LT let go by Chargers
by Andrew Tessier on Feb 22, 2010 7:00 PM CST
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4936783
The Chargers let go of LT, who says he wants to go to a team that has a chance to win a title. Having just won a title, the Saints qualify. I know we would have to let go of some of our own free agents to be able to pick him up (being we're in the top 8), but I still think it's a possible deal; he'd probably cut his pay a bit to get on a championship caliber team (feels good to say that, doesn't it?). The real question is, should and would the Saints do this?
It would be an interesting move, no doubt, but would it make sense? As far as intangibles and locker room interests, most people seem to think that Drew Brees and LT get along pretty well, so no problem there. But the Saints backfield is already reasonably crowded. Pierre Thomas is a hugely underrated, do-it-all RB, and there's still the ever-dangerous Reggie to think about. Plus Bell, an aggressive runner.
The only way that this move works, in my opinion, is if the backfield gets un-crowded. Which probably means Reggie would have to go. Then this move would make sense and allow Payton his three-man backfield that allows for injuries and keeps someone fresh at all times. LT, while not the elite running back he once was, is definitely still a good backup.
All things considered though, is losing Bush and gaining a great backup RB (LT) a reasonable or fair trade?
I say no. Maybe two years ago, I would have acted differently, and it's by no means an obvious answer today, but Bush is getting better in my eyes. What he did against Arizona was magnificent on many levels--not only did he have great production, but he had it in a way which every fan has screamed at him during games (myself included): mostly North-South. He did have some great lateral movement, but for the most part, Bush ran differently (and better) during the postseason. Look at his 10+ yard run in the Superbowl--he made one cut (just one) on an off-tackle run, and followed the blockers N-S. It showed something that I feel he rarely showed at other times in his career--that he has digested the N-S run scheme.
Why is this that important? Well, I think it shows that Bush can still improve, and probably will improve, in the coming years. Compare this to LT, and, well, almost everyone thinks that LT has already had his best years. And Bush is obviously much younger than LT. But....most people thought Darren Sharper was washed up, and look at the season he had.
In any case, I think it would be a gamble. I still feel like keeping Bush would be the better option. However, let me add one caveat. If Bush refuses to lower his contract (which I think is doubtful), then trading him and picking up LT for a much lower price would a good deal. It would save the bank for later or for some of the other players (Brees is due for a pay-raise, remember) and potentially give us some good draft picks.
Thoughts?
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The real question is, should and would the Saints do this?
1. HELL NO!!
2. I sure as hell hope not.
He’s over the hill.
There’s no coming back from SUCK.
Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints HAVE WON the Superbowl!!
Brees and LT are closer than "get along pretty well".
From all accounts, they are very close friends. It wouldn’t surprise me if Drew petitioned for getting LT on the team. I’m far from convinced it’s a good idea….. just saying it wouldn’t surprise me. But it should only happen if LT is willing to come in relatively cheap. LT signing for a comparitively small salary wouldn’t totally surprise me either. My guess is he’s more interested in proving something than he is with how big his contract dollars are.
I’ve had a strange feeling about his becoming a Saint since the rumors began that he wouldn’t be back in San Diego. I just hope that if he does wind up in a Saints uniform next year, it’s as a replacement for Bell. I don’t think anyone (Brees included) would feel that the prospect of getting LT at this stage of his career would be an incentive, in and of itself, for making it an easier decision to let Bush go.
yeah I agree, I would take him as a 3rd down rb, or i guess a change of pace back (if you could call him that) but nothing more. And I really don’t think he wants that role.
PSN: greenwald2004
Hit me up on the sticks! Madden 10 is my game now.
by greenwald200 on Feb 23, 2010 12:09 AM CST up reply actions
yeah
i don’t want to see him come in for anyone but Bell. PT is our main back now and Reggie has gotten alot better this year. Also, he didn’t get that many touches but still racked up good yardage. We all see the potential he has. I think he’d be even better if he wouldn’t have been hurt the 2 seasons before. Anyways, LT for Bush is a bad move in my opinion. Bell seems more likely since LT can run hard and move those short yardage chains.
Superbowl bound!!!...I know! do you?! Go Saints!!
by skinnykinney on Feb 23, 2010 12:27 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Lt Has changed from when he first came in, I remember him as a “reggie-esque” type player who liked to go to the outside. But now when I see him play he’s more pounding it out and Sproles was the around the outside guy.
PSN: greenwald2004
Hit me up on the sticks! Madden 10 is my game now.
by greenwald200 on Feb 23, 2010 12:30 AM CST up reply actions
I agree
Bell is the natural person for him to replace, in my humble opinion
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!
WHO DAT?!
by LA_No1_SaintFan on Feb 23, 2010 9:31 PM CST up reply actions
Brees and LT2
Drew was pushing for a trade last year or the year before. I specifically remember all that going down during that years draft.
by Saintsfan4life on Feb 23, 2010 10:42 AM CST up reply actions
“I don’t think anyone (Brees included) would feel that the prospect of getting LT at this stage of his career would be an incentive, in and of itself, for making it an easier decision to let Bush go.”
I don’t view the latter as a terribly difficult decision to begin with, LT or no LT. I’d welcome his addition, regardless of who he replaces, provided he’s not getting paid anywhere close to what Bush is getting paid.
"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper
not picking on coldpizza, just asking
provided he’s not getting paid anywhere close to what Bush is getting paid.
Common point of view, frequently expressed. What is the issue? That there is only so much payroll to go around, and it shouldn’t be squandered? It’s an uncapped year, who cares? You think if the payroll is administered prudently, then the savings will be shared with the fan (not bloody likely)? Or is it that we don’t like to see athletes overpaid, according to our own value calculations?
I think the payroll decisions are mostly irrelevant to the assembly of the roster, especially with no salary cap (other than situation where some guy pouts because somebody else is making more money).
A friend who many felt was overpaid once told me, and anyone else who brought up the subject: “We all cut our own deals. Don’t blame me for cutting myself a better deal than you did for yourself. That’s YOUR fault.”
In summary, what’s all the concern with who’s making how much money? What does it matter?
Try to realize it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change
I kind of agree on the pay issue with CP
If you pay out alot this year on an uncapped year it’s going to come back and bite us in the a— other players and their agents wont see we paid alot because it’s an uncapped year
And when we go to sign free agents in the future they will expect a big pay raise
The other problem with front loading contracts this year and paying the majority of it up front is alot of players are lazy once they get that big money they lose alot of incentive.
World Champions at last
by mississippisaintsfan on Feb 23, 2010 9:52 AM CST up reply actions
Because even without a salary cap, Benson is only going to spend x-amount of dollars on the team. I’d rather see larger percentages of that finite amount (whatever it might be) going towards core players like Jahri Evans, for example. Building blocks for teams four and five years down the road. Not LT, who might be gone in one or two seasons.
"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper
The issue is
Year after next when the salary cap returns. We don’t want to be in a position where we’re shedding salary for salary shedding’s sake…
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!
WHO DAT?!
by LA_No1_SaintFan on Feb 23, 2010 9:33 PM CST up reply actions
It's very possible he'll come in...
I honestly don’t think Bush is gonna take a pay cut. Not because he’s about the money but because it would be accepting a lesser role than he feels he deserves. I’m sure if he goes elsewhere he may get less but he might also get featured. Idk, we’ll see. But I wouldn’t doubt LT as a viable option. I also think a lot of his downgrade has to do with his line and the team being more pass oriented…lets see what happens.
Don't worry I got your back cuz...
Excellent point
“If you’re paying me, you should be playing me. And you are paying me.”
"How do you sleep, you f*****g c**t??" -- J.O.L.
Conversely, does management get rewarded (bonus?) for acquiring kick-ass players for next to nothing? Pierre Thomas, for example. Are other GM’s jealous as hell of Mickey Loomis? I doubit it. He’s probably seen as lucky, especially by Benson and RIta, where it really counts.
(Love the sig line, M-E. I apologize.)
Try to realize it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change
Why apologize?
I laughed til I stopped.
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives." --J.O.L.
Ok so about the whole LT thing
so LT was on an pass oriented team. I’m sorry but are not the Saints a pass oriented team?? We have the best QB in the NFL and LT is coming from a pass oriented team I can see him coming to replace Bell, but I have more faith in PT and Bush then I do in LT. I know that Bush would love to go to SD because that is where he is from. He goes back to SD all the time and his family lives there. I would hate to see him go, but I would not be surprised if he wanted to.
Tay, what do you think about this?
As our resident Bush expert, do you think that a Super Bowl ring has satisfied Reggie’s initial hunger? Would he be wanting to leave the Saints and start over somewhere else closer to home? Or do you think he still feels there’s too much to prove, and leaving with so much left undone would be too much like failure?
"How do you sleep, you f*****g c**t??" -- J.O.L.
by MtnExile on Feb 23, 2010 6:14 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Hmmm...
I think the Superbowl is checked on his list. That game against the Cardinals, his 5.6ypc this season and getting his career average to 4 ypc despite limited carries makes a guy in Reggie’s situation feel like he isn’t just the guy that merely played on the team that won a championship but was an integral part of it. So I think he’s still hungry. You can’t go from being the J-Bone of College football to being “labeled” a bust and feel satiated with a mere superbowl. You have to get personal accolades to feel good about yourself. Sure being a “team player” and all that crap is important but people don’t understand the psyche of players like Bush, it isn’t fair to box them into that crap. Let the dude lead the league in something. Give him 15 carries a game and see him shine. The psyche has to be fed! If not, they are never happy with themselves, no matter what their team wins. At the end of the day it’s about how well they do their job…so I think there’s more to be done and although Reg says the right things, “I’d like to end my career in New Orleans…” He knows that in that crowded backfield he won’t be able to end it the way he envisioned and so I don’t see him staying…
Don't worry I got your back cuz...
WHAT ARE YOU SAYIN?
Sounds to me that you are saying RB would rather look good and lose than, look unsuper and win. If i am wrong please tell me, but from your post it sounds like RB is not a TEAM guy, but a ME guy. I dont buy it!!! He is way too smart for that. Look who the guy is dating, she aint blond is she?? She talks, He shuts up, period. RB is a winner, he is not a hogggggggg.
Sorry, you are wrong!
I like it!! I love it!! I want some mo of it!! Supa Bowl Rings, Dat Is!!
You're trippin, Chill
He’s not a “ME” guy in the same vein as a TO or somebody like that. He’s just highly competitive. And sitting on the Saints for the next 5 years as a 3rd-down-back isn’t going to support his appetite. And look, I’m the biggest Reggie supporter here (that’s why they asked my opinion) so in no way am I saying he’s selfish. I’m just saying, and I agree with it, that if he wants to live up to the hype, he can’t do it here unless he’s gonna get that rock waaay more than he was getting it this year. And bringin Kim into it aint the best thing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (I’m an ace at choosing a good woman, I married one) I don’t think she’s wifey material. What she did after he won the superbowl is exactly what they got into it about…you don’t do that after a guy wins the superbowl. After all the limmerance dies out, we’ll see what happens. (Limmerance = the first 18 months of a relationship, or an affair that feels euphoric) that’s why these Hollywood relationships rarely last longer than a year or two, there’s no real devotion just infatuation after infatuation. Then again, I don’t know her and I could be wrong…but I say prove me wrong on that one!!!
Don't worry I got your back cuz...
OK the only problem I really have with this whole post is that people are thinking we’d have to give up Bush to get LT. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Because LT has been released from his contract, he is a free agent. And despite the “Final Eight Plan”, we have full rights to attempt to sign him just like any other team, because he “cleared waivers” (or in this case was never subject to them).
We can’t sign people who are free agents because their contracts expired. But those who are released are perfectly fair game for us.
For those who can't remember the uncapped FA rules, this link's for you.
by FriarBob on Feb 23, 2010 7:32 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
There you go.
Rec’d
"They're ready to be like 'Same Old Saints'" - Roman Harper, on each of the New Orleans Saints vanquished foes of 2009
It would come down to a few things
There’s no doubt that LT can still contribute in a running game, but he’s not the explosive back that he once was. Keeping all this in mind, he still led his team in rushing yards. Is he in the decline phase of his career? Absolutely. 30 is old for a running back and he’s certainly no longer a starter. Now can he still contribute? Absolutely. It just depends on 1) how much of a role he is willing to play and 2) how much money he will demand. I wouldn’t mind having LT on the team because we’re unsure of how the situations with Mike Bell and Reggie Bush will play out. I’d honestly rather have Reggie Bush on the roster than LaDainian Tomlinson if I had to pick, but if there was a way to have both? I would be more willing to accept that, but it’s a matter of what role LT is willing to accept. That’s something we can’t control right now.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I think this would be a terrible move
NOLA has a great back in Pierre Thomas as far as an “every down back” is concerned and Reggie Bush really showed his potential in this postseason (Finally). I think it would be a huge mistake to let Bush go and bring in a +30 y/o running back with little to no gas left in the tank.
by etid5353 on Feb 23, 2010 8:32 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Are we seriously having this discussion?
I think if we give everyone a week to think about this, they’ll realize that this idea is clown college material.
Snap, place, kick! And it's good! It's good! It's goo-hoo-hood! Pigs have flown! Hell Has frozen over! The Saints are going to the Superbowl!
by Joseph William Stern on Feb 23, 2010 9:16 AM CST reply actions
I mean, look. If we're serious about possibly taking Toby Gerhart in the second round of the draft, this move is insane.
If we really are in the market for another back, why would we go out and get a thirty one year old LT, when we can get a shiny new workhorse, with less drama, and for probably less money. I just don’t get this at all.
Snap, place, kick! And it's good! It's good! It's goo-hoo-hood! Pigs have flown! Hell Has frozen over! The Saints are going to the Superbowl!
by Joseph William Stern on Feb 23, 2010 9:38 AM CST reply actions
They could still conceivably replace Bush’s youth in the draft and become more diverse in running styles in the process:
LT, Thomas and a bigger rookie back (Gerhart or Scott)
or
Bush, Thomas and a bigger veteran back (Duckett or Gado)
I’d personally prefer the former group, as I think they’d be both cheaper and more effective. I think the combination of LT, Rod Harper (on punt returns) and a short yardage back (power over flight) make Bush expendable. Anything we could get for him in a trade would be lagniappe.
"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper
My two cents worth...
I was not a big fan of Bush. In fact, I’m sure I would have been considered a “hater”. But through this entire season, Reggie has started living up to his potential. It was especially evident in the play-offs, but he’s been progressing all year. THIS is the Reggie I love. THIS is the Reggie I have been longing to see. THIS is the Reggie that I want on my football team. I think SP has invested a lot to bring Reggie to this point, and I can’t believe he’d be ready to let him go anywhere. I don’t think bringing in LT is a benefit to this team. I love PT and THIS Reggie. I even like Mike Bell, although there seems to be a lot of folks ready to drop him. Hamilton’s not bad….why do we need LT? I just don’t get it.
"It's better to burn out than fade away."
by SaintsFan-KS on Feb 23, 2010 1:33 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
How about Brian Westbrook?
He could wear a Pacman Jones helmet.
Try to realize it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change
ProCap helmet pad as modeled by Mark Kelso
Try to realize it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change
I don't want him either.
"It's better to burn out than fade away."
by SaintsFan-KS on Feb 23, 2010 7:16 PM CST up reply actions
I think LT would be an upgrade over Bell...
Maybe I’m crazy
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!
WHO DAT?!
by LA_No1_SaintFan on Feb 23, 2010 9:45 PM CST up reply actions
stats-wise... quite possibly, but there's so much more to think about than just stat replacement/improvement
would LT be ok with being the THIRD string RB? (I’m not saying he wouldn’t; and none of us could say for sure. IT’s just something SP/ML have to think about.)
From what the MSM says, he wants to start. He’s a prideful guy. I’m not sure he wants to be third string.
Pigs have flown! Hell has frozen over! The Saints HAVE WON the Superbowl!!
I agree
I mean no disrespect to Mike….But I think L.T. would take a cut in pay to be a part of this and in the end, I think it will be a good deal for both parties….One more weapon down near the goal line. Bush stays by the way.
"If you ain't the lead dog, the view never changes"
Bum Phillips
by Saint Archie on Feb 26, 2010 1:03 AM CST up reply actions
They aren't in love with Reggie like they once were...
it was evident in how they didn’t use him much in the playoffs. Think about it, even in his AZ game he had only 6 carries. If they were saving him for the playoffs…then why was he still limited. Notice he still reached incentives in the playoffs. I return to my original thoughts…they phased Reg out. I’m not expecting to see him as a Saint next season.
Don't worry I got your back cuz...
Rec'd Dat
In Breesus' name we play
by Breesus Christ Superstar on Feb 24, 2010 6:32 PM CST up reply actions
NEED?
What do we really need? Another SB win would be nice, does that mean going out and changin our roster, HELL NEAUX!!!!
Additions & subtle changes are the way to GEAUX. LT? Sure why not, I would give a Rib for LT, an arm or a leg? prolly not!!!
RB & LT & PT??? Wouldnt have to worry about injuries too much, depth is the key to winning the SB, as we proved this year!!!!!
REMEMBER, we are the fans and not the front office!!! Congress is not knocking on our front door, are they???
I like it!! I love it!! I want some mo of it!! Supa Bowl Rings, Dat Is!!
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