Greg Ellis, Derrick Brooks, or someone else?
by satchmo26 on Jun 8, 2009 8:24 PM CDT
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via i.cdn.turner.com
Pat Yasinskas is thinking out loud again over at ESPN.com. In this POST, he wonders if Brooks could now be a possibility for our Saints. This had not occurred to me until Dan Morgan retired today. Pat says this:
Even at his age, I think Brooks could play a role here, maybe even start. Even if he was pondering retirement, Brooks has to look at what just happened to the Saints and view it as a possibility. The Saints are loaded on offense, have a rebuilt defense with potential and could be a contender to go deep into the playoffs.
They're also in the NFC South. That could be more of a factor than anything else. Brooks is a man with a lot of pride and he wasn't exactly thrilled when the Bucs unceremoniously released him in February.
From Brooks' point of view, this could be a chance at payback -- twice a year.
At age 36, Brooks is older than Ellis (age 33), but Wil-Mis-Pay may have a better shot at signing him. Jeff Duncan seems to think Ellis might not want to come here. Plus, would Ellis be best suited to play LB or return to the DE spot?His versatility at both positions would indeed be a plus considering the possible suspensions of Smith and Grant. Once they return, could he then play OLB and solidify a starting role for himself on the roster? Is it even a possibility that he could play OLB in what will primarily be a 4-3 scheme?
The main incentive for Brooks is that he would have not one but two chances to reap some vengeance on his former team. He still thinks he can play, but it doesn't appear that the rest of the NFL is all that interested. Did that just change today? Could his name have come up today in the Saints facility? Considering the questions that now exist more than ever at the LB spot and the fact that there are no sure-thing elite LB possibilities still available on the free agent market, why not give Brooks a chance?
To answer my own question, I'd make a serious attempt at Ellis first and then try to bring in Brooks if that doesn't work out. Either one would bring leadership and experience to what is now truly one of the weakest links on the team.
What do you guys think? Should we go after one of these guys or should we just be happy with the LB's currently on the roster?
This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.
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definitely derrick brooks
Derrick Brooks is way better than Greg Ellis
by jamesyyyboyyy on Jun 8, 2009 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
would like to vote for neither, but don't want to stand pat with what we've got - keep looking and watch the waiver wire closer to the season
"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub
by HansDat on Jun 8, 2009 8:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
a few more suggestions
Marcus Washington
Charismatic former All-Pro, a couple of years younger than Ellis and has already played in Gregg Williams’s system at Washington. He would be the OLB I’d most like to see them bring in.
Rufus Alexander
I was pretty high of this guy coming out of Oklahoma a couple of years back. He was drafted by the Vikings and tore his ACL in their first preseason game. Has bounced around between practice squads ever since. The upside here is you’d be getting a player that potentially has his entire career in font of him. He’s also from Breaux Bridge LA, so you would think he’d be excited about the opportunity in state.
Other OLBs currently available:
Khary Campbell, 7th season (Redskins) – also played under Williams at Washington
Anthony Cannon, 3rd Season (Lions) – attended Tulane
Morlon Greenwood, 8th season (Texans) – has started for both the Dolphins and Texans.
Ryan Nece, 7th Season (Lions) – son of HOF safety Ronnie Lott
Kenneth Pettway, 4th Season (Packers) – can also play DE
Rian Wallace, 3rd season (Redskins) – Super Bowl experience with the Steelers
by coldpizza on Jun 8, 2009 9:46 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Great suggestions
It’s clear that you’re more familiar than I am with all of the possible LB players still out there. I just added a “Someone Else” option to the above poll to accommodate any other possibilities. Even though I’m not as down on Scott Shanle as many others, I’d still like to see them bring in another LB before camp.
Go Saints!!!! Deuce may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
by satchmo26 on Jun 8, 2009 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Definitely Marcus Washington
I mean look at him the guy flies around the field. Championship lock it up.
by J Rock on Jun 8, 2009 10:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What about Pisa?
Is he still available? He could Pisa all over the Rams when they play this year, R. Kelly style. ha
by J Rock on Jun 8, 2009 10:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The only problems I see with Ellis are 1) not sure if he’d really want to come, and 2) he really is a converted DE who played LB in a 3-4. That means that once again he’d be learning not only a new “base” position but also learning GW’s slew of schemes as well. That might be possible for an experienced guy like him, but he might not really want to go through all that. Then again, if he wants to have any realistic chance of winning a SB before he retires, and he doesn’t want to go to another 3-4 team like Dallas, there aren’t a whole lot of teams for him to pick from. So maybe that brings us up the list of possibilities. But at the same time what we really want him for is LB and he wants to play DE, so I call that a wash. I’d still like to get him, I just don’t think it will happen.
Brooks might be nice. I’m pretty sure he played a lot of Mike tho and that position is pretty well set, so unless he gets desperate he’s probably not going to be thrilled about being asked to come play OLB instead.
The more I think about it, the more I like pizzaman’s top two selections. Is Washington actually unsigned tho or would we have to trade for him? As far as Alexander, right now he’s probably on an off-season roster since there is no such thing as a practice squad in the offseason, so we’d likely have to trade for him too. I’d really rather they not do more trades at this point, we’ve only got six picks next year and we aren’t likely to end up with extras at this point… then again, trading for a player considered likely to be practice squad material might be something we could swing for a conditional seventh (becomes a sixth if he wins a starting position, becomes nothing if he gets cut before the season)… and that kind of deal I could definitely support.
by FriarBob on Jun 9, 2009 7:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
both are unrestricted free agents
neither are currently on an NFL roster.
by coldpizza on Jun 9, 2009 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vernon Gholston?
We should see if he’s available..
by AKAY47 on Jun 9, 2009 8:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Devery for Gholston?
Isn’t Chansi Stuckey the front runner for the Jets’ WR2 opposite Jerricho Cotchery? Seems like they’d at least consider it. You could always include Shanle or Dunbar (whoever Gholston would be replacing on the roster), if they didn’t want to part with a starter on defense. Henderson just signed a 4 year contract, so it’s not like New York would have to renegotiate any time soon. Plus, it would give Meachem and Arrington the opportunity to break into the regular three WR rotation more often. Use whatever money you save to lock up Moore long term later in the year.
by coldpizza on Jun 9, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gholston is one of the greatest draft busts in recent history
Why in the world would we want to take him on?
This is OUR year!
by MtnExile on Jun 9, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's only been in the league
a year and it’s been almost exclusively as an OLB in the 3-4. He was dominant in college as a DE/OLB in the 4-3. Vilma’s production tailed off dramatically in the 3-4, as well. Does that mean we shouldn’t have traded for him?
by coldpizza on Jun 9, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was far from dominant
He had a reputation even then as a workout warrior—plus what is, in my opinion, the single best indicator of future bustability: he disappeared in big games. I can’t count the number of pundits who had him tops on their list of potential busts, and they were all right.
And the comparison to Vilma isn’t valid. Vilma was defensive rookie of the year, who suffered after being moved from his natural spot as 4-3 middle linebacker. But he didn’t suffer that much—he still started, and his stats only fell when compared to his previous season, when he led the league in tackles. They were pretty much comparable to his rookie season.
Gholston couldn’t even make the field.
This is OUR year!
by MtnExile on Jun 9, 2009 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vernon Gholston?
Isn’t he a country singer?……… No that Vern Gosdin. Lol
Who Dat?...... Drew Dat ! ! !
by Big and Easy on Jun 9, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
D Brooks
I want him period. Honestly, I’d rather Brooks now than Ellis 5 years ago. (OK, maybe that’s not true) but you get the point. I believe Brooks would be much more benefical to us than anyone of the other possibilites we are talking about. Why wouldn’t we want to get a beast like him on our team? He’s old? Did you forget what he did just last year? Here are some real positive things about Brooks as a Saint
-I would think that his experience in teaching our youngsters and teaching Vilma a few things about playing MLB would be enough to sign him, without factoring in..
-He would be an improvement at either Weakside, or Strongside LB for that matter.
-Even if he only has one or two years in the tank, it gives us time to draft another beast of a LB next year, and help train the youngin’s we already have.
-He knows the NFC south, huge plus in my book
-He will probably LOVE to Tampa
-Let’s not also forget….IT’S F-IN DERRICK BROOKS, probably pick up for relatively cheap, it’s just not a gamble in my opinion
by asaint on Jun 9, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I love Derrick Brooks
He’s the consummate team player. A class act through and through, one of the top 10-15 LBs to ever play the game and a future HOFer. That doesn’t mean I want the Saints to sign him. And to answer your question, I haven’t forgotten what he did last year. It was the least productive season of his brilliant career.
by coldpizza on Jun 9, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
even though it was HIS least productive doesn’t mean it wasn’t better than our guys last year(except Vilma)
by asaint on Jun 9, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Cato June?
I wouldn’t mind having him if no one else has picked him up.
Dud has spoken.
by Super Dud on Jun 9, 2009 11:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
just looked him up
he signed a 1 year deal with the texans
Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D
by skinnykinney on Jun 10, 2009 1:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brooks isnt likely an option. Or is he?
Latest info from Rotoworld. Apparently Payton is either blowing smoke or truly is happy with what we have:
Coach Sean Payton shot down a rumor Tuesday that the Saints might have interest in free agent Derrick Brooks.
The speculation began right after Dan Morgan retired. Fans keep trying to replace WLB Scott Shanle, but the coaching staff isn’t nearly as down on him.
by Grumps on Jun 9, 2009 12:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, just saw that
Apparently, the Times-Pic guys asked him about Brooks and Payton said he’s happy with who he already has. So much for that. Still, they currently have a little less than $6 million in cap space. Are they gonna just sit on that or save it in case another key player goes down and they have to add some depth? I wish we all knew what Payton apparently knows about his LB’s.
Go Saints!!!! Deuce may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
by satchmo26 on Jun 9, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why in the world would Brooks play for the Saints?
And why would we want him?
Except for his rookie season, Brooks has played his entire career in one system: the Tampa 2 under Monte Kiffin. Not to suggest that he’s merely a system player; but what experience does he have that leads anyone to believe that, at the age of 36, he’d function well in a totally new and far more aggressive defensive scheme?
Plus: he’s played his entire career for Tampa. Revenge? The best revenge is having them crawl to him and beg him to come back. After what happened to Stanley Arnoux and Dan Morgan, the message anyone ought to be taking away from this is: injuries happen. Team needs change. And if it can happen to the Saints, it can happen to the Bucs. Waiting may be his best strategy.
This is OUR year!
by MtnExile on Jun 9, 2009 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Take a chance
D Brooks on a one year contract could add depth if not upgrade the starting WLB spot. Shanle is solid(won’t make big plays won’t giive up many big plays.) But Brooks could bring a playmaker to our defense. New scheme or not he’s got my vote.
by sernycrusher on Jun 9, 2009 7:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
brooks
for sure. i feel like he’s a very solid starter. he’d be like another fujita. i always felt like he was around the ball, making a play here and a play there that kept his team in the game. like sernycrusher said, he’d at least add depth to our lb corps if not upgrade it. i think he’d upgrade. sometimes it’s the system that allows certain players to make alot of plays. a 4-3 allows the mlb to make alot of tackles. but take the 3-4 for instance along with vilma, his numbers went down. is it b/c he lost all of his skill? no or he wouldn’t be our best defensive player. it’s that certain systems open up more opportunities for certain positions. that’s how i see it in my mind, so i throw the scheme argument out the window for me. i look at the player. if he’s a playmaker and a good player, he’s that in any system. also, i think that affects only the lb core and defensive lineman really. safeties and corners are more of a product of systems. whether it’s more man to man or more zone. like JD was good in Indy in a man to man but sucked when he got here and we played zone. there’re those that are good in both aspects of the game though
Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D
by skinnykinney on Jun 10, 2009 1:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i think vima's numbers went down
because in the 3-4, he has to deal with o-line more than he does with the 4-3.
but i do like brooks. it’d be great to get him, but how much?
by nanvinnie on Jun 10, 2009 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Derrick Brooks- yeah!!!
I am totally in on getting Brooks- he could be very important in the locker room as well as the field. He has been a top ten linebacker for a long time and I think he still has something left. In NO, he wouldn’t have to carry the defense, just add to it. He’s a football player and I always got the sense he was smart- he’d adapt to play and scheme if he wanted to and I think he realizes Tampa won’t do anything this year so he could be a contenda in NO.
by Philinwood on Jun 10, 2009 8:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Payton flip flopping?
Well it looks like maybe there is some interest for Brooks after all. After claiming they were good with their LB’s Payton added this from NOLA.com
BROOKS A POSSIBILITY? Speaking of the roster, don’t dismiss the possibility of Saints officials pursuing free agent outside linebacker Derrick Brooks as a situational player in the coming weeks. Brooks, an 11-time Pro Bowler with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is expected to bide his time and sign with a team in time to go to training camp.
“Right now, there is nothing, but we’re very much aware of his situation, " Payton said Wednesday. “We clearly know the player. He is a going to be a guy that is going to sign with a team in the next month. I just don’t know where. Is it potentially the New Orleans Saints? I’ll say this: He’s a guy who has perked the interest of a lot of people, not just ourselves.”
Brooks is on the downside of his career at age 36. But he might consider signing with a team inside the NFC South for the opportunity of playing twice against the Buccaneers, whose first-year coach, Raheem Morris, decided the time had come to cut ties with the franchise’s most prolific tackler. Brooks, 6 feet, 235 pounds, ended his career at Tampa Bay with 208 consecutive starts, the longest active streak in the NFL.
by Grumps on Jun 11, 2009 9:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
as I mentioned in another thread
I honestly didn’t buy Payton’s “we’re fine at OLB” BS for a second. You don’t draft players at positions with which you’re content.
by coldpizza on Jun 11, 2009 10:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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