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Eye ON THE SAINTS |
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June 2008
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Tom Planchet: April 2007 ArchivesThe Saints have signed a University of Alberta deep snapper for possible competition at training camp this fall. ...Sean Payton comments on: Robert Meachem Overall, we’re excited about how the first day turned out. Our plan with the first pick was having some flexibility and having a pool of players who would be available and a pool of players we might go up and get. Robert was in that list. Then guys get taken that weren’t in that circle so he gets pushed back and we were excited that he got pushed back. We think he... The Saints used their 88th pick overall, their second in the third round, to take 6 foot, 3 1/2 inch, 302 pound Andy Alleman of Akron. Alleman had some prodigious weight-lifting feats, pressing 465 pounds and squatting 595 at a campus workout. ...Usama Young of Kent State wasn't invited to the combine or any all-star games, but his stock apparently rose with some great private workouts. Young said he ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and he said he realized the pro workout was his 'best shot' after not getting a nod in the other more traditional avenues. He said his best assests were his competitiveness, athletic ability and ability to learn quickly. ...Some of GM Mickey Loomis' comments on Robert Meachem. 'We talked about getting a receiver some time during the draft. Didn't specifically target first or second round. But it’s one of the positions we wanted to acquire a younger player.' 'He was our highest rated player on the board when we picked -- significantly. We worked our selves into a position this past season to be able to take the best player available.' 'I th... Before the draft is done, look for the Saints to gather some depth, especially young depth at cornerback. I also think they'll try to get a quarterback in the mid to late rounds. Even though Brees is only in his late 20s, I think Payton would like to have a young guy to develop. I think developing young qbs is one of his skills. ...From Jim Henderson: No surpise with Russell. I think they just milked it because it's the Raiders. I think it's the most attention they've gotten in a year. This is six of the past seven years that a QB has gone number one - except for last year with Mario Williams. Not a great year for QB. Brady Quinn is the only other guy that will go in the first round. From Jim Henderson: I love the NFL Draft. It feels like the start of the football season. You get your mind plugged back in to the team. I like the intrigue, seeing who falls down the board, who moves up, etc. I really love this day. ...ESPN.com is reporting that the Saints have reached an agreement with defensive end Charles Grant on a 7-year deal worth potentially $63 million, with $20 million in guarantees. ...
NFL.com is reporting that the Colts have declined to match a $15.7 million, four-year deal for cornerback Jason David, meaning that he is now a Saint. And, it means that cornerback, while still a position they'd like to improve, is now no longer the most glaring need. ESPN is also reporting that David is now a Saint.... Clark Judge of CBS Sportsline says that there were several very good picks in the NFL's first round, but that the saga of Houston passing on Bush and the Saints good fortune overshadowed them. ...A column in the Biloxi Sun Herald suggests the Saints will follow their old form and take the best athlete available, regardless of position and need. ...Yes, Reggie Bush ended up being all people thought he would be, but what made the draft really special was the pick of Marques Colston near the bottom. ...Saints new linebacker Anthony Simmons says he is willing to work very hard to fit in with the Saints, taking nothing for granted. ...The Saints are the model of success for the two-feature-back system. ...The Saints have apparently made a very rich offer to restricted free agent corner Jason David. The Colts will have a week to match the offer, or to receive a fourth round pick from the Saints. ...A mock draft held on AOL.com thinks the Saints will go in a different direction than expected, mostly because it's expected that the top corners will be gone and the Saints won't reach. ...ESPN picks the top 40 games on the upcoming schedule and lo and behold, the are listed in three of the top eight! plus a couple of more in the top 40. Someone here smells an ESPN prediction of the Saints in the Super Bowl. ...The Monroe News Star paper says the Saints offseason has been a snoozer - and that's a good thing. ...CBS Sportsline has a compilation of mock drafts and the three all have the Saints taking cornerbacks. ...From the Associated Press: Olindo Mare was traded by the Miami Dolphins to the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, ending the kicker's weeks of waiting for a change of scenery. The Dolphins are getting the Saints' sixth-round pick, No. 199 overall, in this month's draft. ...The Saints, still in pursuit of a veteran receiver, have apparently visited with ex-Patriots and Redskins receiver David Patten. ... |
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