New Orleans Saints fans sound off to Coby Fleener signing

Sep 28, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) catches a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Colts defeated the Titans 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) catches a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Colts defeated the Titans 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Coby Fleener, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, struck a deal with the New Orleans Saints to open up the 2016 NFL free agency period.  Members of the ‘Who Dat Nation’ expressed their opinions via Twitter about the tight end signing.

The deal for Coby Fleener is reportedly worth a whopping $36 million over five years, but he will just be a cap charge of $2.4M in his first year.  Signing a tight end was expected after Benjamin Watson left the New Orleans Saints for a contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Fleener, 27, entered the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts via the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Stanford to join college teammate and quarterback Andrew Luck, who went the same year in the first round.

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In four seasons with the Colts, Fleener racked up 183 catches, 2,154 yards, and 17 touchdowns with his best campaign coming in 2014 (51 catches, 774 yards, eight touchdowns).

He comes from a Colts team that wasn’t necessarily known for targeting tight ends.  He could find some serious success with Drew Brees under center.  Fleener has missed just two games in four years, both coming in his rookie season.

It was a good, but pricey signing for the Saints.  With bigger needs to address, Coby Fleener can still bring a solid, young No. 1 tight end presence to New Orleans’ already high-powered offense.  Of course, there were mixed feelings from the Saints’ fan base.