More Cuts May Loom for the Saints

by Dave Cariello on Feb 13, 2009 6:00 AM CST

With the release of wide receiver David Patten yesterday, the off-season has started to kick into high gear and this is only just beginning. In fact, the Sun Herald warns us that more cuts may still be on the way.

With that in mind, I put together a list of players we should all keep our eyes on because they may be in danger of getting cut or will at least need to restructure their contracts.

Player	Position	2009 Cap Value	Analysis
Deuce McAllister	RB	$7.3 Million	With Deuce's contract counting so much against the cap next season, cutting him loose is probably the most likely scenario. He's got no signing bonus on record, which means cutting him shouldn't cost the Saints too much.
Hollis Thomas	DT	$1.4 Million	The DT spot is pretty crowded and as much as I hate to say it, this loud-mouthed teddy bear might not be with us anymore.
Mike McKenzie	CB	$6 Million	McKenzie is now coming off of two consecutive knee injuries and his salary counts big time against the cap this year. He's the Saints' best cornerback but if he can't keep up I like the idea of trying him out at safety. Gotta be better than Bullocks. A restructuring might be likely here.
Mark Brunell	QB	$1.8 Million	If the Saints are feeling lucky they could get rid of Brunell and hope Brees never gets injured.
Brian Young	DT	$3.7Million	In a perfect world the aging, oft-injured defensive lineman would just retire and call it a career. It's definitely a possibility. If he doesn't, it may be too expensive to just cut him so renegotiating might be a more likely possibility.
Jason David	CB	$2.8 Million	Cutting David might be more of a personal wish than a real possibility but again, he's got no signing bonus to pay out and there is just no way he is a big part of next years defense.

Poll

Should Mike McKenzie move to Safety?

Definitely

10 votes

No way

19 votes

It's worth a shot

50 votes

McKenzie won't be on the Saints in 2009

10 votes

89 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

my only question...

is MM big enough to play Safety… hes 6’0 and 194lbs… I know he has the ball skills.

"For us, there is no spring... only the smell of fresh wind before the storm."
-Conan of Cimeria

by tlsk1066 on Feb 13, 2009 3:39 PM CST reply actions

I wonder about this too

I’d think that if someone is big enough to cover receivers as a cornerback, and to take on running backs as a cornerback, why wouldn’t he be able to handle free safety? Strong safety has more to do in stopping the run game in the middle, but free safety is usually more about pass coverage.

That said, I’ve read that in Williams’ system the safeties are supposed to be pretty well interchangeable.

The ideal, of course, would be for MM to come back without missing a step, team up with Porter to lock down both corners, and we draft a good young safety. How’s this: trade down with someone so that we get a lower first rounder plus a second, and use them to take Louis Delmas (FS) in the first and Patrick Chung (SS) in the second. Problem solved. I’ll be sending my consulting bill to Mickey on Monday.

Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...

by MtnExile on Feb 13, 2009 4:00 PM CST up reply actions