cardboardboxer

• With Chicago picking Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton in the fourth round, Rex Grossman is now officially on the clock. Smart selection for the Bears, who aren't wavering on Grossman, their 2003 first-round pick. But he has only three NFL starts to his credit, and Chicago unwisely failed to lock up a veteran backup earlier this offseason. In that light, spending a second-day pick on Orton made sense.

• Grossman wasn't the only veteran quarterback put on notice. I guess I'm a bigger Adrian McPherson fan than most, but if I were inconsistent Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, I'd make sure I come to camp playing my best football. New Orleans spent a fifth-round pick on McPherson, the former Florida State/Arena Football League standout, and that's a steal in my book.

McPherson is gifted athletically and although he's still raw by NFL standards, there are those who believe if you prosper in the fast-paced and condensed arena game, your reaction time will be that much better on a full-sized field. Like Brooks, McPherson is often at his best when a play breaks down and he's forced to improvise and make plays on the run.

I know some of us have knocked the Saints in the past for taking chances on too many character-issue players. They have, but I get the feeling McPherson has learned from his off-field mistakes and doesn't pose the risk his résumé appears to present.

I'm making an early call here, but I believe at some point in 2005 McPherson will win a game or two for the Saints, and just maybe pass Brooks on the depth chart in the process.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...2.draft/1.html

Makes me like the pick even more. I hope the Saints give McPherson a chance to put some fear into teams next year.

WhoDat

I wouldn\'t be surprised to see this happen. Then again, the guy has a lot to prove first.

saintswhodi

Shooting him down in one thread, wouldn\'t be surprised if he won us a game or two and surpassed Brooks THIS SEASON in another.


Flip........................................................

And since when does a FIFTH round draft pick have \"a lot to prove?\"


Flop.......................................................

[Edited on 25/4/2005 by saintswhodi]

LKelley67

Week 9
With the score 0-13, three minutes into 2nd half Aaron Brooks suffers a broken right fibula and tibia in a horrific hit by Brian Urlacher. Many can recall no tackle any more gruesome since Lawrence Taylor hit Joe Theisman similarly on a nationally televised game twenty years ago. Todd Bouman comes in and moves the team effectively but tosses two drive ending interceptions. Final score 10-16, Saints fall to 5-4

Week 11
After a Bye week Bouman makes his first start. Adrian McPherson relieves after Bouman\'s 4th interception of the game midway in the 4th quarter. Though the game is already far out of hand McPherson surprises with a 5 of 7 passing performance and and electrifying 29 yard touchdown run. New Orleans loses to the Patriots 7-49, 5-5

Week 12
Haslett gives the rookie McPherson the chance to start on a Sunday night nationally televised game. In a well devised game plan McAllister runs for 138yds, primarily between the tackles. McPherson\'s legs are showcased sprinting around the ends for 104yds rushing. Throwing only 17 passes, he completes 13 for 251yds. The defense which had shown signs of improvement before the New England game stiffened for their best performance of the season. John Carney kicks a game winning 38yd field goal with 38 seconds left. NO 17 NYJ 16, 6-5

Week 13
In a game where neither teams offense could succeed the Saints win a battle of defenses. Deuce passes the 1000yd mark. McPherson struggles 9 of 20 with one interception and runs for 56yds. Dwight Smith returns an interception 38 yards for the game winning touchdown with 3:08 left in the game. 16-14, 7-5

Week 14
In this Monday night game New Orleans seems to gel as a team and routs Atlanta 28-13. The defense put together it\'s best three game run in several years. Vick was intercepted a season high three times. McPherson outrushed Vick 102 to 48yds while the Saints limited Atlanta to only 88 rushing yards and 179 total yards. McPherson was only 13 of 27 passing but had 3 long td passes (Horn 28yds, Stallworth 38yds, Henderson 82 yds). New Orleans 8-5

Week 15
After three straight wins the saints take a step backwards. McAllister is shutdown for season low 69yds rushing. The Panthers contain McPherson to 66yds rushing. He completes only 5 of 16 with no tds or ints. Bouman comes in the 4th quarter and is worse, 2 of 12 with 2 interceptions. The defense reverts to it\'s first half of the season points given up average. Delhomme picks apart the secondary 33/41 3td/0int and N.O. loses 3-28, 8-6

Week 16
In a game reminicent of old Oklahoma-Nebraska contests, the Saints literally ran all over the Lions on this Saturday Christmas Eve contest. Adriane McPherson broke Michael Vick\'s three year old record for single game rushing by a quarterback totaling 178yds. His two touchdown runs of 41 and 38yds in the first quarter set the tone for the game. Deuce McAllister also ran for 122yds on 21 carries and a td. McPherson was 10 of 13, 0 td, 1 int. Almost half of his 161yds passing came on one 79yd bomb to Stallworth in the first half. The defense returned to form, shutting down the injury decimated Lions. Saints 27-13, 9-6

Week 17
On New Year\'s Day with the division title at stake New Orleans met the challenge in Tampa Bay against the 6-9 Bucs. The Saints recorded their first shutout since a 12-0 win over the Jets in the final game of the 1995 season. Rookie phenom McPherson dazzled, rushing for 81 yds and passing effectively in the conservative game plan (16/29, 2/1, 129yds). Deuce McAllister just missed reaching 1600yds for the second time. He ran 38 times for 133yds to finish at 1591 for the season. Donte Stallworth led the team in receptions for the first time with 74 catches (over Horn\'s 71). His two td catches in this game give him 14 to lead the league. Final 31-0, 10-6 NFC South Division winner (based on 2 victories over 10-6 Falcons).

The 10-6 wildcard Cowboys travel to New Orleans next week for the first round of the playoffs.

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that\'s about as much sunshine as i can muster after the weekend




[Edited on 25/4/2005 by LKelley67]

saintswhodi

One change Kelley:

rewrite: Fearing his job may be in jeopardy, Aaron Brooks, cast and all declares himself healthy enough to play. He is wheeled out to the huddle every possession by head coach Jim Haslett in a show of solidarity for their starting QB. Desperate to prove their faith in AB again, Saints coaches deliriously agreed to allow him to play in this most important game of the season. Predictably the Saints lose, But AB feels comfortable that this show of support from the coaching staff will allow him to keep his job another year. After the game in an interview AB is remorseful: \"Yeah i\'m sorry, but not sorry we lost. I am sorry my teammates couldn\'t carry me. 3 INTs is NOTHING. I was playing in a cast. Noone has more heart than me, I am great, my team struggled. Has anyone in the league ever played in a cast? I am going to the hall of fame for that one.\" 2 months later Adrian McPherson is traded to the Arizona Cardinals and promptly leads them to a Superbowl victory the following year.

yasoon

Wow, LK. You put alot of thought into that

I was hoping it was more like:

AM takes the playbook home with him and learns it in impressive fashion after the first mini camp. AB has a nagging hamstring injury in camp as AM passes Bouman and Kingsbury on the depth chart.

Your starter becomes McPherson as AB has horrible preseason appearances and tweaks the hammy in the 1st half of the Carolina game. AM never looks back

I can stomach watching a guy make the mistakes AB routinely makes while they are learning the NFL. At least Adrian would be learning when making mistakes. AB looks like a rookie avery other week.

LKelley67

as i said, that is about as much sunshine as i can dole out. i am still in recovery over the weekend.

i thought they might have a plan for bullock at SS but the more i read he is a full fledged free safety and nothing else. not fast enough for corner, not big enough for SS, weak in run stopping. dwight smith to SS?? anyone have a clue?
...and over kevin burnett

JKool

LK,

A left-right system at Safety does not require a SS - it requires two speed guys (and we ran it poorly with Knight and Bellamy that year) and a pair of quick LBs - which we have in Bockwoldt and Watson. Prime Fincher at SLB, and we\'ve got ourselves a playmaking defense (if we can stop the run).

LKelley67

i understand the theory. the application just looks quite iffy to me. i am forever hopeful but i am awfully fearful of seeing 400-500 yds on the ground in the first 3 games. maybe i\'ll see something in preseason better. i just don\'t see the personnel for the immediate improvement that is needed.

blackwidows

Wow whodi finally someone other than myself has posted the Saints have not had a shutout since 95. The past year in 94 they shut out the jets also.