Tag: New Orleans Saints (Page 21 of 55)

      Wise move? Saints make Jahri Evans richest guard in NFL history.

      May 5, 2010 /

      The Saints officially announced on Wednesday that they have reached a seven-year contract extension with All-Pro guard Jahri Evans. The contract is believed to be worth $56.7 million, which would make Evans the richest interior offensive lineman in NFL history.

      The first thing that seems to get brought up when a contract like this is announced is whether or not the team is making the right decision. Paying a guard $8.1 million annually is a huge financial risk, but in the case of Evans – he’s worth it.

      A four-year starter, Evans hasn’t missed a single game in his career and is only 26. He’s now under the Saints’ control through 2016 (Evans will be 34 at that point) and considering guards have long shelf lives, it’s a wise investment for New Orleans. (Let’s not forget that Evans is arguably the best all-around right guard in the league, either.)

      Good teams have to shell out big bucks in order to keep their core together. Evans is a great player and will likely be worth the contract in the end.

      External Sports, NFL

      Why Sharper wasn’t wanted on the open market

      May 4, 2010 /

      One of the bigger mysteries of the NFL offseason is why safety Darren Sharper, who essentially transformed the Saints’ defense last year with his playmaking ability, didn’t receive more attention on the open market. Even at 34, Sharper proved last year that he still has plenty of game left in his veteran legs.

      But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Sharper had limited market value because he had microfracture surgery, which is believed to have taken place in early March. The procedure was originally announced as an arthroscopic surgery, which is much less serious than microfracture.

      According to Schefter, Sharper’s status for Week 1 is in jeopardy and he may be limited in training camp. Combine that little fact with his age and it’s no wonder Sharper lasted so long on the open market before re-signing a one-year deal with the Saints on Monday.

      I’m a little surprised that Sharper expected to sign a lucrative long-term deal knowing that his status for Week 1 was up in the air. Parlaying a great season into a new contract is one thing, but hoping to cash in big despite being a 34-year-old safety coming off major knee surgery is another.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Sean Payton accused of receiving painkillers

      May 2, 2010 /

      From UPI.com:

      New Orleans Saints head Coach Sean Payton is the unnamed staffer accused of receiving stolen painkillers, The (New Orleans) Times Picayune reported Saturday.

      Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper reported that Payton is the person referred to in a lawsuit brought by former Saints security director Geoff Santini as “Senior Staff Member A,” who was allegedly given a large quantity of Vicodin pills stolen from the team’s drug cabinet.

      Santini’s suit alleges that “Senior Staff Member A” was given the pills despite having no medical condition after they were stolen by “Senior Staff Member B,” whom The Times-Picayune identified as Saints linebackers coach Joe Vitt.

      Payton vehemently denied the allegations in a statement Saturday, saying, “I have reviewed Geoff Santini’s lawsuit and the unwarranted publicity it has received. I have never abused or stolen Vicodin or any other medication and I fully support the Saints’ position in this matter as expressed by (team spokesman) Greg Bensel yesterday.”

      See, this is what happens. A man has a little success in the NFL and then he’s accused of stealing painkillers.

      Same thing happened to that nice young man Ryan Leaf.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      The Saints are playing Sharper perfectly

      April 29, 2010 /

      When it comes to old fashion standoffs, the Saints are taking it to free agent Darren Sharper.

      After racking up 71 tackles and nine interceptions (including three INTs for touchdowns), it was apparent last season that Sharper hadn’t lost a step, which is why he wanted to parlay his 2009 season into a big pay day this offseason. He took a modest deal last year to sign with the Saints, but wasn’t about to do it again with those numbers.

      The problem is that the Saints knew Sharper had to have arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason, thus limiting his worth on the open market. The team also knew that he would love to re-sign with them, but that he was also looking for more money then the team was willing to spend on a 34-year-old safety. So what do they do? They made him another modest offer (details haven’t been released yet, but an offer is on the table and it must be modest because Sharper hasn’t signed it yet) and are now banking on him not finding a better deal anywhere else.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL

      Saints inquire about Albert Haynesworth

      April 23, 2010 /

      Even though the Lions and Titans have dropped out of the running, the Redskins remain open to trading Albert Haynesworth and according to Jason Reid of the Washington Post, the Saints have inquired about the defensive tackle.

      The Saints have the No. 64 overall pick and it would take at least that selection and possibly one more to acquire Haynesworth from Washington. That said, he has already voiced his displeasure over playing nose tackle in the Redskins’ new 3-4 alignment and the team recently acquired Adam Carriker from the Rams. Thus, maybe the Skins would be willing to take less value for Haynesworth, even though they just forked over $21 million in bonuses earlier this month.

      While neither played poorly, the Saints didn’t get a lot of production out of either Tony Hargrove or Sedrick Ellis last season. Ellis is the better pass-rusher while Hargrove is sounder against the run, but neither is the player Haynesworth is. He would instantly upgrade the interior of the Saints’ defensive line and would cause panic for contenders in the NFC that already have a hard enough time keeping up with New Orleans’ potent offense.

      The second round will certainly be intriguing.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

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