Nah, you don\'t hold grudges. You just ooze hate out anytime you talk about Sully.

You\'re right about one thing, though. The only thing I have is HOPE when it comes to Sully.

Just like I had for Donte\' Stallworth when he could never stay on the field in his first two years.

NO ONE likes what Sully has done since he\'s been a Saint.

But your HOT-HEADED opinions are not what I base my decisions on.

billy, i have nothing against the guy except that his actions have indicated not having the heart or desire to succeed- no matter what talent level there is or isn\'t. he has been a flat out embarrassment to the franchise.

as far as his talent i have seen NOTHING to indicate he has that either. two years of opportunity and he cannot make the active roster! he cannot outplay street free agents for gawd sake. my humble opinion is exactly opposite of yours- the team has already given him millions of dollars worth of chances. you don\'t pamper or cater to that sort of pathetic response to the chances (unless you have randy moss/woodson kinda talent, then teams bear with it as long as they can). if you have to keep him a year for cap reasons use him as a blocking dummy in practice until he files a grievance or shows some sign of football life.

as far as im concerned, cut sully. being overweight and lazy, he is playing ball in the wrong city. ill take someone fresh out of college with something to prove and a positive attitude over sully even if sully would play well this year

Here is some food for thought though. We may need to think about unloading one of our big contracts this year, so we won\'t have to worry about the cap hit next year. Here is my preference: sign Sully\'s replacement this year (if we stay at #16, I think we\'ll take a DT) and cut him. This way, we\'ll take the hit this year, but we\'ll have extra space next year. This would avoid the \"talent hemorage\" that may be coming. Second choice, AB restructures or we get a replacement.

Saints need to trim fat and add muscle Saints should remember the Titans


By Brandon M. Bickerstaff

Not even a month into the NFL offseason, we have already seen teams moving and shaking in preparation for another run at the Super Bowl next year.

In efforts to clear salary cap spaces, several teams have had to say goodbye to some of their best-known veterans. Some have even given the boot to Pro Bowlers, unable to pay the huge roster bonuses and contract incentives top-tier players bring.

Perhaps the Tennessee Titans have been hit the hardest in the last couple of years. After all, they did lose running back Eddie George last season, cutting him after eight years. This year, Pro Bowl wide receiver Derrick Mason was among the most noteworthy Titan cuts, along with defensive end Kevin Carter and defensive back Samari Rolle.

Free agency officially started Wednesday, and Mason has already found a new home with the Baltimore Ravens. Former Carolina Panthers wideout Muhsin Muhammad signed on with the Chicago Bears in another Pro Bowler relocation.

If the Saints aren\'t real crafty with their personnel choices during this and next offseason, they could be remembering the Titans in ways they never wanted.

Deuce McAllister is in the last year of his contract. Joe Horn is also due a new deal at the end of the year. The team\'s franchise player, defensive end Darren Howard, would be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next year, as well.

Not much progress has been made in talks with McAllister, and though the club has promised to \"take care of\" Horn, I wouldn\'t expect general manager Mickey Loomis to start tossing the money bags his way, either.

Problem is, the Saints have bogged themselves down with heavy contracts for unproductive players. Former first-rounder Jonathan Sullivan has yet to pan out into much more than a buffet-line bandit. I am still wondering why Tebucky Jones wore a fleur-de-lis this season.

When all is said and done, we could be speaking of the Saints in the same light as the Titans next year.

Deuce is reportedly hoping for a signing bonus anywhere between $13 million and $20 million. The Saints are talking less than $10 million. If the two sides don\'t come to an agreement, we could see Deuce running with another team.

As for Horn, he is looking for Marvin Harrison-type numbers when the Saints work out his next deal. But even he is skeptical that the Saints will come with something he can be satisfied with.

If the Saints want to avoid becoming the next team to lose its marquee players - and few fans they draw to the Louisiana Superdome - they have to start taking care of the players who matter the most while getting quality, team-oriented and most important, cheap players to fill some of their biggest holes.

Go ahead and trade Darren Howard for a top-tier right tackle, a deal the team is reportedly already entertaining. Cut Jones and free up a roster space as well as cap room. Jerome Pathon will also likely be released for roster space, and right tackle Victor Riley will not be brought back

Getting rid of Sullivan would be easier said than done, being that his first-round status earned him a bonus over $7 million and he is slated to make $1,273,500 this year, with two more seasons on the deal. After all, it\'s hard to find a better sucker than the Saints.

Defense – Ranked 32nd in NFL (2004)

The Saints finished last in the NFL in defense in 2004, but after acquiring cornerback Mike McKenzie from the Green Bay Packers via a trade and moving Fakir Brown into the starting lineup the team started play better defensively. The Saints finished the 2004 season on a 4-0 run and improved defense played a big part in the late season run. The Saints defensive squad boasts some strong playmakers in the secondary including Mike McKenzie and Dwight Smith whom recently signed as a free agent from divisional rival the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McKenzie finally provided the Saints with the closest thing to a shut down corner they have had in years recording five interceptions in just eleven games. Dwight Smith gives the Saints a true ball hawk at safety and will replace Tebucky Jones who the Saints are expected to release if they are unable to arrange a trade. Fakir Brown returns as a starter after a solid late season performance in 2004. Jay Bellamy maintains his spot at strong safety after finishing second on the team in tackles last season. The Saints also re-signed cornerback Jason Craft to a four-year deal signaling he may be taking over permanently for Fred Thomas who struggled last year after a stellar 2003 performance. While the Saints are happy with their secondary now it appears they want to make a change at linebacker. Sedrick Hodge a starter in 2004 is a unrestricted free agent and the Saints are making no attempt at re-signing him as of now. With Hodge out of the picture James Allen, Courtney Watson and Colby Bockwoldt currently man the Saints linebacking corps, but New Orleans is looking to bring in a veteran a middle linebacker. The Saints had a strong interest in signing Antonio Pierce at the start of free agency, but he signed before making a visit. The Saints have since entertained Anthony Simmons from Seattle and have attempted to trade franchised defensive end Darren Howard to the Dallas Cowboys for Dat Nguyen but a deal has not been reached with either party. If the Saints acquire Simmons or Nguyen whom the Cowboys are reluctant to deal then Courtney Watson will move to the outside and James Allen and Colby Bockwoldt will battle for the other linebacker spot. The Saints could also look to the NFL Draft in April, but reports are the Saints prefer to have a veteran inserted at middle linebacker in 2005. The Saints defensive line may be the defenses strongest asset, Charles Grant is playing at a near all-pro level, 2004 rookie Will Smith has been impressive enough for the Saints to try, and trade franchised defensive end Darren Howard. The Saints have a number of suitors for Howard and New Orleans wants either a high draft pick or a veteran starter in return for Howard. Donovan Darrius of Jacksonville was the first name to surface in a trade for Howard, but after New Orleans signed Dwight Smith in free agency their interest waned. Rumors out of Oakland had Howard being switched out for cornerback Charles Woodson who is also a franchise player, but that rumor appears to be unsubstantiated. Dat Nguyen the spunky middle linebacker for the Cowboys was the latest name to surface, but thus far the Cowboys are resisting sending Nguyen to New Orleans for Howard. At defensive tackle Brian Young returns as a starter is a solid defender, but the other tackle spot is up for debate. Currently Howard Green or Jonathan Sullivan will hold that spot, Sullivan has been a major disappointment since being drafted two years ago and fell out of favor with the coaching staff in 2005 spending much of the season inactive. Green has been serviceable at best when in the lineup and recently re-signed to return in 2005. The Saints have been very quiet about obtaining a defensive tackle in free agency and they are likely to be reluctant to select a defensive tackle in the draft after being burned by Sullivan in 2003. The Saints are hoping to get Sullivan back into shape and resurrect his career in New Orleans. Overall the Saints defense could be a serviceable unit in 2005, if the team is able to land a middle linebacker in free agency the defense could make strides in improvement this year.