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Observations as New Orleans Saints catch their breath from first stretch of training camp

By Brian Allee-Walsh
Special to the Sun Herald
August 01, 2017 1:25 PM

NEW ORLEANS New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton hit the pause button Tuesday, giving his team a well-deserved break before heading into six consecutive days of on-field work.

So what do we know at this early stage? I’ll begin with dollars and sense.

According to Spotrac, the Saints rank last in the NFL in cap dollars committed to their defense, which has been ranked near or at the bottom of the league in four of the past five seasons.

The cap breakdown of the entire training camp roster reflects two dollars spent on offense ($90.8 million, including $19 million earmarked for quarterback Drew Brees) compared to every one dollar spent on defense ($62.3 million).

Only one position — defensive end — ranks in the upper half league wide, and that is skewed somewhat by Cameron Jordan’s $12 million cap figure this season. Lucrative contracts don’t guarantee success. Case in point: safety Jairus Byrd, who was a bust in every sense of the word and certainly didn’t justify his blockbuster six-year, $54 million deal before his departure in the offseason.

I contend, however, teams generally get what they pay for. Follow the money.

Other early observations:

▪ Brandon Coleman and Corey Fuller are waging a spirited battle for the fourth wide receiver spot on the depth chart, behind Michael Thomas, Willie Snead and Ted Ginn Jr.

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Beastmode

Is Ginn really locked in at 3? I don't think so.

spkb25

That's why I said there might be a surprise and difficult cut at that position. That said, sometimes SP makes bonehead moves based solely off of a player being a vet. He could do that again

Beastmode

Yeah, starting to look like he was a preemptive risk mitigation. Coleman does not really have the speed for that role. Fuller does but unproven and just had surgery.

spkb25

Thomas, Snead, Coleman, Ginn, Fuller? That means Tommy is out. It is going to be interesting.

K Major

I think TommyLee will need to really ball out of control in pre season games to ensure a roster spot in 2017... specifically on special teams/kickoff and/or punt returns. Competition is fierce at the wide out spots. This is a good position to be in.

Brandon has looked exceptional thus far and Fuller is also making noise.