NFC South: Jahri Evans
This is the time of year when you hear a lot about offseason workouts. This is when teams can begin conditioning drills and get out onto the field to start working on football and that continues through minicamps and organized team activities.
It’s a great time to build chemistry. You’ll also hear a lot of coaches bragging about how almost all their players are participating in the workouts, which is great. But, in some cases, there’s a lot of money to be earned just for showing up and working out in the offseason.
I just got a look at all the offseason workout bonuses scheduled to be earned (if the players take part in a majority of the workouts) by NFC South players this year and there were some eye openers. Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik doesn’t use a lot of workout bonuses in the contracts he negotiates. But, when he does use them, they’re significant. Tight end Kellen Winslow and cornerback Eric Wright have the largest workout bonuses in the division for 2012 at $500,000 each. Offensive tackle Donald Penn is right behind them at $400,000 and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is scheduled to collect $300,000. Linebacker Quincy Black has a $250,000 bonus and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye is slated to make $200,000. Those six are the only Buccaneers with workout bonuses this year, but they come to a total of $2.15 million.
Carolina general manager Marty Hurney and New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis are much more liberal in their use of workout bonuses. The Saints and Panthers each have 21 players scheduled to earn workout bonuses this year.
Carolina’s scheduled workout bonuses add up to $2.055 million. I won’t list anyone under six figures. But here are the guys who can earn big money. Charles Johnson, Jon Beason, DeAngelo Williams, Ryan Kalil and Ron Edwards each are scheduled to make $250,000. Charles Godfrey, James Anderson, Olindo Mare and Garry Williams each can earn $100,000.
If all the New Orleans players take part in enough workouts, the Saints will have to pay out $2.381 million. Sedrick Ellis leads the Saints with a $250,000 workout bonus. Jahri Evans, Lance Moore and Scott Shanle each are scheduled to make $200,000 and Will Smith is slated to make $150,000. Marques Colston, Roman Harper, Jabari Greer, Jermon Bushrod, Jonathan Vilma, Malcolm Jenkins, Devery Henderson, Pierre Thomas, David Thomas, Korey Hall and Will Herring each are scheduled to make $100,000.
Apparently, Atlanta’s Thomas Dimitroff, who probably works out more (he rides a bike religiously) than any NFC South general manager, doesn’t believe in workout bonuses. Dimitroff has used them very sparingly in the past. This year, there’s not a single Atlanta player schedule to earn a workout bonus.
It’s a great time to build chemistry. You’ll also hear a lot of coaches bragging about how almost all their players are participating in the workouts, which is great. But, in some cases, there’s a lot of money to be earned just for showing up and working out in the offseason.
I just got a look at all the offseason workout bonuses scheduled to be earned (if the players take part in a majority of the workouts) by NFC South players this year and there were some eye openers. Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik doesn’t use a lot of workout bonuses in the contracts he negotiates. But, when he does use them, they’re significant. Tight end Kellen Winslow and cornerback Eric Wright have the largest workout bonuses in the division for 2012 at $500,000 each. Offensive tackle Donald Penn is right behind them at $400,000 and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is scheduled to collect $300,000. Linebacker Quincy Black has a $250,000 bonus and defensive tackle Amobi Okoye is slated to make $200,000. Those six are the only Buccaneers with workout bonuses this year, but they come to a total of $2.15 million.
Carolina general manager Marty Hurney and New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis are much more liberal in their use of workout bonuses. The Saints and Panthers each have 21 players scheduled to earn workout bonuses this year.
Carolina’s scheduled workout bonuses add up to $2.055 million. I won’t list anyone under six figures. But here are the guys who can earn big money. Charles Johnson, Jon Beason, DeAngelo Williams, Ryan Kalil and Ron Edwards each are scheduled to make $250,000. Charles Godfrey, James Anderson, Olindo Mare and Garry Williams each can earn $100,000.
If all the New Orleans players take part in enough workouts, the Saints will have to pay out $2.381 million. Sedrick Ellis leads the Saints with a $250,000 workout bonus. Jahri Evans, Lance Moore and Scott Shanle each are scheduled to make $200,000 and Will Smith is slated to make $150,000. Marques Colston, Roman Harper, Jabari Greer, Jermon Bushrod, Jonathan Vilma, Malcolm Jenkins, Devery Henderson, Pierre Thomas, David Thomas, Korey Hall and Will Herring each are scheduled to make $100,000.
Apparently, Atlanta’s Thomas Dimitroff, who probably works out more (he rides a bike religiously) than any NFC South general manager, doesn’t believe in workout bonuses. Dimitroff has used them very sparingly in the past. This year, there’s not a single Atlanta player schedule to earn a workout bonus.
Now, that the NFL draft is over, let’s have some fun. Let’s start looking ahead to next season with team-by-team looks at what I project as the opening day lineups for each of the four NFC South teams.
Let’s start with the New Orleans Saints, who might not have any rookies open the season as starters because they didn’t have a draft pick until the third round. Also, let’s keep in mind that the Saints could be dealing with some suspensions from their bounty program. We won’t speculate on possible suspensions. We’ll just go with the depth chart as I see it now and I’ll throw in comments where there could be competition.
OFFENSE
Let’s start with the New Orleans Saints, who might not have any rookies open the season as starters because they didn’t have a draft pick until the third round. Also, let’s keep in mind that the Saints could be dealing with some suspensions from their bounty program. We won’t speculate on possible suspensions. We’ll just go with the depth chart as I see it now and I’ll throw in comments where there could be competition.
OFFENSE
- QB Drew Brees (assuming his contract situation gets straightened out)
- RB Pierre Thomas (you can also count Darren Sproles as a starter)
- FB Jed Collins
- WR Marques Colston
- WR Devery Henderson (Lance Moore will play as much as the starters)
- TE Jimmy Graham
- LT Jermon Bushrod
- LG Ben Grubbs
- C Brian de la Puente
- RG Jahri Evans
- RT Zach Strief
- DE Will Smith
- DT Sedrick Ellis
- DT Brodrick Bunkley
- DE Cameron Jordan
- LB Curtis Lofton
- LB Jonathan Vilma (it remains to be seen if Vilma or Lofton will play in the middle)
- LB Scott Shanle
- CB Jabari Greer
- CB Patrick Robinson
- FS Malcolm Jenkins
- SS Roman Harper
- K Garrett Hartley (assuming he wins training camp competition with John Kasay)
- P Thomas Morstead
- PR Darren Sproles
- KR Darren Sproles
» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
The 2012 NFL draft won’t be remembered as the flashiest in NFC South history. That honor belongs to the 2011 draft -- probably forever.
It’s tough to top a draft in which quarterback Cam Newton went No. 1 to Carolina, Atlanta traded up for receiver Julio Jones and New Orleans traded back into the first round to get running back Mark Ingram. Aside from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pretty good splash, this year’s NFC South draft wasn’t filled with drama.
Instead, it was filled with very deliberate picks that addressed big needs all around the division.
BEST MOVE
No pick set the division's tone for this draft better than Carolina's selection of Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 9 overall.
There’s nothing really flashy about Kuechly, but the Panthers didn’t need flash this time around. They got that with Newton, and he gave them a prolific offense. But that offense was only enough to carry the Panthers to a 6-10 record last season. Carolina couldn’t play defense, and opponents have run all over the Panthers the last few seasons.
A lot of people thought the Panthers should go with a defensive tackle in the first round. But there were two reasons they didn’t. They weren’t enamored of any of the first-round prospects at that position. They also feel pretty good about what they already have at defensive tackle. Ron Edwards, a big free-agent pickup last year, is coming back from an injury that kept him out last season, and the Panthers think he can anchor their defensive line. They also used two third-round picks on defensive tackles Terrell McClain and Sione Fua last year.
The Panthers believe they have the personnel to clog up the middle. Kuechly should be able to come in and do what he does best. He can roam the field and be the kind of tackling machine he was in college. This guy had as few flaws as any player in the draft and is ready to make an instant impact. It remains to be seen whether Keuchly or Jon Beason will play the middle and which one will slide outside. It doesn’t really matter. Either way, the Panthers now have a deep linebacker corps that should be able to stop just about any running game.
RISKIEST MOVE
You could say the Saints made a risky move by using their first draft pick on a player who didn’t even play his college ball in the United States. They drafted Regina (Canada) defensive tackle Akiem Hicks with the No. 89 overall pick in the third round.
The fact Hicks didn’t play against elite completion means there is obvious risk with this pick. But why not take a shot when you’re this late in the third round? Hicks has tremendous upside, and he was good enough to be recruited to LSU before leaving for Canada. The Saints have a great history of discovering gems (Jimmy Graham, Jahri Evans and Marques Colston) later in the draft. They took a risk, but it might pay off.
Hicks should at least have a chance at some playing time early on. The Saints don’t have much behind Brodrick Bunkley and Sedrick Ellis at defensive tackle. Hicks could end up in the rotation very quickly, and the Saints could end up looking very smart for taking this risk.
MOST SURPRISING MOVE
The Bucs haven’t been exciting in any way in quite some time. But they provided virtually all of the excitement within the division in this draft. General manager Mark Dominik shrewdly made some trades that gave the Bucs the ammunition to move up twice and come out of the draft with three instant starters.
Get over the fact that Dominik used the No. 7 overall pick on a safety, Alabama’s Mark Barron. The Bucs weren’t sold on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne for reasons we don’t know. They were sold on Barron, and safety might have been the weakest position on their roster heading into the draft. Trading down from No. 5 to No. 7 started a process in which Dominik was able to manipulate the draft with trades that gave him two other starters -- running back Doug Martin and outside linebacker Lavonte David.
The Bucs traded back into the first round to get Martin late Thursday night. They were without a second-round pick Friday night. But they saw David sitting there, they had the ammunition, and they pounced. No NFC South team needed more help from this draft than the Buccaneers, and Dominik made sure they got help that will matter right from the start.
FILE IT AWAY
Atlanta’s selection of Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing in the fifth round might not seem like a big deal on the surface. For now, Ewing is probably nothing more than a special-teams player. But the Falcons also were looking a year or two down the road when they made this pick. Veteran fullback Ovie Mughelli is coming off a major injury, and he’ll turn 32 in June. It was time to find someone to groom as Mughelli’s eventual successor.
The 2012 NFL draft won’t be remembered as the flashiest in NFC South history. That honor belongs to the 2011 draft -- probably forever.
It’s tough to top a draft in which quarterback Cam Newton went No. 1 to Carolina, Atlanta traded up for receiver Julio Jones and New Orleans traded back into the first round to get running back Mark Ingram. Aside from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pretty good splash, this year’s NFC South draft wasn’t filled with drama.
Instead, it was filled with very deliberate picks that addressed big needs all around the division.
BEST MOVE
No pick set the division's tone for this draft better than Carolina's selection of Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 9 overall.
There’s nothing really flashy about Kuechly, but the Panthers didn’t need flash this time around. They got that with Newton, and he gave them a prolific offense. But that offense was only enough to carry the Panthers to a 6-10 record last season. Carolina couldn’t play defense, and opponents have run all over the Panthers the last few seasons.
A lot of people thought the Panthers should go with a defensive tackle in the first round. But there were two reasons they didn’t. They weren’t enamored of any of the first-round prospects at that position. They also feel pretty good about what they already have at defensive tackle. Ron Edwards, a big free-agent pickup last year, is coming back from an injury that kept him out last season, and the Panthers think he can anchor their defensive line. They also used two third-round picks on defensive tackles Terrell McClain and Sione Fua last year.
The Panthers believe they have the personnel to clog up the middle. Kuechly should be able to come in and do what he does best. He can roam the field and be the kind of tackling machine he was in college. This guy had as few flaws as any player in the draft and is ready to make an instant impact. It remains to be seen whether Keuchly or Jon Beason will play the middle and which one will slide outside. It doesn’t really matter. Either way, the Panthers now have a deep linebacker corps that should be able to stop just about any running game.
RISKIEST MOVE
You could say the Saints made a risky move by using their first draft pick on a player who didn’t even play his college ball in the United States. They drafted Regina (Canada) defensive tackle Akiem Hicks with the No. 89 overall pick in the third round.
The fact Hicks didn’t play against elite completion means there is obvious risk with this pick. But why not take a shot when you’re this late in the third round? Hicks has tremendous upside, and he was good enough to be recruited to LSU before leaving for Canada. The Saints have a great history of discovering gems (Jimmy Graham, Jahri Evans and Marques Colston) later in the draft. They took a risk, but it might pay off.
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Kim Klement/US PresswireThe Bucs made headlines with their first-round draft picks, S Mark Barron and RB Doug Martin.
Kim Klement/US PresswireThe Bucs made headlines with their first-round draft picks, S Mark Barron and RB Doug Martin.MOST SURPRISING MOVE
The Bucs haven’t been exciting in any way in quite some time. But they provided virtually all of the excitement within the division in this draft. General manager Mark Dominik shrewdly made some trades that gave the Bucs the ammunition to move up twice and come out of the draft with three instant starters.
Get over the fact that Dominik used the No. 7 overall pick on a safety, Alabama’s Mark Barron. The Bucs weren’t sold on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne for reasons we don’t know. They were sold on Barron, and safety might have been the weakest position on their roster heading into the draft. Trading down from No. 5 to No. 7 started a process in which Dominik was able to manipulate the draft with trades that gave him two other starters -- running back Doug Martin and outside linebacker Lavonte David.
The Bucs traded back into the first round to get Martin late Thursday night. They were without a second-round pick Friday night. But they saw David sitting there, they had the ammunition, and they pounced. No NFC South team needed more help from this draft than the Buccaneers, and Dominik made sure they got help that will matter right from the start.
FILE IT AWAY
Atlanta’s selection of Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing in the fifth round might not seem like a big deal on the surface. For now, Ewing is probably nothing more than a special-teams player. But the Falcons also were looking a year or two down the road when they made this pick. Veteran fullback Ovie Mughelli is coming off a major injury, and he’ll turn 32 in June. It was time to find someone to groom as Mughelli’s eventual successor.
The sixth round of the NFL draft is over and each NFC South team made one pick. Let’s take a look.
The Buccaneers selected West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy. At this stage of the draft, it’s all about depth. With Aqib Talib’s future still uncertain and the possibility of Ronde Barber playing safety, Tandy gives the Bucs some more depth at cornerback and a likely special-teams player.
The Saints took Syracuse guard Andrew Tiller. This is one guy that you don’t write off as a career backup just because he’s a sixth-round pick. First off, Tiller has great size and some upside. Second, the Saints have a history of finding great guards later in the draft. They found Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, although Nicks left this year via free agency. Oh, there’s one other factor here. Tiller’s college coach was Doug Marrone, who used to be New Orleans’ offensive coordinator, so Tiller should have some familiarity with the Saints’ offense.
The Falcons picked Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell. He’s a little short, but he’s strong and powerful. As a three-year starter in the SEC, he has experience against good competition. He should provide some solid depth behind Thomas DeCoud and William Moore.
The Panthers used the final pick of the sixth round on Wisconsin punter Brad Nortman. This is significant. The Panthers released punter Jason Baker in a salary-cap move and needed a replacement. They found one in Nortman.
The Buccaneers selected West Virginia cornerback Keith Tandy. At this stage of the draft, it’s all about depth. With Aqib Talib’s future still uncertain and the possibility of Ronde Barber playing safety, Tandy gives the Bucs some more depth at cornerback and a likely special-teams player.
The Saints took Syracuse guard Andrew Tiller. This is one guy that you don’t write off as a career backup just because he’s a sixth-round pick. First off, Tiller has great size and some upside. Second, the Saints have a history of finding great guards later in the draft. They found Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, although Nicks left this year via free agency. Oh, there’s one other factor here. Tiller’s college coach was Doug Marrone, who used to be New Orleans’ offensive coordinator, so Tiller should have some familiarity with the Saints’ offense.
The Falcons picked Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell. He’s a little short, but he’s strong and powerful. As a three-year starter in the SEC, he has experience against good competition. He should provide some solid depth behind Thomas DeCoud and William Moore.
The Panthers used the final pick of the sixth round on Wisconsin punter Brad Nortman. This is significant. The Panthers released punter Jason Baker in a salary-cap move and needed a replacement. They found one in Nortman.
As we get ready for the NFL draft to resume, let’s take a spin through some NFC South headlines.
— Great quote from NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock on Tampa Bay safety Mark Barron: “I love this kid because his floor and ceiling are the same thing. His ceiling is to be a Pro Bowl safety; his floor is to be a Pro Bowl safety. That’s how good this young man is.’’ I’m with Mayock on this one. I know a lot of Tampa Bay fans wanted cornerback Morris Claiborne and the Bucs did extensive homework on him. I don’t know what the knock against Claiborne was, but the Bucs had him rated below Barron. You’ve got to go with what all your scouting tells you.
— Barron and running back Doug Martin were introduced to the Tampa Bay media on Friday.
— D. Orlando Ledbetter throws out some names of offensive linemen that could be possibilities for the Falcons at No. 55. He mentions Cordy Glenn, Jonathan Martin, Bobby Massie, Mike Adams and Peter Konz as guys the Falcons might have to trade up to get in the second round. He lists Mitchell Schwartz and Amini Siatolu as guys who the Falcons can probably get if they stay put. I think there’s also a chance the Falcons go with a defensive lineman in the second round. By the way, even if you’re not interested in offensive or defensive linemen, click the link to check out Ledbetter’s photographic talents.
— New Orleans doesn’t have a pick until the third round, but Mike Triplett points to recent history to show the Saints still can get an impact player. They’ve landed Jimmy Graham, Jermon Bushrod, Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans after the first two rounds. All four of those players made the Pro Bowl for the Saints, although Nicks now is with Tampa Bay.
— One of the first people to call linebacker Luke Kuechly after he was selected by the Panthers on Thursday night was Carolina quarterback Cam Newton. Looks like Newton is making good on his pledge to attempt to be more of a leader.
— Great quote from NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock on Tampa Bay safety Mark Barron: “I love this kid because his floor and ceiling are the same thing. His ceiling is to be a Pro Bowl safety; his floor is to be a Pro Bowl safety. That’s how good this young man is.’’ I’m with Mayock on this one. I know a lot of Tampa Bay fans wanted cornerback Morris Claiborne and the Bucs did extensive homework on him. I don’t know what the knock against Claiborne was, but the Bucs had him rated below Barron. You’ve got to go with what all your scouting tells you.
— Barron and running back Doug Martin were introduced to the Tampa Bay media on Friday.
— D. Orlando Ledbetter throws out some names of offensive linemen that could be possibilities for the Falcons at No. 55. He mentions Cordy Glenn, Jonathan Martin, Bobby Massie, Mike Adams and Peter Konz as guys the Falcons might have to trade up to get in the second round. He lists Mitchell Schwartz and Amini Siatolu as guys who the Falcons can probably get if they stay put. I think there’s also a chance the Falcons go with a defensive lineman in the second round. By the way, even if you’re not interested in offensive or defensive linemen, click the link to check out Ledbetter’s photographic talents.
— New Orleans doesn’t have a pick until the third round, but Mike Triplett points to recent history to show the Saints still can get an impact player. They’ve landed Jimmy Graham, Jermon Bushrod, Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans after the first two rounds. All four of those players made the Pro Bowl for the Saints, although Nicks now is with Tampa Bay.
— One of the first people to call linebacker Luke Kuechly after he was selected by the Panthers on Thursday night was Carolina quarterback Cam Newton. Looks like Newton is making good on his pledge to attempt to be more of a leader.
Let's take a look at the top Wednesday morning headlines from around the NFC South.
— The Atlanta Falcons reportedly are on the verge of making a trade with Philadelphia for cornerback Asante Samuel. Unless there’s a snag, it will be completed before the start of the draft Thursday. This would give the Falcons three starting-caliber cornerbacks, with Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes already in place, but new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has said he plans to play three cornerbacks much of the time. It’s pretty much a given that Samuel will have to restructure his contract if he does join the Falcons.
— Here’s a column that suggests the Buccaneers could take Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 5, if Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne are gone. Kuechly is easily the best linebacker in the draft, has no flaws on or off the field and the Bucs certainly need help at linebacker. But I’m not sure we would see this scenario play out unless new coach Greg Schiano places a higher premium on the middle-linebacker position than the previous coaching staff did. General manager Mark Dominik refused to pay Barrett Ruud big money and replaced him with third-round draft pick Mason Foster last year. If Schiano is intent on getting a top-notch middle linebacker, then Kuechly makes lots of sense. If the Bucs still don’t view middle linebacker as being all that crucial a position, then I think they’d consider USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon at No. 5. One other thing to keep in mind about Kuechly -- he spent most of his offseason working out at IMG Academies in nearby Bradenton. Several of the Bucs were down there working out and Kuechly made some new friends. They might be in Schiano’s ear about Kuechly.
— Carolina receiver Steve Smith said he was told by one of the Saints last season that he would have been fined if he hadn’t gone after Smith’s ankles out of bounds. That doesn’t quite fit the parameters of the bounty program, but it doesn’t look good. And who thinks it’s a good idea to give Smith anything, real or perceived, that might motivate him? Smith thrives on that kind of stuff.
— Without a pick until the third round, the Saints will need to pull of some magic in the middle and late rounds of the draft. They’ve done it before. They previously have found gems like receiver Marques Colston and guard Jahri Evans later in the draft.
— Addressing the bounty program, interim New Orleans coach Joe Vitt said the Saints crossed the line with words in meetings, but not with their on-field deeds.
— The Atlanta Falcons reportedly are on the verge of making a trade with Philadelphia for cornerback Asante Samuel. Unless there’s a snag, it will be completed before the start of the draft Thursday. This would give the Falcons three starting-caliber cornerbacks, with Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes already in place, but new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has said he plans to play three cornerbacks much of the time. It’s pretty much a given that Samuel will have to restructure his contract if he does join the Falcons.
— Here’s a column that suggests the Buccaneers could take Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 5, if Alabama running back Trent Richardson and LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne are gone. Kuechly is easily the best linebacker in the draft, has no flaws on or off the field and the Bucs certainly need help at linebacker. But I’m not sure we would see this scenario play out unless new coach Greg Schiano places a higher premium on the middle-linebacker position than the previous coaching staff did. General manager Mark Dominik refused to pay Barrett Ruud big money and replaced him with third-round draft pick Mason Foster last year. If Schiano is intent on getting a top-notch middle linebacker, then Kuechly makes lots of sense. If the Bucs still don’t view middle linebacker as being all that crucial a position, then I think they’d consider USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon at No. 5. One other thing to keep in mind about Kuechly -- he spent most of his offseason working out at IMG Academies in nearby Bradenton. Several of the Bucs were down there working out and Kuechly made some new friends. They might be in Schiano’s ear about Kuechly.
— Carolina receiver Steve Smith said he was told by one of the Saints last season that he would have been fined if he hadn’t gone after Smith’s ankles out of bounds. That doesn’t quite fit the parameters of the bounty program, but it doesn’t look good. And who thinks it’s a good idea to give Smith anything, real or perceived, that might motivate him? Smith thrives on that kind of stuff.
— Without a pick until the third round, the Saints will need to pull of some magic in the middle and late rounds of the draft. They’ve done it before. They previously have found gems like receiver Marques Colston and guard Jahri Evans later in the draft.
— Addressing the bounty program, interim New Orleans coach Joe Vitt said the Saints crossed the line with words in meetings, but not with their on-field deeds.
Time for a morning look at the headlines from around the division.
- Tampa Bay running back LeGarrette Blount previously was quoted as saying he didn’t want the Bucs to draft Trent Richardson. But Blount said Wednesday he would welcome the Alabama running back if the Buccaneers draft him.
- You might want to check out this video of Atlanta running back Michael Turner, who thought he was doing some modeling for a men’s fashion magazine. Instead, the photo shoot was all a joke, set up by Turner’s friend, Pittsburgh linebacker Lamar Woodley.
- Troy offensive lineman James Brown could be a target for the Saints in the middle rounds. The Saints have a good history when taking offensive linemen from smaller schools in the middle rounds. They got guard Jahri Evans and tackle Jermon Bushrod in the fourth round.
- Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who appears to be a candidate to go to Carolina with the No. 9 overall pick, could be the earliest Mississippi State player drafted since safety Walt Harris went No. 13 to Chicago in 1996.
- The Bucs are experimenting by using veteran cornerback Ronde Barber at safety in their minicamp that ends Thursday. Coach Greg Schiano said he’s been impressed with what he’s seen so far. Schiano said he’s not sure if Barber will stay at the position. Although Barber doesn’t have traditional safety size, Schiano said he thinks the veteran is big enough to make an impact as a safety.
- Former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been in touch with league officials to make sure he does everything possible to have a chance to be reinstated after this season. Williams, who left after last season to join the Rams, was suspended indefinitely for his role in the Saints’ bounty program.
The Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons have less salary-cap room than all of the NFL’s 29 other teams.
According to numbers obtained by ESPN.com, the Panthers have the league’s least cap room at $1.08 million. That includes the deal signed by guard Mike Pollak on Thursday. That one-year deal is worth a $700,000 base salary. But the Panthers took advantage of the NFL’s minimum salary benefit to lessen Pollak’s cap hit. The benefit allows the Panthers to count only $540,000 of Pollak’s base salary toward the cap. Throw in his $65,000 signing bonus and his cap figure for this year is $605,000.
Even after signing defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley to a cap-friendly deal, the Saints are second behind the Panthers with only $1.28 million in available cap space. They’ve got a major issue on their hands with the Drew Brees situation. He currently is on the books for the $16 million franchise tag. Even if the Saints are able to work a long-term deal with Brees, it’s likely his cap number will climb unless the team gets really creative in structuring the deal. The Saints are going to have to cut some players at some point and probably also will have to restructure some contracts (they already did that with Will Smith and Jahri Evans).
The Falcons are No. 3 with only $2.02 million in available cap space and that would explain why they haven’t been active in free agency, although they have re-signed some of their own players, such as John Abraham and Harry Douglas. The Falcons still have some wiggle room because there are several players that could be released and contracts that could be restructured to clear cap space.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team in the NFC South without major salary-cap issues. I can’t give you an exact number on how much cap space the Bucs have right now because we have yet to see how much Ronde Barber’s new contract will impact the cap. But the Bucs were roughly $16 million under the cap a few days ago and they cleared $1.5 million off the books by releasing defensive ends Tim Crowder and Nick Reed.
According to numbers obtained by ESPN.com, the Panthers have the league’s least cap room at $1.08 million. That includes the deal signed by guard Mike Pollak on Thursday. That one-year deal is worth a $700,000 base salary. But the Panthers took advantage of the NFL’s minimum salary benefit to lessen Pollak’s cap hit. The benefit allows the Panthers to count only $540,000 of Pollak’s base salary toward the cap. Throw in his $65,000 signing bonus and his cap figure for this year is $605,000.
Even after signing defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley to a cap-friendly deal, the Saints are second behind the Panthers with only $1.28 million in available cap space. They’ve got a major issue on their hands with the Drew Brees situation. He currently is on the books for the $16 million franchise tag. Even if the Saints are able to work a long-term deal with Brees, it’s likely his cap number will climb unless the team gets really creative in structuring the deal. The Saints are going to have to cut some players at some point and probably also will have to restructure some contracts (they already did that with Will Smith and Jahri Evans).
The Falcons are No. 3 with only $2.02 million in available cap space and that would explain why they haven’t been active in free agency, although they have re-signed some of their own players, such as John Abraham and Harry Douglas. The Falcons still have some wiggle room because there are several players that could be released and contracts that could be restructured to clear cap space.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team in the NFC South without major salary-cap issues. I can’t give you an exact number on how much cap space the Bucs have right now because we have yet to see how much Ronde Barber’s new contract will impact the cap. But the Bucs were roughly $16 million under the cap a few days ago and they cleared $1.5 million off the books by releasing defensive ends Tim Crowder and Nick Reed.
Saints replace Carl Nicks with Ben Grubbs
March, 15, 2012
Mar 15
10:50
AM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
The New Orleans Saints weren’t able to keep the best guard on the free-agent market -- Carl Nicks. So, they went out and got the second-best guard on the market in former Baltimore standout Ben Grubbs.
The Saints agreed to terms with Grubbs on Thursday morning on a five-year deal worth $36 million. Grubbs was viewed by fans in Baltimore as not living up to the expectations that came when he was a 2007 first-round pick for much of his time with the Ravens. But he suddenly became much more appreciated last season when he missed six games with a toe injury and the offensive line struggled without him. The Ravens wanted to keep him, but didn’t have more money to invest in the offensive line after giving Marshal Yanda a big contract last year.
Grubbs will cost the Saints about $2.5 million less per season than Nicks got from the Buccaneers. Grubbs might not be the superstar that Nicks was, but he’s a powerful blocker, and should help keep the interior of the offensive line strong.
Grubbs will be paired with Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans. Brian de la Puente, who played surprisingly well after taking over as the starting center, will return in the middle.
It’s impossible to say the Saints are better off without Nicks. But they aren’t in bad shape at guard, now that they’ve added Grubbs.
The Saints agreed to terms with Grubbs on Thursday morning on a five-year deal worth $36 million. Grubbs was viewed by fans in Baltimore as not living up to the expectations that came when he was a 2007 first-round pick for much of his time with the Ravens. But he suddenly became much more appreciated last season when he missed six games with a toe injury and the offensive line struggled without him. The Ravens wanted to keep him, but didn’t have more money to invest in the offensive line after giving Marshal Yanda a big contract last year.
Grubbs will cost the Saints about $2.5 million less per season than Nicks got from the Buccaneers. Grubbs might not be the superstar that Nicks was, but he’s a powerful blocker, and should help keep the interior of the offensive line strong.
Grubbs will be paired with Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans. Brian de la Puente, who played surprisingly well after taking over as the starting center, will return in the middle.
It’s impossible to say the Saints are better off without Nicks. But they aren’t in bad shape at guard, now that they’ve added Grubbs.
TAMPA, Fla. -- Former New Orleans guard Carl Nicks said the chance to be in a run-oriented offense was one of the points that sold him on signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
No doubt a five-year, $47.5 million contract played a role. But Nicks said it was time for a change.
“The run game, man,’’ Nicks said, when asked what attracted him to the Bucs. “No disrespect to our team (the Saints), but we’re pass first, pass second, pass third, pass fourth, fifth and sixth team and maybe some runs at the end. The Saints have great running backs. But here it’s a little different. We’ve got a big bruiser (LeGarrette Blount). We’re going to pound the ball, pound the ball and go over the top.’’
Nicks will learn to speak of the Saints in the past tense as he gets settled in Tampa Bay. He said New Orleans made a respectable offer to keep him, but he has no qualms about leaving a pass-happy offense in which he and Jahri Evans were considered the best guard tandem in the NFL. Nicks will start opposite Davin Joseph with Jeremy Zuttah moving from guard to center. Nicks said he got to know Joseph at the Pro Bowl at the end of last season and is looking forward to playing with him.
“Me and him together is going to be just as good, if not even better than me and Jahri were,’’ Nicks said. “We’re both physical. We both like to maul people, finish the blocks.’’
Oh, here’s a little nugget from ESPN Stats & Information that supports that Nicks came to the right place if he wants to help create a running game. Last season, the Saints averaged 6.6 yards per carry when running to the left (or behind Nicks). That was the second-best average in the NFL. When running to the left last season, the Bucs averaged 3.0 yards per carry, the worst figure in the league by over a yard.
Nicks said the expected disciplinary actions by the NFL against the Saints for their bounty program were not at all a factor in his decision to leave New Orleans.
NFL Free-Agency Coverage
• FA Tracker | Rumor Central 
• Free-agency blog: Latest analysis
• Yasinskas: Bucs make splash
• Joyner: Jackson perfect for Tampa
• Sando: Finnegan a building block
• Kuharsky: Wayne will set tone in Indy
• Graziano: Skins bet on WRs
• Seifert: Bears take care of Cutler
• Scouts: Deal great for Bears
• Scouts Inc.: Top 50 free agents
• Joyner: Best free-agent values
“The run game, man,’’ Nicks said, when asked what attracted him to the Bucs. “No disrespect to our team (the Saints), but we’re pass first, pass second, pass third, pass fourth, fifth and sixth team and maybe some runs at the end. The Saints have great running backs. But here it’s a little different. We’ve got a big bruiser (LeGarrette Blount). We’re going to pound the ball, pound the ball and go over the top.’’
Nicks will learn to speak of the Saints in the past tense as he gets settled in Tampa Bay. He said New Orleans made a respectable offer to keep him, but he has no qualms about leaving a pass-happy offense in which he and Jahri Evans were considered the best guard tandem in the NFL. Nicks will start opposite Davin Joseph with Jeremy Zuttah moving from guard to center. Nicks said he got to know Joseph at the Pro Bowl at the end of last season and is looking forward to playing with him.
“Me and him together is going to be just as good, if not even better than me and Jahri were,’’ Nicks said. “We’re both physical. We both like to maul people, finish the blocks.’’
Oh, here’s a little nugget from ESPN Stats & Information that supports that Nicks came to the right place if he wants to help create a running game. Last season, the Saints averaged 6.6 yards per carry when running to the left (or behind Nicks). That was the second-best average in the NFL. When running to the left last season, the Bucs averaged 3.0 yards per carry, the worst figure in the league by over a yard.
Nicks said the expected disciplinary actions by the NFL against the Saints for their bounty program were not at all a factor in his decision to leave New Orleans.
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ agreement with wide receiver Vincent Jackson on Tuesday night was big. Their signing of guard Carl Nicks on Wednesday morning might be even bigger.
Yeah, I know it’s hard to imagine the arrival of a guard topping the presence of a receiver who has a history of making big plays down the field. But the Bucs just might have pulled off that trick by signing Nicks to a five-year deal that’s worth $47.5 million.
Jackson was perhaps the top receiver in free agency. But Nicks is pretty much the unquestioned best guard in the NFL.
He’s also only 26 and may be just hitting his prime. Jackson is going to give quarterback Josh Freeman a big target downfield and, in theory, should open things up for the rest of the receiving corps. But Nicks might end up being even more important.
He’s going to give Freeman plenty of time to find targets downfield. Nicks is dominating as a pass-blocker. He’s also dominant as a run-blocker. The Saints averaged more than 6 yards per carry when running to Nicks’ side last season.
With Nicks and Davin Joseph, the Bucs now have two of the NFC’s Pro Bowl guards from last season. They’ll move Jeremy Zuttah from guard to center. They’ve also got Donald Penn, who is an above-average left tackle. Right tackle Jeremy Trueblood has taken lots of criticism in the past, but his level of play should improve with those four guys around him.
We’ll see how it all shakes out in time. But, on paper, the Bucs suddenly have what could be one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. New coach Greg Schiano has pledged to make the Bucs more physical in all areas, and the arrival of Nicks certainly makes the offensive line much more physical.
But this move has implications beyond Tampa Bay. The loss of Nicks is a blow to the Saints. They wanted to keep him, but found it impossible with a tight salary-cap situation. Nicks also fell third in the pecking order after the Saints put the franchise tag on quarterback Drew Brees and re-signed receiver Marques Colston.
With Nicks and Jahri Evans, the Saints had what many said was the best guard tandem in the league. Nicks and Evans made tackles Jermon Bushrod and Zach Strief and center Brian De La Puente look better than they really are. The Saints have Baltimore's Ben Grubbs in for a visit, and he's decent.
Evans remains and he’s very good. But the Saints no longer have the best guard in the league.
The Bucs do.
NFL Free-Agency Coverage
• FA Tracker | Rumor Central
• Free-agency blog: Latest analysis
• Yasinskas: Bucs make splash
• Joyner: Jackson perfect for Tampa
• Sando: Finnegan a building block
• Kuharsky: Wayne will set tone in Indy
• Graziano: Skins bet on WRs
• Seifert: Bears take care of Cutler
• Scouts: Deal great for Bears
• Scouts Inc.: Top 50 free agents
• Joyner: Best free-agent values
Jackson was perhaps the top receiver in free agency. But Nicks is pretty much the unquestioned best guard in the NFL.
He’s also only 26 and may be just hitting his prime. Jackson is going to give quarterback Josh Freeman a big target downfield and, in theory, should open things up for the rest of the receiving corps. But Nicks might end up being even more important.
He’s going to give Freeman plenty of time to find targets downfield. Nicks is dominating as a pass-blocker. He’s also dominant as a run-blocker. The Saints averaged more than 6 yards per carry when running to Nicks’ side last season.
With Nicks and Davin Joseph, the Bucs now have two of the NFC’s Pro Bowl guards from last season. They’ll move Jeremy Zuttah from guard to center. They’ve also got Donald Penn, who is an above-average left tackle. Right tackle Jeremy Trueblood has taken lots of criticism in the past, but his level of play should improve with those four guys around him.
We’ll see how it all shakes out in time. But, on paper, the Bucs suddenly have what could be one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. New coach Greg Schiano has pledged to make the Bucs more physical in all areas, and the arrival of Nicks certainly makes the offensive line much more physical.
But this move has implications beyond Tampa Bay. The loss of Nicks is a blow to the Saints. They wanted to keep him, but found it impossible with a tight salary-cap situation. Nicks also fell third in the pecking order after the Saints put the franchise tag on quarterback Drew Brees and re-signed receiver Marques Colston.
With Nicks and Jahri Evans, the Saints had what many said was the best guard tandem in the league. Nicks and Evans made tackles Jermon Bushrod and Zach Strief and center Brian De La Puente look better than they really are. The Saints have Baltimore's Ben Grubbs in for a visit, and he's decent.
Evans remains and he’s very good. But the Saints no longer have the best guard in the league.
The Bucs do.
How Nicks' departure would hurt Saints
March, 12, 2012
Mar 12
6:43
PM ET
By
Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com
Carl Nicks repeatedly has said he’d like to stay with the New Orleans Saints.
But, as we count down the hours until Tuesday’s start of free agency, Nicks said he still hasn’t received an offer from the only team he has ever played for. He also said he believes the Saints can’t afford him and don’t want to “disrespect’’ him by making him an offer that won’t make him the league’s highest-paid guard (more than $8.5 million per season).
Barring a last-minute surge in salary-cap room, the Saints probably will let Nicks hit the open market. As I’ve written before, NFC South rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay could be in the market for Nicks. So could a lot of other teams around the league. That’s because Nicks is the league’s best guard and he’s only 26.
If the Saints lose Nicks, they’re losing a lot. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Nicks and teammate Jermon Bushrod led all offensive players in snaps played in 2011 with 1,177. In other words, Nicks and Bushrod played in every one of New Orleans’ offensive snaps. New England quarterback Tom Brady (1,149 snaps) and Atlanta Justin Blalock (1,147) and tackle Tyson Clabo (1,147) rounded out the top five.
In addition to being a dominant pass blocker, Nicks also has been stellar in the running game. The Saints averaged 6.6 yards when running to the left last season. That average ranked No. 2 in the NFL.
Nicks and Jahri Evans have formed the best guard tandem in the league in recent years. Their play probably has helped center Brian De La Puente, Bushrod and right tackle Zach Strief.
If Nicks leaves, the Saints still have an elite guard in Evans. But they’ll no longer have an elite player on both sides of the offensive line.
But, as we count down the hours until Tuesday’s start of free agency, Nicks said he still hasn’t received an offer from the only team he has ever played for. He also said he believes the Saints can’t afford him and don’t want to “disrespect’’ him by making him an offer that won’t make him the league’s highest-paid guard (more than $8.5 million per season).
Barring a last-minute surge in salary-cap room, the Saints probably will let Nicks hit the open market. As I’ve written before, NFC South rivals Atlanta and Tampa Bay could be in the market for Nicks. So could a lot of other teams around the league. That’s because Nicks is the league’s best guard and he’s only 26.
If the Saints lose Nicks, they’re losing a lot. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Nicks and teammate Jermon Bushrod led all offensive players in snaps played in 2011 with 1,177. In other words, Nicks and Bushrod played in every one of New Orleans’ offensive snaps. New England quarterback Tom Brady (1,149 snaps) and Atlanta Justin Blalock (1,147) and tackle Tyson Clabo (1,147) rounded out the top five.
In addition to being a dominant pass blocker, Nicks also has been stellar in the running game. The Saints averaged 6.6 yards when running to the left last season. That average ranked No. 2 in the NFL.
Nicks and Jahri Evans have formed the best guard tandem in the league in recent years. Their play probably has helped center Brian De La Puente, Bushrod and right tackle Zach Strief.
If Nicks leaves, the Saints still have an elite guard in Evans. But they’ll no longer have an elite player on both sides of the offensive line.
The New Orleans Saints, working to get their salary-cap situation in check before the start of free agency, have restructured the contract of guard Jahri Evans.
The new deal drops his cap figure from $5.2 million to $3.36 million. Evans received a $2.3 million signing bonus as part of the deal.
The Saints dropped his base salary to $700,000 from $3 million.
The new deal drops his cap figure from $5.2 million to $3.36 million. Evans received a $2.3 million signing bonus as part of the deal.
The Saints dropped his base salary to $700,000 from $3 million.
Chuck Cook/US PresswireWith or without quarterback Drew Brees, it appears the Saints will be a different team next season.Drew Brees arrived in 2006 as the Saints and the city of New Orleans were still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He brought instant credibility, an explosive brand of offense and sustained success for a franchise that had been hapless through most of its existence. He also played a vital role in rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf South region.
Now, the price tag on all that is coming due. Brees is scheduled to become a free agent on March 13. He and the Saints are negotiating, but reports indicate the two sides remain far apart. That in itself is a little unbelievable because the parameters of this deal are obvious. Brees deserves to be the highest-paid player in NFL history.
He’s coming off a year in which he set the NFL record for passing yards in a season (5,476), and he should get at least as much as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, who average $18 million per year.
I have no doubt that, when all is said and done, Brees will remain with the Saints. If negotiations on a long-term deal continue to fail, the Saints will simply put the franchise tag on their franchise quarterback.
But, either way, this is when we could begin to see the beginning of the end of the Saints as we know them.
They’re not going to be the same team they were last season when they went 13-3. They might not even be the same team they were in 2010 when they went 11-5. And they certainly aren’t going to be the same team they were in the magical 2009 season when they won the Super Bowl.
They’ll have the same quarterback, and that’s a great start. But the economics of his contract mean the Saints aren’t going to have the same quality of players at a lot of other positions. That’s not Brees’ fault, or the team’s fault. It’s simply reality in the modern NFL.
By the time next season rolls around and everything has shaken out, the Saints could be taking several steps back. They’ll still have a high-powered offense because they’ll have Brees, Darren Sproles and Jimmy Graham, but that offense might not be quite the machine it’s been the past few seasons. That’s because some parts are going to be gone and they can’t truly be replaced.
On defense, which wasn’t an area of strength to begin with, the Saints have a new coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, who needs new pieces to execute his scheme. He’s not going to be able to get all he needs -- at least not this offseason.
So you’re looking at an offense that probably will be a notch or two below what it’s been in recent seasons. And you’re looking at a defense that’s probably going to be far from dominant.
Gee, that sounds pretty much like the Saints were in 2007 and ’08. They scored a lot of points, but the offense wasn’t quite perfect. The defense was far below perfect. That added up to mediocre seasons that didn’t end in trips to the playoffs.
That could be what the Saints face in 2012.
We haven’t even seen the full fallout yet, but we can start looking ahead and, no matter how you slice it, it’s tough to paint a pretty picture.
[+] Enlarge
Jeff Hanisch/US PresswireThe Saints' Carl Nicks, a veteran who has multiple Pro Bowls to his credit, could be an attractive option for the Cowboys if he is available in free agency.
Jeff Hanisch/US PresswireThe Saints' Carl Nicks, a veteran who has multiple Pro Bowls to his credit, could be an attractive option for the Cowboys if he is available in free agency.At absolute best, the Saints will be able to sign Brees and then place the franchise tag on either Nicks or Colston. At worst, they use the franchise tag on Brees, while Colston and Nicks both walk.
You don’t replace Nicks. He’s the best guard in the NFL and he may be just hitting his prime. Although the Saints have another very good guard in Jahri Evans, they no longer would have the unquestioned best guard tandem in the NFL.
Without Nicks, Brees would lose his best protector. Any quarterback, even Brees, isn’t quite as good when he’s getting pressured (think back to last season’s stunning loss to St. Louis).
Colston probably isn't on his way to the Hall of Fame, but he’s been Brees’ favorite target since they joined forces in 2006. Colston has had 1,000-yard receiving seasons in five of his six years. He’s a big target who isn't afraid to go over the middle. Take him away and take Meachem away, and the Saints would still have Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and Adrian Arrington. Moore and Henderson are nice, experienced receivers, but they don’t do the things Colston does.
And when you’ve got no cap room to sign free agents and no first-round draft pick, where are you going to get a receiver who does anything close to what Colston does? And where are you going to get a guard who is anywhere near as good as Nicks?
So let’s subtract a few points a game from the Saints’ offense going forward. And we’re only just beginning to talk about a defense that could end up giving up more points than it has in recent seasons.
This defense isn’t loaded with talent and we soon could see subtraction by subtraction. This salary-cap jam almost certainly will force the Saints to let Porter walk. That’s not that big a deal. The Saints have a top-flight corner in Jabari Greer, and it’s pretty apparent they’ve been preparing for Porter’s eventual departure by drafting Patrick Robinson and Johnny Patrick in recent years.
But the cost of keeping Brees, and maybe Nicks or Colston, means it’s almost certain the Saints are going to have to trim some cap room by releasing some prominent defensive players or at least restructuring their contracts.
Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith are likely the top two targets for that. Although both are aging and Vilma is coming off a knee injury, those two have been New Orleans’ defensive leaders throughout coach Sean Payton’s tenure. Take Vilma away from a group of linebackers that’s ordinary, and you’ve got a group of linebackers that’s less than ordinary. And you're without the next guy in the leadership chain after Brees.
Again, the Saints don’t have the currency (cap room or prime draft picks) to make major upgrades here. Take Smith away from a pass rush that hasn’t even been ordinary, and you’ve got the potential for huge problems.
Unlike predecessor Gregg Williams, whose defensive philosophy was to be opportunistic and create turnovers, Spagnuolo believes in playing more of a shutdown defense, and he likes to generate almost all of his pressure from the front four. With Smith, the Saints have one guy up front who can rush the passer. Without him, they won’t have any.
Good luck trying to find a guy in the middle rounds of the draft or a low-priced free agent who will step right in and give you double-digit sacks. Spagnuolo is a good coach and his hiring set off celebrations in New Orleans. But a coach is only as good as the players around him, and Spagnuolo is probably not going to have a great deal of defensive talent in his first year.
That could be the story of the Saints in 2012.
Keeping their quarterback would at least keep them competitive, but they won't take steps forward if their roster is wiped out and the cap situation keeps them from being rebuilt.
Jonathan Bales has his list of the 20 best guards in the NFL in 2011. It’s based on mathematics that involve run blocking and pass pressures allowed.
As you might expect, two NFC South guards rank high on the list. But there’s a third division player on the list who might surprise you.
First, let’s start with what’s not a surprise. New Orleans’ Carl Nicks is No. 2 on the list. He’s behind only Baltimore’s Marshal Yanda. Bales cites Nicks’ pressure rate of 0.68 percent as a big reason he’s ranked near the top. If I were Nicks and his agent, I’d print out these ratings and show them to the Saints as they get ready for contract negotiations. Nicks is on the verge of becoming an unrestricted free agent.
It’s also not surprising that Nicks’ teammate Jahri Evans is on the list. What is mildly surprising is that Evans is No. 11. In most conversations on the topic, Nicks and Evans are in the top five. In fact, there’s often debate about which New Orleans guard is better. But Bales says Evans’ ranking was low because he allowed 26 pressures on quarterback Drew Brees and that dropped his value even though he’s one of the league’s top run-blockers.
Now, here’s the big surprise. Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Zuttah is on the list at No. 13. There weren’t many bright spots for the Bucs in 2011, but Zuttah’s play was one. Like Nicks, Zuttah also is a potential free agent. The Bucs are well aware that Zuttah played well last season and they want to keep him. They’re also aware that he’s versatile and also can play center. His value to the Bucs is only helped by the fact that he played in college at Rutgers under new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano.
There also are two NFC South guards with reasonably big names that didn’t make the list and Bales addresses both of them. Tampa Bay’s Davin Joseph went to the Pro Bowl and allowed only two sacks while doing a good job as a run-blocker, but Bales points to his 21 pressures allowed as the reason he’s not on the list.
Atlanta’s Justin Blalock also was left off the list. Bales points to the fact that the Falcons averaged just 3.5 yards per carry when running behind Blalock as the reason he didn’t make the top 20.
As you might expect, two NFC South guards rank high on the list. But there’s a third division player on the list who might surprise you.
First, let’s start with what’s not a surprise. New Orleans’ Carl Nicks is No. 2 on the list. He’s behind only Baltimore’s Marshal Yanda. Bales cites Nicks’ pressure rate of 0.68 percent as a big reason he’s ranked near the top. If I were Nicks and his agent, I’d print out these ratings and show them to the Saints as they get ready for contract negotiations. Nicks is on the verge of becoming an unrestricted free agent.
It’s also not surprising that Nicks’ teammate Jahri Evans is on the list. What is mildly surprising is that Evans is No. 11. In most conversations on the topic, Nicks and Evans are in the top five. In fact, there’s often debate about which New Orleans guard is better. But Bales says Evans’ ranking was low because he allowed 26 pressures on quarterback Drew Brees and that dropped his value even though he’s one of the league’s top run-blockers.
Now, here’s the big surprise. Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Zuttah is on the list at No. 13. There weren’t many bright spots for the Bucs in 2011, but Zuttah’s play was one. Like Nicks, Zuttah also is a potential free agent. The Bucs are well aware that Zuttah played well last season and they want to keep him. They’re also aware that he’s versatile and also can play center. His value to the Bucs is only helped by the fact that he played in college at Rutgers under new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano.
There also are two NFC South guards with reasonably big names that didn’t make the list and Bales addresses both of them. Tampa Bay’s Davin Joseph went to the Pro Bowl and allowed only two sacks while doing a good job as a run-blocker, but Bales points to his 21 pressures allowed as the reason he’s not on the list.
Atlanta’s Justin Blalock also was left off the list. Bales points to the fact that the Falcons averaged just 3.5 yards per carry when running behind Blalock as the reason he didn’t make the top 20.
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Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
