NFC South: Drew Brees
Let’s assume New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis is able to work out a deal to re-sign quarterback Drew Brees. It will be complicated and expensive, but it’s also pretty much guaranteed to happen.
The Saints want it to happen, Brees wants it to happen and every Louisiana resident from Bogalusa to Lake Charles wants it to happen. Then, let’s assume that Loomis also is able to find a way to re-sign guard Carl Nicks and receiver Marques Colston. Those assumptions aren’t as solid as Brees re-signing because there are only so many ways to cut the pie that is the salary cap.
But, let’s just hypothetically say, Loomis, who has a pretty good track record, gets all three deals done. Aside from re-signing a few lower-level free agents, maybe bringing in a free agent or two and conducting a draft without a first-round pick, Loomis’ work would seem to be pretty much done. But that may not be the case.
The Saints have another potential contract situation percolating. As best I know, there haven’t been any threats or holdouts, but the Saints almost have to do something about the contract of tight end Jimmy Graham.
He remains under contract through 2013. Perhaps more than any other player in the NFL, Graham has outperformed his contract and that generally leads to a new deal.
In 2011, only his second year in the NFL, Graham had one of the best seasons ever by a tight end. He caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s 25 and he’s only going to get better.
When you look at Graham’s production and potential, it’s easy to make a case he’s the NFL’s most underpaid tight end. Heck, he might be the most underpaid player in the NFL, period.
Graham’s still playing on his rookie contract, which was standard for the third-round pick he was in 2010. But he’s scheduled to make only $540,000 in 2012 and $575,000 in 2013.
Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez signed a one-year extension at the end of the 2011 season that will pay him just about $7 million. Gonzalez might be the best tight ever. But Gonzalez also is on the downside of his career and I don’t think there’s any doubt Graham’s better at this point.
In 2011, the average tight end salary was $1.27 million and Graham’s far better than average. In terms of average per year, Graham ranked No. 33 in the NFL, according to contracts that were in effect for 2011. For context, Tampa Bay backup Luke Stocker ranked two spots ahead of Graham.
I think you can make a pretty strong case that Graham needs to jump up at least 30 spots to be paid what he’s worth. Again, I don’t think Graham’s threatening a holdout and he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would resort to that kind of tactic.
But Graham is obviously a core player for the Saints and he’s a guy they want to keep happy. Yeah, they could play hardball and make Graham play out his rookie contract. But that’s bound to create at least some resentment.
The guy has become one of the league’s two or three best tight ends. It doesn’t have to happen immediately. But, at some point, the Saints need to pay Graham like one of the league’s best tight ends.
The Saints want it to happen, Brees wants it to happen and every Louisiana resident from Bogalusa to Lake Charles wants it to happen. Then, let’s assume that Loomis also is able to find a way to re-sign guard Carl Nicks and receiver Marques Colston. Those assumptions aren’t as solid as Brees re-signing because there are only so many ways to cut the pie that is the salary cap.
But, let’s just hypothetically say, Loomis, who has a pretty good track record, gets all three deals done. Aside from re-signing a few lower-level free agents, maybe bringing in a free agent or two and conducting a draft without a first-round pick, Loomis’ work would seem to be pretty much done. But that may not be the case.
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesComing off one of the best seasons ever for a tight end, Jimmy Graham is slated to get $540,000 in '12.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesComing off one of the best seasons ever for a tight end, Jimmy Graham is slated to get $540,000 in '12.He remains under contract through 2013. Perhaps more than any other player in the NFL, Graham has outperformed his contract and that generally leads to a new deal.
In 2011, only his second year in the NFL, Graham had one of the best seasons ever by a tight end. He caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s 25 and he’s only going to get better.
When you look at Graham’s production and potential, it’s easy to make a case he’s the NFL’s most underpaid tight end. Heck, he might be the most underpaid player in the NFL, period.
Graham’s still playing on his rookie contract, which was standard for the third-round pick he was in 2010. But he’s scheduled to make only $540,000 in 2012 and $575,000 in 2013.
Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez signed a one-year extension at the end of the 2011 season that will pay him just about $7 million. Gonzalez might be the best tight ever. But Gonzalez also is on the downside of his career and I don’t think there’s any doubt Graham’s better at this point.
In 2011, the average tight end salary was $1.27 million and Graham’s far better than average. In terms of average per year, Graham ranked No. 33 in the NFL, according to contracts that were in effect for 2011. For context, Tampa Bay backup Luke Stocker ranked two spots ahead of Graham.
I think you can make a pretty strong case that Graham needs to jump up at least 30 spots to be paid what he’s worth. Again, I don’t think Graham’s threatening a holdout and he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would resort to that kind of tactic.
But Graham is obviously a core player for the Saints and he’s a guy they want to keep happy. Yeah, they could play hardball and make Graham play out his rookie contract. But that’s bound to create at least some resentment.
The guy has become one of the league’s two or three best tight ends. It doesn’t have to happen immediately. But, at some point, the Saints need to pay Graham like one of the league’s best tight ends.
One of the first things first-year law students are told is to look to their left, their right and at themselves. Then, they hear how at least one of the three of them won’t be there the following year. It’s the start of the weeding-out process.
The NFC South is about to go through one of its own. Give me your list of the 15 biggest names in the NFC South. Thanks, I’ve got them and I think we’ve got a pretty good consensus.
Now, I’ll tell you why a third of those names could be gone by the time the league year starts in mid-March. It happens every year in every division and it’s usually due to age, injury and salary-cap situations.
But 2012 could be the year of the facelift in the NFC South. More than usual, the faces and the names that are on the bubble are especially prominent. Let’s take a look at five big NFC South names that could be gone from their teams in the next month:
AbrahamJohn Abraham, Falcons. He’ll turn 34 in May, which is ancient for a pass-rusher. There were signs in 2011 that Abraham was slowing down, after putting up an impressive 13 sacks in 2010. The numbers may not look terrible on the surface because Abraham did finish last season with 9.5 sacks.
But let’s put that in perspective and remember that 3.5 of those came in a game against a very bad Jacksonville team. That’s like counting home runs from batting practice. Without the Jacksonville game, Abraham had six sacks. I don’t want to hear the argument that every down year in Abraham’s career has been followed by an up one.
When a defensive end reaches 33 or 34, you generally see him trending in only one direction and that’s down. Abraham’s had a very nice run with the Falcons, but they invested a lot of money in Ray Edwards to play opposite him last year. Edwards didn’t light it up, so the Falcons may have to invest more money or draft picks in defensive ends this year.
Abraham’s also an unrestricted free agent. Could the Falcons bring him back at a reasonable rate for one more year and use him as a pass-rush specialist? Sure, it’s possible. But, with Mike Nolan taking over as Atlanta’s defensive coordinator, it might be a good time to find a new face of the Falcons’ pass rush.
SmithWill Smith, Saints. For a long time, Abraham and Smith have been viewed as the NFC South’s top two pass-rushers. But it’s possible they’ll both be gone. Smith’s situation is slightly different than Abraham’s.
To start with, Smith remains under contract, which is precisely the reason he’s even in this discussion. Smith is scheduled to count $10.15 million against the 2012 salary cap. That’s an issue for a team that’s trying to figure out how to keep free-agent quarterback Drew Brees, guard Carl Nicks and receiver Marques Colston.
Let’s do the math real quick here. The Saints could save a $1 million roster bonus if they cut Smith before the 15th day of the league year. If they did release Smith, the Saints would only be on the hook for $4 million against the salary cap. In other words, they could free up $6.15 million in salary-cap space.
Throw in the fact that Smith will turn 31 in July and produced only 6.5 sacks in 2011 and I think you can see the Saints have to at least consider this possibility. But there also are some things weighing in Smith’s favor. It’s not like the Saints have another dominant pass-rusher (safety Roman Harper led the team with 7.5 sacks last season) and new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes his pass rush to come almost exclusively from the front four. That could weigh in Smith’s favor. But, if Smith really wants to shift the scales and make sure he stays in New Orleans this year, he might be willing to restructure his contract to make it more cap friendly.
VilmaJonathan Vilma, Saints. I can hear the screams coming from fans already. Vilma’s not Brees, but he’s close to being an icon and he should be because he’s had a great run.
But let’s face the reality. Can anyone honestly say they saw greatness in Vilma this past season? He looked a step slow before and after the knee surgery that forced him to miss five games. Vilma will turn 30 in April. Anytime you’re talking about a linebacker whose game is based largely on speed, knee surgery and 30th birthdays are not good signs.
As I pointed out on Smith, economics are a big deal for the Saints. Vilma is scheduled to count $7.6 million against this year’s cap. If the Saints release him, they instantly free up $5.2 million in cap space.
DavisThomas Davis, Panthers. We’re purely making educated guesses on Vilma, Smith, Abraham and the final guy on the list. But Davis’ departure from Carolina is more than an educated guess. Sadly, it’s a foregone conclusion.
The Panthers took a shot on Davis last summer when they signed him to a big contract extension after he had come back from two torn ACLs. Then, he went out and suffered the same injury for the third time early last season. That’s why the Panthers basically included an “out clause’’ when they gave Davis the new contract.
His deal calls for an $8 million option bonus on the second day of the league year. That’s not going to happen. The Panthers will release Davis because it’s the only move that makes economic sense. But he is well-liked by ownership, the front office and coaches, so it’s not impossible to see Davis ending up back with the Panthers at a much lower salary if he can’t land a nice deal somewhere else.
BarberRonde Barber, Buccaneers. You’d like to say that Barber has earned the right to end his career as a Buccaneer whenever and however he wants to. But this isn’t a perfect world. Yes, it is possible Barber could simply decide to retire. It’s also possible he may want to continue playing and new coach Greg Schiano could want to keep him as an elder statesman. In that scenario the Bucs simply could hand Barber another $4 million contract like they did in 2011.
But it’s also possible Barber may want to continue playing and the Bucs don’t feel they need to keep a cornerback who will turn 37 in April. That’s where this one could get sticky.
The Bucs looked terribly cruel when they sent Derrick Brooks packing in 2009. This situation isn’t quite the same because Barber’s no longer under contract and maybe he makes it easy on the Bucs and simply retires.
But Aqib Talib, the other starting cornerback, is facing trial on an assault charge in Texas in March. There’s no guarantee Talib will be with the Bucs next season and it’s not like the team has a ton of other talented cornerbacks.
This might be one situation where the Bucs might be wise to ignore the youth movement they’re following everywhere else and bring back the one guy they know they can count on -- if he wants to keep playing.
The NFC South is about to go through one of its own. Give me your list of the 15 biggest names in the NFC South. Thanks, I’ve got them and I think we’ve got a pretty good consensus.
Now, I’ll tell you why a third of those names could be gone by the time the league year starts in mid-March. It happens every year in every division and it’s usually due to age, injury and salary-cap situations.
But 2012 could be the year of the facelift in the NFC South. More than usual, the faces and the names that are on the bubble are especially prominent. Let’s take a look at five big NFC South names that could be gone from their teams in the next month:
But let’s put that in perspective and remember that 3.5 of those came in a game against a very bad Jacksonville team. That’s like counting home runs from batting practice. Without the Jacksonville game, Abraham had six sacks. I don’t want to hear the argument that every down year in Abraham’s career has been followed by an up one.
When a defensive end reaches 33 or 34, you generally see him trending in only one direction and that’s down. Abraham’s had a very nice run with the Falcons, but they invested a lot of money in Ray Edwards to play opposite him last year. Edwards didn’t light it up, so the Falcons may have to invest more money or draft picks in defensive ends this year.
Abraham’s also an unrestricted free agent. Could the Falcons bring him back at a reasonable rate for one more year and use him as a pass-rush specialist? Sure, it’s possible. But, with Mike Nolan taking over as Atlanta’s defensive coordinator, it might be a good time to find a new face of the Falcons’ pass rush.
To start with, Smith remains under contract, which is precisely the reason he’s even in this discussion. Smith is scheduled to count $10.15 million against the 2012 salary cap. That’s an issue for a team that’s trying to figure out how to keep free-agent quarterback Drew Brees, guard Carl Nicks and receiver Marques Colston.
Let’s do the math real quick here. The Saints could save a $1 million roster bonus if they cut Smith before the 15th day of the league year. If they did release Smith, the Saints would only be on the hook for $4 million against the salary cap. In other words, they could free up $6.15 million in salary-cap space.
Throw in the fact that Smith will turn 31 in July and produced only 6.5 sacks in 2011 and I think you can see the Saints have to at least consider this possibility. But there also are some things weighing in Smith’s favor. It’s not like the Saints have another dominant pass-rusher (safety Roman Harper led the team with 7.5 sacks last season) and new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo likes his pass rush to come almost exclusively from the front four. That could weigh in Smith’s favor. But, if Smith really wants to shift the scales and make sure he stays in New Orleans this year, he might be willing to restructure his contract to make it more cap friendly.
But let’s face the reality. Can anyone honestly say they saw greatness in Vilma this past season? He looked a step slow before and after the knee surgery that forced him to miss five games. Vilma will turn 30 in April. Anytime you’re talking about a linebacker whose game is based largely on speed, knee surgery and 30th birthdays are not good signs.
As I pointed out on Smith, economics are a big deal for the Saints. Vilma is scheduled to count $7.6 million against this year’s cap. If the Saints release him, they instantly free up $5.2 million in cap space.
The Panthers took a shot on Davis last summer when they signed him to a big contract extension after he had come back from two torn ACLs. Then, he went out and suffered the same injury for the third time early last season. That’s why the Panthers basically included an “out clause’’ when they gave Davis the new contract.
His deal calls for an $8 million option bonus on the second day of the league year. That’s not going to happen. The Panthers will release Davis because it’s the only move that makes economic sense. But he is well-liked by ownership, the front office and coaches, so it’s not impossible to see Davis ending up back with the Panthers at a much lower salary if he can’t land a nice deal somewhere else.
But it’s also possible Barber may want to continue playing and the Bucs don’t feel they need to keep a cornerback who will turn 37 in April. That’s where this one could get sticky.
The Bucs looked terribly cruel when they sent Derrick Brooks packing in 2009. This situation isn’t quite the same because Barber’s no longer under contract and maybe he makes it easy on the Bucs and simply retires.
But Aqib Talib, the other starting cornerback, is facing trial on an assault charge in Texas in March. There’s no guarantee Talib will be with the Bucs next season and it’s not like the team has a ton of other talented cornerbacks.
This might be one situation where the Bucs might be wise to ignore the youth movement they’re following everywhere else and bring back the one guy they know they can count on -- if he wants to keep playing.
In recent weeks, I’ve updated you a few times on where the NFC South teams stood on salary-cap commitments for 2012.
Let’s do it again, but let’s do it from a slightly different perspective. When the league year starts in mid-March, the cap figures that will be used to calculate on where each team stands will be based solely on the top 51 cap figures for each team. That system will be used until just before the season starts, when all cap hits, even those for players that get released, determine where each team stands.
So let’s look at the figures for the top 51 for each team. The Panthers lead the division at $126.9 million. They’re going to have to make some roster moves (likely including, but not limited to, releasing linebacker Thomas Davis) before the league year starts just to get below the $120-million cap by the start of free agency.
The Saints are next at $101.4 million, but that number doesn’t come close to telling their whole story. They obviously are going to be re-signing quarterback Drew Brees to a huge new contract. If they also want to keep receiver Marques Colston and guard Carl Nicks, they’re going to have to create some cap space. I’m looking at contract numbers, age and 2011 production and thinking defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma could be candidates for restructured contracts or releases.
The Falcons are just behind the Saints at $100.2 million. But Atlanta’s situation isn’t as complicated as New Orleans’. The Falcons do have some free agents they want to keep, starting with linebacker Curtis Lofton and cornerback Brent Grimes. But those two combined won’t eat up as much cap space as Brees. Besides, if the Falcons do want to be big players in free agency, there are some moves they could make to create room and the first one I’d point to would be releasing left tackle Sam Baker.
The Buccaneers are at $97.4 million, but go ahead and knock that down to $90.2 million. I can’t see any way the Bucs keep defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth at a $7.2 million cap figure, especially when there would be absolutely no cap implications for releasing him. I don’t want to raise the expectations of Tampa Bay fans unrealistically. But the Bucs, who still believe that building through the draft is the way to go, will be somewhat more active in free agency than they were last year when punter Michael Koenen was their only real signing. Don’t expect a free-agent frenzy, but the Bucs will add a few free agents.
Let’s do it again, but let’s do it from a slightly different perspective. When the league year starts in mid-March, the cap figures that will be used to calculate on where each team stands will be based solely on the top 51 cap figures for each team. That system will be used until just before the season starts, when all cap hits, even those for players that get released, determine where each team stands.
So let’s look at the figures for the top 51 for each team. The Panthers lead the division at $126.9 million. They’re going to have to make some roster moves (likely including, but not limited to, releasing linebacker Thomas Davis) before the league year starts just to get below the $120-million cap by the start of free agency.
The Saints are next at $101.4 million, but that number doesn’t come close to telling their whole story. They obviously are going to be re-signing quarterback Drew Brees to a huge new contract. If they also want to keep receiver Marques Colston and guard Carl Nicks, they’re going to have to create some cap space. I’m looking at contract numbers, age and 2011 production and thinking defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma could be candidates for restructured contracts or releases.
The Falcons are just behind the Saints at $100.2 million. But Atlanta’s situation isn’t as complicated as New Orleans’. The Falcons do have some free agents they want to keep, starting with linebacker Curtis Lofton and cornerback Brent Grimes. But those two combined won’t eat up as much cap space as Brees. Besides, if the Falcons do want to be big players in free agency, there are some moves they could make to create room and the first one I’d point to would be releasing left tackle Sam Baker.
The Buccaneers are at $97.4 million, but go ahead and knock that down to $90.2 million. I can’t see any way the Bucs keep defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth at a $7.2 million cap figure, especially when there would be absolutely no cap implications for releasing him. I don’t want to raise the expectations of Tampa Bay fans unrealistically. But the Bucs, who still believe that building through the draft is the way to go, will be somewhat more active in free agency than they were last year when punter Michael Koenen was their only real signing. Don’t expect a free-agent frenzy, but the Bucs will add a few free agents.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has been named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. Nice honor, but I view that as a sign of things to come and I’m not talking about something good.
BreesI’m talking about the Most Valuable Player Award. That hasn’t been announced yet. But, unless my instincts and everything I’ve heard are wrong, Brees isn’t going to be the MVP. The conventional wisdom is that award will go to Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers.
No offense to Rodgers, who certainly had a great year. But I don’t think I’m the only one who finds it strange that Brees had one of the greatest seasons ever by a quarterback (or any player) and he’s not the MVP.
Brees set an NFL record for passing yards in a season (5,476) and his numbers were as good or better than Rodgers’ in just about every category.
I see two reasons why it’s seemed like a foregone conclusion that Rodgers will be the MVP. First, the Packers went 15-1. Second, the Packers are a national team.
You can’t really change that now and the difference between Green Bay’s 15-1 mark and New Orleans’ 13-3 record isn’t that much, especially when you consider that both teams came up short of the NFC Championship Game.
But there are two ways to remedy this going forward. The first one is simple. The Saints have to go out and win more games than the Packers, with Brees still putting up huge numbers. The second is for the Saints to become a bit more of a national team.
They’re close. They’ve got a dedicated local fan base and a pretty large national profile, which has grown tremendously since the arrival of Brees and coach Sean Payton in recent years. But there’s still room for growth.
The way to achieve that growth is for Brees to continue to play the way he has and the Saints to win a bunch of games.
If by some wild chance, Brees does win the MVP, I’ll jump back in. But I think the Offensive Player of the Year is his consolation prize.
Update: The announcement just came. Rodgers was named MVP.
No offense to Rodgers, who certainly had a great year. But I don’t think I’m the only one who finds it strange that Brees had one of the greatest seasons ever by a quarterback (or any player) and he’s not the MVP.
Brees set an NFL record for passing yards in a season (5,476) and his numbers were as good or better than Rodgers’ in just about every category.
I see two reasons why it’s seemed like a foregone conclusion that Rodgers will be the MVP. First, the Packers went 15-1. Second, the Packers are a national team.
You can’t really change that now and the difference between Green Bay’s 15-1 mark and New Orleans’ 13-3 record isn’t that much, especially when you consider that both teams came up short of the NFC Championship Game.
But there are two ways to remedy this going forward. The first one is simple. The Saints have to go out and win more games than the Packers, with Brees still putting up huge numbers. The second is for the Saints to become a bit more of a national team.
They’re close. They’ve got a dedicated local fan base and a pretty large national profile, which has grown tremendously since the arrival of Brees and coach Sean Payton in recent years. But there’s still room for growth.
The way to achieve that growth is for Brees to continue to play the way he has and the Saints to win a bunch of games.
If by some wild chance, Brees does win the MVP, I’ll jump back in. But I think the Offensive Player of the Year is his consolation prize.
Update: The announcement just came. Rodgers was named MVP.
As they near their 50th 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.
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.
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AP Photo/G. Newman LowranceThe Saints weren't a dominant team in the 1990s, but don't blame Willie Roaf. In his 13-year career, Roaf was selected to 11 Pro Bowls.
AP Photo/G. Newman LowranceThe Saints weren't a dominant team in the 1990s, but don't blame Willie Roaf. In his 13-year career, Roaf was selected to 11 Pro Bowls.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.
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.
Time for a look at the top Friday headlines around the NFC South.
- New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis is ready to get down to serious contract talks with quarterback Drew Brees. Loomis also is likely to try to attempt to keep guard Carl Nicks, receiver Marques Colston and some other free agents, but said it might not be easy. Loomis said figuring out how to stay under the salary cap will be like slicing up a pie.
- Former Saints’ player Steve Gleason, who has been diagnosed with ALS, writes an interesting column about how he’s become a fan. Gleason said he, and most players, don’t associate themselves to closely with a team while they’re playing because they often end up getting traded, cut or leaving via free agency. But Gleason said his illness has given him new perspective and allowed him to view the game like a fan.
- In this radio interview with "Mike & Mike," Carolina quarterback Cam Newton talks about his rookie season, his style of play and the spread offense.
- Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is expected to meet with city leaders soon to discuss possible funding for an overhaul of Bank of America Stadium.
- Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik revealed that most of the candidates the Bucs talked to during their recent coaching search pointed to quarterback Josh Freeman and the young talent on the defensive line as the team's biggest positives. Obviously, that had to include Greg Schiano, who got the job. Anyone looking at the roster objectively would have to start with those two areas as potential strengths. But there’s work to be done. Freeman is talented, but needs to bounce back from a disappointing 2011. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn had a nice rookie year and defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price have the potential to be forces inside, if they can stay healthy.
Let's take a look at the day's top headlines from around the division.
- New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees says he expects to have a new contract before free agency opens in mid-March. That would be a good idea. If Brees were to somehow hit the free-agent market there would be major unrest throughout the entire population of Louisiana.
- The Saints have hired Ken Flajole as secondary coach, James Varney reports. Flajole was defensive coordinator in St. Louis under former Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, who now is defensive coordinator for the Saints. Flajole also has some background in the NFC South. He spent some time as the linebackers coach in Carolina.
- Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez said 2012 probably will be his last season. I wouldn’t make too much of that. Gonzalez has hinted at retirement in past years, but keeps coming back.
- Carolina quarterback Cam Newton said he “failed’’ at the Pro Bowl as he played the entire second half and threw three interceptions. I think it’s nice that Newton’s critical of himself. But I don’t think anybody should be critiquing or celebrating the Pro Bowl performance. If you watched this year’s game all the way through, which wasn’t easy, it made you wonder why they even have an all-star game in football. Go ahead and name an all-star team, but, if the game is going to be played at half speed, why bother?
- Mark Cook takes a look at some possibilities to fill the job as Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator. The early assumption was Butch Davis would fill that role because he has history with coach Greg Schiano. But there’s been no announcement of Davis’ hiring, which makes you wonder if it’s not going to happen. The name I like on Cook’s list is Green Bay defensive line coach Mike Trgovac. I covered Trgovac in Carolina, where he had a pretty successful run as a defensive coordinator. As a matter of fact, I believe Trgovac might have been a head coach by now if Carolina owner Jerry Richardson hadn’t seen the lockout coming and wasn’t offering any security to former coach John Fox and his assistants. Fox told assistants with families they should take other jobs if they could get them. That’s when Trgovac left for Green Bay. Although Trgovac certainly has a better résumé than a bunch of current coordinators, his family is content in Green Bay, so he might stay content in his current role.
Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the New Orleans Saints, you might not even know who Jed Collins is.
That’s understandable because a season in which you compile four carries for four yards and two touchdowns and catch 11 passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns isn’t going to catch the eyes of casual observers.
But die-hard fans and casual observers alike might want to take a closer look at how much Collins meant to the Saints this past season. He had bounced around the NFL since 2008, but had never appeared in a regular-season game. But the Saints brought in Collins and he wound up replacing Heath Evans quite nicely.
In a season in which New Orleans set all sorts of records, Collins quietly played a very big role. He was responsible for protecting Drew Brees and opening holes for Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Chris Ivory.
Collins obviously had to be doing something right because the coaching staff used him extensively. According to playing time numbers from the 2011 season obtained by ESPN.com, Collins was on the field for 42.5 percent of New Orleans’ offensive plays. That’s the second-highest percentage of any fullback in the NFL.
Only Baltimore’s Vonta Leach (52.8 percent) was active in a higher rate of his team’s offensive snaps. Collins was on the field for 489 of New Orleans’ 1,152 offensive plays. He also contributed heavily on special teams. Collins took part in 32 percent of New Orleans’ special-teams plays.
Collins easily got more offensive playing time than any other NFC South fullback. Tampa Bay’s Erik Lorig was next at 23.6 percent. Lorig also got considerable time on special teams, participating in 66.8 percent of the Bucs’ special-teams plays. Tampa Bay’s Earnest Graham suffered a season-ending injury. But, prior to that, he got in on 18.8 percent of the offensive plays as a fullback and also was used at tailback.
Carolina’s Jerome Felton was next at 15.3 percent. Atlanta’s Ovie Mughelli also suffered a season-ending injury, but got in for 13.1 percent of the team’s offensive plays. Replacement Mike Cox was on the field for 11.9 percent of the Falcons’ offensive plays.
That’s understandable because a season in which you compile four carries for four yards and two touchdowns and catch 11 passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns isn’t going to catch the eyes of casual observers.
But die-hard fans and casual observers alike might want to take a closer look at how much Collins meant to the Saints this past season. He had bounced around the NFL since 2008, but had never appeared in a regular-season game. But the Saints brought in Collins and he wound up replacing Heath Evans quite nicely.
In a season in which New Orleans set all sorts of records, Collins quietly played a very big role. He was responsible for protecting Drew Brees and opening holes for Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Chris Ivory.
Collins obviously had to be doing something right because the coaching staff used him extensively. According to playing time numbers from the 2011 season obtained by ESPN.com, Collins was on the field for 42.5 percent of New Orleans’ offensive plays. That’s the second-highest percentage of any fullback in the NFL.
Only Baltimore’s Vonta Leach (52.8 percent) was active in a higher rate of his team’s offensive snaps. Collins was on the field for 489 of New Orleans’ 1,152 offensive plays. He also contributed heavily on special teams. Collins took part in 32 percent of New Orleans’ special-teams plays.
Collins easily got more offensive playing time than any other NFC South fullback. Tampa Bay’s Erik Lorig was next at 23.6 percent. Lorig also got considerable time on special teams, participating in 66.8 percent of the Bucs’ special-teams plays. Tampa Bay’s Earnest Graham suffered a season-ending injury. But, prior to that, he got in on 18.8 percent of the offensive plays as a fullback and also was used at tailback.
Carolina’s Jerome Felton was next at 15.3 percent. Atlanta’s Ovie Mughelli also suffered a season-ending injury, but got in for 13.1 percent of the team’s offensive plays. Replacement Mike Cox was on the field for 11.9 percent of the Falcons’ offensive plays.
Time for a look at some of the top headlines from around the NFC South.
New Orleans guard Carl Nicks says he would like to remain with the Saints. But the potential free agent is skeptical about the chances of that happening because quarterback Drew Brees, receiver Marques Colston, cornerback Tracy Porter and some others also are no longer under contract. There is virtually no doubt Brees will re-sign. But who else stays remains to be seen. Nicks seems to have his doubts, but I’m guessing he’s the next priority after Brees. Nicks is in his prime and might be the best guard in the league. He also is one of Brees’ main protectors. The Saints are going to invest huge money in Brees. I suspect they’ll be willing to invest huge money in protecting him, even if it means making Nicks the NFL’s best-paid guard.
Mark Cook takes a look at some potential candidates to become offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers. New coach Greg Schiano has yet to announce any staff hires and getting an offensive coordinator might be the most important move he’ll make. The Bucs need someone who can help quarterback Josh Freeman bounce back from a disappointing season.
The Buccaneers reportedly are talking to Pittsburgh defensive assistant Jerry Olsavsky about becoming their linebackers coach.
A stellar rookie season by Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is opening lots of doors. Newton has picked up another endorsement deal, this one with Gatorade.
Atlanta coach Mike Smith said the offensive playbook is nearly complete. The Falcons have new coordinator Dirk Koetter and I’m sure there are some new plays. But I don’t think the playbook has been completely overhauled. A lot of what previous coordinator Mike Mularkey did was because it was what Smith wanted and quite a bit of it worked. Koetter’s bright enough to know he doesn’t have to start from scratch. He just needs to make some tweaks to make the offense more consistent.
Charlie Campbell has his updated mock draft. He has the Bucs taking cornerback Morris Claiborne in the first round. Makes sense because we don’t know if veteran Ronde Barber will be returning and Aqib Talib faces a March trial on an assault charge. Campbell also has the Panthers taking Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still with the No. 8 or 9 pick (the exact spot will be determined by a coin flip). That also makes sense because the middle of the defensive line has been a problem spot for the Panthers in recent years. But I also could see Carolina using its first-round pick on a receiver or a cornerback.
New Orleans guard Carl Nicks says he would like to remain with the Saints. But the potential free agent is skeptical about the chances of that happening because quarterback Drew Brees, receiver Marques Colston, cornerback Tracy Porter and some others also are no longer under contract. There is virtually no doubt Brees will re-sign. But who else stays remains to be seen. Nicks seems to have his doubts, but I’m guessing he’s the next priority after Brees. Nicks is in his prime and might be the best guard in the league. He also is one of Brees’ main protectors. The Saints are going to invest huge money in Brees. I suspect they’ll be willing to invest huge money in protecting him, even if it means making Nicks the NFL’s best-paid guard.
Mark Cook takes a look at some potential candidates to become offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers. New coach Greg Schiano has yet to announce any staff hires and getting an offensive coordinator might be the most important move he’ll make. The Bucs need someone who can help quarterback Josh Freeman bounce back from a disappointing season.
The Buccaneers reportedly are talking to Pittsburgh defensive assistant Jerry Olsavsky about becoming their linebackers coach.
A stellar rookie season by Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is opening lots of doors. Newton has picked up another endorsement deal, this one with Gatorade.
Atlanta coach Mike Smith said the offensive playbook is nearly complete. The Falcons have new coordinator Dirk Koetter and I’m sure there are some new plays. But I don’t think the playbook has been completely overhauled. A lot of what previous coordinator Mike Mularkey did was because it was what Smith wanted and quite a bit of it worked. Koetter’s bright enough to know he doesn’t have to start from scratch. He just needs to make some tweaks to make the offense more consistent.
Charlie Campbell has his updated mock draft. He has the Bucs taking cornerback Morris Claiborne in the first round. Makes sense because we don’t know if veteran Ronde Barber will be returning and Aqib Talib faces a March trial on an assault charge. Campbell also has the Panthers taking Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still with the No. 8 or 9 pick (the exact spot will be determined by a coin flip). That also makes sense because the middle of the defensive line has been a problem spot for the Panthers in recent years. But I also could see Carolina using its first-round pick on a receiver or a cornerback.
Check out this Insider post by Trent Dilfer. He ranks the NFL’s quarterbacks, starters and even some backups, although Jimmy Clausen didn’t quite make the list.
Dilfer breaks the quarterbacks down into seven categories and I don’t think anyone will be surprised to hear that he’s got Drew Brees in his “Hall of Fame’’ category. There’s little doubt Brees will be in the Hall of Fame someday, and there’s absolutely no doubt he’s one of the league’s top two or three quarterbacks these days.
I think even fans of other teams freely will admit Brees is the NFC South’s best quarterback. That brings us to the quarterbacks of the other NFC South teams and how they fared in Dilfer’s rankings.
Two categories down, Dilfer includes Atlanta’s Matt Ryan in his “A Ring Away’’ category. He has Ryan grouped with guys like Philip Rivers, Joe Flacco, Tony Romo and Matthew Stafford.
The next category down is “Mostly Good’’ and that’s where Dilfer has Carolina’s Cam Newton and Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman. They’re grouped with guys like Michael Vick, Andy Dalton and Carson Palmer.
Overall, I’ve got no issues with Dilfer’s list. I’m often asked in chats to rank the four NFC South quarterbacks. During last season, I tried to stay away from picking between Ryan and Newton as the No. 2 quarterback in the division. That’s mainly because Ryan and Newton are completely different quarterbacks. It also was because we were watching Newton evolve in his rookie season and there were changes in his level of play (usually for the better) just about every week.
But, since the season is over and since we’re on the topic, I’ll go ahead and reveal my rankings of the four NFC South quarterbacks. I’ll go in the same order Dilfer did.
We already addressed Brees and we’ll finish with Freeman. But why am I taking Ryan over Newton? First off, I’m only taking Ryan slightly over Newton. He’s been in the league for four years and has won each of those seasons. He hasn’t won big yet, but he may. Newton has way more upside than Ryan, but he’s not a finished product yet. A year from now, I might be sitting here writing that Newton is way better than Ryan. Heck, I might even be writing Newton is better than Brees.
He’s got that kind of upside. But he’s only played one season and only won six games. Let’s see a little more of Newton.
That brings us to Freeman. At the start of this past season, I thought Freeman had a chance to jump over Ryan into the No. 2 spot. That obviously didn’t happen and Freeman tumbled to No. 4 in the division. But Dilfer wrote that he still thinks Freeman can become elite. I agree totally.
Yes, Freeman had a bad 2011 season and some of the blame falls on him for that. But I put more blame on his coaching and supporting cast. I think the talent is there and Freeman can bounce back in 2012.
Anyway, those are my rankings at the moment. I know they’re open to debate. That’s what the comments section below is for.
Dilfer breaks the quarterbacks down into seven categories and I don’t think anyone will be surprised to hear that he’s got Drew Brees in his “Hall of Fame’’ category. There’s little doubt Brees will be in the Hall of Fame someday, and there’s absolutely no doubt he’s one of the league’s top two or three quarterbacks these days.
I think even fans of other teams freely will admit Brees is the NFC South’s best quarterback. That brings us to the quarterbacks of the other NFC South teams and how they fared in Dilfer’s rankings.
Two categories down, Dilfer includes Atlanta’s Matt Ryan in his “A Ring Away’’ category. He has Ryan grouped with guys like Philip Rivers, Joe Flacco, Tony Romo and Matthew Stafford.
The next category down is “Mostly Good’’ and that’s where Dilfer has Carolina’s Cam Newton and Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman. They’re grouped with guys like Michael Vick, Andy Dalton and Carson Palmer.
Overall, I’ve got no issues with Dilfer’s list. I’m often asked in chats to rank the four NFC South quarterbacks. During last season, I tried to stay away from picking between Ryan and Newton as the No. 2 quarterback in the division. That’s mainly because Ryan and Newton are completely different quarterbacks. It also was because we were watching Newton evolve in his rookie season and there were changes in his level of play (usually for the better) just about every week.
But, since the season is over and since we’re on the topic, I’ll go ahead and reveal my rankings of the four NFC South quarterbacks. I’ll go in the same order Dilfer did.
We already addressed Brees and we’ll finish with Freeman. But why am I taking Ryan over Newton? First off, I’m only taking Ryan slightly over Newton. He’s been in the league for four years and has won each of those seasons. He hasn’t won big yet, but he may. Newton has way more upside than Ryan, but he’s not a finished product yet. A year from now, I might be sitting here writing that Newton is way better than Ryan. Heck, I might even be writing Newton is better than Brees.
He’s got that kind of upside. But he’s only played one season and only won six games. Let’s see a little more of Newton.
That brings us to Freeman. At the start of this past season, I thought Freeman had a chance to jump over Ryan into the No. 2 spot. That obviously didn’t happen and Freeman tumbled to No. 4 in the division. But Dilfer wrote that he still thinks Freeman can become elite. I agree totally.
Yes, Freeman had a bad 2011 season and some of the blame falls on him for that. But I put more blame on his coaching and supporting cast. I think the talent is there and Freeman can bounce back in 2012.
Anyway, those are my rankings at the moment. I know they’re open to debate. That’s what the comments section below is for.
I’m not saying it will be right or wrong, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to hear Saturday night that Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers is the Associated Press Most Valuable Player for the 2011 season.
BreesThat’s why New Orleans Saints fans might want to take the following news as a bit of a consolation prize. It was just announced in Indianapolis that New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has been named the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year. Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy was named the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Year.
In the 2011 season, Brees set a new NFL record with 5,476 passing yards as he led the Saints to a 13-3 record. As part of the award FedEx will donate $25,000 to New Orleans offices of Junior Achievement.
This marks the third time Brees has won the award. He also won in the 2008 and ’09 seasons.
In the 2011 season, Brees set a new NFL record with 5,476 passing yards as he led the Saints to a 13-3 record. As part of the award FedEx will donate $25,000 to New Orleans offices of Junior Achievement.
This marks the third time Brees has won the award. He also won in the 2008 and ’09 seasons.
Time to take a look at the NFC South players that are scheduled to have the highest 2012 salary-cap figures.
Let’s be clear, these numbers are not what the players will actually make in 2012. These numbers simply reflect what they’ll count against the salary cap. And let’s also be clear that this list isn’t quite complete. You can bet Drew Brees will be on here once the quarterback signs a new deal with the New Orleans Saints. There also are some guys that probably will be cut or have their contracts restructured before the start of the year. Tampa Bay defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is a perfect example of that.
He’s scheduled to count $7.2 million. The Bucs can release him without any salary-cap hit. It’s a similar situation for Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis, who is scheduled to count $5.9 million. Davis is coming off his third torn ACL in two years and is due a big bonus in March. I seriously doubt he’ll get to collect that bonus.
Anyway, as it stands right now, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan is the easy winner for the NFC South’s highest cap figure. He’s scheduled to count $13.5 million toward the cap ($11.5 million in base salary and another $2 million in prorated bonus money). Aside from Ryan, 30 other NFC South players are scheduled to count more than $5 million toward the salary cap. Let’s take a look:
Let’s be clear, these numbers are not what the players will actually make in 2012. These numbers simply reflect what they’ll count against the salary cap. And let’s also be clear that this list isn’t quite complete. You can bet Drew Brees will be on here once the quarterback signs a new deal with the New Orleans Saints. There also are some guys that probably will be cut or have their contracts restructured before the start of the year. Tampa Bay defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is a perfect example of that.
He’s scheduled to count $7.2 million. The Bucs can release him without any salary-cap hit. It’s a similar situation for Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis, who is scheduled to count $5.9 million. Davis is coming off his third torn ACL in two years and is due a big bonus in March. I seriously doubt he’ll get to collect that bonus.
Anyway, as it stands right now, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan is the easy winner for the NFC South’s highest cap figure. He’s scheduled to count $13.5 million toward the cap ($11.5 million in base salary and another $2 million in prorated bonus money). Aside from Ryan, 30 other NFC South players are scheduled to count more than $5 million toward the salary cap. Let’s take a look:
- Jordan Gross, Panthers, $11.5 million
- Charles Johnson, Panthers, $11 million
- Steve Smith, Panthers, $10.7 million
- Will Smith, Saints, $10.15 million
- Chris Gamble, Panthers, $9.75 million
- Davin Joseph, Buccaneers, $9.5 million
- Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers, $9.44 million
- DeAngelo Williams, Panthers, $8.7 million
- Josh Freeman, Buccaneers, $8.545 million
- Roddy White, Falcons, $8.03 million
- Jonathan Vilma, Saints, $7.63 million
- Travelle Wharton, Panthers, $7.6 million
- Sedrick Ellis, Saints, $7.6 million
- Albert Haynesworth, Buccaneers, $7.2 million
- Dunta Robinson, Falcons, $7 million
- Jermon Bushrod, Saints, $6.9 million
- Donald Penn, Buccaneers, $6.43 million
- Roman Harper, Saints, $6.35 million
- Jabari Greer, Saints, $6.25 million
- Jeff Faine, Buccaneers, $5.925 million
- Tony Gonzalez, Falcons, $5.92 million
- Thomas Davis, Panthers, $5.9 million
- Quincy Black, Buccaneers, $5.75 million
- Jon Beason, Panthers, $5.5 million
- Ryan Kalil, Panthers, $5.35 million
- Justin Blalock, Falcons, $5.3 million
- Jeremy Trueblood, Buccaneers, $5.25 million
- Jahri Evans, Saints, $5.2 million
- Cam Newton $5.01 million
No NFC South team faces a more challenging period between now and the start of free agency than the New Orleans Saints.
They have to find a way to re-sign quarterback Drew Brees, and there are at least a couple other players that it’s essential the Saints retain. They’ve also got some important role players and will need to find ways to keep several of them despite a difficult salary-cap situation.
Let’s take a look at New Orleans’ potential free agents. They’re all unrestricted, unless noted otherwise:
Brees, defensive end Jeff Charleston, receiver Marques Colston, linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin, tight end John Gilmore, tight end Tory Humphrey, kicker John Kasay, defensive end Turk McBride, offensive lineman Pat McQuistan, receiver Robert Meachem, guard Carl Nicks, cornerback Tracy Porter, receiver/return man Courtney Roby, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, cornerback Leigh Torrence, safety Jonathon Amaya (exclusive rights), receiver Adrian Arrington (exclusive rights), center Brian de la Puente (exclusive rights), offensive lineman Justin Drescher (exclusive rights), linebacker Jonathan Casillas (restricted), quarterback Chase Daniel (restricted) and linebacker Ramon Humber (restricted).
Whatever deal Brees signs, it’s likely he’ll take up somewhere around $15 million of the 2012 salary cap. But the Saints will have to continue to spend big money. It’s imperative they keep Nicks. He might be the best guard in the league and he’s Brees’ top protector. Keeping Colston also would seem to be a top priority because he’s one of Brees’ favorite targets.
Once the accounting is done on Brees, Nicks and Colston, the Saints will have to make some tough financial decisions. Porter and Meachem are important role players. But they could have market value elsewhere. The Saints might not be able to afford to keep them. That would hurt, but it might not be disastrous because the Saints have good depth at receiver and cornerback.
They have to find a way to re-sign quarterback Drew Brees, and there are at least a couple other players that it’s essential the Saints retain. They’ve also got some important role players and will need to find ways to keep several of them despite a difficult salary-cap situation.
Let’s take a look at New Orleans’ potential free agents. They’re all unrestricted, unless noted otherwise:
Brees, defensive end Jeff Charleston, receiver Marques Colston, linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin, tight end John Gilmore, tight end Tory Humphrey, kicker John Kasay, defensive end Turk McBride, offensive lineman Pat McQuistan, receiver Robert Meachem, guard Carl Nicks, cornerback Tracy Porter, receiver/return man Courtney Roby, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, cornerback Leigh Torrence, safety Jonathon Amaya (exclusive rights), receiver Adrian Arrington (exclusive rights), center Brian de la Puente (exclusive rights), offensive lineman Justin Drescher (exclusive rights), linebacker Jonathan Casillas (restricted), quarterback Chase Daniel (restricted) and linebacker Ramon Humber (restricted).
Whatever deal Brees signs, it’s likely he’ll take up somewhere around $15 million of the 2012 salary cap. But the Saints will have to continue to spend big money. It’s imperative they keep Nicks. He might be the best guard in the league and he’s Brees’ top protector. Keeping Colston also would seem to be a top priority because he’s one of Brees’ favorite targets.
Once the accounting is done on Brees, Nicks and Colston, the Saints will have to make some tough financial decisions. Porter and Meachem are important role players. But they could have market value elsewhere. The Saints might not be able to afford to keep them. That would hurt, but it might not be disastrous because the Saints have good depth at receiver and cornerback.
Let's take a look at the Monday morning headlines from around the NFC South.
In the aftermath of Tampa Bay’s disastrous 4-12 season, there’s been some media talk that work ethic was a problem for quarterback Josh Freeman, running back LeGarrette Blount and receiver Mike Williams. Charlie Campbell talked with former members of Tampa Bay’s coaching staff. They unequivocally denied there were any issues with Freeman’s work ethic. That’s something anyone who spent any time around the Bucs could have told you. But they didn’t dispute there were problems with Blount and Williams. Those same former coaches complained about an overall lack of talent on the roster in 2011. Funny, but those were the same coaches that were pounding their chests and talking about how they got the Bucs to overachieve when they went 10-6 with a similar roster in 2010.
D. Orlando Ledbetter runs through Atlanta’s list of potential free agents. We all know it includes defensive end John Abraham, linebacker Curtis Lofton and cornerback Brent Grimes. But he also points out wide receiver Harry Douglas, who might be tricky to keep. With Roddy White and Julio Jones clearly the top two receivers in Atlanta, Douglas could end up leaving. He’s stuck as the third receiver in Atlanta, but could have a chance to start elsewhere.
For the first time since coming into the league in 1995, the Carolina Panthers are refining their logo. The colors are staying the same, but there are some minor changes.
Carolina rookie quarterback Cam Newton was intercepted three times in Sunday night’s Pro Bowl.
You rarely see the drop kick used in the NFL. But the Pro Bowl isn’t a very serious game, so it’s open to experimentation. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees attempted a drop kick Sunday and didn’t come close to making it.
Ira Kaufman has a to-do-list for new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano. It starts with assembling a coaching staff. That’s a good starting point. Schiano has to act quickly here. Most NFL teams have filled their staffs, and there might not be a lot of experienced NFL coaches out there. Schiano has said he probably will bring some assistants from Rutgers. But he also needs to look long and hard and get some quality NFL assistants.
In the aftermath of Tampa Bay’s disastrous 4-12 season, there’s been some media talk that work ethic was a problem for quarterback Josh Freeman, running back LeGarrette Blount and receiver Mike Williams. Charlie Campbell talked with former members of Tampa Bay’s coaching staff. They unequivocally denied there were any issues with Freeman’s work ethic. That’s something anyone who spent any time around the Bucs could have told you. But they didn’t dispute there were problems with Blount and Williams. Those same former coaches complained about an overall lack of talent on the roster in 2011. Funny, but those were the same coaches that were pounding their chests and talking about how they got the Bucs to overachieve when they went 10-6 with a similar roster in 2010.
D. Orlando Ledbetter runs through Atlanta’s list of potential free agents. We all know it includes defensive end John Abraham, linebacker Curtis Lofton and cornerback Brent Grimes. But he also points out wide receiver Harry Douglas, who might be tricky to keep. With Roddy White and Julio Jones clearly the top two receivers in Atlanta, Douglas could end up leaving. He’s stuck as the third receiver in Atlanta, but could have a chance to start elsewhere.
For the first time since coming into the league in 1995, the Carolina Panthers are refining their logo. The colors are staying the same, but there are some minor changes.
Carolina rookie quarterback Cam Newton was intercepted three times in Sunday night’s Pro Bowl.
You rarely see the drop kick used in the NFL. But the Pro Bowl isn’t a very serious game, so it’s open to experimentation. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees attempted a drop kick Sunday and didn’t come close to making it.
Ira Kaufman has a to-do-list for new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano. It starts with assembling a coaching staff. That’s a good starting point. Schiano has to act quickly here. Most NFL teams have filled their staffs, and there might not be a lot of experienced NFL coaches out there. Schiano has said he probably will bring some assistants from Rutgers. But he also needs to look long and hard and get some quality NFL assistants.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
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.
