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Let's take a look at the top headlines from around the NFC South.

Check out this Insider piece by Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders. No argument that the Falcons are looking for a return man, and the Saints could use some depth at cornerback. But I’m not so sure the Panthers are as much in the market for a No. 2 receiver as a lot of people think. I believe the Panthers are ready to let Brandon LaFell, David Gettis, Joe Adams and Kealoha Pilares compete for the spot opposite Steve Smith, and are hoping one of them will step up. I also think the Tampa Bay coaching staff is intent on going with Jeremy Zuttah at center. But it doesn’t sound like Tanier is a big Zuttah fan.

The sister of Tampa Bay defensive tackle Brian Price reportedly died from injuries she suffered in a car accident.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank used the carrot of being a potential Super Bowl and World Cup host while discussing the new open-air stadium he wants with season-ticket holders.

Willie Roaf, who will be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, reflects on why he left the New Orleans Saints for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Atlanta coach Mike Smith admitted in this radio interview that the Falcons are doing some “soul searching’’ after failing to win a playoff game the past four seasons.

Peter Finney writes that it’s time for Saints owner Tom Benson to get quarterback Drew Brees signed to a long-term deal. I couldn’t agree more. This situation has dragged on way too long. The Saints have dealt with a lot of turmoil this offseason, and getting their team leader signed to a new contract would accelerate the healing process.

Scott Fowler writes that the Panthers’ decision to put rookie Luke Kuechly at outside linebacker and keep Jon Beason in the middle for the moment is best for team chemistry. That’s true. Beason has been the leader of this defense for several years. It makes sense to at least let him open training camp in the middle. If a move needs to be made, it can come later.

The NFL announced Monday that 33 former players will get to announce picks during this week’s draft.

For the most part, the retired players will announce second-round picks. The New Orleans Saints don’t have a second-round pick, so Willie Roaf, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, will announce their third-round pick.

Former tight end Alge Crumpler will announce Atlanta’s second-round pick. Retired defensive end Mike Rucker will announce Carolina’s second-round pick.

Dexter Jackson will announce Tampa Bay’s second-round pick. To be clear, that’s the Dexter Jackson that was a safety and was the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XXXVII and not the wide receiver by the same name who was taken by the Bucs in the second-round in 2008, but didn’t last long.

It already was reported that the New Orleans Saints will play in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game this summer. But now we’ve got an opponent and a date.

It was announced Wednesday that the Saints will play the Arizona Cardinals Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. ET in Canton, Ohio.

The Saints requested to play in the game because one of their former players, offensive tackle Willie Roaf, is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Saints also have close ties to another inductee. That’s Cortez Kennedy, who works as a consultant for the team and is close to coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis.

Tickets for the game are priced at $35, $45, $60, and $70 and will go on sale March 13. Additional information on both the Hall of Fame Game and the 2012 Enshrinement Ceremony including Enshrinement Festival fan packages can be found on Profootballhof.com.

Willie Roaf is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August and the New Orleans Saints are joining him.

The Saints reportedly will open their preseason Aug. 5 by playing in the annual Hall of Fame Game. Their opponent hasn’t been determined yet, but the Saints volunteered for the Hall of Fame Game because it coincides with Roaf’s induction.

This means the Saints will play five preseason games this year instead of the traditional four. In the past, teams that appear in the Hall of Fame Game have been allowed to open training camps before other teams.

Roaf will become only the second player to spend the majority of his career with the Saints to go into the Hall of Fame. Linebacker Rickey Jackson was the first.

We talk all the time about how the Pro Football Hall of Fame doesn’t follow the same protocol as the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In football, a player goes into the Hall of Fame representing only himself. In baseball, a Hall of Famer has to declare what hat he wants on his plaque if he has played for more than one team.

Willie Roaf, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, played for the New Orleans Saints from 1993 through 2001. He then joined the Kansas City Chiefs and finished his career with them in 2005.

In this radio interview, Roaf was asked, hypothetically, which hat he would wear if the Pro Football Hall of Fame required players to make that choice. While Roaf praised his Kansas City experience, his answer was pretty clear.

“I’m wearing a Saints hat,’’ Roaf said. “You know things happen for a reason in life and I had to go through what I had to deal with and I needed a fresh start anyway, went through the knee surgery, went to Kansas City and played hard, and I think the experiences made me a better person. I think if I had to stay on that turf I wouldn’t have made it but another year or two but the fact that I went and played on that grass and played well in Kansas City with that real good group of players for those three of four years, I think that’s what solidified and helped me get in this early.”

Like you would expect from any proud franchise, the New Orleans Saints just sent out a massive media package moments after it was announced that offensive tackle Willie Roaf has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The packet included a long list of quotes on Roaf. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.

Team owner Tom Benson: “We’re glad to congratulate William Roaf in his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He meant a great deal to our team during his career with us. He was the best player on our team during his time with us, one of the top players in the history of our franchise and one of the NFL’s greatest at his position.”

Former coach Jim Mora: “Willie Roaf had an outstanding career and definitely belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He possessed exceptional physical talent and a great work ethic. He was blessed with high quality character and a team oriented attitude. He was a team leader, always positive, upbeat, and a fun guy to coach and have on the team. Without question Willie was one of my best and favorite players ever.”

Former Saints defensive lineman Wayne Martin: “I think Willie was Pro Bowl-ready when he got to the league. He had great feet and the other intangibles you look for. He was the best tackle I played against in the league period. The only guy that I played against that came close to him was Anthony Munoz.”

Former Saints offensive line coach John Matsko: “What separated William from the rest is his tremendous desire to be the best. His determination to make himself better was reflected in the way he prepared and the way he played. He practiced like it was game day and never let down. You take that desire, that motivation and then add the great physical skills he possesses – size, speed, quickness, strength and length – you have a Hall of Fame tackle. There was no defender he couldn’t handle. And, when he played the best, he played them better every time he faced them.”

Louisiana Tech offensive line coach Petey Perot, who coached Roaf in college: “When Willie got here, the thing that is the most unique is that he came to us from Pine Bluff as a 220 pound kid that was a raw athlete. We weren’t sure where he would play on the line or at d end. We kept him on the line. He worked, was persistent, continued to do the things that great players have aspirations do and grew to a 315-pounder and an unbelievable player.’’

As they near their 50^th year of existence, the New Orleans Saints finally have a legacy.

The arrival of coach Sean Payton and Drew Brees in 2006 has made the Saints one of the league’s top teams since, and they won the franchise’s first Super Bowl in the 2009 season. But the real cool thing is the recent success undoubtedly has helped people remember some of the bright spots of what had been a mostly inglorious franchise history.

The latest example of that came Saturday, as offensive tackle Willie Roaf was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This summer, Roaf joins linebacker Rickey Jackson, a 2010 inductee, as the only other player to spend the bulk of his career with the Saints in the Hall of Fame.

Roaf’s selection was more than deserved. In a 13-year career, he was an All-Pro seven times and a Pro Bowl selection 11 times. He also was selected to the All-Decade team for the 1990s and 2000s.

Roaf played for the Saints from 1993 through 2001, then went on to finish his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. His final season was 2005. There’s no doubt Kansas City fans are celebrating this one as well, but this is bigger for New Orleans because Roaf spent the bulk of his career there.

The Saints weren’t great during Roaf’s tenure. They won two NFC West titles (that’s the division they played in before the NFC South came into existence in 2002) but little else. That could have worked against Roaf, but it didn’t. His résumé was strong enough because he was viewed as one of the elite tackles of his era.

He and Jackson now represent the Saints in the Hall of Fame, even though this isn’t like baseball’s Hall of Fame, where an inductee has to choose which team’s cap he wants forever on his plaque.

Roaf did some time with Kansas City, and Jackson also played in San Francisco. But they’ll be viewed mostly as Saints, and that’s great for the franchise’s legacy.

There’s some pride from the old days now, and the legacy is only going to continue to grow with the success of the modern-era Saints. It’s a virtual certainty that Brees will join Jackson and Roaf five years after his retirement. And there could be more. Tight end Jimmy Graham is only in his second season, but he’s showing signs he can be an all-time great.

Guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks are generally viewed as the best in the league at their position. If they keep that going, they could also get there. If Payton continues to pile up wins and offensive records, he someday could be a candidate.

The Saints have built a legacy through the years, but Roaf’s selection takes it to another level, and there’s going to be plenty more to come.

It should be a quiet morning, followed by a busy late afternoon and evening around these parts.

That’s because we’ve got a couple of major events coming later Saturday. Late this afternoon, we’ll find out who has been selected to the Class of 2012 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former New Orleans offensive tackle Willie Roaf appears to have a good chance to get in. If he does, I’ll be back with full analysis.

In a new twist, the NFL’s major awards will be announced Saturday night. I’m expecting Carolina quarterback Cam Newton to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Most Valuable Player also will be announced. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees may be a long shot because Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers appears to be the favorite.

As soon as the awards are announced, I’ll be back with analysis.

By the end of the day Saturday, Rickey Jackson could have some company.

At the moment, Jackson is the only player to have spent most of his career with the New Orleans Saints that is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That could change very soon because offensive tackle Willie Roaf will be a finalist when the voters gather Saturday.

Roaf also was a finalist last year and reportedly came very close to selection. But Roaf’s chances in this class might be even better than they were last year. There is no slam-dunk first-time candidate and that could open the door for Roaf.

His resume already does a pretty good job of that. Roaf played for the Saints from 1993 through 2001 and finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, from 2002 through ’05. During those 13 seasons, Roaf was an All-Pro seven times and a Pro Bowl choice 11 times. He also was a member of the All-Decade Team for the 1990s.

The biggest obstacle I see for Roaf’s selection this year is that Dermontti Dawson and Will Shields also are on the ballot. That makes three strong offensive-line candidates from the modern era, but I’d take Roaf ahead of the other two.

It’s hard to quantify offensive linemen because you can’t trace their statistics as easily as you can those of skill-position players. You look at things like longevity, All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections and how their teams fared.

If you go by that, I think it backs up my belief that Roaf is the best candidate. First off, he was a tackle. That’s a more difficult position than center, which Dawson played, and guard, which Shields played.

Dawson and Roaf each played 13 seasons and Shields played 14, so the longevity issue is basically a draw.

Roaf’s seven All-Pro selections might be the strongest argument for his candidacy. Making All-Pro is a much bigger deal than making a Pro Bowl squad because it means you’re among the best in the league, not just in your conference. Dawson was All-Pro six times. Shields got the honor three times.

Roaf also made 11 Pro Bowls, while Shields went to 12 and Dawson six.

Some people may look at the fact that Dawson played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and give him a big edge over Roaf and Shields. The Saints and Chiefs were far from dominant teams when Roaf played for them. He was part of a division champion only twice. Shields, who spent his entire career in Kansas City, is in the same boat. Shields played for four division champions. But the Chiefs never won a Super Bowl or an AFC title while he was there.

But the fact Dawson played for Pittsburgh shouldn’t give him as much of an edge over Roaf and Shields as some people might think. Although the Steelers have been good for most of their history, they weren’t particularly dominant during Dawson’s time. They did win five division championships and one conference title. But Dawson never was on a Super Bowl champion.

So the fact Roaf didn’t play on great teams shouldn’t hurt him. The fact he was one of the best tackles ever should land him in the Hall of Fame.

Former New Orleans offensive lineman Willie Roaf and former Carolina linebacker Kevin Greene are this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists most often identified with NFC South teams. But there’s another tie. That’s seniors candidate Dick Stanfel. He did two stints as New Orleans’ offensive line coach and also was interim head coach for the Saints in 1980. But his main claim to fame was as a player. Stanfel was an offensive lineman for Detroit and was selected to the All-Decade team for the 1950s.

The Atlanta Falcons filled out their coaching staff with two moves that were expected. Glenn Thomas was promoted from offensive quality-control assistant to quarterbacks coach and Joe Danna was hired as defensive backs coach. Thomas has been with the team since 2008 and has a good relationship with quarterback Matt Ryan. Danna previously worked with new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan in Miami the last two seasons and was a defensive assistant in Atlanta for two years before that. The Falcons also made Andrew Weidinger an offensive assistant. He spent the last four years in Atlanta, providing administrative help for the coaching staff.

Although the Panthers have unveiled a new logo, which is only slightly different from the past, there won’t be any major changes to their uniforms, Scott Fowler writes. The new logo will be incorporated into helmets and jerseys, but the uniforms will remain the same otherwise.

Former NFL coach Steve Mariucci said he believes Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is on his way to greatness. I don’t think Mariucci is the first to have that thought.

The Buccaneers reportedly haven’t given up all hope of bringing in Arizona receivers coach John McNulty as their offensive coordinator, even though the Cardinals refused to grant permission for an interview. The Bucs may make a plea straight to Cardinals ownership. I suppose a trade also would be a hypothetical possibility, but it’s hard to imagine a team giving up a draft pick for an assistant coach.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame just announced its list of 26 semifinalists for the Class of 2012 and we’ve got some NFC South ties.

Former New Orleans offensive tackle Willie Roaf has the strongest ties to the division, even though he left the Saints just as the NFC South was created. Roaf, who finished his career with Kansas City, narrowly missed election last year.

Then, we’ve got some other guys that weren’t primarily NFC South players, but spent small parts of their careers playing for teams in the division.

That includes former Carolina linebacker Kevin Greene and former Atlanta linebacker Clay Matthews and Falcons defensive end/linebacker Chris Doleman. After that you have to scrape for guys with NFC South ties.

Receiver Tim Brown finished his career with Tampa Bay. Longtime front-office leader Ron Wolf is best known for his work in Green Bay, but he did spend a few years with the Buccaneers in the 1970s.

Oh, there also is Bill Parcells, who almost coached the Buccaneers -- twice.

The semifinalists came after voters narrowed the list from 105 preliminary nominees. The list will again be reduced to 15 finalists in January and the final voting will take place the day before the Super Bowl.

Time for a run through the top headlines from around the NFC South.

Carolina rookie quarterback Cam Newton understands that Sunday’s game with Chicago has special meaning for coach Ron Rivera who previously played and coached for the Bears.

Chicago coach Lovie Smith said his decision not to renew Rivera’s contract was nothing personal. He said the Bears just wanted to move in a different direction.

The Saints shook up their practice squad a bit, bringing back defensive lineman Mitch King, who was on the regular roster for the first three games.

Former New Orleans offensive tackle Willie Roaf and former Carolina and New Orleans linebacker Sam Mills are once again on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Atlanta safety William Moore was fined $7,500 for his hit on Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman in Sunday’s game.

The National Football League announced that it will let 32 former players announcing picks, starting in the second round, during next week’s NFL draft.

The plan is for the former players to announce second-round picks, but the Carolina Panthers fall into a little different territory since they don’t, at the moment at least, have a second-round pick. Instead, they’ll have former fullback Brad Hoover announcing their third-round pick.

The representatives for the other three NFC South teams are scheduled to announce picks in the second round. Former linebacker Jessie Tuggle will do it for the Atlanta Falcons. Retired offensive tackle Willie Roaf will make the announcement for the New Orleans Saints.

In yet another sign that Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden are long gone from the Buccaneers, retired safety John Lynch will represent Tampa Bay. Speaking of Allen and guys who have had unceremonious partings with the Bucs, I’m wondering if there’s a little mind game going on behind the scenes.

The alumni representatives are listed in alphabetical order by the teams’ cities or regions. Two spots beneath the Buccaneers, I looked to see who the Washington Redskins will be represented by. Remember, Allen is now Washington’s general manager.

Well, Doug Williams, who didn’t have a great parting with Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik when he left the team’s personnel department last year, will be representing the Redskins.

It’s already been a busy day in the NFC South and all around the NFL and that’s probably going to continue long into the night as we wait to see if there will be a labor lockout or perhaps an extension of the deadline for negotiations.

But things just got a little busier. The New Orleans Saints just sent out an announcement that the Saints Hall of Fame selection committee has selected the franchise’s all-time team as the franchise looks ahead to its 45th season. The committee is a collection of local media members and it selects an all-time Saints team every five years.

The latest version is out and here it is. Players with asterisks after their name were unanimous selections. The years after the players’ names indicate their time with the Saints.

Offense

• Wide Receiver – Eric Martin* (1985-93)
• Wide Receiver – Joe Horn* (2000-06)
• Center – John Hill* (1975-84)
• Guard – Jim Dombrowski* (1986-96)
• Guard – Jahri Evans* (2006-present)
• Tackle – Willie Roaf* (1993-2001)
• Tackle – Stan Brock* (1980-92)
• Tight End – Hoby Brenner* (1981-93)
• Quarterback – Drew Brees* (2006-present)
• Running Back – Dalton Hilliard* (1986-93)
• Running Back – Deuce McAllister (2001-09)
• Athlete – Reggie Bush (2006-present)

DEFENSE

• Defensive Line – Wayne Martin (1989-99)
• Defensive Line – Jim Wilks (1981-93)
• Defensive Line – Joe Johnson* (1994-98, 2000-01)
• Defensive Line – Will Smith (2004-present)
• Linebacker – Sam Mills* (1986-94)
• Linebacker – Vaughan Johnson* (1986-93)
• Linebacker – Rickey Jackson* (1981-93)
• Linebacker – Pat Swilling* (1986-92)
• Cornerback – Dave Waymer* (1980-89)
• Cornerback – Mike McKenzie (2004-09)
• Safety – Tommy Myers (1972-81)
• Safety – Sammy Knight (1997-02)

SPECIALISTS

• Kicker – Morten Andersen *(1982-94)
• Punter – Tommy Barnhardt (1987, 89-94, 99)
• Special Teamer – Fred McAfee* (1991-93, 2000-06)
• Kick/Punt Returner – Michael Lewis* (2001-06)

COACH

• Sean Payton (2006-present)

The 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was just announced and we’ve got one player with NFC South ties in and another who didn’t make the cut.

Deion Sanders, who spent the first five years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons, was voted in. Offensive tackle Willie Roaf, who spent most of his career with the New Orleans Saints, was not elected. Roaf made the cut as voters trimmed the list of modern-era candidates from 15 to 10, but did not make it through the final vote.

I think Roaf is going to make the Hall of Fame. This was his first year on the ballot and I think he will get in sometime in the next couple of years.

I’ll be back momentarily with a reflection on Sanders’ time with Atlanta.