New Orleans Saints and NFL: Top News and Video Clips
By Keith Null
"Multiple teams are interested in veteran wide receiver Randy Moss, and visits could begin after the end of the NFL Scouting Combine, league sources said Sunday. Sources also said a deal could be a possibility before the March 13 start of free agency if Moss is close to being in the condition that he has been telling people. Moss, 35, recently announced he was eager to play again in 2012 after sitting out the 2011 season. He also claimed he has recently run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash."
"Griffin was unofficially timed at 4.38 seconds on his second attempt in the 40-yard dash Sunday at the Combine, after doing 4.41 seconds in his first attempt. Later in the day, officials announced his time as 4.41. Scouts already knew Griffin was a speedster. He was one of the country’s top hurdlers at Baylor before turning his attention strictly to football. However, Griffin’s speed will bring a different dynamic to the quarterback position for any team that drafts him."
"That means two prominent defensive veterans are candidates for release or restructure. Defensive end Will Smith is scheduled to count $10.15 million against the cap. Although Smith is their top pass rusher, the Saints could free up $6.15 million by releasing him. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the leader of the defense in recent years, is scheduled to count $7.6 million against the cap. The Saints could free up $3.6 million by releasing Vilma. The Saints might not be ready to part with Vilma and Smith, so restructuring is a possibility for each. But Vilma is coming off knee surgery and the Saints have all the medical reports. If Vilma’s knee looks like it could be a lingering problem, the Saints might have to make the difficult move of releasing one of their team leaders."
"The Saints don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but GM Mickey Loomis, Coach Sean Payton, coaches and scouts are paying attention to all the top prospects. You never know who might fall out of the first round and be available in the second. The Saintshave the 59th pick. The Saints are in need of a pass rush and the problem with new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo‘s scheme is the Saints don’t have the personnel to run this part of the defense effectively. Spagno likes to generate almost all his pressure from the front four. Outside of veteran defensive end, the Saints don’t have pass rush threats on the line. They will address this need through the draft."
"NFL free agency is fast approaching (March 13th), and the Saints are in talks with quarterback Drew Brees about long term contract extension. They still have two other big time players to re-sign: offensive lineman Carl Nicks and wide receiver Marques Colston. Is it feasible to keep all three? “I see a scenario with Brees and Nicks. I think Colston will at least take a long look at the free agency market,” says WWL NFL Analyst Mike Detillier. GASP! A long look?"