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Hakim visits; Ruff to be cut, finally

Quote:

Experienced wide receiver Hakim visits with Saints
Haslett says team is planning to release veteran linebacker Ruff
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
By Mike Triplett
Staff writer
The Saints brought in free-agent receiver Az-Zahir Hakim for a visit Tuesday as they continue to search for veteran help at wide receiver.

"He's a good player, so we're just kind of exploring it and he's exploring us, and we'll just see where it leads," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.

Hakim is a seven-year veteran who has been mostly a third receiver and return specialist for the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams.

Loomis said Hakim has not been offered a contract.

Meanwhile, the Saints are planning to release linebacker Orlando Ruff, according to Coach Jim Haslett.

Ruff, a six-year veteran, would have earned $1.1 million in the final year of his three-year contract this season. After he is released, he will count $125,000 against the Saints' salary cap -- one-third of the signing bonus he received in 2003.

Ruff started 17 games in the past two seasons but did not win the job outright. He became expendable when the Saints drafted middle linebackers Courtney Watson and Alfred Fincher in the past two drafts.

Although Ruff's situation is unrelated, Loomis said, many NFL veterans with more than one year left on their contract will be released after today deadline for salary-cap reasons.

Loomis said the Saints aren't planning to release any such veterans

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...5443255050.xml

RE: Hakim visits; Ruff to be cut, finally

.. oh man... Hakim would be coming to a place where he's loved!!!

Cutting Ruff is no loss. All you need to know about him...he couldn't start on the league's worst defense at its weakest position. He's a journeyman at best, a body on the roster. See ya. What concerns most is that he was expensive. He was one of the Saint's big off-season FA moves...he and T-sucky. both cost big bucks, both made little to no contribution. Hmmm..who's responsible for that?

Frankly - although I love Hakim for dropping the ball - I'd hate him as a Saint. He has quite a habit of dropping balls. Frankly, I think Michael Lewis is faster, shiftier, a better return man, and probably has better hands right now. Pass on Az.

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Originally Posted by WhoDat

Agreed. There will be better veterans and young ascending WR's released and/or cut before the season starts. I like our young guys more than Az.
Az is a terrible choice.

Besides this team wouldn't pass on so many guys I like, then go and sign one I hate. They wouldn't do that to me, would they?

hakim=poop

keep him on the other team so he can help us win more games

Total agreement --- Az is nothing I really want on our team -- if he were cheap enough I may bring him into camp but he is not the playoff veteran presence that we need

As for Ruff -- freeing up the cap space is worth cutting him -- he had more of a chance than most players get in this league and if you want the big bucks you have to make the most of the chance you get. Horn made the most of it --- Tebucky and Ruff didn't. Their loss

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Originally Posted by WhoDat

. Pass on Az.

..depends on the Az and how many drinks I had...

..but seriously folks... that is the last WR Aaron's stats need :)

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..but seriously folks... that is the last WR Aaron's stats need

He's here all week folks, but get your tickets early. :lol:

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Originally Posted by 4saintspirit

As for Ruff -- freeing up the cap space is worth cutting him

Agreed. Ruff is not the only one that needs to be cut. Seems like half our cap is tied up in sub-standard LB's. How many did we have, was it 14 the last time I checked? Six would be enough for me.

Regarding Hakim, yeah, he's poop in my book too. Would rather have Devery Henderson on the field, with Lewis behind him.

Drop Ruff, forget Hakim, and trade for for that tackle outta Philly!!