The Times-Pic has an update on the Charles Grant story.

Saints defensive end Charles Grant reportedly is facing a $5 million civil lawsuit in addition to legal charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a fight that led to the shooting death of a pregnant woman outside of a nightclub in Blakely, Ga., in February.

According to WGNO-TV, Grant's attorney, Edward Tolley, confirmed that the aunt of victim Korynda Reed filed the lawsuit. Tolley could not be reached for comment Wednesday, and details of the suit could not be confirmed.

The article also says that it is not known whether the family filed civil lawsuits against any of the other defendants. I'm sure none of them have as much money as Charles Grant either.

Houma Today had an article from Teddy Renois giving his all-time Saints team from 1970-1979. The older fans might enjoy this one.

One thing I learned from this one is that there was a Saints player named Happy Feller.

In a piece ESPN was writing about Rodney Harrison being a dirty player, we learn a little something about our very own Will Smith.

A review of data since 2001 shows Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson with a league-high 17 personal fouls. Harrison and New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith are tied for second with 14, followed by Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour (13), Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor (12), late Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor (12) and Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Shaun Rogers (11).

I never really knew that about Big Willy Style.

Check out some new Fan Shots I put up from Kim Kardashian's official website. Feel free to go nuts with that section, its all yours. You can rec pictures you like so they go to the top of the list. Same applies for Fan Posts. Of course you can also comment on them as well.

If for some reason you were planning to bet on the Saints this season, I have found some advice for you. This comes from Covers.com.

Fred (St Louis) - Will the New Orleans Saints bounce back this year and make it into the playoffs?  And are they a good bet at 11-10 to win there division or would it be even better to bet them to win the conference at 8-1?

Michael Perry: Let's say you had $500 to bet and were deciding which one to do. I would put $400 to win $440 to win division and $100 to win $800 on the NFC. Diversify your betting porfolio. That way you wont be yelling at yourself, "Why didnt I pull the trigger on the Saints?"

That is too funny. The things I find for you guys.

This one isn't really Saints related but I will be following Matt Forte very closely this year, and yesterday he was officially signed by the Bears. Per the Chicago Bears official website. The field is wide open at the running back spot in the windy city, so he could very well be starting in week one. Last I heard, the team was very impressed with him during OTAs and minicamp. Roll Wave!

Well, its that time of the year. When football news is slow and the only thing left to talk about it trash and gossip, and today's news has plenty of it. Of course, that means some hot new pictures of Kim Kardashian.

Continue reading this post »

Actually a good amount of news today.

The New Orleans Saints official website gave us a little info about Reggie's trip to the UK. He is touring with San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, doing countless interviews and photoshoots. 

"It’s been a long process, but really fun meeting so many people here," said New Orleans’ running back Bush. "It is obvious that there is a lot of excitement here around this game and everybody has been interested to hear from us about every aspect of our sport."

"I have heard about Wembley and I am looking forward to seeing the stadium," said Bush. "One thing I am going to check out is the turf as it is important for a player at my position to be able to get good traction."

I was recently asked about the condition of the turf at Wembley Stadium by a CSC reader and I honestly have no idea what condition it's in. I believe they said after the game last season that they would make adjustments to prevent it from happening again. I also think the turf they played on last season was newly laid.

A panel from Scout.com answered a few questions from readers yesterday. Here are the questions and answers pertaining to the Saints.

Is Will Smith, as his contract would suggest, a top three or even five DE in the NFL?
—Nick from New Orleans

Ed Thompson: No. I'd place him in the top 10, but it's hard to see him in the top five, whether you look at his performance last season or even over the past three years. He's a highly talented player with plenty of upside, which is why he got paid so handsomely. But as of right now, I'd say he still lags behind players such as Minnesota's Jared Allen, Miami's Jason Taylor, Baltimore's Terrell Suggs, Tennessee's Kyle Vanden Bosch, Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney, Buffalo's Aaron Schobel, and Green Bay's Aaron Kampman.

Chris Steuber: I think a lot of people forget about Will Smith, because he plays in New Orleans on a mediocre defense. But statistically speaking, he's been the Saints most consistent defensive performer and has averaged more than eight sacks a year during his four-year career. The Saints may have overpaid Smith a bit, but the contract he received is the going rate for a pass rusher with his ability. With that said, I don't think Smith is a top five defensive end in the league, he's close, but I'd say he's in the top eight.

Adam Caplan: While Smith is seen as a team leader and is certainly above average against the run, I wouldn't necessarily put him in the top-five of all defensive ends. You could make a case for him around the top-10 as a pass rusher.

Here are the ends I'd put ahead of him:

Jared Allen, Minnesota
Jason Taylor, Miami
Osi Umenyiora, N.Y. Giants
Aaron Kampman, Green Bay
Patrick Kerney, Seattle
Aaron Schobel, Buffalo
Terrell Suggs, Baltimore
Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee
Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis

Tom Marino: NFL GMs have put a premium on QBs, LOTs, DCs and outside pass rushers. Personally I don't think any of them are worth they money the teams are currently paying them, but the market obviously supports what the elite players are getting paid today. I believe Will Smith is a very solid player and among the top five to six at the position within the league. Without question he along with Charles Grant is the best combination within the league. I really liked Will as a college player (light years ahead of Vernon Gholston at a similar stage of his development).

Best combination in the league? More hype!

How are the defensive additions looking on the field and do you think the additions are enough to get New Orleans back in the playoffs? Will Jo Lon Dunbar compete for some playing time at weakside linebacker?
—Clint from Shreveport, La.

ET: I think the Saints helped themselves tremendously on defense. Sedrick Ellis is a monster, pure and simple. He's going to have some veteran offensive linemen wondering how they are supposed to stop this kid. Former Jags defensive tackle Bobby McCray was a very smart addition, as well; his versatility will be a big plus. I fully expect Jonathan Vilma to thrive in New Orleans' 4-3 defense as long as he doesn't have any further trouble with his knee. Tracy Porter is going to surprise a lot of folks, as well. I talked to a few wide receivers from this year's draft class who pointed Porter out as the toughest defender they went up against during their college career. As for Dunbar, I was stunned that he wasn't drafted. While I don't think it's realistic that you'll see him getting much time with the starters this year, I do expect to see him make the team and battling for a starter's role by his third season.

CS: The selection of Sedrick Ellis will prove to be the best addition the Saints made this offseason. Randall Gay and Jonathan Vilma were good additions, but Ellis has star potential written all over him. He's looked very good during OTAs and don't be surprised if he's a starter on opening day. Jo Lon Dunbar has a shot to make the team and will have to perform well on special teams. It all depends on how Dunbar plays during training camp and pre-season games to see if he will compete for playing time at weakside linebacker. The Saints have a lot of veterans at LB and Dunbar could be a player they groom for the future.

AC: One player from the offensive side of the ball told me recently he thought Ellis looked good during their OTAs. The expectation is that Ellis will be an impact player right away. As for Dunbar, he has to make the team first since he was an undrafted free agent. But the backup weak-side job still looks to be open so it's not out of the question that Dunbar makes the team.

TM: Clint, Jo Lon Dunbar was a steady college football player with limited physical qualities. The Will backer position is in most cases the most critical of the linebacker positions. At the outset, I don't think he runs well enough to play a "Will" backer position and if a college free agent was good enough to get playing time over established players (Shanle, Fijuta, Simoneau, and Evans), I would say they have some very big holes to fill in New Orleans. I would say his only chance to make it would be as a back-up special teams player. Vilma, Ellis and overpaid D.C. Gay should provide a big lift to the Saints' defensive unit.

Overpaid?

Here is the traditional synopsis of Jimmy Smith's live Saints Chat over at the Times-Pic.

On Colston.

I expect something will happen pretty soon with Marques Colston. Now that his agent, Joel Segal, has the Will Smith deal out of the way, he can focus his efforts with the Saints on Colston, who has obviously outperformed his original rookie contract. It’s time for the Saints to continue their efforts of stepping up and keeping their key players happy. It’s likely that will happen with Colston before training camp.

On LeCharles Bentley.

Now that LeCharles Bentley has gotten his release from the Browns, he’s free to negotiate with anyone. The problem is, however, that he’d probably want to come into a situation where he’s guaranteed to be the starter. Will that happen with the Saints? Don’t know. The position belongs now to Jonathan Goodwin. It would be difficult to guarantee a starting job to a player who has practiced just once since 2005.

On the wide receivers.

As it has been the last two training camps, NOLAKeith, the wide receiver position is going to be one of the most hotly contested of the summer. And from the looks of all these questions, it's going to be closely watched. Here's what I think is going to transpire this summer in Jackson: Marques Colston, David Patten and Devery Henderson will head into camp as the top three receivers. Robert Meachem is going to push hard for the fourth spot. Terrance Copper is a valuable special teams player who has the inside track for the fifth spot because of that versatility. I think six WRs could be a long shot, but Lance Moore is on the bubble right now. Skylar Green could make the roster simply as a return specialist. Arrington is a long shot, but has skills. If they could sneak him through the waiver process, he'll be a practice squad player.

On a possible Shockey trade.

A weekly update for all you Jeremy Shockey fans out there. As you've no doubt read, he was unhappy last week at the Giants minicamp. He's being guided in his unhappiness, no doubt, by his agent Drew Rosenhaus. But Shockey doesn't want to play with the Giants any more. Sean Payton loves what Shockey can bring to an offense. He's still the property of the Giants, however, and until a trade can be negotiated, he'll still be with the Giants. I don't think the Saints are through with their infatuation, however, and it's possible that up until the October trading deadline, anything can happen. So until that deadline comes and goes, there's still a possibility that the Saints could acquire his services.

On the running game.

Deuce, I believe, will be the starting tailback come September, TheGuy. That said, based on watching Pierre Thomas go through his paces last year on the practice field, I do believe he has the strength and tools to be a capable backup. There are still some guys in front of him, though. He'll have to move ahead of those guys in training camp to be the No. 1 backup.

On the Charles Grant situation.

Spoke with Charles' attorney this morning, Brian from VA, and there's nothing new on the case, no court dates have been set, and nothing appears to be imminent. This kind of schedule could disrupt Grant's presence in training camp or during the exhibition season, but the wheels of justice are turning rather slowly in Blakely, Ga.

On the cornerback position.

All these cornerback queries indicate that some of you have been reading this weekly chat. Still thinking that cornerback, and the secondary in general, is the weak link on this defense. I think the Saints will go into training camp with the cornerbacks who are on the roster. There shouldn't be any additions. Fred Thomas is no longer on the roster. It's tough to compare Porter and Gay. Gay is an experienced NFL player, Porter is a rookie. There has to be some concern right now that Mike McKenzie won't be full speed once he gets to training camp. He didn't have surgery until late December and sometimes it takes   a year to fully recover from ACL repair. Jason David's biggest challenge is his height, or lack thereof. He's not going to get any taller. And being elevationally challenged myself, I can say that. Right now, I'll have to put Jason Craft as the starter in McKenzie's spot and, for good or bad, Jason David, until someone beats him out in training camp.

On Skyler Green.

To answer all these queries, I think Green's best chance to make the roster is as a return specialist, though he did display good hands in the workouts we witnessed. He also showed he still has good speed. I don't think he's as fast as Devin Hester, but in the few special teams drills we witnessed, he is a good returner with good moves. Remember, though, these moves were executed in shorts and helmets. Let's reassess once they put the pads on. But he could upgrade the return game.

On tight end.

Having written a story last week on the return of Mark Campbell from his back injury, Chris, I believe the Saints running game this year will be greatly improved. Campbell is the best run-blocking tight end on the roster. We haven't seen anything of Eric Johnson because he has been limited because of recent ankle surgery. Ortega and Ghent, BirdMan, have looked OK in the OTAs but they'll be hard-pressed to top Campbell, Johnson and BIlly Miller. I still think the Shockey scenarios are alive.

This list  from ESPN is technically for fantasy, but it still should say something. They rated all 32 offensive lines in the league. Saints were ranked an impressive 9.

9. New Orleans Saints
The Saints allowed a measly 16 sacks last year despite Drew Brees' 652 pass attempts. Brees, who is exceptional at feeling the rush and getting the ball out quickly, deserves some of the credit, but obviously, his protection was exceptional as well. However, the Saints didn't do nearly as good a job opening holes for the running backs, who averaged just 3.7 yards per rush. This stark contrast obviously puts a ton of pressure on Brees and the Saints' passing game, but that group has stepped up quite well. Still, to be an elite offense, New Orleans is going to have to run the ball with more consistency. Jammal Brown is one of the top left tackles in the league, but the Saints lost Jeff Faine to division rival Tampa Bay. Jonathan Goodwin, who is bigger and more powerful at the point of attack, will take over at center, but overall, this is a downgrade, and Faine's nasty edge and leadership will be missed. Keep an eye on underrated RG Jahri Evans. He has a chance to develop into one of the best guards in the game today.

The news is so slow that the New Orleans Saints official website reported on the Voodoo themselves. For those of you, like myself, who follow the Voodoo, you know that the game at the Graveyard this Saturday is a must win situation. 

“If we win, we’re in (the playoffs),” VooDoo Head Coach Mike Neu said. “It’s as simple as that. We have a second chance at the same scenarios as we had last week. We have a chance to control our destiny, and we’re at home. That’s all we’re concerned about right now.”

“We control what’s in front of is,” Neu said. “The opportunity is sitting right in front of us and we’ve got to take advantage of it.”

For those of you who have never been to a Voodoo game, Saturday is the perfect time to start showing some support.

Here are the Voodoo playoff scenarios.

The New Orleans VooDoo face numerous playoff scenarios this week. Four teams-New Orleans (8-7), Orlando (9-7), New York (8-7) and Cleveland (8-7)-are battling for three remaining playoff spots in the hotly contested National Conference. Philadelphia (12-3), Dallas (12-3) and Georgia (10-5) have clinched playoff spots. If the VooDoo makes the playoff, they would play next week in a wild-card game.

With a VooDoo win:
-New Orleans would host New York is the Dragons win.
-New Orleans would host Cleveland if the Gladiators win and the Dragons lose.
-New Orleans would travel to Orlando if the Gladiators and Dragons lose.

With a loss:
-New Orleans would make the playoffs of Cleveland loses and would then travel to either Philadelphia or Dallas. If Cleveland wins, the VooDoo are eliminated from the playoff race.

Usama in his old number. (Photo Source)

“Usama’s an incredible talent.  He runs in the 4.3's and jumps 43.  All he needs now is the opportunity to translate that athleticism onto the field.  My man led the team in special teams tackles as a rookie and looks to build on that success in 2008.”

That is how Usama Young's agent Nate Haber describes his talented player. Which is good, because Usama will certainly need to display all of his skills later this summer in training camp while battling for a spot at one of the most hotly contested positions this offseason, cornerback. Recently, CSC had a chance to talk with Usama. The following is what we discussed. Hope you enjoy.

CSC: First of all, what’s with the number change? You went from 38 to 28.

Usama: I played 3 years in high school wearing 28, and my last year they lost my #28 and they gave me #18, and throughout my college years I just stuck with 18.  But then the Saints gave me 38.  I stuck with 38 for the year because I wasn’t thinking about a number.  I was just thinking about making my mark.  Now it’s time to go back with my #28 from high school.

CSC: How did you spend your offseason? Do anything fun, exciting or different?

Usama: Mainly traveling and seeing family.  That was how I wanted to spend my first offseason.  I hadn’t seen my brother in Cali in a while, my grandma in NY, my family in Maryland.  Got to spend time there and in Indy with my mother.  Went to Ohio to see some old friends and teammates, and of course, Vegas for my brother’s birthday celebration.

CSC: Who has stood out so far this offseason at OTAs and minicamp?

Usama: We’ve made several changes on D.  The offense is still going for the big play.  Everyone’s playing more aggressive.  Everyone’s working harder.  Basically, everyone’s doing their thing.

CSC: Are you ready for training camp…and the heat?

Usama: I’m definitely ready for it, excited about it, but at the same time I’m gonna enjoy my time off.  It’s pretty hard to prepare for the heat, but you know it makes you stronger going through it.  I’m more excited to start the season.

CSC: What’s your favorite part of training camp? What’s your least favorite?

Usama: Favorite part is when we break meetings at night (laughs).  When we get to go back to the dorm room and lay back down.  The least favorite is the early morning wakeup call.  Once you get out on the field it’s all fun and competition though.

CSC: Cornerback is one of those positions that everyone will be watching with the hopes that it will be improved and it’s a tight, crowded race. You nervous?

Usama: No man, just excited to start the season.  We know that everyone’s watching the secondary.  We know people look at it as a weakness.  So we have to go out there and turn it into a strength.  When you’re in the secondary, you always gotta be on your toes.  We gotta play like we’re the best and prepare like we’re the best.

CSC: Have you been learning a lot from veterans like Aaron Glenn, David Patten or Mick McKenzie?

Usama: Aaron Glenn has been very helpful.  His route recognition is great.  You can see him on the field, he knows where the receiver is gonna go.  D. Patten, I ask him for advice and his knowledge because he has gone against the best in his career, so he’s been helpful.  He’s given me advice to help me get to the next level.  And Mike has been helping me since I arrived last year.  He’s been critiquing me this offseason and helping me improve my game.

CSC: A lot of people, including myself, think you show a lot of promise and that this could be your breakout season. I assume you agree?

Usama: It definitely could be.  Thats what I’m looking for, that’s what I’m preparing for.  I’m preparing to do great things.

CSC: The front office was pretty aggressive this offseason; signing some key free agents, twice moving up in the draft and giving certain players the big contracts they wanted. How is everyone in the locker room feeling about this season? I don’t want to jinx it but, ya know, is this the year?

Usama: Everyone is feeling good, yes.  We've been working hard and we want it to pay off.  The front office has been making moves and hopefully it helps to improve upon last year.

CSC: What game do you have circled on your calendar this season?

Usama: We've got a few. We get to go out to London, my first time overseas.  I get to go home to Washington to play the Redskins.  People been hitting me up already about that game.  Green Bay and Denver, I get to see one of my former teammates from Kent.  Like you said, it’s gonna be an exciting year.  And that game in London, man I can’t wait to play out there.

CSC: What has been your most memorable moment as a Saint so far?

Usama: That first game against the Colts when I stepped on the field.  It was like “Wow, I’m here.  I’m finally here.”  It’s what every kid dreams of, playing football and playing at the highest level.  I wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school.  I went to a small school at Kent State and people thought we didn’t play against elite talent.  Then I wasn’t invited to the Combine.  But then being drafted 66^th overall was an amazing feeling, and then finally stepping out there for my first professional game was incredible.  I was in awe.

CSC: Who is the toughest receiver you have faced? What makes him so tough?

Usama: Steve Smith.  He runs great routes and is untouchable in the open field.  He blocks well for a smaller receiver.  His motor is always running.  I go up against some of the best, too, everyday in practice, but yeah, I’d have to say Steve. 

CSC: Were you nervous about what to expect coming to play for the Saints in New Orleans after the storm?

Usama: No, I looked at it as an opportunity to help a city on the rise and playing a major role in helping them rebuild.  As a member of the Saints, we’re part of the community.  We help others who have suffered.  They have gone through more than you could ever imagine – losing their houses, their loved ones.  I wanted to help these people, including my sister who was staying out there too. 

CSC: Who is the most fun in the locker room? Who are the leaders?

Usama: Man, there’s so many leaders.  Let me think of the characters... Mike McKenzie’s a character.  Charles Grant, he’s a character.  We got a whole lot of different clowns on the team who keep us loose.  They keep a smile on the guys’ faces.  There’s a lot of leaders too.  Drew’s a great leader, he’s a hell of a player.  Will Smith is one of those leaders by example, constantly working.  David Patten leads.  Marques Colston leads.  Deuce is another, just to name a few.  We have a ton of guys who do a great job on this team.

CSC: What is your game day routine?

Usama: Night before, calling my father and praying.  Watch some film.  I make sure I get to sleep early for a noon game.  We get a wakeup call at 7am.  Eat breakfast with the team and head to the stadium.  I’m a candy fiend, so gotta have some Skittles before the game.  Get to the field early for warm-ups and drills, stretching, talking to some of the guys and then going out there and making it happen.

CSC: What are your favorite activities to do in New Orleans?

Usama: Gotta say eating.  They got so many restaurants down here. 

CSC: What do you think about the food down here? Whats your favorite restaurant?

Usama: They’ve got great seafood down in this city.  My favorite restaurant is Montrel’s Bistro.  They better give me some free food from now on (laughs).  It’s a small, family-owned spot with a lot to choose from.  Great food.

CSC: Anything else you want to say or let Saints fans know?

Usama: Looking for a Superbowl this year, baby.  New Orleans deserves it.  We truly do have some of the best fans in the country.  Everywhere we go, there are Saints fans supporting us.  We really appreciate y’all and hope to make the city proud this year.

CSC would like to thank Usama Young for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions and we wish him luck in training camp and the upcoming season. For more info on Usama check out his official website.

Sorry guys, really not too much today. Fortunately for you though, CSC will have an exclusive interview with Usama Young later this afternoon at 1pm so be sure to check back.

Mike Detillier (I just like to say his name) had his usual Sunday article in the Houma Courier.  It all revolves around something Ed Orgeron told Detillier a few weeks ago.

“When we grew up, the skilled people in football were the running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks. But in today’s game, it has to be the defensive linemen, and a close second would be at cornerback.”

He follows it up by talking about the ridiculous contracts that have been shelled out to defensive linemen and cornerbacks. Will Smith, Charles Grant, Dwight Freeney, Nate Clemens, Jared Allen, Tommy Kelly. Marcus Trufant. DeAngelo Hall. The list goes on.

Former Saint Steve Korte gives his take on it.

“There is no question the huge contracts are going out to the defensive linemen and cornerbacks. But with 32 teams now and just not enough players at those spots, even some of the above average players are getting the huge dollars,” Korte said. “Ten years ago the top money was going to the guys that put the ball in the end zone, and there was an effort from the high school ranks and into the college game to put their best players on the offensive side of the ball. Over the course this has created a huge void for some spots on defense, and there has to be an adjustment somewhere to get athletes to slow down the offensive playmakers. There are just not enough really good defensive linemen and cover cornerbacks to combat the onslaught of the offensive talent coming out of the college ranks.”

Packers GM Ron Wolf also weighs in.

“In the early stage of free agency, guys like Reggie White and Deion Sanders got the best money deals, but they also were the best players at their respective positions,” Wolf said. “You now have teams trying to get top players at cornerback and defensive end. For some teams, that means paying out a great deal of money for average to above average players. Paying the top players at their craft is not the problem. The problem is paying top dollar to the average guy who has one good season.

“The good teams find players at those respective spots and then they lock them up long term. It all boils down to drafting well and then having the right money package to secure them with the team. Just check out the winning teams in the NFL.”

Detillier ends the main article with this observation, which I whole heartedly agree with.

While we are giving out kudos, New Orleans Saints fans have to throw a lot of credit the way of owner Tom Benson. There was speculation that maybe Benson would not spend the money to keep this team competitive in the post-Katrina time, and this would give him his free get-out-town pass, but that has not been the case.

In the post-Katrina era, Benson had shelled out contracts to Smith, Charles Grant, Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and Bobby McCray, worth a combined $275 million.

Of that money, $97.3 million was given out in guaranteed money.

There is really no reason to even play out the 2008 season anymore. Our fellow Saints fan Wolfta has already let us know, via YouTube, how the upcoming season will turn out. This is pretty funny. Check it out!

You heard it here first! Saints will go 13-3 this season and defeat the Seahawks in the NFC Championship 28-21 facing a 12-4 Colts team, coming off a 35-32 win over the Patriots in the AFC Championship, in the Superbowl. Classic!

Thats all I got. Check back at 1pm for a little bit o' Usama.

Hey guys, guess what!! Will Smith signed got his new contract! Bet you haven't heard that news yet! Actually, the RotoWorld Widget I have on the sidebar is really good and always has the breaking news, so you can always keep it here for the latest. Anyway, I think we all should have seen this coming. Not too surprising. Good news I think. For those of you living in a cave here is the link for the Times-Pic coverage and some of these quotes.

"The Saints really stepped up," said Smith's agent, Joel Segal. "They continue to sign their core players as they demonstrate a strong commitment to winning."

"We're excited about getting this long-term contract done with Will," General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a press release. "We view him as one of our core players and look forward to having him (make) an impact on our defense for years to come."

AOL Fanhouse covers the story also and the only reason I mention it is because I think they raise a good point.

But with the money tied in its ends, the team will be hearing some deserved scorn from its fanbase if they're not a terror for quarterbacks.

This is very true. The three of them had better have great seasons. It would be a huge disappointment if Will got complacent this season, if Grant was distracted off the field or McCray turns out to be a bust.

John DeShazier of the Times-Pic thinks otherwise and says we have nothing to worry about per this article. The end of the piece sums it up well.

What he has done, and likely will continue to do, makes his cash-in hundreds of times better, and more deserving, than giving similar money to a first-round draft choice that might, or might not, live up to his potential.

And it sends the right kind of message to his teammates, that if they handle their business on the field and play well, they'll be taken care of when the time comes.

The Saints, in fact, have made a good habit of doing just that. They've done a good job of paying market value, which has prevented some of their best players even from wanting to test the market.

So place this one in the Money Well Spent file.

Place it there because the Saints were smart, and Smith hasn't done anything to suggest he'll do something to make the franchise look any other way.

The Sun Herald also had its own coverage of the Will Smith contract signing. Here are some interesting facts.

The contract makes Smith the third highest-paid defensive end in the league behind Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney and Minnesota's Jared Allen, and one of the highest-paid defensive players in league history.

The Saints have one of the highest-paid defensive end duos in league history as well.

Part of the article compares Smith and Grant.

Comparing the statistics between the Saints' two pass rushers during the past four seasons, Smith's numbers have been better, and thus Smith's contract is more lucrative. Grant compiled 21½ sacks while Smith tallied 33½ sacks. Smith was only a full-time starter for two of those seasons, but Grant lined up with the starting unit for all four years.

Both Smith and Grant were first-round draft picks by the Saints. Grant went 25th overall in 2002 and the team selected Smith in 2004 at No. 18.

Apparently we wasted our money on Charles Grant.

The Times-Pic once again did their Live Chat Talk Saints with Jimmy Smith.

On Weakside Linebacker and Marvin Mitchell.

Dennis, what's wrong with the position now? There's not much wrong with Scott Shanle. No one has beaten him out yet and he's a fairly stout player against both the run and pass. I think the Saints are happy with the position. If you've noticed, the moves they've made at the linebacker spot in free agency the last two years have been in the middle, even though Mark Simoneau has yet to relinquish his spot.

Jacque, Marvin Mitchell has been getting plenty of action with the first unit in the practices we've seen because the staff is still holding Jonathan Vilma bck a bit because he's recovering from knee surgery. Those reps with the top guys can do nothing but help Mitchell in the long run. We haven't seen him work too much on the outside yet. Don't think the Saints will go after anyone else at that position.

On Adrian Arrington.

From what we've seen so far of Arrington, Ronnie S, he seems to be a player with plenty of potential. I don't think the Saints, at this point anyway, would expose him to waivers, but again, lots can happen between now and the time the final roster cuts have to be made. If they want him on the practice squad, if he can't make the 53-man roster, he'll have to go on the waiver wire. Injuries could play a part in the decision making, or Arrington might be so good this summer that he wins a spot outright.

On Mark Campbell.

Doug, the Saints do a lot of personnel switching with their tight ends, depending the play and the formation. But if it's a running down, I do see Campbell on the field. The running game certainly suffered in his absence last season. He's the best blocking tight end on the roster, and Payton admitted that this week in a post practice interview. He's an underrated receiver, I think, who has good hands and can be productive in the passing game. But he's invaluable in the running offense.

On Hollis Thomas and Defensive Tackle.

Weight is always going to be an issue with Hollis Thomas, Michael B, and he has been shirting in and out of the rotation with Sedrick Ellis, as has Brian Young. What I think, though, is if anyone is in trouble it might be Young. I think Thomas' energy and his ability to fill up the middle in the rushing defense is important. Then again, the Saints like to do a lot of rotating in and out of linemen to keep bodies fresh. Clancy and Harris are OK, but neither is as good as Young and Thomas. By the time the season rolls around, Thomas wil be in shape to play the 20 or so plays he's needed, but Ellis' presence improves the position.

On the return game.

There's no question one of the priorities this season is to improve the return game. The Saints, don't forget, made a change at the special teams coordinator position this season when John Bonamago took a similar position in Miami. The Saints didn't put up much of a fight to keep him, so you have to think they weren't happy with the overall performance of the special teams. Green has looked good in what we've seen, d Kode/Gretna Saints fan. It's a wide-open battle right now. It would't be surprising if Green can make the team strictly on his return ability, though.

On Usama Young.

It's great to hear from all those Usama Young fans. I think Young had a little bit farther road to travel to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the current cornerbacks in camp. But he is making progress. While he might have been considered a reach as a No. 2 pick, it's hard to say whether this is why Mueller fell out of favor with Payton. Suffice to say, Payton didn't like some of the personnel moves the Saints made but he isn't saying which ones he took exception to and Mueller, given the opportunity last week, declined to comment.   Let's wait and see what Young looks like when they put the pads on in Jackson before we say whether he has a shot at more playing time this fall.

On Reggie Bush.

Having Bush around this offseason will definitely help him in the eyes of his teammates, some of whom were not pleased last year when he decided to stay and work out in California. It's too early to think the Saints might be shopping him, but certainly he'd have a great deal of value to someone. Remember the Herschel Walker deal that netted the Cowboys all those draft choices which Jerry Jones turned into the core of Dallas'   Super Bowl run in the 1990s. But let's give Bush   another training camp, and at least the early par t of the regular season, to see if he can still be a threat in the Saints offense. He was diminished last year by the absence of Deuce McAllister. He's a vital part of the plan if he has other people around him, as evidenced in his rookie season.

On Robert Meachem.

I'm told that Payton really liked Robert Meachem coming out of college and that it was Payton who pushed for the pick. So to answer all you Meachem fans out there, if Meachem was, in fact, a Payton choice, he'll be getting every opportunity to prove he can play in the NFL. He won't be a starter, but from what we've seen so far, he's vastly inmproved over last year when he was hurt and out of shape. He hasn't worked his way up to the third receiver spot yet, but Devery Henderson might have to start looking over his shoulder.

I noticed the Times-Pic hasn't come out with anymore of those odd home movies with David Gladow. Maybe they realized they were a little freaky.

Also still haven't heard anything about Marques Colston and why he was missing from OTAs. Have I missed something guys? Maintaining this site usually means I am pretty on top of it. Is this just being ignored?

This one got my blood boiling. For those CSC readers who are currently living in NOLA and even those who aren't, maybe you will agree. The article is from Mike Florio at the Sporting News and its about potential teams that could move their franchise to Los Angeles. Yep, that means the Saints were on the list.

New Orleans Saints
The NFL is unlikely to abandon New Orleans as it continues a slow recovery from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. But, sooner or later Saints ownership and league officials will have to face the difficult reality of running a big-league sports franchise in a city that might never return to the big leagues in terms of business or population.

We hope the Saints remain a fixture in New Orleans for as long as there's an NFL. Still, pro football is driven more by business interests than sentimentality. In the end, the dollars and cents might make the Saints a no-brainer candidate for a move.

WHAT!? "...a city that might never return to the big leagues in terms of business or population!?" I will agree its going pretty slowly down here, but if our city was good enough before the storm to support the Saints it will most certainly be as good if not better post-K! Has the dome not been sold out the last two years? Is there not a waiting list to get season tickets? Give me a break with this one.

Before we get started today, I wanted to acknowledge everyone who was very active yesterday. I was happy to see quite a few FanPosts up yesterday, and a few comments. Glad to see everyone participating and taking full advantage of what we have been given here by SB Nation. You will notice I moved Stujo4's news update to the front page. That is the perfect example of how you guys help keep this site updated and fresh. Back to the news.

Saints cleaning house. We already know about the firing of Rick Mueller and you probably know about the hiring of Khai Harley as director of football administration. He replaced Russ Ball who left earlier this year for a better gig with the Packers. This was widely covered widely including the Times-Pic, The Advocate, the Sun Herald and WWL.

Here's hoping this is all for the better.

AOL Fanhouse agrees with what I said yesterday about the probability of Will Smith getting his contract extension. Here's the link.

I don't know if anyone else noticed this but the New Orleans Saints official website has been acting funky. There are a couple of new stories, but I seem to be getting an error message when I attempt to access the site.

Good news for "Inside the NFL" fans like myself who were disappointed when the show was pulled off the air last season after an incredibly long 31 year run. It's back! Per NFL.com.

"We welcome the NFL to the Showtime family," said Blank. "We're thrilled to be joining the successful partnership of CBS Sports and the NFL in presenting the show to our subscribers. It's a perfect fit with our original scripted series and sports programming."

"CBS Sports is proud to expand its association with the National Football League and the award-winning team at NFL Films to produce Inside the NFL for Showtime," said McManus. "We look forward to bringing the show to a new stage with a new team of talent and to continue to make history in the style that has been recognized for more than three decades."

"It's great to develop a deeper relationship with one of our broadcast partners, CBS Sports, and bring the Emmy Award-winning Inside the NFL to its new home on Showtime," said Bornstein. "Inside the NFL has set the standard as one of the best shows on television for over 30 years and fans will continue to enjoy the same high-quality production from NFL Films and CBS Sports this season on Showtime."

"This is the granddaddy of all highlight shows," said Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films. "The combination of our film and game sound with the analysis in the studio gives Inside the NFL a perfect balance of action and insight. That's why it's been so popular for so long."

Not sure whether it's gonna be new hosts or the usual cast from the last season. The end of the article says...

Past hosts of the Inside the NFL have included Chuck Bednarik, Nick Buoniconti, Cris Carter, Cris Collinsworth, Bob Costas, Len Dawson, Jerry Glanville, Merle Harmon, Jimmy Johnson, Peter King, Dan Marino and Al Meltzer.

Cris Carter, Cris Collinsworth, Bob Costas and Dan Marino are all there listed as past hosts. Take from that what you will.

Alright, I guess we have to talk about Will Smith today. Here is the latest from the Times-Pic. This is what Big Willy Style had to say for himself.

"It's a decision that me and my agent (Joel Segal) talked about," Smith said. "I want to be a team guy, be here for my teammates. The main goal is to win a Super Bowl this year, so I wanted to be here and help the team out."

"I've got to take it one day at a time," he said of being in New Orleans and working out with the team the rest of the offseason. "We'll see what happens after this weekend."

"Gotta see what happens," he said of reporting to Jackson, Miss., for training camp. "You never know. Got to take it one day at a time."

John DeShazier of the Times-Pic thinks he should and will get paid sooner rather than later. I think I agree. Let's finish it up with more Will quotes.

"It's two parts of it -- there's the football part of it and the business part of it," Smith said. "A lot of people confuse the two. I've got to be here for the football part, and the business part is totally different. That's something my agent and Mickey (Loomis) will figure out, hopefully in the near future.

"You never know. You've just got to take it in small steps. This is not going to happen overnight. It's going to be a gradual process, and we've got a lot of time to get something done. I'm hopeful that we'll get something done in the future."

The Advocate had its own article on the Will Smith situation, replete with more quotes from the man himself.

“It’s a slow process and I knew that going into it,” Smith said between workouts. “I knew it wouldn’t be (quick). I’ve got to see what happens. You never know. I’ve got to take it one day at a time and I’m hopeful that something will get done in the near future.”

“That’s all voluntary and you don’t have to be there,” Smith said of the offseason program, which began in mid-March and ends June 12.

“The mini-camp is something you have to be at. It’s important to start off the 2008 season. It’s important. That’s why I’m here.”

Smith said he has been working out five days a week. “It’s not like I’m missing out on work,” he said. “I’m always training. My body is my job. Every day I’m working hard and trying to get better.”

“You just have to take it in small steps,” he said. “This is not going to happen overnight. It’s going to be a gradual process and we’ve got a lot of time to get something done and hopefully we will get something done in the near future.”

With all of his talking to the media, how did he even find time to actually practice!

The Sun Herald gives us an update on Deuce.

"He probably went 30 percent, 20 percent," coach Sean Payton said. "Selectively on certain reps. He had his recheck last week in Birmingham. We are just bringing him along with a few other guys the same way. He took some but not a lot of reps."

"The one common denominator is that you are still in helmets and jerseys really," Payton said. "You've just got to be mindful of that. I would probably liken his reps to where he was two years ago at this time coming off the other ACL. It's getting his weight down and getting in shape and bringing him along so where there's no setback."

More  from the Times-Pic, this time about the fresh meat on the team.

"Be it through free agency or the draft, there were some position needs, and we fell into opportunities to hopefully address some of those needs," Payton said after Friday's first mandatory minicamp practice when asked to assess his confidence level on whether those moves are paying off. "It's hard to tell without getting these guys into the live drills.

"Each offseason, when you go through the acquisition of players, you feel good about what you've done. I think as we move forward and we get into training camp and the preseason, you get a better feel for what you have. Right now, we're pretty much set with the numbers we're looking at, and we're just getting these guys up to speed."

Yesterday I talked about how there was only positive things to say about the team at this point. Not any more.

There were moments Friday when both new corners were victimized by big plays.

Porter, playing on the right side in McKenzie's spot, bit on a flea-flicker fake that left wide receiver Lance Moore alone for a deep catch on one play.

And on the next snap, Terrance Copper blew past left corner Gay for a wide-open down-field look.

Ahhhhh. Now thats more like it. Porter defends himself.

"I mean, it's always a good opportunity to get reps when you can get them, whether it's with the ones or the twos or even the threes," Porter said. "This is the NFL. All the guys are high-caliber guys. For the coaches to mix it up and put DBs in different positions and get looks at different guys with the groups, I mean, it definitely gives you experience, and it allows you to get a sense of chemistry with different guys on different units."

Here is something from McCray, who has sort of gotten lost in the mix a little thig offseason.

"We're still at the beginning stages, getting back into shape and things like that, learning new plays and getting back to fundamentals," McCray said. "but (speed) is a key asset for me, getting some speed up the field and getting some pressure on the quarterback.

"They brought me in, a cornerback, a linebacker (Jonathan Vilma). A lot of people they're bringing in to get this team a lot better. That's what we're focusing in on right now."

Payton wraps it up...

"I think certainly we feel the need to improve on (the defensive) side of the ball. We talked (Thursday) night specifically about a number of statistics and things that applied not only to our defense, but to our kicking game, as well as our offense. I think there's a number of things we've got to pay attention to coming off a season where you finish 7-9."

James Varney (not the actor who played Ernest in those lovable goofball comedies) of the Times-Pic brings us news about the Saints deal with the state of Louisiana.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the topic came up," Jindal said when asked about the Saints' deal with the state set to expire in 2010.

"I'm ready to start talking!" Saints owner Tom Benson interjected from the side of a small stage on which Jindal had spoken for several minutes urging southern Louisiana residents to take hurricane preparedness seriously.

Who cares about hurricane preparedness? Could we please talk about football.

"I'm interested in the Saints being here throughout my administration and beyond my administration," Jindal said. "I understand we have to have a long-term plan in place, and I would love to have the spotlight the Super Bowl presents to show the country how our recovery is going."

Moving on, the article tells us that QB Tyler Palko is not making a very good case for being Drew Brees' backup.

Palko, who is in his second year from Pittsburgh, fumbled snaps, overthrew receivers and fell in one drill after the exchange with center.

Yet another Live Chat with Times-Pic writer David Gladow. Check the whole thing out here.

On the wide receivers...

I've gone on record saying Hendersen's days as a Saint may be numbered.   I honestly believe that there are only two ways for him to keep his job:

1.) He finds a role and excels at it on special teams.
2.) Meachem flops.

That doesn't mean everyone else is safe though.   Copper would figure to make the team due to his special teams contributions, and the same can be said of Moore to a lesser degree, but Arrington is off to a great start in camp and could very well complicate things.   I think Henderson will have to have an outstanding preseason, and Copper and Moore will have to have good ones to hold the rookie off.

 I think that the Saints play so many 3-receiver sets he'll end up getting a ton of time regardless.

I really expect it to be Colston, Patten, Meachem, in that order.

On Mike McKenzie...

I think it will be struggle for him all season.   In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if we saw a position change.

Could McKenzie be the answer at safety?   I honestly don't think it's a bad idea at all.   His explosiveness won't be back for another year or so, but he CAN play the ball in the air well ... his instincts won't have gone anywhere.

If that doesn't happen (and I haven't seen any indication that it will), I like Kaes as well.   He's not the most consistent player in the world, but at least he'll deliver the good with the bad.   I think he'll get a fair shot at the position, so it will ultimately be decided this preseason.

On starting corners...

I like Gay and Porter at the corners, with David playing nickel.   Team McKenzie with Harper and you may suddenly have something.

On tight ends...

Miller has been the most consistent, but Johnson has the flufflier resume and can probably do more things down the field.   Provided there are no new additions, you'll see the same things you did last year -- heavy rotations with the two of them and Mark Campbell.

More news on the ongoing Reggie Bush investigation. This comes from an article in the San Diego Union Tribune. Apparently, Bush and his attorneys avoided most of about 70 questions posed to them and answered only nine of them. Brian Watkins, the attorney for Lloyd Lake, the man suing Bush, had this to say.

“They are doing whatever they can to avoid this,” Watkins said. “They're completely bogus objections.” He said the questions that were answered were basic ones such as whether Bush's parents lived in the house, which they acknowledged.

Bush's attorney's responded saying this, in an email...

“Plaintiff did not produce any of the alleged tapes or any documents that establish he made any payments to anyone,” Cornwell said in an e-mail. “Plaintiff's discovery responses also indicate that he will continue to hide behind the Fifth Amendment.”

Basically, all this means is that the squabbling continues and no one is getting anywhere with all of this. The only people who are winning in this entire situation are the lawyers who represent the respective parties, who I'm sure continue to collect their large hourly wages as the battle continues. I am in the wrong business.

Stay classy San Diego.

Alex Marvez at Fox Sports gave his opinion on which players teams should pay, ignore, or trade. Will Smith was among those who should be paid.

New Orleans defensive end Will Smith: The Saints appeared ready to let Smith leave via free agency in 2009 when signing Charles Grant to a seven-year, $63 million contract and adding Bobby McCray in free agency. But Grant's NFL future is in question after he was recently indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges from an altercation at a Georgia nightclub. Even if Grant is ultimately cleared, Smith (17.5 sacks and 115 tackles the past two seasons) might be the better player.

What about Colston? Definitely gotta sign him!

Fox Sports also had this article about the Saints running back situation, Nothing new here. Basically, Reggie Bush was disappointing last season and needs to step it up this year.

CBS Sports quickly talks about Jonathan VIlma's progression. I am pretty sure most of this was already covered, but just in case, here you go .

"I'd say I'm pretty close," Vilma said. "I'm pretty close, barring any setbacks. I should be ready to go by training camp. ... I feel good about where I am right now, but I'm not going to be satisfied until I get out there and we're playing full pads."

Today was the first of five practices this weekend of Saints minicamp. The New Orleans Saints official website had the rundown of today's events. Here are their observations.

*CB Jason Craft started the proceedings by not falling for a full-speed deke by WR David Patten and blanketed the receiver down the sideline and preventing the receiver from catching a deep pass.

*MLB Mark Simoneau met RB Pierre Thomas in a hole at the line of scrimmage.

*WR/KR Skyler Green, a former LSU standout, showed strength and speed by getting away from CB Anwar Phillips in a drill and coming up with a reception.

*Reggie Bush displayed that he has returned to form after battling a troublesome knee late in the 2007 season and displayed quickness, speed and power during numerous situations. Bush took a hand-off and bolted between a hole opened by Jahri Evans and Jammal Brown and was on the third level of defense in a split second and off to the races.

*Just a few plays later, Bush swept to the right, picking up a block from tight end Mark Campbell and jetted down the sideline for a long gainer.

*RB Aaron Stecker, in 9-on-7 drills, read the blocking and the flow of the linebackers and cut behind the left side of the line with a powerful run, finding the open field.

*Rookie WR Adrian Arrington made a nifty sideline reception on a pass from Drew Brees.

*Bush took a pitch and instead of sweeping right, bolted through a hole in the middle of the line and raced into the secondary, showing a few high-speed moves along the way.

*CB Usama Young, wearing a new number (#28), leaped high into the air and knocked a pass away from rookie WR Carlos Robinson.

*WR Marques Colston displayed his patented over-the-middle of the field prowess by snaring a pass in tight coverage.

*Rookie DE Jeremy Geathers, who Head Coach Sean Payton has described as having good speed off of the corner, pounced on a Lynell Hamilton fumble.

*Bush got to the edge on a quick pass out of the backfield and outraced pursuing defenders down the sideline, picking up several key blocks from Billy Miller and Marques Colston along the way.

*WR Terrance Cooper making a sideline reception after finding a hole in the zone coverage as two defenders nearly made the play.

*A few plays later, Moore hauled in a long bomb from Brees after the Saints dialed up a trick play that fooled rookie CB Tracy Porter. After the play, new Saints secondary coach Dennis Allen, a no-nonsense customer, pulled Porter aside to instruct the rookie what to look for so that the lapse wouldn't occur in the future.

*Patten made a great grab in traffic on a comeback route.

*CB Randall Gay knocked down a pass intended for Colston.

*QB Mark Brunell hooked up with WR Lance Moore for a sensational play. Moore made a leaping catch at full speed down the middle of the field with two defenders in the vicinity to haul in a laser-beamed dart from Brunell that picked up 35 yards.

*LB Jonathan Vilma appeared in his first team drills, and snared Bush across the middle on a crossing route. Vilma said afterward that he is pleased with the progress from his knee surgery and is thrilled to be back in the team drills.

*To begin the afternoon session, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal addressed the team and offered them works of encouragement for the upcoming season.

I'm glad they give us all this information, but I wish they would stop sugar-coating it. This is why we get our hopes up every year only to be let down. Tell us who really sucked today. Tell us who missed assignments, dropped passes (Devery?) and was out of shape.

Here is the new video from David Gladow of the Times-Pic. This one is about the Charles Grant situation. Gladow should really stick to writing because his on camera personality leaves much to be desired. He really frightens me.

Obviously the big news of the day is Will Smith and Marques Colston reporting to training camp. Not that they shouldn't because they are still under contract, but whatever.

"This is a mandatory minicamp," Loomis said. "We expect every guy on our roster to be present."

Exactly.

Players were required to report by 7pm yesterday and will practice five times from Friday to Sunday.  A million sites had the story but I will give you the Times-Pic's version and NFL.com's version. Joel Segal, agent for both players had this to say about each...

"Obviously, Will wants a new contract and hopefully that will get taken care of in due time, but first and foremost, he told me he wants to be there today and not miss the mandatory camp," said Smith's agent, Joel Segal. "He wants to be with his teammates and pursue the goal of the Saints winning a Super Bowl."

"Marques has had a great offseason and he's looking forward to continuing his outstanding production and contributing to victories as he has the past two years,"

The Times-Pic article also had some news about the whole Charles Grant debacle.

"Charles is fine to go to minicamp this weekend," Edward Tolley said. "We're going to have a meeting among the lawyers next week and start moving this thing in a positive direction."

In reference to the person indicted for the actual murder, Tolley said this...

"He's had a bond hearing," Tolley said, "but the judge hasn't ruled yet. I think once he rules on the bond question, we'll probably start getting some scheduling orders as to everybody else. I talked to Charles (Wednesday) and I told him I wanted him to do his job, to try to maintain as normal a schedule and lifestyle and responsibilities as possible and we'll go from there."

Here we go. Let's do this!

In other news, the Saints-Chargers game in London is a hotter ticket than a David Archuletta/David Cook concert. 40,000 tickets were sold in just 90 minutes. This comes from info from the New Orleans Saints official website.

“We are delighted to report the overwhelming interest in this year’s game,” said ALISTAIR KIRKWOOD, managing director of NFL UK. “Today’s sales at Ticketmaster have matched the pace at which tickets were bought for last year’s game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, which was historic in being the first-ever regular-season game outside North America. This proves that our event is one of the most eagerly awaited on the British sports calendar.”

Here is a good one on everyone's favorite Deuce McAllister. It's an interview with Deuce by Chris Rose. This one is a must read. Check it out. I'm not much of a Chris Rose fan, but this one was good. Here are some highlights.

First of all: Why is your charity called the Catch-22 Foundation? Shouldn't it be the Catch-26 Foundation?

I wore 22 in college and I started my foundation early in my career, before I signed a contract. I thought I would get the number 22 when I turned pro but I never was able to get that number. So it's just Catch-22 -- Catch Deuce McAllister.

Who had 22 when you came to the Saints?

Fred Thomas. And I tried to buy it, I tried to pry it away -- but I couldn't get it from him.

So much for rookie hospitality! Speaking of 22: I just recently found out what your real name is: How did you come to be called Deuce?

Well, Dulymus is so hard to say. And all through high school I wore the number 2 -- and I was a second child. So, once my high school coach started calling me Deuce, it pretty much stuck.

So you went from 2 to 22?

Right. Same story as joining the Saints: I couldn't get 2 in college because I had to deal with the upperclassmen.

Are you a good tipper?

I try to be. I leave about 18 to 20 percent.

C'mon man! You're a millionaire. Aren't you supposed to leave a hundred bucks when you buy a pizza or something like that?

I can't afford that! The economy's bad right now; I can't get too crazy.

Tell me about your pre-game ritual.

I listen to music. But especially, when I go into the training room to get taped, me and one of our trainers -- we have our special time and we listen to gospel music -- and once I've heard that, I know I'm ready to play.

This coming season: What's going to happen?

We want to win the division. We win the division, then we qualify for the playoffs. If we qualify for the playoffs, then anything can happen. Everyone saw what happened with the Giants last year. No one had them winning the Super Bowl, but they got hot at the right time. So if we can win our division, then we like our chances.

I understand that one of your favorite hobbies is Scrabble. What is the highest score you've ever gotten in a game?

Truthfully, I don't remember, but that's funny you ask -- I'm about to play as soon as this basketball game goes off. I'm going to play tonight. I love to play Scrabble. And I love to fish.

Well, I'm not much of a fisherman but I love me some Scrabble. Call me sometime; I'll kick your butt.

You gonna come over and play a game of Scrabble with me? Fine. I will get a triple word score, with the letter Q, using all seven letters and a 50-point bonus!