The Saints agreed to a three-year contract extension today with WR Marques Colston. Terms of the deal are not yet available.

This deal just absolutely had to get done. Colston has become an elite receiver in this league very quickly and is deserving of whatever is given to him. With this deal the Saints offseason is almost a complete success. They have extended two key players (Colston and DE Will Smith), acquired some key defensive players (Randall Gay, Jonathan Vilma, Bobby McCray, and Aaron Glenn), added a tight end (Jeremy Shockey), and drafted defense (Sedrick Ellis and Tracy Porter).

The one move left to make is to extend the contract OG Jahri Evans, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. Once that move is done, the team will be looking very good contract wise for next offseason and have their core locked up.

Jonathan Vilma and Jeremy Shockey have a ton in common besides both being traded to the Saints this offseason. Both were drafted out of the University of Miami. Both were drafted by teams in New York in the first round (Shockey in 2002 by the Giants, Vilma in 2004 by the Jets). Both made immediate impacts for their team, Shockey making the Pro Bowl in his first season and Vilma winning the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Shockey made four Pro Bowl appearances in his first five seasons (2002,2003,2005,2006) and Vilma made his first appearance in 2005. Both players seemed prime for greatness. Vilma was a tackling machine at middle linebacker and Shockey brought toughness and playmaking ability at tight end. Both players had become stars.

Then things happened.

In Vilma’s case, new head coach of the Jets Eric Mangini brought in the 3-4 system in 2006. Vilma saw his production and importance to the team fall. After so much success in his first two seasons, Vilma was now in a system that didn’t maximize his talents and abilities. He recorded career-lows in a few categories. Then in 2007, Vilma suffered a season ending during a week 7 game verse the Cincinnati Bengals.

For Shockey, he had become the man in New York. Always a fan favorite for his relentless passion for the game, it seemed he could do no wrong. In a week 15 game against the Washington Redskins in 2007, Shockey broke his left fibula was to miss the remainder of the season. With Shockey now out of the lineup, the Giants soared. They went on to defeat the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The turn of events prompted speculation that the Giants were better without him. All his weaknesses were brought to the forefront. His fiery attitude. His injuries. His dropped passes. Everything.

That brings us to this offseason. The Saints moved quickly to acquire Vilma on the first day of free agency. The Saints traded a fourth round pick in the 2008 draft and a conditional draft pick in the 2009 draft. They also showed an immediate interest in Shockey. The Giants never seemed all that willing to trading Shockey and the Saints wouldn’t cave in on trading a first-round pick. Then Shockey showed up during a mini-camp and got into a shouting match with Giants GM Jerry Reese. It seemed as if this was the last straw. The two teams reached an agreement that would bring Jeremy to New Orleans for a second- and fifth- round selections in the 2009 draft (or a first round pick if the conditional draft pick in the Vilma trade becomes a second rounder).

When playing great in New York, you become a star. That was what both players had become. Now they find themselves at a crossroad in both careers. Both players coming back from injuries. Both players needing to repair their image. Both players needing to get back to Pro Bowl levels. Together again.

Here are some quotes on from various people on the Shockey trade:

“I am excited to join the Saints as they have expressed interest in me,” Shockey said in a statement released by the Saints. “I have had a relationship with Coach Payton and I appreciate what he has done as a head coach. The Saints have a lot of weapons starting with Drew Brees, and I look forward to joining my teammates at training camp. This will be a fun year.” NOLA.com

“He’s an impact player and has been a key part of every offense he has played for - both as a blocker and as a receiver,” Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said of the deal, which is still pending league approval and a completion of Shockey’s physical. NOLA.com

“Jeremy is a player that we are excited to have on our roster. He is someone I am familiar with as a player,” Payton said in the statement. “He brings a skill set to the position that I feel will be a tremendous benefit to our offense.” NOLA.com

“Jeremy is a very talented football player who always played with great enthusiasm and great effort,” Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said. “He was excited about playing. Jeremy always enjoyed being a physical football player and a tough football player.” NOLA.com

Plaxico Burress when asked if he talked to Shockey:

“No, I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. I left him a message and told him I was really happy for him. He didn’t want to be there and when you don’t want to be somewhere you have to find somewhere you’re happy at, from a personal standpoint. Me personally, I want him around. Jeremy’s probably one of the top reasons I came to New York. People talk about how we’re a better team without him, but those are the people that don’t know football. I hear that and it’s like, ‘You people are crazy. You’ve never played a down of football in your life, so what would you even know?’ The guy walks on the field and he demands a double team. Before he even straps it up and goes out to play, he’s already made the team better. Him going to New Orleans, he makes them one of the best offenses in the league. You put him with (Reggie) Bush, with Drew (Brees) and (Marques) Colston … I mean Marques Colston has to be so happy right now he’s probably in his backyard right now doing handsprings and cartwheels. (Shockey) gets them out of double coverage. He just makes that team so much better by going there. For us, we made that run to the Super Bowl without him, so now we’ll see if we’re better without him over a 16-game schedule. People got the playoff run and winning the Super Bowl mixed up with what that guy did for that organization over the past six years he’s been there. That’s the breaking point for me. You win five games without the guy and all of a sudden it’s like the guy doesn’t exist. But he’s one of the main reasons why I became a Giant and why we got to the playoffs last year. I know for a fact we wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs if he hadn’t played at all. I’m more or less upset at the fact we could have traded him a long time ago.” NJ.com

After months of rumors and speculation, Sean Payton finally got his tight end. The Saints finalized a deal with the Giants to bring in TE Jeremy Shockey. The trade costs the Saints a second- and a fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft.

I’m not too high on Shockey as many people are. Yes, he is a great talent and shows unparalleled passion. His emotions get to the best of him, however. He often shows up his quarterback. He also drops more passes than you’d like to see from your tight end. The fact the Giants just flat out took off without him makes me a little leery of what negative things he brings to a team.

If Shockey puts his faith into Coach Payton’s philosophy this could work. Drew Brees and Antonio Gates were a great tandem in San Diego so maybe they could develop a similar chemistry. Shockey will also have an incredible chip on his shoulder. Maybe this works. Maybe not. But it’s more gratifying the Saints made this move after retooling the defense, not before.

All of the practices are at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. All Practices at Millsaps College are Open to the Public and pactice times can be changed at anytime. For the latest updates go to www.neworleanssaints.com.

***ALL MILLSAPS PRACTICES; FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***

Thursday, July 24: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Friday, July 25: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Saturday, July 26: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Sunday, July 27: 8:50-10:30 a.m. (walk-thru); 3:40-6 p.m.

Monday, July 28: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Tuesday, July 29: 8:50-10:30 a.m.; 3:40-6 p.m.

Wednesday July 30: 8:50-10:30 a.m. (walk-thru); 3:40-6:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 31: 8:50-10:30 a.m.; 3:40-6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 1: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 2: PRACTICE TIME TBA — FAMILY DAY (Jackson Memorial Stadium)

Sunday, Aug. 3: No Practice: Players Off

Monday, Aug. 4: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 5: 3:40-6 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 6: 8:50-11 a.m.; No afternoon practice — team travel day.

Thursday, Aug. 7: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 8: No Practice: Players Off

Saturday, Aug. 9: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 10: 8:50-10:30 a.m. 3:40-6 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 11: 8:50-11 a.m.; 4:20-6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 12: Break camp, team returns to New Orleans.

*Practice times and field locations are subject to change with little or no advance warning due to weather considerations or at the discretion of the head coach.

*All Practices at Millsaps College are Open to the Public.

ProFootballTalk.com had an interesting take on the contract negotiations between the team and WR Marques Colston.  Talks are in the preliminary stages in Colston’s situation, as well as the negotiations for OG Jahri Evans. PFT took a look at the future if a deal doesn’t get done this season with Colston.

A holdout by Colston is unlikely, but he clearly deserves a raise.  When and if he’ll get one remains to be seen.

They’d better move soon, or another team might be willing to give up a first-round pick and a third-round pick in order to pilfer him from the Saints next March.  Given that drafting a wideout in round one is even more of a crapshoot than taking a quarterback, a proven commodity is well worth a one and a three.

I’d be utterly shocked if it came down to this. Colston is only 25 years old and has produced at a very high level in his first two seasons in the league. It’s hard to imagine the team would let him even sniff free agency and I fully expect a deal to get done before the start of the season. There isn’t an immediate rush as Colston is not expected to hold out nor will his personality allow him to be a distraction.

Mike Detillier, well respected in the Saints community, wrote an article on how the Saints should seek a trade for Raiders RB Lamont Jordan.

I don’t really understand how sending a draft pick for Lamont Jordan makes any sense. There are a ton of quality running backs available including a league MVP from a few seasons ago (Shaun Alexander). Also available are: Cedric Benson, Travis Henry, Kevin Jones and Najeh Davenport. Jordan hasn’t accomplished as much as some of the players available and would also require a draft pick, which the others wouldn’t. If the Saints were to consider adding another running back, which I think isn’t too likely with Deuce McAllister appearing healthy, a proven 1,000 yard rusher like Henry or Alexander should be the ones added if the team has Super Bowl hopes.

The Saints were hampered with poor play at numerous positions last season, which caused the fall from NFC Championship Game participants to missing the playoffs entirely. Here is a look at the positions that most affected the team in a negative manner and reasons to hope for improvement:

#2 Corner: No matter who the Saints threw out there, the person played poorly. Jason David looked like he moved from quarterback to corner for the majority of the season. Usama Young looked like a rookie. Jason Craft is serviceable as a reserve but when thrown out as a starter, he is just not very good. Fred Thomas never got to play, which is far from a complaint.

Reasons for hope: The team added three corners that could earn playing time at the position: Randall Gay, Tracy Porter, and Aaron Glenn. Jason David also has a year under his belt now under the new system. Usama Young is no longer a rookie as well.

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Mike Florio, of ProFootballTalk.com, wrote an article for sportingnews.com about seven players around the NFL who are feeling the most pressure in 2008. Reggie Bush came in at #2 on his list and here is what he said about him:

2. Reggie Bush, running back, Saints. Bush deserves credit for taking football more seriously as he prepares for his third season. But will showing up for most of the offseason workouts and generally caring more about the game allow him to suddenly run circles around NFL defensive backs, just like he made Fresno State defenders look like blindfolded schoolchildren with their shoes tied together?

This isn’t about desire; it’s about ability. In two full years, Bush simply hasn’t been the guy that everyone thought he’d be. Thus, the pressure in this case comes primarily from Bush himself; the rest of us already know that he’s not the next Gale Sayers. Heck, Reggie isn’t even the current Maurice Jones-Drew.

Harsh. Anyways, I thought it’d be a good idea to look at seven different players on the Saints roster who are feeling the most pressure to contribute.

1. Deuce McAllister: Deuce is coming off two more knee surgeries and is around that age where running backs begin their decline. The team has already flirted with free agent RB Shaun Alexander and with young running backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas already on the roster, it Deuce will have to produce at a high level to remain with the team.

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Adam is attempting to live every football fans dream. He hails from London and this NFL season he will attend 35 games in 17 weeks. He will visit every NFL stadium during his trip. He will also attend Giants Stadium one more time (one for the Giants and another for the Jets), the games in Toronto and London game, and an extra trip to Soldier Field to see his favorite team, the Bears, one more time. He is also leaving behind his girlfriend and job, as well as selling his apartment to go on this trip. I posted a story about him a few days ago and came out very intrigued. I reached out to him and came out very impressed and jealous. You can go on Adam’s web site and follow his journey at www.adamsfootballtrip.com. Here is our conversation:

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am 28 year Londoner who loves the NFL. I have been a Bears fan since I was 5 back in 1985 when as a impressionable kid saw them win the Super Bowl. I am drama facilitator, which basically means I work with teenagers and young people across London, using drama as a tool for positive social change. I will be leaving the 200 or so young people I work with to go on this trip. I am also leaving my beautiful girlfreind, Steph behind here in London, though she says she is going to come out to a few games!

What is the knowledge of football in London?

Well back in the late 80s, NFL was on terrestial T.V on channel 4 and many people began to access it. Though in the last ten years or so the coverage has moved to Sports dedicated networks only on cable and although not everyone is exposed to the NFL those that are have a far greater knowledge of the game than before. We have two London football teams that play in the British american Football League. We also have quite a few Universities in the country that play, I played myself for 1 year in Wales for University. i played Corner back and at 140 pounds I got knocked all over the place.

I play flag football every week in Hyde Park in London, and that are a lot of American in London who go to the bars on Sunday night to watch the games. So in all there is a community here and a passionate one and it is certainly growing. At the London game last year not only was there all 32 NFL jerseys on show, but many U.K American Football teams on show as well NFL Europe.

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