DT Hollis Thomas will be sidelined for the next two months with a right triceps injury suffered in a practice vs. the Houston Texans on Wednesday.

The Saints have a decent amount of depth at the position but Thomas is their best run stuffer. The loss should equate to more playing time for rookie Sedrick Ellis. The Saints see running backs such as Earnest Graham, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Adrian Peterson and Darren McFadden in the next two months which means everybody will need to step it up and clog the line.

• Boy, Robert Meachem looked great. How much did this guy has had to overcome in just one year is amazing. He showed big play ability, great hands and what is most important: 100% health. He played a great game and this wide receiver competition is surely heating up. His workouts with David Patten may cost Patten his starting job, which would be ironic.
• The offense looked crisp in the first series. That is great to see in just the first preseason game of the season. Drew Brees looked in complete control, which I wouldn’t expect anything less from him.
• Speaking on quarterback play, it’s great to see the Saints have a reliable backup in Mark Brunell. He looked sharp, connecting with Meachem on a long pass late in the second quarter. Tyler Palko also held his own out there and it’d be interesting to see how his situation plays out.
• Concerns about the running game could not be changed by this game. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush struggled running the ball, combing for 16 carries and 31 yards. Aaron Stecker looked sharp, however, and it’d be interesting to see if they can find him some touches during the season.
• The pass rush surely looked improving, with the defensive unit recording 5 sacks. Matt Leinart looked good against the teams secondary and there appeared to be a few leaks which you would like to see corrected.
• All in all it was a good first game in the preseason. Everybody appeared to get out healthy and Robert Meachem is making a case to start.

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.

“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.

]]> http://whodatdish.com/2008/07/21/saints-finally-acquire-shockey/feed/ http://whodatdish.com/2008/07/20/saints-training-camp-schedule/ http://whodatdish.com/2008/07/20/saints-training-camp-schedule/#comments Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:31:20 +0000 saintsdash http://whodatdish.com/?p=96 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.