All Things Saints: Your Daily News 4/17
By John Hendrix
Jan 4, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan along the sidelines during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game at Lincoln Financial Field. The Saints defeated the Eagles 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
While there’s no official transactions to report to you since our previous news article from yesterday, there are some good items worth checking out in today’s news.
Quick Hits
- In case you missed it yesterday, the Saints brought in a familiar face for a visit.
- Once rumored to be a potential fit for the Saints, wide receiver Sidney Rice has re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
- DNA was recovered from an accuser’s clothing in the Darren Sharper case. Things just get worse for Sharper, and at this point, the evidence is nearly overwhelming.
Mike Triplett | ESPN | Byrd excited by brainstorming with Ryan
"“To have that ability with an offense that’s gonna put up points and a stingy defense like that and exotic in the way Coach Ryan calls things, it’s unorthodox, it’s gonna keep people guessing,” Byrd said when asked what attracted him to New Orleans in free agency. “That combination right there was enough.”"
It seems that the more you hear about Jairus Byrd and the Saints, the more you fall in love with the free agent acquisition. If Byrd’s excited about pairing with Rob Ryan, then you can bet Ryan must be cutting backflips at the opportunity to work with Byrd.
Mike Triplett | ESPN | Saints morning report: Big cornerbacks
"First, both Edwards and Weidl are high on Lindenwood cornerback Pierre Desir, an under-the-radar prospect who visited with the Saints earlier this week. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder had 13 interceptions in college. And he raised his stock at both the East-West Shrine game and Senior Bowl."
I know what you’re thinking. ‘Lindenwood? Where’s that?’ The answer – Saint Charles, Missouri. The Saints are synonymous with finding players from smaller schools (Marques Colston – Hofstra, Terron Armstead – Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Joe Morgan – Walsh, Jahri Evans – Bloomsburg). It shouldn’t surprise anyone if/when the Saints take a player from a college/school/university you aren’t as familiar with. Some of the best NFL talent has come from those types of schools. A bigger corner isn’t a bad idea for the Saints, as their tallest currently stand at 6’1″ (Lewis, White). The Saints will definitely use the draft to add some cornerbacks, but we aren’t exactly sure if they’ll use their 27th selection on one.
Katherine Terrell | NOLA.com | New Orleans Saints safety Jairus Byrd starts to settle into community
"Byrd surprised children at Harahan Elementary on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of reading and giving away autographed T-shirts to an eager audience of students.“I really wanted to come out and talk to the kids, and I meant that,” he said. “I remember being in that position when I was younger. Just to be able to come out here and talk to them was a really big joy for me to get a feel for the city and the kids.”"
One way to win any fan base over is to make an impact in the community. Byrd is quickly establishing himself as a ‘fan favorite’, and we can’t wait to see his passion and efforts translate onto the field.
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