Meachem has performed when given the opportunity- you admitted it yourself. Payton wants Meachem on the roster- doesn’t seem to want to trade or cut him, but doesn’t play him. What he has accomplished in such minimal playing time is very difficult to do. But his stats prove, so far at least, that if he plays and you throw him the ball, he gets the job done. Not sure why the anti-Meachem approach by Payton, seems like he has given Devery huge opportunities even when he was dropping crucial passes. Seems to have patience with Henderson and others but not Meachem.

I kinda laugh at you calling this his last chance. Isn’t that Payton’s job to decide?

But I’m not sure Lance is going to be healthy in time this season, and I’m also not sure that he won’t be so far off in his timing at first that they’ll have no choice but to play Meachem and give him some chances.

So hey, maybe it will work out after all.

But I’m not sure if he’ll get enough opportunities this season for us to truly evaluate him as we are sooo crowded at WR/TE.

I think much of what will determine it depends on how Lance and Marques come back from their injuries, how Devery does, what we see of Arrington this year, and how Shockey performs.

He seems to be the same type of receiver as DH, so I can’t see us keeping both of them in the coming years.

Is that Meachem has to play his way onto the field and that’s been the biggest disappointment for me. I think Payton would play him if he could trust him. He has caught a few long passes, but he’s also dropped some easy catches. We are very deep at WR, but it would seem Meachem’s physical tools would have give him an edge over just about everybody else on the roster IF he could put it all together. That’s a big if in my mind.

for Lance Moore, than it is for Meachem. Moore only signed his one year tender. Meachem’s still operating under his rookie contract. I see Meachem as more of a safety net at this point, than anything. Obviously, Moore’s stepped up to this point and I think it’s important for Meachem to develop that same level of confidence in both Payton and Brees this coming season. Which virtually interchangeable receivers in a pass heavy offense, I don’t think this will be a problem, provided he’s given that opportunity. By the same token, I don’t see much contract leverage there for anyone. If Moore asks for the moon, I expect him to walk. Henderson was in the same boat and settled for an affordable extention, much to my surprise/chagrin. Hopefully we’ll luck out and continue to have that sort of team first mentality — and/or general lack of interest by other teams — in our underrated WR corps.

I don’t know why the Saints ever draft WR’s in the 1st. Meachem was the biggest mystery I can think of offhand, but our sweet round for WR’s is clearly 7. Martin and Colston were 7th rounders, and, other than Joe Horn, who had journeyman written all over him before he got here as a free agent, those were/are our finest. Meachem and Stallworth were 1st rounders, and like Meachem, Stallworth’s early years here weren’t super impressive. I think he will be much more productive than last year, especially if Colston or Moore can’t stay on the field, then somebody, likely him or Moore, is getting traded at a higher value than they would have this year. WR talent is not nearly as important to us as WR/QB rapport. Good hands and attending practice make Saints receivers worth their salt.

i’m disappointed that he has not been a bigger factor in his first two seasons, regardless of the reason.

whether he’s make or break this year is iffy imo. there’s always need for a quality back-up. hopefully he lights it up this season, but if not perhaps he’s a solid backup. it’ll depend on the dollars he would cost and whether or not the spot can be filled cheaper. my guess is that if he has a so-so season, some team is going to throw a large free-agent contract at him, hoping he breaks out. from what I hear, there is a concern about his desire to excel.

WR is the only spot on the roster anybody can be very comfortable with, in terms of depth, and Meachem is vying for a 4th or maybe 3rd spot as a 1st round pick. It’s tough for him, because he does seem to be developing. He will play high caliber football for somebody, just not so sure the stars will ever align for him as a Saint. But if he and Moore both get 50 catches this year, I may take him(if it ever mattered what I thought about it). So might the Saints. But they are SOO deep with talent at that position, they will have to make some decisions at that spot in the near future, and, for better or worse, they just signed Henderson long-term, which effectively eliminates him from the list of expendable receivers. Meachem is still playing catch-up with newly-crowned “brilliant” journeymen who have proven their ability to be where Brees wants them.

if any Saints office personnel ever read this, for the love of God, sign Derrick Brooks already! His character alone makes him worth the roster spot, not to mention the help we need in that area for one year. Our rookie LB is sidelined for a year, the vet we had retired for the second time, and Brooks outplayed Morgan on his worst day. The Saints are clearly not opposed to hiring a veteran linebacker, and there’s a Hall Of Famer willing to play for a minimal one-year deal, from our division! I can’t see the downside.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Without a doubt, wide receiver is the deepest position we have. With all the talent ahead of him, he just didn’t get his chances. When he did get them, it appears he made the most of them. Being hurt the first season didn’t help, but if you just look at last year he would’ve done good for a rookie. I think they’ll use him more this year and he will prove himself to be worthy.

This is Meach’s last chance. The guy can’t run routes after how many years? I’m pretty sure THAT is why Payton won’t allow him on the field.