-win-win scenario.
baronm 500th Post Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 954

03-14-2005, 11:15 AM	#7
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Something definitely going down today?? Just a follow up: Howard, Jones on to-be dealt list By Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com The New Orleans Saints have retained \"nickel\" cornerback and unrestricted free agent Jason Craft, signing the six-year veteran to a four-year contract. But it\'s the players that the Saints don\'t plan to keep around who could make even bigger news. Darren Howard Defensive End New Orleans Saints Profile 2004 SEASON STATISTICS Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int 46 38 8 4 11 0 New Orleans officials have ramped up trade talks in an effort to deal a pair of defensive starters, end Darren Howard and free safety Tebucky Jones, and hope to soon complete trades of both veteran players. The Saints and Miami Dolphins have spent considerable time in the past two days, in fact, working on a deal involving Jones, the leading tackler for New Orleans in 2004. It is Howard, though, who is generating the most interest. At least a half-dozen teams, most notably the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys, have discussed a possible swap to land Howard, a five-year veteran and a proven pass rusher. ESPN.com first reported two weeks ago that the Saints, who designated Howard as a \"franchise\" player, hoped to trade him for a high-round draft choice. Howard, 28, last week signed the one-year \"franchise\" qualifying offer of $7.8 million and that is a prohibitive amount for the Saints to carry on their salary cap. New Orleans, which has a pair of first-round defensive ends in Charles Grant and Will Smith, would prefer to rid itself of that cap hit. By dealing Howard, the Saints would recoup the entire $7.8 million and perhaps use the savings to work on long-term extensions for veterans such as tailback Deuce McAllister and center LeCharles Bentley. While he has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons, Howard remains a top-shelf player at a premium position. As usual, there is a dearth of quality defensive linemen in the unrestricted free agent pool and that has enhanced his value even further. Dallas has apparently suggested a trade package that might include starting middle linebacker Dat Nguyen and draft choices. The Cowboys have plenty of bargaining ammunition, since they own two first-round choices in this year\'s draft. Despite having to play out of position at times in 2004, moving inside to tackle in some \"nickel\" situations, Howard still posted 11 sacks, tying his career best. For his career, he has 229 tackles, 41 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. Tebucky Jones Safety New Orleans Saints Profile 2004 SEASON STATISTICS Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int 102 80 22 1 0 1 Jones, acquired in a 2003 trade with the New England Patriots, became expendable when the Saints signed unrestricted veteran free safety Dwight Smith last week. The Saints regard Smith as a better playmaker, a safety who can create takeaways, something for which Jones was not noted. A heavy hitter, who performs best when close to the line of scrimmage, Jones is probably better suited to playing strong safety. He had 102 tackles in 2004, the first season in which Jones started all 16 games, but posted only two interceptions in two seasons with the Saints. If a deal is not completed for Jones over the weekend, the Saints will consider releasing him next week. Craft, 29, appeared in 14 games for the Saints in 2004, after spending the first five years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A solid \"nickel\" defender, Craft has seven interceptions and 33 passes defensed for his career. Financial details of his new, four-year contract were not immediately available. Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len\'s chat archive, click here .

03-14-2005, 11:19 AM	#8
saintswhodi 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 6,941	Something definitely going down today?? Just to answer your question baron, I don\'t think the Chiefs can afford the salary Howard is demanding.

03-14-2005, 11:20 AM	#9
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Something definitely going down today?? Hey,saintswhodi don\'t want to raise a fuss but Howard has not signed the tender. Saints just tagged him and tendered the offer to him. Even in your posted quote it says will not has. Not that it means anything, but the reason for not signing is so if Howard got a trade he could sign a long term deal with that team... if he signs the offer than which ever team gets him is stuck with the contract. If Howard/Saints make a trade, Then there is a 24 hour period for Howard and the other team has to work out a contract at this point. There isn\'t any talk of such dealings at this point.
	E U P H O R I A

03-14-2005, 11:22 AM	#10
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Something definitely going down today?? I got money on Jones NOT being traded to day for picks with Miami...