Help still out there — for a price

Why don’t more teams go all out for proven restricted free agents?

Shaun Smith: KAN: DL Signs

NFL Transaction Wire Blog (3/8-3/14)

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Scout NFL Radio: Draft Edition Podcast

Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents

NFL Free Agent Signings List

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

The Saints have a lengthy list of potential free agents, but only two of their unrestricted free agents — All-Pro free safety Darren Sharper and strong-side linebacker Scott Fujita — were starters for the Super Bowl champions. Fujita signed a three-year deal with Cleveland, creating the first big hole for the team to address.
They have a large group of talented young players that are restricted free agents, but they should be able to keep most of them considering the success the team had this season and the fact that qualifying offers were tendered to 15 of their 18 RFAs.

OFFSEASON STRATEGY
Even though there was a lot of speculation that they would use the franchise tag on All-Pro free safety Darren Sharper, the Saints will keep it in their back pocket this season. Sharper, who tied for the league lead in interceptions with nine in his first season with the club at 34 years old, fit in nicely with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ aggressive and attacking style of play. The team hopes he’ll want to finish his career with the Saints after winning his first Super Bowl.

TEAM NEEDS
1. Defensive end: Even though right end Will Smith had a big season with 13 sacks, the Saints could use some help here. Left end Charles Grant was released after battling injuries the last three years and Bobby McCray also had a back problem most of last season. So a sturdy young player who can rush the passer and support the run could be a consideration in the first or second rounds.
2. Defensive tackle: The Saints were 21st against the run last season in allowing 122.1 yards per game and they were gashed for some big runs — especially in the second half of the season. Former first-round draft pick Sedrick Ellis is solid, but he could use some help in the middle.
3. Tight end: Jeremy Shockey still has a lot left in the tank and David Thomas was a nice addition, but Shockey has been plagued by injuries the last three seasons and the Saints were thin at the position after Billy Miller was lost for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–FS Darren Sharper said he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee, according to the Associated Press. Sharper is currently an unrestricted free agent, and missed two regular-season games with knee swelling last season.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
–QB Mark Brunell, who turns 40 in September, may not be re-signed although he’s considered to be a valuable backup to Drew Brees.
–TE Dan Campbell injured his knee in training camp and likely won’t be re-signed.
–DT Kendrick Clancy was lost for the season when he injured his knee in the season opener and it’s not known if he’ll be offered a new contract.
–TE Darnell Dinkins was injured for the first half of the season and was inactive later in the season, so he may not be re-signed.
–LS Jason Kyle is regarded by the Saints as one of the best long snappers in the league and could be re-signed.
–TE Billy Miller tore his Achilles’ tendon in the final preseason game but could be re-signed because of his locker room presence.
–FS Darren Sharper was the catalyst for the defense with nine interceptions and will be a priority to re-sign.
–DE Paul Spicer was signed when Charles Grant went on injured reserve and likely won’t be back.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
–FB Kyle Eckel (not tendered as RFA) was signed to fill in for an injured Heath Evans.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year)
–DT Remi Ayodele (tendered at $1.101 million with no compensation) started 15 games after Kendrick Clancy was lost for the season.
–*RB Mike Bell (tendered at $1.176 million with no compensation) was the team’s second-leading rusher even though he missed some time with knee injuries.
–*LT Jammal Brown (tendered at $3.619 million with first- and third-round picks as compensation) missed the entire season after having hip and sports hernia surgeries but is a two-time Pro Bowl pick.
–LT Jermon Bushrod (tendered at $1.684 million with second-round pick as compensation) filled some big shoes when he was inserted into the lineup for Brown and started 14 games.
–DE Jeff Charleston (tendered at $1.01M with no compensation) has been a nice role player for the last two seasons.
–*RG Jahri Evans (tendered at $3.168 million with first- and third-round picks as compensation) was an All-Pro this season and a player the Saints would love to sign to a long-term deal.
–*DT Anthony Hargrove (tendered at $1.226 million with third-round pick as compensation) had a big season as a backup with five sacks.
–*SS Roman Harper (tendered at $2.521 million with first-round pick as compensation) flourished in Gregg Williams’ system and was a Pro Bowl alternate.
–MLB Marvin Mitchell (tendered at $1.101 million with seventh-round pick as compensation) is a promising young player who starts when the Saints go to a 3-4.
–*WR Lance Moore (tendered at $1.759 million with second-round pick as compensation) was bothered by ankle and hamstring injuries, but is a valuable asset to the offense.
–FS Chris Reis (tendered at $1.101 million with no compensation) is a huge special teams contributor.
–*WR Courtney Roby (tendered at $1.176 million with third-round pick as compensation) has blossomed as a return man and is one of their top cover men on punts and kickoffs.
–*T Zach Strief (tendered at $1.759 million with second-round pick as compensation) served as a key backup at both tackles and as an extra tight end.
–*TE David Thomas (tendered at $1.176 million with third-round pick as compensation) had a big season after coming to the Saints in a trade.
–RB Pierre Thomas (tendered at $1.684 million with second-round pick as compensation) has been the Saints’ leading rusher the last two seasons.
—-FS Usama Young (tendered at $1.101 million with third-round pick as compensation) was a backup and key special teams contributor.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED:
–C Nick Leckey: UFA; terms undisclosed.
–S Pierson Prioleau: UFA; terms undisclosed.
–CB Leigh Torrence: UFA; terms undisclosed.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–FB Zak Keasey: FA; $545,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS LOST
–SLB Scott Fujita: UFA Browns; 3 yrs, reported $14M with $8M guaranteed.
–DE Charles Grant (released).
–G/C Jamar Nesbit (released).
–MLB Mark Simoneau (released).
–WR D’Juan Woods (released/failed physical).

NOTES, QUOTES

–The Saints prepared for the start of free agency Thursday afternoon by releasing three veterans — defensive end Charles Grant, middle linebacker Mark Simoneau and guard/center Jamar Nesbit.
The release of Grant, a first-round draft pick in 2002, and Simoneau were not unexpected as they have been plagued by injuries the last few years.
Grant, who signed a seven-year, $63 million contract in 2007, was to earn $4 million in 2010. But the longest-tenured player on the team finished the last two seasons on injured reserve with triceps injuries that required surgery.
Simoneau missed the last two seasons with back and triceps injuries.
Nesbit, a starter until he lost his job in 2008 when he was suspended by the NFL for taking weight-loss pills that contained a banned diuretic, had been inactive for several games late in the season and was a healthy inactive for all three playoff games.
–In his first interview with local media since the day after the Super Bowl, Saints coach Sean Payton told the New Orleans Times-Picayune the team plans on bringing back running back Reggie Bush despite his $8 million price tag for the 2010 season.
There are many who question whether Bush is worth that kind of money considering that he’s a role player in the Saints’ offense and has had multiple knee problems.
But Payton said Bush, whose base salary jumps to $12 million in 2011, will be with the Saints this season. The possibility remains, however, that he could be asked to restructure his contract.
“He’s not going anywhere,” Payton said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “(General Manager Mickey Loomis) and I talked the other day about it. We value what this player brings, what he has been in three of the last four years … really in all four seasons here.
“So I think we’ve spent more time in the other areas than we have discussing his status,” he added. “So he’s full speed ahead. He finished strong, and he’ll be with us.”
–Payton also told the Times-Picayune it would be unlikely that the team would consider signing ex-San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson despite his friendship with Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Brees tweeted that he would love to get Tomlinson, whom he played with from 2001-05, in a Saints uniform after he was released by the Chargers. While Payton didn’t rule it out, he said he was happy with what they have at that position.
“(LaDainian) is a special guy. And yet, as an organization, we have been fortunate to develop running backs ourselves, younger players that have really stepped up,” Payton said. “When you look at Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, (and) Lynell Hamilton is another player who has a bright future with us. So we’re deep at that position, and that’s a good problem to have.”
–ESPN’s Adam Schefter has moved Brees, who signed a six-year, $60 million deal with the Saints in 2006, to the top of his list of all-time free agent signings.
Schefter said in a story on ESPN.com that the Super Bowl XLIV win by the Saints was enough to move Brees to the top of the class ahead of defensive end Reggie White, who turned the Green Bay Packers around in the mid-1990s after signing with them.
“Brees not only helped save the sagging fortunes of a franchise, but did the same for the city,” Schefter wrote. “Brees has been as dynamic off the field as he has on it, and New Orleans would not be the same without him.”
Rounding out Schefter’s top five are White, cornerback Deion Sanders (with San Francisco and Dallas), wide receiver Plaxico Burress (New York Giants) and Curtis Martin (New York Jets).
–Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels auctioned off for charity the Saints flag he displayed outside his office for losing a Super Bowl bet with his Louisiana counterpart.
Daniels had the flag displayed outside his office in the Indiana Statehouse for a week after losing the bet with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who promised to display the Colts flag if they had won.
The flag was listed on Feb. 25 on the online auction site eBay.com with an opening bid of $100. Forty-eight bids were made in the week the flag was offered online and the final winning bid was for $6,852.
Daniels will sign the flag before sending it to the winning bidder.
–A lawsuit has been filed against Reebok International LLC, which manufactured and marketed T-shirts that bore the Saints’ unofficial motto of “Finish Strong” that they rode all the way to a victory in Super Bowl XLIV.
Finish Strong LLC, based in Naperville, Ill., claims trademark infringement by Reebok. Coincidentally, Naperville is where Saints coach Sean Payton grew up and attended high school.
Finish Strong says that since 1998 it has had a registered trademark on the phrase that has been used in a branded line of apparel — including T-shirts, pants, skirts and shirts. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
–Saints assistant Dan Dalrymple was named as the 2009 recipient of the Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.
The award was based on a vote by Dalrymple’s NFL peers in the strength and conditioning field. A four-year member of Payton’s coaching staff, he has played a key role in the success of the club over the past four seasons — including their Super Bowl XLIV champion run — directing their offseason and in-season strength and conditioning program.
“While I’m honored to receive this award, I regard it as an achievement by our team as a whole,” said Dalrymple, who was honored during a banquet on Feb. 26 in Indianapolis.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We need to have a critical eye when we evaluate and not be blinded by the euphoria that goes along with winning a championship. … You have to stay true to your philosophies and pay attention and be self-critical. We need to do that and pay attention to weaknesses we have and the holes we have on our team.” — Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis, on his team moving on to a new season after winning Super Bowl XLIV.

INSIDE SLANT

Free agency rules changed for all NFL teams because of the uncapped league year, which officially began early Friday when the veteran free agency period got under way.
Because league owners and the NFL Players Association failed to come to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the old rules didn’t apply — but especially so for the final eight teams in the playoffs who faced certain restrictions on who they could sign.
As one of the final four teams, the Super Bowl champion Saints were affected more because they, along with the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets, can’t sign an unrestricted free agent unless they lose one first.
Then, the player those teams sign as a replacement can only receive a salary comparable to the one the player they lost will receive from his new team.
That means the Saints placed more value on their own free agents in an effort to keep the core of their team together for what they hope is another Super Bowl run.
That chore was made a little easier by the fact that some players who would have become unrestricted free agents were made restricted free agents by the lack of a salary cap. In the Saints’ case, 10 players who would have become unrestricted free agents were restricted.
Under terms of the old Collective Bargaining Agreement, those players would have hit the open market and the Saints would have had to try and get them re-signed while dealing with 11 other UFAs — including All-Pro free safety Darren Sharper and strong-side linebacker Scott Fujita (Fujita has left for a three-year deal with Cleveland).
The Saints made tender offers to 15 of their 18 restricted free agents — including nine of the 10 players who would have been unrestricted in years that would have had a salary cap.
That was a strong indication how much they valued those players — particularly two-time Pro Bowl tackle Jammal Brown and All-Pro right guard Jahri Evans, who were tendered at the highest levels. If a team signs either of them to an offer sheet and the Saints decline to match, they would receive first- and third-round draft picks as compensation.
Also, strong safety Roman Harper, who was a first alternate to the Pro Bowl, was tendered at a first-round level. As a result, 12 restricted free agents who received qualifying offers from the Saints are or have been starters or are key backups.
All told, the Saints pledged a total of $25.35 million to the 15 RFAs.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said the Saints won’t put a salary cap on themselves as some teams plan to do, adding, “We’re going to pay attention to salary structure just like we always have.”