What Does Signing Mark Bradley Mean for the Saints' Receivers?
by Andrew Juge on Aug 6, 2010 6:00 AM CDT
in 2010 New Orleans Saints Training Camp
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PrintBy now we've all heard the Saints signed veteran receiver Mark Bradley. Bradley has had a mediocre career up to this point, but he's a legitimate receiver in the league. His best season was a 30 catch, 3 touchdown season with the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2008. He's also played as a contributor on the Bears, including the team the beat the Saints 4 years ago in the NFC Championship and made it to the Super Bowl. He could just end up being a camp body, but based on his track record you have to figure the guy stands a moderate chance to compete. So what does his signing mean for everyone else?
I'm not going to lie, being the paranoid person that I am, the first thing I thought when I heard this news was "crap, is Robert Meachem much worse off than the coaching staff is leading us to believe?". I'm going to pretend that Meachem is on course to come back in a couple weeks like Sean Payton has said and my mini moment of heart failure was nothing more than me being me. Assuming Meachem will be fine (please God let that be true), you figure he along with Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Lance Moore are all givens to have roster spots. You figure Courtney Roby, too, as an ace gunner and top notch return man, probably has safe passage to the final 53. There's a chance the Saints will ultimately stick with 5 receivers on the roster, but I think they'll go with 6 based on the heavy amount of rotation they go through at that position in the course of a game. So what does the signing of Mark Bradley mean? I believe it's putting Adrian Arrington and Rod Harper on notice that they're going to have to compete with him for the 6th and final roster spot allotted to a receiver on the team.
Every report we've gotten in camp so far is that Rod Harper is tearing it up. We all saw him tear it up last preseason, and we know he has value on special teams. Arrington's camp has been a little quieter thus far, but we know the coaching staff is extremely high on his potential. It seems like the #6 spot is having just fine competition as is, so why bring in Bradley to cloud the issue? Is he really going to give the two youngsters who know the system and already have the coaching staff's approval a run for their money? I would think no, but that makes the signing all the more confusing. Maybe competition is good for everyone, and the coaches are just thinking "hey if this makes Rod Harper a better football player, then we'll end up being better off for it". Let's also not forget Larry Beavers, Montez Billings, Matt Simon and Andy Tanner who will all get a shot at proving themselves in preseason and are competing for a job with the team as well. Those guys are all longshots to make the team but I don't want to write them off completely. There's no word on who the Saints released to make room for Bradley, but I have to believe it's one of those four guys I just named.
So I'm thinking the Saints keep 6 receivers including Roby. Do you agree? If so, who do you think ends up taking that final spot?
ps. Chris Paul still makes me sad
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Let's see who gets cut first
You are my people, you are my crowd, this is our music, we love it loud...
Rod Harper
I was early on the Arrington bandwagon; Stuart probably remembers, if no one else does, that I pictured him being a major contributor in the future. But that seems not to be happening. Harper just wants it more, I guess.
As for signing Bradley: a team with a pass-heavy offense and a large rotation of receivers in games needs the same thing in practice—especially considering that they run two completely different offensive teams. They need a lot of camp bodies. If you’re going to sign a camp body, and you’re smart, you sign someone who has a chance of proving a pleasant surprise, rather than Joe Interchangeable from off the street.
And I agree with you on Chris Paul. Incredibly talented, but a real douche. Chris John was always the brains of the outfit, anyway.
It was worth the wait.
Chris Paul is a real douche but Rickey Jacksack is your Hero? Is Chris Paul a dead beat dad? Did he quit on his team? Did he have a nasty public dispute with Saints over his contract? But everyone is happy that he going in HOF representing Saints?
Sigh
Too subtle, I guess. I targeted the Paul comment at Andrew. Paul=talented douche, John=brains of the outfit, get it yet? I don’t really know the first thing about Chris Paul, the Hornets, or the NBA in general, except that it’s populated by tall people who are mostly thugs and lowlifes.
It was worth the wait.
I wasn’t directing my comments to you or to any member, was only making a statement..
mostly thugs and lowlifes.Do you really know anything then? Sorry that was directed @ you.
I know I agree with M-E
"If you ask ME, though, any game without push-ups, hits, burns or noogies is a sissy game" Calvin to Hobbes
Several of these WRs are eligible for the practice squad, including Harper. Let’s use Harper as an example, being that he’s the bubble candidate du jour. If Harper makes a couple more spectacular plays in preseason, he’s not likely to clear waivers. I kind of have a feeling this was the thinking last year and they just stashed him on IR to not risk losing him. Adrian Arrington, as you may remember, was placed on IR one season, then the practice squad the next. Coincidence or is there a curious pattern developing? Do realize that Lance Moore is playing on a one year tender and could very easily opt to test the free agent market at the end of the year. If Harper isn’t calling attention to himself in exhibition games, he can once again be stashed and Bradley can man the 6th slot for a year. Then, when Moore gets offered ridiculous money for a WR3 or 4, they will have had adequate time to evaluate Harper (2 years), in order to determine if they have a viable roster replacement or not. Basically, I think they’re just biding their time with unproven players, knowing that whoever they ultimately insert into the WR5 or 6 slot isn’t going to make or break them on offense. Of course, even if Harper is “too good” to slip through waivers, Bradley offers more flexibility, in the event of an extended injury to one of the regulars. He’s actually a fairly reliable WR, as far as production goes. I’ve had him in FF twice. And that was in lesser offenses. Bradley reminds me of Jerome Pathon quite a bit. Not anything super flashy, but he has deceptive speed and will make a big play for you every now and then. No matter how it all plays out, you can never have too many proven players in training camp.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
“I kind of have a feeling this was the thinking last year and they just stashed him on IR to not risk losing him.”
When Chip Vaughn was placed on IR last year, he expressed frustration, saying he felt he was only 2 or 3 weeks away from being 100%. Believe me, this kind of thing goes on all around the league.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
I agree. Somebody will prolly give Lance big money after the year he'll have in 2010
I just can’t believe how little were paying Colston right now. How much longer is his contract. Unfortunately Meach’s contract is coming up and I think we need to resign him. He’s the most physically gifted we have and he’s maturing now too.
If we weren’t able to stash Harper away (which I don’t think we sill be able to. He’s the PJ hill of this year), I say pick him and cut Bradley. There’s a future with Harper and he seems to have a higher ceiling. It’s 6th WR anyway. Shouldn’t really have to see the field much anyway. Not a completely easy call tho cuz u want to rely on that guy in case one of the top 4 WR gets hurt and Bradley is more reliable right now.
by ReggieVilma on Aug 6, 2010 8:48 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Colston’s contract was already renegotiated a couple of years back. He’s making the big bucks now.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
Yea. I know
I just don’t know how we got away with paying him only $2.25M a year. Thats pretty good $ per yard and TD.
Just a heads up guys...
Bradleys hands suck…He got cut off the team last season when we set a record for the most dropped passes if that tells you anything…
"Pass Test Dummy"?
So you think he’s just here, as said earlier, to be a body for training camp and then cut…I spent too much time studying Voodoo in College…the GGM is a F A N, you guys are experts…I love it.
Gris Gris Man, Voodoo Surgeon General and Master of Witch Doctory
by Gris Gris Man on Aug 6, 2010 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions
I mean he may make the team Im not real sure how your WR situation is in New Orleans
but Im pretty sure yall have way better Wrs then KC so I dont think he will make your team.. he can throw the ball though … could be used in the wildcat if he made the team
It’s a little less windy in the Superdome than it is in Arrowhead. And Brees is a bit more accurate a passer than Thigpen or Cassel (or Orton or Grossman). On top of which, you cut Bradley, yet retained Terrance Dropper Copper … I’ll let that one speak for itself.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
We also have the 2007-08 NFL leader in drops per target already on our team in Devery Henderson. He’s made great strides in improving in that department since. Maybe some of that will rub off on Bradley.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
Knock on Bradley coming out of college was he used his body to catch too much
Maybe Curtis Johnson can teach him something
"Why do you even ponder passing? I mean, you can take a knee and try a 56 yard field goal! This is not Detroit man, this is the Superbowl!" -- Paul Allen's call after Tracy Porter intercepted Brett Favre in NFCCG
we kept Copper strictly for ST
he has been a very good ST player in KC. I didnt come over to bash you guys for signing him I was just giving a heads up.
and on accuracy yes Bress is way better than any of those QBs I know this
but watch the Chiefs vs Browns game from last season and you will see what Im talking about when it comes to Bradley. He did make a couple of great catches in the game but lots of drops and on key plays. They where accurate passes as well hitting him in the chest.
I know he’s made several big plays over the years, as I had him on my teams in fantasy. Of course, you never hear about the drops in that game, just the yards and TDs accrued on completed passes. From what you’re saying, he sounds like a Brandon Lloyd or Keary Colbert type. I’ll have to keep a close eye on him throughout preseason.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
yeah I mean he may step it up and make the team
we had high hopes in KC last season after a pretty good season in 2008 but he just didnt live up to the hype.. my favorite play of his was a reverse pass deep to Tyler Thigpen for a TD . I would rec watching it if you can find it
he sounds like an Adrian Arrington type
rotoworld:
Long on talent but short on instincts and durability,
Highly injury prone,
Ted Ginn’s drop percentage of 20.83 last season was third worst in the NFL behind only Mark Bradley (25.00) and James Jones (21.95).
Jesus1000. He makes Terrence Copper look like Jerry Rice.
Oh friend of mine,
Don't be denied.
Thanks for the heads up
The bottom line though, the Saints management feel that he will improve our team in camp anyway.
"Why do you even ponder passing? I mean, you can take a knee and try a 56 yard field goal! This is not Detroit man, this is the Superbowl!" -- Paul Allen's call after Tracy Porter intercepted Brett Favre in NFCCG
Infact... first pass as a Saints this morning.... dropped
You are my people, you are my crowd, this is our music, we love it loud...
IMO:
Recievers who are rookies have some of the hardest time being productive in the league. Especially under an offensive mastermind such as Sean Payton. Perhaps this is not so much from a competitive standpoint, but more so from a future depth perspective. Perhaps Payton is thinking if one of his recievers gets hurt in the regular season it will be better to sign this guy instead of using the rookies we cut. At least he would have some experience. Perhaps bringing him to training camp is more to get him familiar with the offense rather than from a competitve side?
"I can eat oreos faster than him" Scott Fujita's take on Payton Manning SB44
Meach looked good out there at camp man.
He looked real quick running his routes. He would do shorter just QB-WR pass drills. They prolly just want him to avoid contact and stretching that toe out too much before it is completely healed. I think it’s mainly precautionary Juge.
by ReggieVilma on Aug 6, 2010 8:52 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
rec'd it...
Us doctors are limited in our football knowledge and appreciate other professionals sharing what they know as I share my gris gris…Peace, Love and Bobby Sherman
Gris Gris Man, Voodoo Surgeon General and Master of Witch Doctory
The player released is Matt Simon
You are my people, you are my crowd, this is our music, we love it loud...
I thought Matt Simon was a coach with the Ravens
"Why do you even ponder passing? I mean, you can take a knee and try a 56 yard field goal! This is not Detroit man, this is the Superbowl!" -- Paul Allen's call after Tracy Porter intercepted Brett Favre in NFCCG
Oh noes, who is going to do drawerings for us now?
"Why do you even ponder passing? I mean, you can take a knee and try a 56 yard field goal! This is not Detroit man, this is the Superbowl!" -- Paul Allen's call after Tracy Porter intercepted Brett Favre in NFCCG
Perhaps Marques Colston is a good drawerer, since he is from Pencil-vania.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
Bradley's been a hyped pre-season guy for years and years now
I don’t know that he offers enough on special teams to stick around on your depth chart, given your…well, depth.
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You are probably right
I am still willing to give Curtis Johnson(receivers coach) a crack at him though. Just look at what he has done with D. Henderson. Will I be disappointed when we cut him? No. That is the worst case scenario. Best case is, Bradley makes the team and is selected to the pro-bowl and all of the Chiefs coaches are fired.
"Why do you even ponder passing? I mean, you can take a knee and try a 56 yard field goal! This is not Detroit man, this is the Superbowl!" -- Paul Allen's call after Tracy Porter intercepted Brett Favre in NFCCG
Along with that old guy who paints their end zones.
No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits.
Not going anywhere?
lol
"Why do you even ponder passing? I mean, you can take a knee and try a 56 yard field goal! This is not Detroit man, this is the Superbowl!" -- Paul Allen's call after Tracy Porter intercepted Brett Favre in NFCCG
I have a feeling!
Harper is going kick some a$$! He’s going to be a huge asset to the team. And let’s hope he can stay healthy. He’s a true athlete and looks like he wants it bad.
Hard to believe our first Pre-season is just 6 days away.
I dont believe he has a chance of making the team
He was out there and we brought him in just to see what he has I dont think he will be around long with all the talent we have.
World Champions at last
by mississippisaintsfan on Aug 6, 2010 3:30 PM CDT reply actions
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