Baylor guards LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter talk about getting a visit from New Orleans Saints coaches Joe Vitt and Dennis Allen, and about the coaches giving Baylor the “Bring the Wood” bat, and about being Saints fans….
They gave the Bears the “Bring the Wood” bat
New Orleans Saints beat writer Mike Triplett answers your questions in this video segment….
The Saints faced their first big decision since the start of free agency after restricted free agent Mike Bell, whom they tendered at the lowest level of $1.176 million, signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Eagles.
After Bell received a reported one-year, $1.7 million offer sheet from the Eagles, which includes $500,000 in guaranteed money, the Saints have until Tuesday to match the offer or allow Bell to walk with no compensation.
While they gave no early indication on which way they might go, the Saints could let their second-leading rusher from 2009 leave for two big reasons.
First, they’re deep at the position with Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Lynell Hamilton.
OFFSEASON UPDATE
The Saints have been little more than innocent bystanders in the two weeks since free agency began, but it’s not because they want to be.
They haven’t been major players in the first wave of free agency because they’re working under a rule that restricts the final four playoff teams from signing unrestricted free agents unless they lose one first.
The Saints did lose one of their top two unrestricted free agents, strong-side linebacker Scott Fujita, but they’ve taken their time finding a replacement. St. Louis Rams defensive end James Hall came in for a visit and they are scheduled to bring in Rams defensive end Leonard Little as well.
They also took a peek at former Oakland Raiders running back Justin Fargas, who was released earlier this month. The visit was arranged before Saints running back Mike Bell, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Saints must decide if they want to keep Bell after he signed a one-year, $1.7 million offer sheet. If the Saints allow him to walk, they wouldn’t get a draft pick because he was tendered at the low level of $1.176 million with no compensation.
The Saints spent the first two weeks of free agency re-signing some of their role players, which has been their method of operation for the last few years. They re-signed safety Pierson Prioleau, center Nick Leckey and cornerback Leigh Torrence, and also got long snapper Jason Kyle back in the fold.
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. Strong-side linebacker: The Saints probably didn’t expect to lose four-year starter Scott Fujita, but they did. They could have a replacement in young Jonathan Casillas or Jo-Lonn Dunbar, a couple of undrafted free agents who have been impressive in replacing Fujita when he was injured. They could also try to find one in the draft in the second or third rounds to develop for the future.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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.
–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); Eagles executed offer sheet March 17 ($1.5M/1 yr, $500,000 guaranteed); Saints have until March 24 to match.
–*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; $630,000/1 yr.
–LS Jason Kyle: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–S Pierson Prioleau: UFA; $855,000/1 yr.
–*CB Leigh Torrence: Not tendered as RFA; $630,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–FB Zak Keasey: FA; $545,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS LOST
–LB Scott Fujita: UFA Browns; $14M/3 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
–DE Charles Grant (released/failed physical).
–G/C Jamar Nesbit (released).
–MLB Mark Simoneau (released).
–WR D’Juan Woods (released/failed physical).
–While the Saints hadn’t closed the door on running back Mike Bell after he signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans was looking for a possible replacement for their second-leading rusher.
The Saints scheduled a visit with running back Justin Fargas and brought him in for a visit while Bell, a restricted free agent, was visiting the Eagles.
If the Saints decline to match the one-year, $1.7 million offer Bell received from the Eagles, Fargas, a 220-pounder, could be targeted to take Bell’s spot in the backfield behind Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. The Saints also have a big back in Lynell Hamilton, who is entering his third season.
Fargas, who was released by the Oakland Raiders before he was due a $1.7 million roster bonus, has also drawn interest from the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chief and Eagles, who made an offer to Bell instead.
–During his news conference with Philadelphia media, Bell clarified what happened just before halftime of Super Bowl XLIV when he slipped on a goal line run.
When Bell returned to the sideline, NFL Films crews caught coach Sean Payton yelling at him for not wearing screw-in cleats. Seconds later, Payton accepted some blame for not making sure the proper shoes were worn.
“I’ve never worn screw-in cleats,” said Bell. “What happened was, I cut off my inside foot. If you cut off your inside foot on bad turf, you’re going to slip every time. But that doesn’t mean that slipping is acceptable, because it’s not, especially in the Super Bowl and on the 1-yard line.”
–Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said a report by Pro Football Talk and NBC Sports that shows that his team’s salary cap figure would be $135 million right now if there was a cap is not accurate.
Loomis would not give a specific number, but told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that “our cap number would be high.” The report said the Saints would have the second-highest cap among the 32 league teams.
“Relative to a lot of the other teams, we’re higher than the halfway point,” Loomis said, adding that the Saints are mindful that the 2011 season will likely be a capped year if a new CBA is hammered out.
“Look, we’re going to do what we’ve always done, which is if we feel like there’s an area where we can help our team and it fits in our salary structure, we’re going to take a pretty hard look at it,” he said. “We also have got to recognize that we’ve got some pretty significant free agents of our own (Jahri Evans, Roman Harper, Pierre Thomas) that we need to get done.”
–Loomis said the team wasn’t surprised when free agent quarterback Jake Delhomme canceled a scheduled visit with the Saints and signed with the Cleveland Browns.
Delhomme was scheduled to talk with the Saints at their Metairie training facility, but those plans changed quickly when the Louisiana native agreed to a two-year deal with the Browns.
“It wasn’t a shock,” Loomis said. “(Delhomme) has a chance to be a starter. We knew all along that Cleveland had a vision for him, and he was probably going there.”
The Browns released quarterback Derek Anderson last week and were shopping Brady Quinn after getting Seneca Wallace in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. The Browns later traded Quinn to Denver.
–Saints assistant defensive line coach Travis Jones is one of 40 people named in a federal indictment over an alleged real estate swindle in Texas.
Jones, 31, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
But Jason Kreiss, an attorney for Jones, said his client is a victim of the scheme’s alleged ringleader, John Barry, who has a previous conviction for real estate fraud in Texas.
Federal officials and the indictment indicate Jones was a bit player in the scheme, identifying him as one of several “straw buyers” Barry recruited for his enterprise.
“Travis Jones will be pleading not guilty to the indictment,” Kreiss said in a statement. “Mr. Jones was ultimately victimized when he was misled into quitclaiming his property rights and left with mortgages for worthless property that resulted in foreclosure proceedings.”
–Saints wide receiver Devery Henderson was honored in his hometown of Opelousas, La., on Saturday with a parade and celebration in his honor.
Henderson, a former LSU standout who won a national title with the Tigers in 2003, had seven catches for 63 yards in the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV win over the Indianapolis Colts.
During a post-parade ceremony, Henderson received the keys to the city and Mayor Donald Cravins Sr. also gave him a street sign commemorating the renaming of Jefferson Street in his honor.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I have all the love in the world for Darren Sharper … I just don’t have all the money in the world for Darren Sharper.” — Saints GM Mickey Loomis, on Sharper’s comment that the Saints hadn’t shown enough love to their top unrestricted free agent.
The Saints faced their first big decision since the start of free agency after restricted free agent Mike Bell, whom they tendered at the lowest level of $1.176 million, signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Eagles.
After Bell received a reported one-year, $1.7 million offer sheet from the Eagles, which includes $500,000 in guaranteed money, the Saints have until Tuesday to match the offer or allow Bell to walk with no compensation.
While they gave no early indication on which way they might go, the Saints could let their second-leading rusher from 2009 leave for two big reasons.
First, they’re deep at the position with Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Lynell Hamilton. They also gave Bell a low tender at $1.176 million, which means that if they’d wanted to spend the kind of money the Eagles gave him, they would have done it and required a signing team to hand over a second-round draft pick as compensation.
Bell got off to a great start last season, rushing for 229 yards and a touchdown on 45 carries before suffering a sprained knee during a 48-22 win over the Eagles in Week 2.
He missed only two games, but was never the same after that — partly because his role was reduced with the return of Thomas from a knee injury. Bell finished with 654 yards and five TDs and averaged 3.8 yards a carry after gaining 5.1 yards a pop in the first two games.
Still, Bell was a key component to the running game as their power back as he was worked into the game in third-down situations and as a chance of pace from Thomas, who is also a restricted free agent, and Bush.
“Being in New Orleans allowed me to become so unselfish, and I saw what an unselfish football team can do,” Bell, a 225-pounder, said during a news conference in Philadelphia. “That’s the mentality that the running backs had because we knew we all excelled in different areas, and we knew we could help the team in different areas.”
Bell noted that he’ll be in limbo waiting on the Saints’ decision, but knows that things will work out for him one way or the other.
“It does make it a strange and long week,” he said. “But I feel like I’m in a perfect situation because both teams are Super Bowl-caliber teams.”
We now officially enter the second half of our second annual community mock draft here at Canal Street Chronicles. Leading the charge with the seventeenth overall pick is CSC member DrewBreesManCrush, who is representing the San Francisco 49ers and t…
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