Good insurance move. I would have been happy with McKenzie. I would not be happy with Gay. Odd as that sounds…

So know we have a veteran corner to play as an insurance policy for a few weeks as we roll through the next few weeks of the schedule. 2 questions.

1. When will he be available to play? season-ending knee surgery last year and mid-way through this year? I know it has to be atleast a week away before game time? or is Tampa Bay a good lurning curve?

2. Can this guy humble himself enought to play with the Saints? Winning does cure all…in the NFL.

has this knee rehabbed enough? has he lost a step. This guy in his prime was a beast. In 6 games last year he had 19 tackles and 3 picks! Sounds like if the Saints think he is healthy they should turn em loose.

I like this move.

This story must have just broke it is nowhere else on the web.

which is pretty good, had this to say about the acquisition (emphasis mine):

Saints signed CB Chris McAlister, formerly of the Ravens.

McAlister, 32, was cut by Baltimore in February after a 10-year run with the club that drafted him in 1999. He missed 18 games, mostly because of knee injuries, during the 2007-2008 seasons and was a shell of himself late in his Ravens career. McAlister is merely an insurance pickup for the Saints’ stretch run with top corners Jabari Greer (groin) and Tracy Porter (knee) banged up.

Also to address Saintsfan4life’s question, I just saw this tidbit pop up:

NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora reports that Saints FS Darren Sharper (knee) will return to the starting lineup this week.

Sharper could’ve played in Week 10, but he and the team played it safe in a theoretically easy win against the Rams. The game didn’t go so easily, but the NFC’s interceptions leader is scheduled to start Sunday at Tampa.

played in a Super bowl and for a top tier Def., also for some good coaches, he ain’t scared. Hope the knees are in good shape.

CB Porter
CB Greer
CB McAlister
CB Jenkins
FS Sharper
SS Harper

Sounds pretty stout with a mix of veteran playoff leadership in Sharpe and McAlister.

I have to say I love when we make a splash! Larry Johnson who? we got McAlister!!

Another proven veteran and already has a ring. Show my boy Malcolm Jenkins a few things here and there and he can actually contribute to our team. Greg Williams will light a fire under him and show people that he still has stuff left in his tank, just like Sharper did.

I’ve been saying since pre-season, “Why isn’t anyone giving McAlister a shot?” He may not be what he once was but he is a big corner that knows technique! If nothing else he can show these young corners a trick or two! As I voted up top, great move!

No one can be sure of how good he will be after sitting half a season, not to mention the age, but he brings the kind of attitude we want on defense having in Baltimore. Even if he doesn’t play, he could be very valuable in getting Gay and the others up to speed.

This move signals to me that the Saints are not going to be content with coasting into the playoffs. We want that first roung bye and we want home-field throughout and we’re going to get the pieces we need to win as much as we need to stay ahead of the rest of the NFC.

Maybe he is a bad boy, but if we can handle Shockey and turn him into a near-model citizen I think we can get this guy to suit up. Besides, he’s had a half year of not playing, which ought to be enough to humble everyone except A.I.

Saints LCB Jabari Greer (groin) and DT Sedrick Ellis (knee) are not expected to play in Week 11, according to NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora.

They should both return in Week 12. New Orleans has been getting gashed by the run since Ellis went down in Week 7. Greer, the team’s No. 1 corner, will be replaced in the starting lineup again by nickel back Randall Gay.
Source: NFL.com

We need Jabari!!! Gay is soooo dusty

… at least it looks that Lance Moore will be back (as emergency QB)

This guy could probably be our nickel once everyone is back and healthy.

McKenzie i probably better than Gay as well.

What would be awesome is if the Saints’ winning ways attract good defenders to our defense. Lord only know we need another run stuffer who can play 4 downs.

How badly is Big Sed injured? I thought he’d be back by now.

I will reserve my opinions until i see him play the game again.

…discuss…

The reason he wasn’t signed before now is that while some teams were showing interest at the beginning of the year, he wanted to wait until the doctors had given him a 100% green light. That shows a level of professionalism I like. Showing up in shorts when he should have been in a suit is hardly being a bad boy. Getting arrested while not wearing anything is.

I’m sure the Saints worked him out thoroughly to make sure that knee is ready to go. The only other question mark is that he’s been off the field for over a year. I seriously doubt he will be ready to go this weekend. And it may take more than a week and half to get acclimated to GW’s defense, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t play against the Pats either.

 played for the broncos two days after signing earlier this month.

similarly, i would assume chris mcalister has the ability to step in this weekend against the bucs, maybe only in a limited role. it’s a great move, i think, since at worst he’ll be as adequate as our other CBs, but he may have a sharper-style rebirth and steal a starting roster spot for the rest of the season.

What is he? 32? That’s not too bad, plus he can be a source of inspiration for young guys like Tracy Porter and Malcolm Jenkins or even guys like Roman Harper, Usama Young and Chip Vaughn. I applaud Mickey Loomis for this pickup 100%, and let’s be honest, our DBs can’t really get any worse, we have Leigh Torrence and Randall Gay, this is a move ML had to make

AK

ML saw what we can expect from our secondary if Torrence and Gay are left back there and he made a move right away to correct it. They’re making the right moves at the right time. Everyone in the organization appears to be on the same page this year. It’s nice to see it happening.

McAllister hasn’t played in quite some time. Immediate impact could be little to nothing.
Good gamble though – in his prime he was one of the best. McKenzie would be a good gamble too if he’s healthy and McAllister doesn’t have anything left.
Hell, even Deion Sanders would be worth it -
yeccch.

Agreed he will play this weekend. What makes you think he will not? This dude has not been at home eating cup cakes and watching t.v he has been rehabbing and staying ready. If he turned down offers at the beginning of the year he had this time fram circled on his calendar, Ty Law has done this 2 times now I think McAlister took one out of his play book and waited for the right ship to jump on!

He is ready, i do not doubt that for a second yaw!!

Geaux Saints!!

the saints have not posted a confimation on their website? Yall should try and get an open blog link on their website that would be tight alot more fans could tune in and voice opinions

I dont know there organization, thats your job bro!! LOL it was just a sugestion any.

In reference to my previous comments:

"I didn’t want to sign with any team just to play," McAlister said. "I wanted to join a winning team and a winning organization, unfortunately a couple guys got nicked up. But when the Saints called, I was ready. I have kept in shape and knew that I could come in and show them that I still can play and obviously I did that during my workout. I’m looking forward to helping out."

YEA!!!

J “Let ’Em Run By You And Score” D?

(I don’t even want to mention his name on a Saints related website.)

Or, is McAlister a Man-to-Man guy like we need?

… according to NFL Network ticker.