Fast Five: Free Agency Edition

1. Carl Nicks
2. Meachem
3. Mario Williams
4. Drew Brees.
5. I’ll pass, there are too many. Let coldpizza argue it out (lol).

1. Nicks, O-line is one of this teams strength, and he’s a big reason why
2. Shaun Rodgers, wasn’t impressed at all
3. I’d say Mario Williams, but I don’t see him actually becoming a free agent, so I’ll go with Red Bryant from Seattle or Cliff Avril from Detroit
4. Drew Brees
5. Some guy with two first names.

1. Carl Nicks, this one is fairly no-brainer.

2. Without a list of all of the Saints’ current free agents in front of me (I’m sure there are some depth guys less important than the one I can remember offhand)…Shaun Rogers.

3. I’m going to restrict this to people we could realistically get, and say Braylon Edwards. His market value is probably in its basement right now and he could be a contributor for a cheap price, especially if we lose Colston.

4. Do I even need to answer this?

5. I’m not old-school enough to remember some of the stinkers of ages past and while Jason David would be an easy kneejerk answer, I’m instead going to go with Olindo Mare (and I suppose Martin Gramatica deserves a mention right next to him). I seem to recall our abysmal kicking game costing us at least three and probably more wins in the 2008 season.

1) Nicks
2) Rogers
3) Nobody (we have no money)
4) #9
5) JD in a landslide

1. Nicks but Colston is a very close second for me
2. Jeff Charleston
3. Any defensive difference maker. Stephen Tulloch would be awesome
4. Brees of course. Joe Horn next.
5. Olin Kreutz. Tebucky Jones was traded for but he was another horrid pickup.

1) I can’t decide between Nicks and Colston. Colston is probably relatively easier to replace, but I don’t know if you ever what to have that much money wrapped up in your line. And I said relatively easier to replace because Colston is a special talent. Welp, I’m going to go with Nicks.
2) Rogers
3) Use money to buy tackling dummies.
4) Jason David. There is no other choice. Mare was bad. Kreutz was bad. Tebucky Jones was bad. In case y’all don’t remember, quarterbacks had a higher completion percentage against Jason David than they did against open spaces on the field.

According to the Football Outsiders game charting project, the average pass caught in a hole in zone coverage gained 11.6 yards. The average pass caught when David was in man coverage gained 13.2 yards — meaning that in 2007, receivers did better against David than in empty space. David also finished last among all starting cornerbacks in our other defensive coverage stat, Success Rate (explained here).

1. I would have to go with Colston. Nicks is right there as well. You can’t take away your playmakers though. That would make Jimmy Graham the only possession reciever for the Saints If he got injured then you wouldn’t have a possession reciever on the roster. We could find another G. Probably not up to Nicks level but I’m sure we could find one.

2. Jon Gilmore. We could get an upgrade. I would like a dominant blocking TE to assist in the running game.

3. I would love Mario Williams but that’s a dream so I would have to go with Cliff Avril. If not Cliff Avril I would say Osi Umenyiora but he just got a ring so I’m sure he is money chasing not ring chasing. A guy like Robert Mathis or Dwight Freeny might want to chase another ring.

4. Brees of course. I would say he is the 2nd best as well. I might throw Sproles as 3rd.

5. Oh my the worst player has to be Jason David. I know people want to say Olin Kreutz but I feel like he figured out he couldn’t play and he bowed out. I mean that’s better than attempting to stay and complain about getting benched. Jason David would constantly be targeted by opposing QB’s. I remember when Peyton Manning just threw to whoever he was guarding for an entire half! I mean no one saw a pass. That is crazy. Jason David may have been the worst man to man cover corner in NFL history!

1. Nicks. Colston is good, and I’d hate to see him leave, but you win and lose games in the trenches. Nicks is crucial to our running AND passing game.
2. Rodgers. Not sure there should be much debate here.
3. Super Mario.
4. Brees is so far ahead of everyone else, he would have to single-handedly cost us two 0-16 seasons for me to even consider putting him number 2.
5. HWMNBN. And everyone above me is flagged for saying his name. Do we have another free agent signing where we don’t name him? Didn’t think so.

1) Carl Nicks – Colston is a close second, but you have to protect Drew first and Nicks is one of the best.
2) Rodgers
3) Mario Williams – can’t afford it though probably
4) Obvisouly Drew
5) Probably one of the Billie Joe’s

1/ Colston.
2/ Meachem.
3/ Realistically speaking Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis (not sure if Freeney is a FA). If Colston has to go maybe look to bring in Reggie Wayne on a short term deal.
4/ After Drew, Darren Sproles.
5/ Kreutz.

1. Carl Nicks. I’ve said this before: Colston is very good, but Nicks has Hall of Fame potential.
2. That depends on what they expect to do about the defensive line. If they release Will Smith, I’d go with Rogers. If they keep Smith, I’d say Turk McBride.
3. Again, that depends. If we lose Colston or Meachem, I’d want to sign a good receiver to replace him. Problem is, finding enough money so sign someone like Vincent Jackson is probably a pipe dream, and there’s no one available as good as either of them who would likely come on board for less than either of them is asking. If we cut Will Smith (or worse, Vilma), we’ll need an immediate replacement. But again: that won’t save any money at all, and I’m not sure the money is there to bring in a top free agent like Avril or Campbell. Maybe Jeremy Mincey.
4. THE Drew Brees.
5. Jld;; Sjdid. I mean Kduao Dabdi. Damn! I’m trying to type his name, but my fingers won’t do it. Jsuoi Slawii! Jwjd D89%!

1.Which Saints free agent, other than Drew Brees, do you think is most important for the team to sign?
Carl Nicks
2.Which Saints free agent do you think is least important for the team to sign?
Tracy Porter….Thanks for the Memories but it’s time to move on.
3.Which outside free agent would you like to see the Saints sign most?
Cliff Avril…course if we could afford him we could afford to keep both Colston and Nicks as well.
4.What was the best free agency signing in Saints history?
Drew Breeeessssss!!!!
5.What was the worst free agency signing in Saints history?

You just want to make me say his name! Well OK if I must, (sorry DK) Jason David.

No, to be fair JD was not the worse. I’m not even sure he was the worse Corner Back.

Thanks Ralph, there were so many I was having a hard time with this one. I’ll go with Albert Connell here. Signed a $13 million contract, played 12 games and make 12 catches for 191 yards. That’s about $108400 per catch or $680,000 per yard.

1. Nicks in a landslide. Sorry, Colston, I love you man, but if you won’t work with Loomis to keep your cap number manageable then Drew can find a new “old reliable” to work with. But we MUST make sure Drew has good protection. Heck I want even better than we have already as it is. Can’t let it decline.
2. Kasay. FPK will like me, but that’s not why. I liked Kasay and if the FPK gets hurt again we reconsider, but until then there’s absolutely no point whatsoever at signing Kasay with a young, mostly decent kicker already under contract for four more years. Sure there are other guys (Charleston, Rogers, probably others) we don’t really need back (or even want at all), but Kasay’s the no-brainer here.
3. Mario Williams. if we can figure out a way to afford him. Remember how we signed Drew before the draft in 2006 and didn’t have to take a QB? Well what if Houston hadn’t been smart enough to pass on Reggie? Let’s bring the guy to where he should have been all along… if we can squeeze him into the cap somehow. If not I’d take a shot at whomever is available from Freeney/Mathis.
4. Duh…. I’m not sure here, let me think a minute…
5. HWSNBN.

1. Nicks first, then Colston, then Meachem.
But I think Colston AND Meachem should be kept. I know Meachem hasn’t been the most amazing receiver. He is important though. On plays he doesn’t catch the ball he blows the roof off the coverage allowing for all of Jimmy Graham and Colston’s middle of the field single coverages. He also blocks extremely well for a receiver. While Henderson is also a burner/deep threat, I haven’t seen Henderson burn anybody in a while.
Also bringing in receivers to our system never seems to work at first. It usually takes them a few years to figure out Payton’s crazy Chinese menu of a playbook. Meachem and Colston have it down pat.

2. Kasay, Franklin, Rogers.
3.No one. Save all the money for the guys I mentioned above. Keep this unit together. If we can’t afford Meachem, how are we gunna afford Mario Williams or D’Qwell Jackson?
4. Obvious. And I hope Brees takes a bit of a paycut so that he can keep his favorite toys down the field.
5. Olin Kreutz.

Which Saints free agent, other than Drew Brees, do you think is most important for the team to sign?

Carl Nicks, to which I think we will tag him.

Which Saints free agent do you think is least important for the team to sign?

I think Meach is the odd man out and we could see his replacement in either AA or Joe Morgan

Which outside free agent would you like to see the Saints sign most?

I am a solid supporter of Calais Campbell if he’s not tagged. Other than that, I wouldn’t shed too many tears if we freed up some money by letting go or restructing both Vilma and Will Smith to grab Mario Williams.

What was the best free agency signing in Saints history?

No brainer, Drew Breesus.

What was the worst free agency signing in Saints history?

Hard to argue against both Chasin’ David or Olin Krud

Most important FA’s to sign: Since I think they lock up Brees and franchise-tag Nicks, they need to work to keep Colston. Adrian Arrington might be ready for prime time by now, but why take the risk?

Least important FA: Sean Rogers, though Will Smith, if he doesn’t take a pay cut, could also be expendable.

Best outside FA to sign?? In a perfect world, either Vincent Jackson if Colston goes, or Mario Williams. In the real world?? Probably Cliff Averil or any decent OLB.

Best free agent signing?? Gee, other than Drew Brees?? I’ll take Darren Sproles to run, catch, and receive, please.

Worst FA signing?? Close, but Kruetz wins. JD may have been instant toast, but at least he tried. And, he didn’t quit on his team in the middle of a game, either.

1. Nicks, then Colston but who gets the franchise tag? Just get this deal with Drew done, QB negotiations are the ugliest, and we have one of the best., I don’t think PayLoo will ruin this thing, but I don’t like the quiet. Colston could go a lot of places and catch 30 passes, be on a terrible team make a fat check. Tell ya where I don’t want Colston to go, is SF or Chi.
2. Sean Rogers nothing gained/lost .
3.Avril (that’s April in French), Abraham kinda disappears in games. Avril a young dude. Of course the money again. Hopefully Spags can address some new tactics.
4 Drew Brees, Sproles lookin pretty good too.
5.It’s not JD, he was frustrating to watch, yes, our franchise did some blundering stuff pre-Finks, and the Ditka/Health Shuler, Billy Joes’ era. Albert Connell, almost forgot about that clown. We traded for Richard Todd, 1984 I believe.

1. Colston -pay the man and well deserved
2. Rogers
3. Anyone on defense who will make plays
4. Brees
5. Tie…Jason David and Fred Thomas