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What had been suspected for a month or so became official when the New Orleans Saints made their roster cuts last week. They now have the deepest roster in franchise history.

Deeper than the 2009 team that won the Super Bowl?

By far. Let’s start with two prime examples -- Chris Reis and Pierson Prioleau -- and work our way back up to the top of the roster. On that 2009 team, they were bottom-of-the-roster guys, but they were still important. Both were backup safeties, but they made their real impact on special teams. Although Jonathan Casillas officially was credited with recovering the famous onside kick in the Super Bowl, Casillas and others involved in the play said Reis actually made the recovery. Reis and Prioleau made lots of other important plays on special teams that season and also helped last year when the Saints went 11-5.

They’re gone now. Both were released in moves that demonstrated the Saints have upgraded the bottom of their roster.

They’ve also upgraded the middle and the top by adding guys like running back Mark Ingram, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, running back Darren Sproles, center Olin Kreutz, defensive end Cameron Jordan and defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin. Sproles was the franchise player for the Chargers last year, and Franklin held the same tag with the 49ers.

On the Saints, they’re going to be role players. Same with Ingram and Jordan, a pair of first-round picks, at least at first. This roster is jammed with talent that runs from established stars such as quarterback Drew Brees and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, to rising stars such as safety Malcolm Jenkins and tight end Jimmy Graham, and right on down to rookies Martez Wilson and Johnny Patrick.

Wilson and Patrick are third-round picks, and the Saints have high hopes for Wilson as a linebacker and Patrick as a cornerback. But that’s down the road. The Saints are so loaded at those positions -- and everywhere else -- that Wilson and Patrick will probably be nothing more than special-teams players this season.

Think of them for the moment as replacements for Reis and Prioleau. A pair of journeymen have been replaced by third-round picks with the possibility of big futures. That’s called upgrading.

“I’d like to think we’re a little deeper in our roster,’’ coach Sean Payton said. “We were able to, during that brief free-agency period, pick up a couple players. Each year is different, but I feel like we’re a little deeper right now.’’

Maybe that’s why observers repeatedly said Payton seemed slightly more relaxed during training camp this year compared to his five previous camps. He’s still intense, like just about every head coach in the league, but those who’ve watched him throughout his tenure say he showed signs that he knows he has the deepest team he’s had and one of the best rosters in the league.

Does that automatically translate into the Saints winning another Super Bowl? Of course not. The 2009 Saints were good but, like most Super Bowl champions, they also were a bit lucky at various times throughout the season.

There’s also the matter of a very well-stocked NFC; the Atlanta Falcons are loaded with talent in the same division, and many consider the Philadelphia Eagles the conference favorite. Oh, and there are the Green Bay Packers, the defending Super Bowl champions whom the Saints open their season against Thursday night at Lambeau Field.

The past two Super Bowl champions kicking off the season in an historic venue -- it’s the stuff movie-script writers come up with, not NFL schedule makers. But the Packers might be carrying more of a burden than the Saints. They’ll carry the title of defending Super Bowl champions, a load the Saints toted last season.

“You’ve got to answer all the questions about the hangover, and you feel like you’re being scrutinized every step of the way,’’ Brees said. “You lose a game and people are, like, waiting for something bad to happen to your team so they can say, 'I told you so.' There’s pressure with that and obviously the expectation level after winning a Super Bowl.’’

The Saints don’t have to worry about that this year. And the fact that their roster is so deep and talented could open the door for them to step right back into Super Bowl form. At least on paper, it shouldn’t be that difficult.

The Saints are so much better than they were in 2009 in many ways. Guys like Jenkins, guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis were all very young players on that 2009 team. Now, they’re just hitting their prime.

The offensive backfield should be dramatically better. In 2009, the Saints used a combination of runners that included Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell. Thomas was the best of the bunch that year, but he should be just a role player this season.

Ingram might be better than the Saints have let on. He might be the most complete back this franchise has had since Deuce McAllister was young and healthy.

“He’s a really talented back,’’ Brees said. “He’s just got great instincts and he’s a pure runner. You watch him run and you say, 'Man, this guy was born to be a running back.'"

Throw in Sproles, who should be able to do everything Bush did, except get injured often, and the backfield should be much better. So should the run defense.

Rogers and Franklin are proven run-stoppers, and both made it clear they wanted to finally play on a team that has a chance to win big. That’s going to make life easier for Ellis, who was pretty good even when he was playing next to a very ordinary Remi Ayodele the last couple of seasons.

That’s also going to make things easier for Vilma and a linebacker corps that should be better than it was in 2009 and last season. The Saints won the Super Bowl with Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle as their starting outside linebackers. They were nice complementary players, but not big playmakers. It looks like the Saints will go with Casillas and Will Herring on the outside this year. They’re younger, and fresh legs could lead to more big plays.

The secondary should be better than 2009. Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter are firmly established as the starting corners, and the Saints have high hopes for Patrick Robinson, a 2010 first-round pick, as the nickelback. I know free safety Darren Sharper was a fan favorite in 2009, and there’s no question he was an important part of that team’s success. But he wore down at the end of that season and is gone now. For those who don’t believe me when I say Jenkins is now better than Sharper was early in 2009, let’s talk at the end of the season.

The receiving corps -- Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem -- is pretty much the same as it was in 2009. But Graham has replaced Jeremy Shockey as the pass-catching tight end. Graham is younger and more athletic than Shockey. Consider that another upgrade on a team that has plenty of them.

A lot of teams like to intentionally sell themselves short as they enter a season. The Saints aren’t doing that, and that’s probably because they’re looking at their roster and seeing what they have.

“We all know the potential here,’’ Brees said. “But we’re not going to take anything for granted and assume that we can walk out there with the talent that we have and we’re going to scare people away with our talent. That’s not the way it works. You’ve got to go out and make plays and prove it every time out. I like what we have. I think we have the opportunity to be great. But we still have a lot of work to do.’’

If you go back and look at the film of New Orleans playing Houston in Saturday’s preseason game, it quickly becomes apparent the Saints don’t have a featured running back. They have three.

Rookie Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles all got work with the first-team offense. That’s not some sort of competition or preseason experiment. The Saints are likely to use all three in a similar rotation during the regular season.

“I think it’s a great trio,’’ quarterback Drew Brees said. “When you look at all their strengths and their abilities with the diverse group we have, it’s hard when you give a defense that 1-2-3 punch because all of them can do so many good things and you’re able to rotate them and keep them fresh, and that’s only going to help us and our offense and how complex we’re going to be and what we’re going to be with formations and personnel groups. It’s really becomes a great weapon for us.’’

Although the trade of Reggie Bush made headlines, I’ll make a case that the Saints are better off at running back now than at any time since the 2006 season. That’s the last real productive year the Saints had from Deuce McAllister before age and injuries caught up to the veteran. That also was Bush’s rookie year, and he might have had his best season as he was used in tandem with McAllister.

Since then, the Saints have used a committee of running backs that has included the likes of Bush, Thomas, Mike Bell and Chris Ivory. They’ve won a lot of games, but the play of the running backs has been decent, not great.

With Ingram, Thomas and Sproles, things should change for the better. Ingram might be the most complete back the Saints have had since McAllister. At 5-foot-9, he’s built low to the ground, but he’s powerful. He’s also shown good speed and was able to catch the ball out of the backfield in college. That skill could be utilized even more in New Orleans’ offense.

But the Saints don’t need Ingram to do everything. Thomas is similar in a lot of ways -- he can run inside and outside and catch passes. Thomas was limited to six games last season, but was the closest thing the Saints had to a consistent running threat in 2009 when he averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

Ingram and Thomas are likely to split most of the carries out of the backfield, but the Saints didn’t go all out in recruiting the free-agent Sproles to have him come in and be a decoration. He’s going to be part of the backfield rotation with Ingram and Thomas.

Sproles will take on many of the roles Bush had. He’ll be used as a change-of-pace back, often going in motion and being used as a receiver. Sproles has the same kind of dynamic speed Bush had, but he might be better in some ways. Bush had trouble staying healthy throughout his time in New Orleans.

In his past three seasons in San Diego, Sproles did not miss a game. He also handled return duties.

Tampa Bay (LeGarrette Blount), Atlanta (Michael Turner) and Carolina (DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart) might have better individual running backs than the Saints. But put Ingram, Thomas and Sproles together and the Saints have a triumvirate of running backs that could make their offense more complete than it’s been since the days when McAllister still was going strong.

SEATTLE -- The memories of their Super Bowl season will last forever. The magic did not.

The feel-good story of last season -- or maybe the past decade or two -- is over. It ended unexpectedly and more than a little embarrassingly for the New Orleans Saints. The defending Super Bowl champions came into Qwest Field on Saturday to play the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a 7-9 record.

It ended with the Seattle Seahawks, a team that stumbled to the NFC West championship, defeating the Saints 41-36. Just like that, the magic and miracles that carried the Saints all the way to Miami and last year’s Super Bowl are over.

“After you experience raising that trophy, you don’t want to see anyone else lift it,’’ New Orleans linebacker Scott Shanle said. “There wasn’t a person in this locker room that didn’t think we would be lifting that trophy again.’’

That’s not going to happen. Some other team will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February and it will come in a season in which the Saints generally looked like they were avoiding “the curse’’ that has dethroned so many recent Super Bowl champions.

They went 11-5 in the regular season, again riding the arm of Drew Brees and using a defense that looked better overall than it did a year ago. Then, against a team the Saints handled easily in the regular season, it all fell apart.

Instead of looking like the Saints of the regular season or the champion Saints of the 2009 season, the Saints looked a lot more like the New Orleans teams of 2007 and 2008. Those teams could move the ball, but didn’t play much defense. Those teams were mediocre, sort of like the Seahawks.

“We’ll have a chance to look at the film,’’ Saints coach Sean Payton said when asked to explain why his team suddenly collapsed.

Payton’s right. There will be no Super Bowl parades or even any more games this season. The Saints will have months to reflect on what happened.

There will be painful weeks to watch the film of Matt Hasselbeck throwing for 272 yards and four touchdowns. That’s a lot of time to see safety Darren Sharper looking like he waited too long to retire. Time to watch strong safety Roman Harper looking even worse than Sharper and time to watch rookie cornerback Patrick Robinson making a season’s worth of rookie mistakes.

That’s not going to look good on the résumé of Gregg Williams. He’s the defensive coordinator and the man many credit for putting the Saints over the top last season. He has been mentioned as a possible head-coaching candidate in other places in recent weeks. He now will have time to interview. If Williams doesn’t get another job, he and Payton can watch the horror movie together.

“Our eyes were not very good in coverage,’’ Sharper said.

Throw in their legs and their minds too, and don’t limit the blame to the secondary. The front four and the linebackers also got destroyed. Hasselbeck, who couldn’t even play a week ago because of a hip injury, completed 22 of 35 passes and finished with a 113.0 passer rating. Marshawn Lynch ran over the New Orleans defense for 131 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

“I think we might have taken for granted the success they had throwing against us earlier in the season,’’ Sharper said.

That’s a reference to the Nov. 21 regular-season game in the Superdome. Hasselbeck threw for 366 yards in that game, but the Saints won 34-19. So what changed between the regular-season game and now? And what happened between last year’s Super Bowl and now?

A team that took pride in saying the only real losses from the Super Bowl were linebacker Scott Fujita and backup running back Mike Bell somehow lost a lot more. Yes, injuries were a factor. The Saints were forced to play Sharper because starting free safety Malcolm Jenkins was injured. Running backs Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory didn’t play because of injuries and fellow running backs Reggie Bush and Julius Jones got so banged up in the second half that the Saints had to play DeShawn Wynn, who was signed last week.

But the problems started long before Bush and Jones got hurt. The Saints, who had to fly across the country and had only six days between games, started off playing like champions. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead and Seattle was looking every bit the part of a 7-9 team. Then everything changed.

“It’s only appropriate to start off with congratulating [coach] Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks for a big win,'' Payton said. “They played a real good game.’’

Yes, give the Seahawks credit, but the Saints gave them a whole lot of help. Although Brees threw for 404 yards on 60 attempts, any attempt at offensive balance was abandoned in the second and third quarters when the Seahawks outscored the Saints 27-10.

Lynch and the Seattle receivers ran all over Williams’ defense. Things got so bad that Payton had to call for a desperation onside kick near the end of the game instead of using it as a surprise as he did in the Super Bowl win.

The Saints, who danced their way out of Miami after the Super Bowl and posed for pictures on the Atlanta Falcons’ logo in the Georgia Dome a few weeks ago, lost their swagger in Seattle.

The locker room was quiet.

“We knew we had a team we thought could repeat,’’ Sharper said.

“This stings a lot,’’ cornerback Jabari Greer said.

The silence and the sting will last the long flight back home and probably spill over into the coming weeks and months. The Saints lost more than just a playoff game.

They lost their chance at repeating as Super Bowl champions and they did it against a team that had a losing record in the regular season. Instead, they’re left to think about preventing a repeat of what happened in Seattle.

“If we’re ever in this position down the road, we have to remember this experience so it doesn’t happen again,’’ Shanle said.

NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees threw for more than 5,000 yards in 2008, mostly because the Saints couldn’t do much on offense besides pass.

With Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Mike Bell giving the Saints a running game in 2009, Brees’ numbers weren’t quite so gaudy and the Saints won the Super Bowl. But in one situation, Brees’ 2009 numbers were dramatically better than 2008.

That was against the blitz. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Brees had a 120.3 passer rating when facing five or more pass-rushers in 2009. In 2008, his rating was 93.4 in those situations. Brees’ 2009 completion percentage against the blitz was 72.1. In 2008, it was 59.8.

Brees also averaged 9.8 yards per attempt against the blitz last year. In 2008, he averaged 8.5 yards. Last season, Brees threw 10 touchdowns and three interceptions on plays where he was blitzed. In 2008, he threw eight touchdowns and four interceptions against the blitz.

For those of you getting ready for your fantasy drafts, you might want to read Doug Farrar’s detailed piece on Chris Ivory.

Farrar gives Ivory’s history and goes into extensive detail about what the young running back has done for New Orleans so far this preseason. I’ve got a hunch you’ll see plenty of Ivory in tonight’s preseason finale because the Saints want to make sure they have Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush fully rested for the start of the regular season.

With Lynell Hamilton and P.J. Hill going down with season-ending injuries, Ivory has made the most of his opportunities. If he continues to do that tonight, I think Ivory has a pretty good shot at taking over the third spot in the running back rotation. That’s the spot that was held by Mike Bell last season.

Bush and Thomas are going to get more carries and yards, but Ivory has a chance to be the goal-line back. That could make him a nice sleeper pick in your fantasy league.

With Lynell Hamilton suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Wednesday’s workout with the Patriots, the New Orleans Saints are going to have to make some major decisions about their stable of running backs.

They had planned to use Hamilton in the spot in the rotation that Mike Bell held last year. In other words, Hamilton (6-foot and 235 pounds) was going to be the big back or the short-yardage guy. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush would alternate as the top two running backs with Bush being the speed guy and Thomas the all-around back.

Bush and Thomas remain in place and I doubt the plan for them will change much. But the Saints now need a third man in that rotation and I’m not sure they’ve got the right candidate on their current roster. All indications are they like P.J. Hill and rookie Chris Ivory. But neither is as big as Hamilton. Ivory is a little closer than Hill, but they’re both within a few pounds of 220.

The Saints had veteran Ladell Betts in for a workout last week and he’s slightly heavier than Hill and Ivory. Plus, he’s got experience. I don’t know if the workout erased any concerns about Betts’ health. If it did, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saints sign him quickly. If it didn’t, I’d look for them to go out and add another running back very soon.

There’s not much out there right now. This might be a situation where the Saints monitor running backs on other teams throughout the preseason and hope they can add a big back that gets released by someone else.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 2

METAIRIE, La. -- As the New Orleans Saints finished their first camp practice Friday morning, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, a man known for holding back nothing on or off the field, unloaded. He wanted to get something off his chest. Heck, out of his body, out of his mouth and out into the open.

Without ever really being asked anything that would prompt the issue, Williams started talking about why the Saints can repeat as Super Bowl champions. He’s tired of hearing the reasons they can’t and the repeated reminders that the follow-up season hasn’t been good to many Super Bowl teams in recent history.

“I keep on hearing you guys talk about this Super Bowl hangover and it’s starting to chafe me a little bit,’’ Williams said. “It really is and I’m being real honest. The reason being is, if you could see behind the scenes of our offseason program from April 19 and to see every single practice we’ve had, I don’t have any qualms about the way our defense is because all they did was show up with more hunger, more fire, wanted me to be a bigger jerk and get on their (butt) more. They begged for me to get on their (butt) more. So far, I’ve seen nothing that would indicate that we can’t make another run at this.’’

Williams may be one of the organization’s more vocal figures, but you quickly get the feeling he’s not alone on this idea. Sure, the Saints spent a good portion of the offseason celebrating the first Super Bowl title in franchise history. Sure, recent history is stacked against them. No team has repeated since the 2004 Patriots.

Confidence -- some even have suggested arrogance -- was a big part of the reason the Saints won the Super Bowl last season. That hasn’t changed. Unlike a lot of recent Super Bowl teams, the Saints really didn’t lose much in free agency and they didn’t have their coaching staff picked apart. There really hasn’t been much turnover of faces or attitude.

“There was a really good locker room here before I got here,’’ Williams said. “There’s a better locker room now. The guys that we brought in this year, they fit into that locker room because Jon Vilma and Drew Brees aren’t going to let the wrong kind of people be in that locker room. They’re just not going to do that.’’

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can a defense that was opportunistic but far from dominant become more consistent? Sure, there is some bravado that comes with Williams. That’s part of his nature and it’s part of what makes him a good coach. But what he’s saying isn’t just bluster.

The Saints really should be much better on defense this season. All they really lost was linebacker Scott Fujita and defensive end Charles Grant. They showed Grant the door and probably upgraded the position by signing veterans Alex Brown and Jimmy Wilkerson. They’ll line up on the other side from Will Smith. Brown and Wilkerson aren’t dominant pass-rushers, but they’re consistent in that area and play the run very well. Fujita was a key contributor, but the Saints believe they have a group of promising linebackers (Troy Evans, Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Stanley Arnoux) and believe one of them will rise up.

Plug in a healthy Sedrick Ellis in the middle of the defensive line and the Saints should have a solid front seven. But the defensive backfield is where the Saints really could be outstanding. They’ve assembled one of the best collections of secondary talent in the league. Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter might be the best cornerbacks no one outside of New Orleans has heard of. When healthy, they both can be shut-down guys. Both were banged up last season, and that’s one of the reasons the Saints drafted cornerback Patrick Robinson. That move also has allowed them to move last year’s first-round pick, Malcolm Jenkins, to free safety, where he might get the chance to beat out Darren Sharper. If you can put Sharper, a possible future Hall of Famer on the bench, that’s a pretty big statement. People talk about New Orleans’ offense being explosive, but the defense has a chance to be every bit as dynamic.

2. Can the offense live up to last year’s standards? Brees remains the quarterback and, as long as that’s the case, this offense is going to be great. Brees clearly is in his prime and his pairing with head coach/offensive genius Sean Payton makes magic possible on every play.

This is an offense that can hit you from every angle -- Brees throwing short or long, Pierre Thomas running inside and Reggie Bush outside and an offensive line filled with Pro Bowlers. Keep in mind that the Saints had some injuries at the skill positions last year, but they still were phenomenal on offense. If they can keep Bush, Thomas, Marques Colston, Heath Evans and Jeremy Shockey healthy, last year’s production could be eclipsed.

3. Is left tackle really that important? The Saints used to have a Pro Bowl left tackle. His name was Jammal Brown and they traded him to Washington in the offseason. That happened after Brown missed all last season with an injury and the Saints got by with Jermon Bushrod quite nicely.

The Saints aren’t touting Bushrod as a franchise left tackle, although he’s the favorite to be the starter. They also drafted Charles Brown, and Zach Strief, who filled in when Bushrod slumped a bit last season, also is in the mix. The Saints gave Bushrod plenty of help last season and they’re prepared to do it again for him -- or for Brown or Streif. But the lesson that came out of last year is, in this offense, it’s not a necessity to have a dominant left tackle.

But that’s partly because the Saints have the league’s best guard tandem (Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks), a Pro Bowl right tackle (Jonathan Stinchcomb) and an excellent center (Jonathan Goodwin). Throw anyone out there at left tackle and the rest of the line and Brees will make him look good.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Jimmy Graham. The Saints took what seemed like a bit of a leap when they drafted the tight end in the third round. He played basketball at the University of Miami before deciding to switch to football in his final year. The conventional wisdom was that Graham would be a bit of a project and would take a year or two to really have an impact. But there already is a buzz among the coaching staff and other offensive players about Graham. Everyone knew he had great athletic ability coming in, but he’s picked up things faster than anyone expected and he got some first-team work with Brees in June workouts. He might play a bigger role faster than anyone expected.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Clint Ingram. When the Saints signed Ingram, a lot of fans instantly thought he would be the automatic replacement for Fujita. Ingram had been a starter in Jacksonville, so the logic was solid. But Ingram was injured when the Saints signed him and he still hasn’t been on the practice field, except while riding a stationary bike. That has allowed Troy Evans, Dunbar and Arnoux time to make a good impression. Unless Ingram gets healthy very soon and makes a huge impression on the field, he might not even get a roster spot.

OBSERVATION DECK

• James Lang/US PresswireDarren Sharper wore down toward the end of last season and had offseason microfracture surgery.
  I know this might sound like blasphemy to Saints fans because Sharper is very popular and had a huge impact last year. But the fact is he’s 34 and coming off micro-fracture knee surgery. I’ve suggested before I think there’s a good chance Jenkins takes his place in the starting lineup. But I’ll take it one step further here and say -- I’m not promising this will happen -- I can see a scenario where Sharper doesn’t even stay on the active roster. The Saints are high on Jenkins. They also like Usama Young and are hopeful about Chip Vaughn, who missed his rookie year with an injury. Ideally, the Saints would like to keep Sharper around for his leadership. But if his knee doesn’t come along, he could spend part of the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, the injured-reserve list or maybe even be released or retired. Even with all his credentials, Sharper can’t contribute if his knee isn’t right. The Saints have a lot of other safeties with young legs.
• The Saints used a three-headed backfield with Bush, Thomas and Mike Bell last season. Bell is gone, but the playing time division should be pretty similar this year. Just plug Lynell Hamilton into Bell’s place. The Saints wouldn’t have let Bell go if they didn’t think Hamilton was ready. I don’t want to tease you and say this is the year Bush shows he can run between the tackles. But remember how well he ran in the playoffs and how he was more physical than at any time in his career? That was because he was completely healthy. That seems to still be the case, so don’t be surprised if you see Bush’s numbers go up a bit. This guy can do a little bit of everything.
• Shockey’s always been an easy target and there’s no doubt he’s brought some of that on himself. But he appears to be in very good physical shape. Shockey hasn’t really been a distraction in New Orleans like many thought he was when he was with the Giants. He’s just been banged up for much of his time with the Saints. Maybe –- and I’m just saying maybe -- Shockey might have matured and might be taking better care of himself in an effort to stay on the field.
• It really didn’t get much attention, but the best move the Saints made in the offseason might have been signing Patrick Ramsey to serve as Brees’ backup. Veteran Mark Brunell was a good fit in that role for a couple of years, but the Saints needed to get a little younger. The Saints hope and pray nothing ever happens to Brees. But, if he were to miss some time, the New Orleans offense might not suddenly fall apart. Ramsey’s a guy who has bounced around the league. He got messed up by Steve Spurrier early in his career in Washington, but he still has some talent. This is a quarterback-friendly offense with all sorts of weapons and Ramsey could win games for the Saints -- if that ever becomes necessary.
• For a couple years, special teams were a bit of a question. That has changed. Kicker Garrett Hartley and punter Thomas Morstead were heroes in the Super Bowl. They’re still young and should only continue to get better.
• It’s very early in camp, but one player who has intrigued the coaching staff is defensive end Junior Galette. He’s an undrafted rookie and very undersized at 258 pounds. But this guy is showing great speed and there’s a chance he could land a job as a pass-rush specialist. Yeah, Bobby McCray also is supposed to fit that description. But McCray had 1.5 sacks last season and actually was cut because of a high salary before he basically begged his way back (at a reduced salary). If the Saints cut McCray once, there’s no reason why they couldn’t do it again.

Thought I would take that list of 2009 playing time I mentioned yesterday and take it in another direction.

I just looked at how many snaps each running back in the NFC South got last year and the results were interesting. In the case of the most used running back in the division, the result was surprising.

Tampa Bay’s Cadillac Williams, far and away, led NFC South running backs in playing time last season. He was on the field for almost 60 percent of Tampa Bay’s offensive plays and was the only division running back to take part in more than 50 percent of his team’s offensive plays. Not bad for a guy who has endured two major knee injuries in his career.

Let’s take a look at last year’s numbers on playing time for the running backs on all four teams (we’ll only delve into the significant ones), translate what that meant in 2009 and analyze what it could mean in 2010.

Tampa Bay: The Bucs ran a division-low 999 offensive plays and Williams was on the field for 593 of them. Derrick Ward, who was signed as a free agent, was out there for 34.7 percent of the plays and Earnest Graham, who made the transition to fullback, participated on 23.1 percent of the snaps. Ward really didn’t have the impact the Bucs hoped for, but they haven’t given up on him. Williams is firmly established as Raheem Morris’ No. 1 back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs let Ward take away some of his snaps (but not carries) just to preserve Williams.

New Orleans: This might be the most interesting running back corps in the division because everyone talked so much about the three-headed backfield last year. That was true as Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell got relatively equal playing time. Of New Orleans’ 1,067 offensive plays, Bush was on the field for 389. Thomas was out there for 372 and Bell got 262 snaps. Bell is gone and you might see playing time for Bush and Thomas go up a bit, but only slightly because Lynell Hamilton, who played 5.9 percent of last year’s snaps, is likely to take on some of Bell’s load. One other interesting note here is that fullback Heath Evans took part in 23.1 of the offensive plays, despite missing almost half the season with injury. Evans is healthy now and I’d look for him to be on the field about 40 percent of the time.

Carolina: The Panthers have one of the league’s most dynamic combination in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The playing time numbers pretty much back up coach John Fox’s view that these two guys are equal. Williams was on the field for 46.5 percent of Carolina’s 1,053 plays and Stewart participated in 40.3 percent. That breakdown should be pretty similar in 2010, barring injury. The Panthers let veteran fullback Brad Hoover go in the offseason and that’s significant because he took part in 31.2 percent of the plays. Tony Fiammetta took only 10.3 percent of the snaps as a rookie last year and he’s going to have to step into Hoover’s role.

Atlanta: The Falcons ran 1,093 offensive plays this past season and their participation got really out of whack because of injuries to Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. Jason Snelling wound up leading Atlanta’s backs with 497 (45.5 percent) plays. Turner was on the field for 335 (30.7 percent) and Norwood for 284 (26 percent). The Falcons don’t want to overuse Turner, who carried 385 times in 2008. But I think it’s a safe bet a healthy Turner will stay on the field for more than 30 percent of the plays in 2010. His mere presence brings a threat that should make things easier for the passing game. Snelling earned a role in this backfield, but if Turner and Norwood stay healthy, his playing time should dwindle. Turner and Norwood both are home run threats. Snelling is a big back, who is best suited as a blocker in passing situations and as a short-yardage runner.

Scott in Tampa writes: I've heard a lot of mixed things about Bucs rookie receiver Mike Williams. He supposedly had "character issues," yet he's already signed his contract and at least seems to be extremely focused on improving and showing his worth. Do you think he has the ability to be a quality starter in the not-too-distant future?

Pat Yasinskas: Williams has been emphatic that what happened at Syracuse last year hasn’t been portrayed accurately. He claims he didn’t quit on his teammates, but left because he was facing a suspension. He’s said and done all the right things since coming to Tampa Bay. He also has looked good in offseason workouts. I think there’s a real chance the Bucs open the season with Williams and fellow rookie Arrelious Benn as their starting receivers. Then again, there aren’t a lot of other good alternatives. Also, the Bucs claim they've done extensive research on Williams and are not concerned about his character.

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Patrick in Reno, Nev., writes: I know the Saints may simply rely on Lynell Hamilton to take Mike Bell's place as the short yardage back. Do you think it makes sense for them to maybe bring in Marshawn Lynch to fill that role? They could probably get him for a 4th or 5th rounder or put a package together involving Jamaal Brown.

Pat Yasinskas: Well, let’s see what happens with Pierre Thomas’ contract situation first. Reports are that Thomas is asking for huge money and I don’t know that the Saints think he’s worth that. If they are not able to resolve things with Thomas, they’ll have to bring in another back to go with Reggie Bush and Hamilton. I think they believe Hamilton can carry the load in the short-yardage game. But, if they don’t have Thomas, I think they’ll look for a back that can do a little bit of everything.

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Shaun in Calif., writes: Having been a lifelong Panther's fan since they were founded when I was 10, I am puzzled by your assessment of Muhsin Muhammad as "not genuine". I am still curious personally as to what that means. He is such a fan favorite in Carolina and always seemed like a great addition to the team from a personality and even media standpoint.

Pat Yasinskas: I covered Muhammad for much of his career and that’s my assessment of him. I know there are members of the media in Carolina and Chicago that feel the same way. In fairness to Muhammad, he is a wide receiver and almost all wide receivers have a selfish streak. Muhammad is known as “The Flower’’ in media circles because he once made a comment after his team got beat 52-9 in Oakland that “amid all the rubble, a flower bloomed’’ because he got his 100^th catch of the season. Muhammad can turn on the charm for the cameras when he wants, but I’ve seen another side. That said, his coaches and teammates always have considered him a “team’’ guy.

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Haile in Durham, N.C., writes: Who is running with the first time defense for ROLB? James Anderson or Dan Connor?

Pat Yasinskas: Anderson’s been getting just about all the first-team work there through the offseason and that makes him the favorite to be the starter. Connor hasn’t been getting any work on the outside, although he has the ability to play there if needed. Connor’s been working in the middle as Jon Beason’s backup.

Lawrence in Baker, La., writes: Since LenDale White has been released, what are his chances of being picked up by the Saints? I think he would provide a quality boost to the Saints’ backfield and would back up Pierre Thomas nicely.

Pat Yasinskas: While it’s true the Saints lost power back Mike Bell in free agency, I think they’ve got Lynell Hamilton ticketed for that role this season. He showed some promise last year. Yes, White fits the profile of a big back. But there have been reports he faces a four-game suspension. That’s probably not going away. Whenever the Saints or anyone else signs him, White still will have to serve that suspension.

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Stephen in Raleigh, N.C., writes: What do you think the chance of Charlotte getting a Super Bowl in the next 10 years are now? They cannot say it is too cold anymore. Would the Panthers need to upgrade the stadium to get the Super Bowl, or is Bank of America Stadium sufficient?

PY: Considering I lived in Charlotte for nearly nine years, I’m trying not to appear biased and hope I’m giving you a comprehensive opinion on this. I think Charlotte would make a wonderful Super Bowl host. First off, the location of the stadium is perfect. It’s in Uptown Charlotte (which would qualify as downtown in other cities) and right in the middle of everything. That kind of proximity helps tremendously with logistics. I’ve seen Charlotte on plenty of game days and, although I’m not a NASCAR fan at all, I’ve been in Uptown during race weeks and this city is set up nicely for big events. The weather used to be the main excuse, but giving New York the 2014 Super Bowl kind of eliminates that. I also know that, at least at one time, the Charlotte area didn’t meet the NFL’s minimum requirements for hotel rooms. I know several large hotels have been added in recent years, so I don’t know if that’s still an issue. Bottom line for me, I’d be happy if Charlotte got a Super Bowl.

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Michael in St. Petersburg, Fla., writes: I just wanted to follow up on the fan’s question about Ronde Barber being a possible Hall of Famer. Definitely. He’s the only corner in NFL History with 20+ sacks and 20 picks. He’s been a playmaker almost his entire career, and with the distinction of the only 20/20 corner, that should be enough in my book to vote him into the HOF. Just my thoughts.

PY: You’re entitled to your opinion and I’m not saying it’s wrong. I just disagree. I think Barber’s been a very good player, but not a Hall of Famer. Just my thoughts.

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Russell in Denver, N.C., writes: Jerry Richardson finally addressed the media and fans, and I understand the route they're taking with free agency and releasing players. He said it had nothing to do with the CBA. So, why not go ahead and lock up players like Richard Marshall and DeAngelo Williams? I think he only addressed half of the issues the fans have, and I think they're taking chances on players we can't afford to lose.

PY: First off, Richardson addressed the fans, not the media. The conversation was in the team’s official magazine, so it’s fair to speculate certain topics might have been off limits. But at least Richardson did address some of the questions many fans have. I disagree with him saying the labor issues aren’t factors in the team’s football decisions. He’s not paying people like Marshall or Williams big money now because he doesn’t want to give big signing bonuses as he prepares his franchise for the possibility of a lockout.

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Eli in Los Angeles writes: Do you think the Falcons will be implementing Kroy Biermann into the rushing scheme some more this year, as last year he was a total beast coming off the edge when he got the chances?

PY: Yes, I do. The Falcons have to generate more of a pass rush and they didn’t really add anyone to do that in free agency or the draft. That means they’re counting on Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury to step up this year. Both players have the tools to rush the passer and they’ll get the chance to show if they can.

It’s been a pretty slow news day around the NFC South, but that can happen this time of year. I’m getting ready to head up to Flowery Branch, Ga. for Atlanta’s minicamp this weekend and we should have plenty going on then.

In the meantime, here are a few minor odds and ends from around the NFC South.

• The Saints claimed running back P.J. Hill off waivers from the Redskins. This move could end up being a little more significant than it seems. Hill spent part of last season on New Orleans’ practice squad. With Mike Bell gone, he could compete with Lynell Hamilton to be the short-yardage runner.
• The Bucs announced running back Clifton Smith signed his tender, which is nice, because he didn’t really have much choice as an exclusive-rights free agent.
• Tampa Bay rookie receiver Mike Williams told WDAE he is not a quitter and went into detail about what happened when he left the Syracuse football team in his final season.
• D. Orlando Ledbetter reports Atlanta safety William Moore has been cleared for minicamp. Receiver Harry Douglas, cornerback Brian Williams and defensive tackle Peria Jerry still haven’t been cleared to practice.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

New Orleans offensive tackle Jammal Brown. He reportedly will stay away from offseason workouts and we can only assume that’s Brown’s way of stating he wants a big, long-term contract. That’s a bit of a risky move. Brown is an above average left tackle, but he’s not dominant. He missed last year with an injury and the Saints got by with Jermon Bushrod and Zach Strief. That wasn’t an ideal situation, but it showed the Saints can function without Brown. That could turn out to be a sign of things to come. Take a look around the league. Teams aren't rushing to give out long-term deals because they don't know what's going to happen with the labor situation. Brown's not exactly playing from a position of strength right now.

Rising

Restricted free agents in New Orleans. Back when free agency started, there was a little fear that other teams might raid the roster of the Super Bowl champions. The Saints had a whole bunch of restricted free agents, including big names like Jahri Evans, Brown and Pierre Thomas. But the deadline for other teams to make offers is tonight and it looks as if the Saints will make it through pretty much unscathed. Restricted free agents didn’t draw nearly as much action as many expected in an uncertain labor climate. The only guy the Saints have lost is running back Mike Bell. They had the chance to match his offer and they declined. Basically, the Saints have kept every restricted free agent they wanted.

Back at the start of free agency, there was a school of thought that restricted free agents might be the flavor of the offseason. Without a new labor agreement, about 200 players that were supposed to become restricted free agents were limited to restricted free agency.

A lot of people thought it would be hard for teams not to dip into that pool. Turns out most teams haven’t even gotten their toes wet. So far, the only restricted free agent to leave a team by an offer sheet was New Orleans running back Mike Bell and the Saints had hit him with the lowest tender, which means they get nothing in return. A handful of restricted free agents have changed teams through trade, but none have involved the NFC South.

If you’re curious about who the restricted free agents around the division are, here’s a list that we ran back at the start of free agency. A lot of fans were panicking because guys like New Orleans’ Jahri Evans, Carolina's DeAngelo Williams and Tampa Bay’s Barrett Ruud were somewhat exposed.

Well, you can stop worrying. They’re still with their teams and the deadline for other teams to make offers to restricted free agents is Thursday.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Are the New Orleans Saints doing the right thing by staying so quiet?

The Saints sat high atop the football world after winning the Super Bowl in February. But the future stories of recent champions hasn’t been pretty.

Still, the Saints pretty much have been sitting still in free agency, not adding much of anything and losing a couple of key cogs.

The truth is, they’re handling the situation perfectly and you have to keep in mind this is a unique situation. Without a labor agreement, the NFL is headed into a season without a salary cap and some special rules apply to the final eight teams left standing last season. That means the Saints can only sign an unrestricted free agent when they lose one of their own and the price tags are similar.

To date, all they’ve really lost are unrestricted free agent Scott Fujita and restricted free agent Mike Bell. They also released defensive end Charles Grant and a few others, but you can call that addition by subtraction, and the Saints may look to replace Grant with Alex Brown, who recently was cut by the Bears.

Fujita, an outside linebacker, and Bell, a running back, each played important roles last season. But neither player was part of the team’s core. They both got big money elsewhere and the Saints would have matched or bettered those offers if they truly believed Fujita and Bell were irreplaceable.

The Saints have a bevy of young linebackers and they’re hoping one of them can step forward and claim Fujita’s job. They also might pick up a linebacker in the early rounds of the draft, so the loss of Fujita isn’t devastating.

Neither is the loss of Bell. He was part of the backfield rotation with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush last year. But the Saints also have a young power runner in Lynell Hamilton. They’ve sniffed around a couple of free-agent running backs and it’s also a position they might address in the draft.

The Saints also are letting veteran safety Darren Sharper hang out there as an unrestricted free agent. They still want him back, but they’re not going to break the bank on a 34-year-old safety. From the looks of things, it doesn’t appear any other team is beating on Sharper’s deal to give him a huge contract. There are contingency plans in place if Sharper leaves.

No matter how that one plays out, the Saints are in good shape. Their real focus this offseason is to protect their core and they’ve done that by placing high tenders on restricted free agents like guard Jahri Evans. At some point, they’re going to have to give him a long-term contract. They also are likely to extend the contract of quarterback Drew Brees, who is the core of the core.

Yes, the Saints haven’t added very much, but that will change some with the draft. Besides, the Saints haven’t lost all that much. They still have the core of a team that won a Super Bowl, which is a lot more than most teams can say.

Time for an Easter edition of the NFC South mailbag. Happy holiday to all.

JC in Salina, Utah, writes: Reports say that Washington really loves Sam Bradford? If the Rams pass him up do you think it’s possible for Tampa to draft him and trade him to Washington for a very unhappy Albert Haynesworth? Tampa has the cap space and the obvious need of dominant DT.

Pat Yasinskas: First off, there is no salary cap this season. But I do see some logic to your scenario. If the Rams pass on Bradford, that probably means the first two picks in the draft will be used on defensive tackles. That would leave the Bucs in a tough spot. In that scenario, I could see them trying to trade down until a good bit later in the first round. Would they trade down one spot for Haynesworth? I’m not so sure. Remember, the Bucs tried very hard to sign Haynesworth as a free agent last year. Although they reportedly offered more money than the Redskins, Haynesworth turned them down. He made some comments about there being too many distractions in Tampa for his liking. If he’s unhappy in Washington, he might be even more unhappy in Tampa.

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Will in New Orleans writes: The Saints have looked at a couple of free agents in their quest to replace Mike Bell, any idea who they might look to in the draft to fill his spot? Bell took more carries than any other Saints back last year and Sean Payton never goes into training camp without a lot of depth at running back so even if Lynell Hamilton's the guy, Payton's going to want another running back.

Pat Yasinskas: I agree. The Saints aren’t done at running back and they’ve sniffed around some free agents. I could see them using a mid-round draft pick on a running back. But I also think there’s a good chance you’ll see them sign a running back that gets cut from someone else’s roster. Remember, the Saints are limited in signing unrestricted free agents because of the Final Eight plan. But they can sign someone that’s been cut from another roster.

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Jonathan in Montreal, Canada, writes: I'm curious about local product Carlton Mitchell from South Florida. I know that you went to the USF pro day, and I'm curious to know what you think about him (he's a freakish athlete, fast 40-time, big frame), and maybe the Bucs potentially drafting him early in the 3rd round?

Pat Yasinskas: Mitchell really impressed me at pro day. Kind of strange that I didn’t know a lot about him even though the USF campus is almost literally in my backyard. But with the Bucs struggling so much last year, I had to travel just about every Saturday and didn’t get to watch much of USF. Anyway, Mitchell is all the things you mentioned and more. He’s also a high-character guy. I think Mitchell’s workout probably has pushed him into the second round. The Bucs have two picks there and I think he’s a possibility. I think he also could be a possibility for Carolina.

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Jeff in Charleston, S.C., writes: What is your take on LT Sam Baker? From what I've seen, he can be solid one game, then the next whiff on multiple blocks, or worse get injured. Is Thomas Dimitroff sold on him as the answer for protecting Matt Ryan's blindside for the next decade?

Pat Yasinskas: The Falcons have a lot invested in Baker. Has he shown he’s a franchise left tackle? No. Injuries have set him back and you have to worry if he’ll be injury prone for the rest of his career. But he’s done some good things when healthy and I don’t think the Falcons are anywhere near ready to give up on him. They’ll continue to try to coach him up and hope he can stay healthy for a full season.

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Jordan in New Orleans writes: My question is about recently released Alex Brown. I know you addressed a question about him going to the Panthers in your last mailbag, but what about him coming down to play for the black and gold? Obviously, even before Charles Grant was released DE was thought by most as a position of need. Brown's a proven player, who just happened to be on the wrong end of the Julius Peppers bonanza. I think he would be perfect for the Saints and would save us from using a high draft pick on a DE. What's your take?

Pat Yasinskas: Definitely keep an eye on this one. I suspect the Saints and Panthers will show some interest in Brown. A lot of Atlanta fans have asked about him, too, but I’ve heard no rumblings about the Falcons being interested. I like your logic on the Saints. Brown wouldn’t be terribly expensive, he’s probably an upgrade over Grant and getting him would allow the Saints to focus on other areas in the draft.