Saints, Tinkering This Time Instead of Overhauling, Have Another Good Offseason
Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup
New Orleans Saints
Players Released:
Ernie Conwell, TE
Joe Horn, WR
Terrence Melton, LB
John Carney, K
Free Agents Lost:
Montrae Holland, G
Danny Clark, LB
Bryan Scott, S
Omar Stoutmire, S
Curtis Deloatch, CB
Billy Cundiff, K
Traded For:
Olindo Mare, K
Free Agents Re-Signed:
Jon Stinchcomb, T
Jay Bellamy, S
Free Agents Added:
Brian Simmons, LB
Eric Johnson, TE
Kevin Kaesviharn, S
David Patten, WR
Jason David, CB
Chris Hanson, P
Draft:
Rd. 1 (No. 27 overall) Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
3 (66) Usama Young, CB, Kent
3 (88) Andy Alleman, G, Akron
4 (107) Antonio Pittman, RB, Ohio State
4 (125) Jermon Bushrod, T, Towson
5 (145) David Jones, CB, Wingate
7 (220) Marvin Mitchell, LB, Tennessee
Analysis:
Everyone began to realize late last season, it seemed, that the New Orleans Saints were more than a terrific story. They were a terrific team, too. Mickey Loomis had made all the right front office moves en route to being named the NFL's executive of the year, and Sean Payton pushed all the right buttons on his way to being the coach of the year.
Can the Saints recapture the magic and remain an elite team next season?
They sure can.
Loomis and Payton have had another very good offseason. They didn't have to overhaul the roster this time. They had to fine-tune it, and they've done well.
Tight end Ernie Conwell and wide receiver Joe Horn were released. But the Saints more than compensated by signing tight end and wideout David Patten as free agents, then using their first-round draft pick on Tennessee receiver Robert Meachem. He could become a productive complement to Marques Colston.
The defense was bolstered with the free agent additions of linebacker Brian Simmons, safety Kevin Kaesviharn and cornerback Jason David. The Saints got David from the Indianapolis Colts in restricted free agency, and he could fill a void at cornerback that was exploited during last season's playoffs. Kaesviharn had a knack for making big plays while with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Veteran kicker John Carney was released after the Saints traded for the Miami Dolphins' Olindo Mare. That was a risky move, given that Carney was highly accurate last season. But clearly the Saints wanted to get a kicker with a stronger leg, and Mare fits that description.
The Saints came within a game of the Super Bowl last season, and at least temporarily replaced the Dallas Cowboys as America's team. It's possible they could take the next step next season. The NFC remains without a superheavyweight team, and the Saints are as good as anyone in the conference.
By Mark Maske |
May 24, 2007; 11:23 AM ET
| Category:
Saints
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Posted by: pack4life | May 24, 2007 12:38 PM
I agree; the Saints have quietly had one of the best off-seasons of anyone; the lingering concern is whether their steady defense is dynamic enough to win a Super Bowl-
Posted by: Michigan Saint | May 24, 2007 5:36 PM
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marques colston = the man. trolling the 'net reading football blogs/stats/happenings actually paid off when discovering early last year he was TE-eligible in my fantasy league. scooped him up just before he became wildly popular. i want my whole fantasy team back for next year, dammit.
what on earth are they going to do w/ antonio pittman? i'm thinkin they should probably up n trade deuce to a certain green n gold nfc north team in dire need of sucha RB