Moosedenied's NFC South Preview Part 4: New Orleans Saints

This is GrandMaster Wang's final installment of his 4-part series detailing the NFC South. He saved the best for last. Enjoy...

There’s no denying that the Saints sucked ass in 2007. They were terrible. 2006 was a fluke resulting from nobody taking them seriously. 2007 exposed the Saints for what they are, a slightly-below-average team with a great QB, exactly one legit wideout, no running game and no defense whatsoever.

So why is it that I’m about to deny all of that?

Could it be because it’s bullshit?

Or is it because I’m a homer? Actually, it’s plenty of both. But let’s focus on the former. Read it all...

Moosedenied's NFC South Preview Part 3: Tampa Bay Bucanneers

By Grandmaster Wang / Moosedenied.com...

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. For the Tampa Bay Bucs, last year was one of those times.

Oh, they were good too. They were about as good defensively as the Saints were offensively. That in and of itself qualifies as pretty "lucky", given that half their defense remembers the Taft administration and the other half doesn’t remember the Reagan administration.

But even more than that, Zeus must really have a boner for Fabulous Jeff, a guy who was spanked by Grover Cleveland on two non-consecutive occasions. Either that or Hera was really trying to stick it to Ganymede. Read it all...

Moosedenied's NFC South Preview Part 2: Carolina Panthers

As countless 2008 NFL season preview magazines hit the racks, we would like to bring you some analysis from one of our favorite sites, moosedenied.com. For those that are unfamiliar with GrandMaster Wang's writing, take it from us when we tell you the man is talented. Perhaps a bit bold at times, but very talented. He is in the midst of previewing the NFC South for the upcoming 2008 season. Check out what he says about the Carolina Panthers in Part 2 of his preview:

Last year at QB, the Pants started Jake Delhomme, David Carr, Matt Moore, Vinny Testaverde, Rodney Peete, Dameyune Craig, Jack Trudeau, Frank Reich, Steve Beuerlein, and Steve Bono. It got so bad, they were pretty close to calling Chris Weinke. Yikes.

But this year? Jake’s back, bitches! With one of those stringy, impossible-to-chew parts from a Bojangles™ Brand drumstick grafted onto his throwing elbow. And Jeff Otah! And Jonathan Stewart! And the Pants are going to RESTORE THE ROAR this fall! Or something. Right? Read it all...

Moosedenied's NFC South Preview Part 1: Atlanta Falcons

As countless 2008 NFL season preview magazines hit the racks, we would like to bring you some analysis from one of our favorite sites, moosedenied.com. For those that are unfamiliar with GrandMaster Wang's writing, take it from us when we tell you the man is talented. Perhaps a bit bold at times, but very talented. He is in the midst of previewing the NFC South for the upcoming 2008 season. Check out what he says about the Atlanta Falcons in Part 1 of his preview:

This just in: The Falcons still blow.

But hey, five to eight years from now? Watch out, bitches! Atlanta’s got themselves a brand spankin’ new "face of the franchise" in the form of… another overrated ACC quarterback with two first names.

There have been rumors that the selection of Matt Ryan was a big misunderstanding in the first place. Evidently the Falcons’ rep actually told Herr Goodell that they wanted to select Glenn Dorsey, but Goodell thought he said "The Next Ken Dorsey." ...Read it all.

Fantasy Love / Hate: Wide Receivers

Currently, I play in 4 leagues: a dynasty league, a customized keeper league (easily my favorite), a "normal" league, and an auction league. In the coming weeks I will give you 3 players from each position that I love and hate heading in to the 2008 season. Here's what I said about running backs. At first I wanted to write about my thoughts on every player, but for now, I thought it best to limit myself. Admittedly, it's a little early. Players' roles are sure to change as we move through training camps around the league, but this should serve to get the ball rolling as you begin to think who you want to target.

Some people I love/hate will be taken in the first round, some people will be taken much later. This is not a ranking, but merely my suggestion if a certain player is being overvalued or undervalued relative to his early suggested draft position by other major publications. And as always, I will try not to present the obvious -- that will be left to everyone else.

So here it goes:

Wide Receivers I Love (i.e. think are undervalued):

1.) Braylon Edwards (BROWNS) -- Last year, he made the jump in to elite status, and this year, nothing is changing. Cleveland has stuck with Derrick Anderson over Brady Quinn, and Edwards should continue to flourish and build upon his 1,289 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns in '07. And that's not even why I like him. Edwards finished as the #3 fantasy wideout last season in ESPN's standard scoring format, behind only Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. However, early projections aren't treating him as such. Many are grouping Edwards in an early-middle tier that includes Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, etc. That said, Edwards should be available a round (possibly two) after guys like Moss, Owens, and Wayne get picked; and, he has a very good chance of posting numbers equal to or better than the numbers the "big three" put up. Cleveland's offensive line is one of the better lines in the NFL and, even if Jamal Lewis isn't great again, Anderson will have all the time he needs to find Edwards early and often. Also, Stallworth's presence as a deep threat should only serve to occupy opposing secondaries so they cannot consistently double-team Edwards -- they will be forced to respect Stallworth's speed by keeping a safety over the top. While others waste a first rounder on one of the "big three," you can afford to wait until the 2nd or 3rd to get a guy who has a realistic shot at ending 2008 as the best wide-receiver in fantasy football. Besides, who are you people that take wide receivers in the first round? It's bad form.

2.) Chad Johnson (BENGALS) -- Do I like Chad? No. Would I want him on the Saints roster? Never. Do I think he needs to grow up? You know it. But will he be on any of my fantasy teams this year? Absolutely. Chad Johnson's value has never been lower... and never will be. I was reading several listings of various WR rankings, and nearly all of them had Johnson's teammate, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, ranked ahead of the disgruntled wide receiver. I actually have T.J. in my keeper league, but couldn't help laughing at the fact that other "experts" projected him ahead of Johnson for 2008. We all know that Johnson had an off-year last year; yet he still managed to finish as the 6th-best wide reciever in ESPN's standard scoring format (one spot ahead of Houshyourmama). Last year, Johnson was tabbed by nearly every publication as a top 5 wideout, now he's not even breaking the top ten. It's happened before with Owens and Moss -- there fantasy stock has dropped because of their on-field antics -- and now it's happening with Chad Johnson. Johnson is still one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL, he still has one of the best QB's throwing the ball to him, and he still has the benefit of playing with a very good offense line. Now you tell me that I can get him for half the price? Thanks... I'll take him.

3.) David Patten (SAINTS) -- Ok, how many people's eyebrows are raised right now? If you're confused, let me explain. I think David Patten has a good chance of being the 2008 "light" version of Wes Welker. The Saints were the only team to throw more than the New England Patriots did last season -- Brees attempted a mind-boggling 652 passes in '07. Even if running back Deuce McAlister returns to health, past experience says Sean Payton will continue to call passes and Drew Bress will continue to chunk it. So why not like the #2 option for a team that is likely to lead the league in pass attempts? Last year, despite only landing a starting job midway through the season, Patten managed to finish ahead of Amani Toomer and Donte Stallworth (and just behind receivers such as Donald Driver, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, and Laveranues Coles). Now, Patten will start alongside Marques Colston from day one. We all know how good a potent offense's #2 receiver can be (see Wes Welker, T.J. Housh, and Reggie Wayne -- although he's now the Colts #1.) Admittedly, at 33 years-old, Patten will never be as good as the aforementioned wide receivers, but that doesn't mean he can't help your fantasy team. After settling in to the starting role last season, Patten finished with 54 catches, 792 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Assuming he keeps the #2 role all season (which I think he will), it's not hard to envision a campaign with 70 catches, 1000 yards, and 6 touchdowns (that's just 16 more catches, 208 more yards, and 3 more touchdowns from last year). Don't be scared off by the rumors saying that Robert Meachem will take the #2 role this year -- it's very unlikely he will do so. He did not play one down last year. In 2008, which is basically his rookie season, Meachem may pass up Devery Henderson as Drew Brees' third option, but he shouldn't threaten Patten's hold on the starting spot opposite Colston. Down the stretch, Brees developed a trust in the veteran receiver which figures only to be enhanced with a second off-season of work together. And get the real reason I love Patten: he's getting no respect in fantasy rankings. ESPN.com has Patten ranked #56 in it's WR rankings for 2008. If you buy what I'm selling, that's way too low. I think he's going to finish in the top 30 and wouldn't be shocked if he rose higher than that. That's starter material as a borderline #2 fantasy wideout, and if you're in a league that starts 3 WR's, he's a no brainer as your #3 WR. While others start taking mid to late-round flyers on Bernard Berrian, Donte Stallworth, and Patrick Crayton, you sit tight and wait for Patten. You will be glad you did.

Wide Receivers I hate (i.e. think are overvalued):

1.) Greg Jennings (PACKERS) -- In hoping to land the next Braylon Edwards, many fantasy football experts will undoubtedly tab a pool of young wide-receivers that have the potential to take a huge leap into "elite" status in 2008. Among them, you're certain to hear names including Greg Jennings, Santonio Holmes, and Brandon Marshall. Unfortunately, for Jennings, he is the least likely too emerge a stud in 2008. In fact, I think he will digress significantly this season. Last year, you may be surprised to know that Jennings didn't lead his team in receptions (he only had 53 catches to Donald Driver's 82), nor did he eclipse 1,000 yards receiving (he only had 920 yards to Driver's 1,048). Amazingly, he was able to finish last year as the #11 overall WR in standard soring formats (I would bet he didn't fare as well in PPR leagues). So how did he do it? One reason -- touchdowns. In 2007, Jennings caught a ton of them. In fact, out of Favre's 28 touchdown passes last year, 12 went to Jennings. Unfortunately for Jennings, Favre retired this off-season and Green Bay has moved on to Aaron Rodgers (...recently, reports indicate that Favre may return, which could send this entire analysis down the pipe, but for now let's assume that Favre remains retired or plays somewhere besides Green Bay in 2008). Rodgers will be hard pressed to throw for 20 touchdowns, much less 28, and Jennings will likely not see the same percentage of them. If you follow, that puts him around 6-7 touchdowns at best. Even if he gets the same amount of catches and yards, his numbers would read 53, 920, and 7. Hardly numbers worthy of the draft pick you will need to forfeit to acquire him. After Jennings goes, wait another 2 rounds and take Driver. He's a better route-runner, will probably finish with better numbers than Jennings, and most importantly, you're getting a better value.

2.) Larry Fitzgerald (CARDINALS) -- This one is a little tougher to call because I believe that Fitz is one of the most talented (perhaps the most talented) young receiver in the NFL. Out of all the young studs scattered around NFL rosters, Fitzgerald reminds me most of Jerry Rice. He's not the fastest or tallest, but he's got the best hands and is, perhaps, the smartest (call it receiving I.Q.). I don't want this to look like a "man crush," so let me tell you why I don't like him. Part of what made Jerry Rice great was the fact that he had the luxury of working with two of the finest QB's in NFL history in Joe Montana and Steve Young. Unfortunately for Fitzgerald, he will be expected to catch passes from Matt Leinart in 2008. Early rumblings out of Arizona are that Leinart, not Kurt Warner, will start and get every opportunity to succeed (he was, afterall, a top 10 pick, and top 10 picks are not easily cast aside). However, this won't be Leinart's first crack at the starting job. Last year, he started the first 4 games of the season. Fitzgerald's numbers in those games? 312 yards and NO touchdowns. Meanwhile, Anquan Boldin, Arizona's other stud WR, found the endzone 3 times during that span. Even if Warner replaces Leinart again (which is a favorable possibility to many), there's no guarantee that he will remain healthy enough to complete the entire season -- at 37-years-old, Warner is more brittle than ever. The other issue Fitzgerald must deal with is losing touches to Boldin. If the Cardinals had a QB like Manning, Brees, Brady, Romo, or Palmer, I would not worry about the ball being spread around; but when two great WR's are fighting for touches from a below average QB (which, at this stage of his development, Leinart is), there could be a problem. Don't believe me that the quarterback doesn't make the receiver? Just ask Roy Williams and Randy Moss. Neither Williams nor Calvin Johnson finished in the top 30 in fantasy points last year. Moss, on the other hand, flourished with Tom Brady, after a two year hiatus in Oakland when he was catching passes from Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter. The bottom line is that Fitzgerald has too many issues working against him for me to justify the early pick needed to put him on my fantasy roster. There are just safer options out there.

3.) Marvin Harrison (COLTS) -- From a not-so-obvious receiver I hate (Fitzgerald), to a bit more reasonable assumption: stay away from Marvin Harrison. Surely, someone in your draft will see Harrison sitting there in the third or fourth round, and say to himself, "Didn't someone draft that guy in the first or second round last year? I know he got hurt, but I'm going to take a shot on him. If he returns to form, I'm getting a steal!" Then, whoever that loser is will draft him. Don't be that guy. Hearing the selection, some other guy sitting quietly in the corner is sure to draw a line through ESPN.com's 24-ranked WR, smile, and say, "Man, that's risky." Please... be that guy. When older WR's fall from grace, they do so in a hurry. Harrison's 13 years in the league were a thing of beauty, but he'll be 36 by the time the 2008 season rolls around, and more likely than not, his run is over. If you don't believe me, then believe Harrison's own team... They didn't draft Anthony Gonzales in the first round (two years ago) to be a life-time "slot" receiver. At the end of last season, in Week 14, Gonzales had 6 catches for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns at Baltimore. In Week 15, Gonzales followed that up with 7 catches for 86 yards and 1 touchdown. Consider the torch passed. Matthew Berry (ESPN's senior director of fantasy) said it best when referring to Harrison's 2008 outlook: "I think he's done. And I'm not willing to waste a reasonably high draft pick to find out if I'm wrong."

Bullocks Out, Kaesviharn In?

Who Dat News: ProFootballTalk reported last week that Kevin Kaesviharn has overtaken Josh Bullocks (as Bullocks has been recovering from a knee injury) in the battle to become the team's starting free safety. Here's what the article said:

With Saints FS Josh Bullocks out for OTAs while on the mend from knee surgery, Kevin Kaesviharn has moved ahead in the race to become the team’s starting free safety, the way we hear it. Bullocks is the incumbent at the position and has started 43 of the 46 games he has played in during his three seasons in the league, but his performance has been inconsistent, particularly in coverage. Missing a large chunk of time that could have been spent working on eliminating mistakes that plagued him in the past didn’t help his cause as he enters his contract year. Kaesviharn started three games last season, his first with New Orleans, but sources say he looks like the more dependable option at this point and is penciled in as the starter next to SS Roman Harper, who also has encountered consistency issues. Competition throughout the Saints’ secondary should last through training camp and the preseason as defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs tries to improve his unit’s pass defense, which ranked 30th in the league last season.

WhoDatSay: The issue I have with this report is that (as usual) ProFootballTalk doesn't cite its source. Was it a ball boy at minicamp who saw Kaesviharn running with the ones and came to an extreme conclusion? Or was it an insider in the Saints' personnel department who actually knows head coach Sean Payton's and defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs' intentions?

I know, I know, they are just looking out for the integrity of their source so they continue to be "looped in" to valuable news. I'm just bitter that they get more hits than us.

As far as the Saints' starting free safety position, here's what I think....

Bullocks is in the final year of his rookie contract. He has all the incentive in the world to be on the field this season and perform. Problem is, Bullocks had knee surgery early in the offseason and hasn't recovered yet. So, OBVIOUSLY, Kaesviharn is getting first team reps until Bullocks is healthy -- and when Bullocks is healthy, it's his job again... or is it?

When the Saints brought it Kaesviharn last season, the expectation was that he challenge Josh Bullocks for the starting free-safety job. However, much like Brian Simmons in his competition with Mark Simoneau at middle linebacker, Kaesviharn could never unseat Bullocks until the end of the season (and only then because Bullocks was forced out with a quad injury). The question is, why? Was Bullocks' play that good? I think not. Was Kaesviharn slow to pick up the defense? Possibly. Did it even matter who was starting, because our RCB (Jason David) was THAT bad? Probably so.

However, unlike Simmons at middle linebacker (all hail Vilma!), Kaesviharn is still around. Right now, the reality is that HE is getting all the reps at free safety, not Bullocks. In the meantime, Bullocks is doing nothing to dispell the public notion that he is inconsistent and unreliable in the secondary (ok -- that's being nice -- public perception is that he sucks). In this case, perception is reality.

Frustrating for Saints fans is that Mickey Loomis and the Saints front office is sending us mixed messages. They made no attempt this offseason (in the draft or in free agency) to upgrade the FS position. Then, after the draft, Loomis commented that the team liked what they had in Bullocks and went as far as to say that "Josh has been a good player for us."

Come on boss, are you serious?

Loomis is not serious. He was just being smart in addressing the media. Imagine the stir it would have caused if when asked about Bullocks Loomis said, "Josh is really not that good a player. It's a shame, he has all the tangibles needed to be a successful free safety in this league, but he just sucks. I don't know what else to say. He's like a fast chicken with his head cut off. Next year, he will not be with us."

If Loomis were serious with his above-mentioned claim, it would be Josh Bullocks' contract (and not Will Smith's, Jahri Evans', or Marques Colston's contract) that the team would be trying to get re-worked. But there has been no such mention of any contract extension for the free safety who has started 43 of the last 46 games after being selected as a second-round pick in 2005 -- and there will be no mention of one.

Because the Saints are not sure Kaesviharn is the better option (and because Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis are just good men), they will not publicly say it; but trust me, Bullocks will not be on the team unless he takes a pay cut next year. Maybe Kaesviharn will not either, as someone from the outside (via free agency or the draft) should and probably will be brought in to upgrade that position.

In 2008, the better player will start the season at free safety. And right now, while Josh Bullocks does his best Cam Cleeland and Donte Stallworth imitation from the sideline, that player is Kevin Kaesviharn.

Fantasy Love / Hate: Running Backs

Due to the fact that Saints training camp is still a month out, I thought it would be good to get a jump start on fantasy football.

Currently, I play in 4 leagues: a dynasty league, a customized keeper league (easily my favorite), a "normal" league, and an auction league. In the coming weeks I will give you 3 players from each position that I love and hate heading in to the 2008 season. At first I wanted to write about my thoughts on every player, but for now, I thought it best to limit myself. Admittedly, it's a little early. Players' roles are sure to change as we move through training camps around the league and committee approaches will be clearer then, but this should serve to get the ball rolling as you begin to think who you want to target.

Some people I love/hate will be taken in the first round, some people will be taken much later. This is not a ranking, but merely my suggestion if a certain player is being overvalued or undervalued relative to his early suggested draft position by other major publications. And as always, I will rarely present the obvious -- that will be left to everyone else. I'm going to dig deep baby!

So here it goes:

Running Backs I Love (i.e. think are undervalued):

1.) Joseph Addai (COLTS) -- No, this has nothing to do with the fact that I'm a rabid LSU fan. Largely speaking the two top ranked RB's heading in to the 2008 season are L.T. for his past efforts and A.P. for his obvious potential. However, I have concerns about each. Addai is the running back I want. He is entering his 3rd year in Tom Moore's offense and Payton Manning trusts him immensely. The reason Addai was able to succeed as a rookie was because he excelled in pass protection. That hasn't changed and as a result Addai will stay on the field early and often. Sure, the Colts signed Dominic Rhodes to a one year deal after Oakland released him -- why wouldn't they -- he knows the offense and will be asked (along with Mike Hart) to spell Addai. Neither is a threat to Addai as a primary ball carrier, but each will ensure Joe is fresh until the end. Top that off with the fact that the Colts are less likely to sit their players at the end of the year (see Patriots / Giants week 17 matchup for confirmation) and Addai is primed to be your #1 ball carrier. Most fantasy owners will drool at the opportunity to take L.T. or A.P. with the first or second pick (and others will love to have Westbrook or Jackson at #3), but give me the # 4 overall, and I will gladly pluck Addai and add him to my roster.

2.) Maurice Jones-Drew (JAGUARS) -- Admittedly, I hated this guy last year and wanted nothing to do with him. I was right -- he still was involved in a time share with Taylor and I just wasn't certain that he was the real deal. Well one year later, I am. Jones-Drew is proof that big things come in small packages. I usually hate small backs in fantasy because I think they are less likely to get the goal-line carries. For some reason, the little jaguar is different. He's like a balling ball with legs, yet (amazingly) he still has the top-end speed to hit the homerun. Goal-line carries: check. Homerun ability: check. Excellent pass-catcher: check. Good O-line: check. Fragile Fred: check. Fred Taylor made many dumb owners look intelligent last year when he held up and produced at an elite level in his time-share with MJJ. He won't do it again. Either this year or next, Fred will be out of the NFL, and MJJ will be a top 5 fantasy back.

3.) Selvin Young (BRONCOS) -- Ok, I know this one is bound to get quite a few raised eyebrows, but hear me out. Last year, Shanahan had done something he never had done before. He signed a quality starting RB in free agency named Travis Henry. At the time, Henry was coming off a banner year in which he rejuvenated his career with the Tennessee Titans. The experts said he would be the perfect fit for Denver's one-cut, zone-blocking scheme. Unfortunately for Henry, he is now out of a job, as Selvin Young proved more productive and reliable. I know all of you will say that to gamble with a Bronco back is madness -- they can never be counted on, right? Well maybe this time you can. Even Shanahan knows when he's being too cute. Sure, he signed Michael Pittman as veteran insurance and Pittman may see the field on third downs. But I just have a feeling that Shanahan is finally ready to stop his annual game of musical running backs. You and I both know that no one will touch Selvin in the early rounds because of the perceived risk (and certainly there is some there). But if I told you he has a great chance to be the most consistent back Denver has had since Clinton Portis, would you not "steal him" in round 4? I would.... and I will.


Running Backs I hate (i.e. think are overvalued):

1.) LaDanian Tomlinson (CHARGERS) -- Let me explain. Heading in to last year, I had Larry Johnson in my Keeper league. Because of the wear and tear he had from the previous 2 seasons (and admittedly for a few other reasons), I chose to trade him. In my three other leagues, I privately declared that, under no circumstances, would I draft him or Rudi Johnson (I figured Rudi, too, was due for an injury). How do you think that decision turned out? Larry Johnson went away, Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson (whom I acquired with the #1 overall pick I received in the L.J. trade) joined my team. For what it's worth, I finished 3rd. The guy I traded with actually finished 2nd, but it had nothing to do with Larry Johnson -- he actually rode Braylon Edwards (who he grabbed with my 2nd-round pick that he received from me in the same trade) and Jamal Lewis into and through the playoffs. The trade actually helped both of us, but I bet if he had to do it over again, my friend would not have given away the rights to Peterson and Randy Moss for a guy who had so much mileage.

With that in mind, let's get back to why I hate Tomlinson this year. Fantasy Football is all about value, and L.T.'s will never be any higher. In every league, he should be no worst than the #2 overall pick, and for good reason. Take a look at his production since 2001.

2007 G -16 Att -315 Yds -1474 Td's - 15
2006 G -16 Att -348 Yds -1815 Td's - 28
2005 G -16 Att -339 Yds -1462 Td's - 18
2004 G -15 Att -339 Yds -1335 Td's - 17
2003 G -16 Att -313 Yds -1645 Td's - 13
2002 G -16 Att -372 Yds -1683 Td's - 14
2001 G -16 Att -339 Yds -1236 Td's - 10

Totals: G-111 Att-2365 Yds-10650 Td's-115

Certainly, that's incredible. Tomlinson has rattled off 7 straight years of elite production. However, with that production comes mileage, and in Tomlinson's case, a ton of it. Since 2001 his legs have accrued 10,650 yards on 2,365 carries without a single injury... until last years' playoffs. Tomlinson, like all of the other great ones before him, will hit a wall. Will it be this year? or next? My bet is that it will be one or the other. Drafting him #1 overall with the expectation that he will be the bedrock of your team is risky business. If you get the #1 overall pick, what should you do? Trade back to 3 or 4 and draft Addai -- trust me.

2.) Larry Johnson (CHIEFS) -- I hated him last year, and I hate him again this season. What's changed? He still has Brody Croyle behind center which means another season of constant 8 and 9 man fronts. Sure, Branden Albert will help the O-line, but the unit will still be one of the worst in the NFL. At least they brought in Jamal Charles as a change of pace back to spell Johnson, but that hardly indicates a return to glory for L.J.. His ceiling will be 1200 yards and 8 touchdowns this year. For someone that's projected to be a top-10 back, that's pathetic. The chiefs offense of 3 years ago is a distant memory, and so is L.J.'s status as an elite fantasy back.

3.) Jonathan Stewart (PANTHERS) -- Many expect this rookie to come in and, by the end of the year, stake claim to Carolina's running back position. Out of all the rookies I would draft (McFadden, Mendenhall, Forte, Smith), Stewart is the last. It's not so much that I don't trust him, although he still is limited with the foot injury. It's that I think John Fox is a moron. I truly believe he is one of the most unintelligent coaches in the NFL. Every year, Fox changes his mind about what type of running attack he wants to have. Two years ago, it was a "pound it" philosophy. Then when he realized that D. Foster and D. Williams couldn't handle the role as a between-the-tackles runner, he ditched his power running game for a "zone-blocking" scheme. Then when Foster stunk it up again, he decided to go back to his "power" running style of offense that made him successful when Stephen Davis was there (and he drafted Stewart and Jeff Otah to help in that regard). Problem is, that even with Otah, the Panthers' O-line still isn't very good. What's more cause for concern is that Fox has publicly stated that he wants his new "power back" to return kicks, too. Even if Stewart beats out Williams for the lions' share of the carries, I'll save my late-round flyer or early keeper/dynasty-league pick on someone else.

Next week I will look at wide-receivers and will tell you why Greg Jennings coming out party will be alot like Michael Clayton's... one and done.

If anyone has fantasy football thoughts or questions you would like us to post or answer, send an e-mail to whodatsayteam@gmail.com.

Can Reggie Bush be great in '08?

By Eddie Griffin, Bleacher Report.

Will Reggie Bush be known more for his girl’s ass than his NFL talents?

The upcoming NFL season could prove pivotal toward answering that question.

While Bush’s girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, does have a wonderful posterior, I highly doubt he would be content being known as “that NFL player Kim Kardashian is with.”

Despite being behind only Peyton Manning in NFL endorsement deals, and despite being drafted No. 2 overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2006, Bush’s illustrious star has slowly dimmed to such a point that another lackluster season could potentially lead to Bush’s star-power fizzling out. Full Story

Ranking the Big Uglies

A powerful and deep O-Line is perhaps the greatest foundation of a football team. You fantasy freaks may want to read this. A great QB is nothing, a talented running back is worthless, a fast wide-receiver is inept -- all without the protection, room, and time their offensive line affords them. So, how does the Saints line stack up against others in the league?

Matthew Williamson of Scouts Inc examined all 32 offensive lines and ranks them here. The Saints come in at #9. Here's what he had to say about the top ten -- admittedly, Cleveland at #1 was a surprise...

So which team has the best offensive line in the league? Scouts Inc. breaks them down Nos. 1 through 32.

1. Cleveland Browns
While most NFL teams have about four linemen who are truly starting caliber, the Browns have seven or eight. Not only are they deep, but they arguably have the best left side in the NFL with LG Eric Steinbach and LT Joe Thomas. Entering his second season, Thomas is talented enough to potentially be recognized as the best lineman in the game before the end of the 2008 season. He is a great athlete, has ideal size (6-foot-6, 313 pounds) and the passion to bury his opponent. As a rookie, he wasn't overwhelmed by the speed and size of the game at this level, and now he's had an entire offseason to properly prepare. At 6-6, Steinbach is tall for a guard and lacks ideal bulk, but he is very quick, smart and athletic. He consistently gets under the pads of his opponents, works hard to finish and is tremendous in space. The rest of the group isn't too shabby and made QB Derek Anderson look exceptional last year. The pass protection is impeccable. Ryan Tucker will miss time to start the season, but Cleveland shouldn't miss a beat in his absence. Center Hank Fraley is a tough guy in the middle of the line and does a fine job making the line calls. After a great season in 2007, this group will be even better in 2008.

2. Dallas Cowboys
Adding 6-6, 366-pound Leonard Davis to an already stable offensive line was a great move that paid off in a big way last year. A bit of a washout at tackle, Davis proved to be an exceptional guard, and the Cowboys ran behind him when they needed a tough yard. Center Andre Gurode doesn't get the credit he deserves as one of the best pivotmen in the game today. Getting to QB Tony Romo is very difficult against a group that not only pass protects well, but also holds its own as run-blockers. LT Flozell Adams had his best season, but he signed a new contract in the offseason and will need to keep his intensity up after the big payday. RT Marc Colombo is the weakest link among the starters and could be pushed for playing time if he doesn't play better in training camp. Still, this is a tough group that's coached by Hudson Houch, who is one of the best line coaches in the league and has a knack for getting the most out of his players.

3. Minnesota Vikings
Everyone on the planet knew that Minnesota was going to run the football last year, and what did they do? They ran it as well as anyone in the league, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. The lack of a passing game cannot be attributed to the Vikings' front five, but this unit is better at run blocking than pass protection. There simply isn't a better offensive lineman in the game than Steve Hutchinson, and his presence on this unit cannot be overstated. The rest of the crew is very solid, but Hutchinson is a superstar. Keep an eye on Bryant McKinnie's legal situation, though, as the Vikes do not have another left tackle to fall back on. McKinnie is more inconsistent than many realize, but playing next to Hutchinson can mask some problems. It is also conceivable that the right side of the line played over its head last year and could come back to earth, but the tandem of RG Anthony Herrera and RT Ryan Cook does have great size and some nastiness.

4. New England Patriots
How do you think Tom Brady was able to stand in the pocket all day and wait for his fantastic receivers to get open? This line is terrific. Last year New England only allowed 21 sacks, even though Brady threw it nearly 600 times. The line's ability to pass block was obvious, but for some reason, the Patriots' ability to open holes in the run game went under the radar. With all the star power on New England's offense, Logan Mankins is easy to forget, but he is one of the top guards in the league. There are some concerns about this group, however. Guard Stephen Neal is coming off shoulder surgery, OT Nick Kaczur -- the weakest link among the starters -- is dealing with off-the-field issues and the last game this group played was not its finest. While OT Matt Light had a good season and is a very good player, pure speed-rushers give him all that he can handle. But for all these problems, this group still had three Pro Bowl representatives last year and is one of the best out there.

5. Indianapolis Colts
Howard Mudd is among the best line coaches in the NFL, and his group of linemen consistently plays at a high level year after year. The Colts put a premium on left tackle and require an exceptional athlete to protect Peyton Manning's blind side, but they otherwise get by with intelligent, hard-working, fundamentally sound grinders who play very well within the system. The group is well-conditioned and handles assignments effectively. LT Tony Ugoh should be noticeably better in his second season. Center Jeff Saturday keeps it all together, and as evidenced by Indianapolis drafting three centers in this past draft, the organization fears for life after Saturday. Saturday is tough, technically sound and excels at handling the line calls in conjunction with Manning. The Colts lost Jake Scott, but he will probably be replaced by rookie Mike Pollak, who is also slated to be Saturday's heir some day. Charlie Johnson could factor in at guard or as a valuable sixth man. It's no secret that this group does a great job of keeping Manning clean in the pocket, but it is also proficient in the run game, executing Indianapolis' zone-stretch scheme. At the same time, it should not be overlooked that the many weapons on the Colts' roster and Manning's uncanny pocket presence help to make this line's job a little easier.

6. San Diego Chargers
This group struggled to start the 2007 season without C Nick Hardwick in the lineup. Unfortunately for San Diego, it will start the 2008 season without Hardwick, who is coming off foot surgery. However, this is a very good group overall. LT Marcus McNeill started slowly last season, but rebounded quickly. At 6-foot-7, 336 pounds, he has tremendous size, long arms and good athletic ability. McNeill and LG Kris Dielman make up one of the best left sides in the league, and this duo can be dominant at times. There are some concerns on the right side, however, as RG Mike Goff is starting to slow down with age and RT Jeromey Clary, who was a pleasant surprise last year, still needs to further prove himself. This group is better at pass blocking than run blocking, and the Chargers might look to throw more next season.

7. New York Giants
Chris Snee is the best player on this offensive line, but overall, it isn't a group loaded with big names. However, these guys produce as a unit and are well-coached, tough and reliable. An above-average pass-blocking group, it is simply an exceptional run-blocking line and paved the way for New York's backs to average a whopping 4.6 yards per carry in 2007. With the ability to consistently gain chunks of yardage on the ground, perhaps the Giants' Super Bowl run shouldn't have been all that surprising. Many felt that David Diehl was a guard playing out of position at left tackle and that speed rushers would have their way with him. Diehl proved his doubters wrong and did an admirable job of protecting Eli Manning's blind side on the edge. The depth here isn't ideal, but this is a line that can be counted on.

8. Green Bay Packers
The Packers have a solid but underrated set of starting tackles in Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton. Both players are smart, tough and highly effective. They also seem to play their best against top competition. On the interior, the Packers are young and deep -- qualities that will lead to excellent overall competition for playing time. At 6-foot-2, 295 pounds, Scott Wells isn't real big, but he is one of the better centers in the league and an exceptional technician. The interior is also athletic, fitting well with the Packers' zone-blocking principles. There may not have been a better pass-blocking line in the league last year, and this group got better in the run game as the season progressed. There should be very little drop-off in 2008.

9. New Orleans Saints
The Saints allowed a measly 16 sacks last year despite Drew Brees' 652 pass attempts. Brees, who is exceptional at feeling the rush and getting the ball out quickly, deserves some of the credit, but obviously, his protection was exceptional as well. However, the Saints didn't do nearly as good a job opening holes for the running backs, who averaged just 3.7 yards per rush. This stark contrast obviously puts a ton of pressure on Brees and the Saints' passing game, but that group has stepped up quite well. Still, to be an elite offense, New Orleans is going to have to run the ball with more consistency. Jammal Brown is one of the top left tackles in the league, but the Saints lost Jeff Faine to division rival Tampa Bay. Jonathan Goodwin, who is bigger and more powerful at the point of attack, will take over at center, but overall, this is a downgrade, and Faine's nasty edge and leadership will be missed. Keep an eye on underrated RG Jahri Evans. He has a chance to develop into one of the best guards in the game today.

10. Philadelphia Eagles
Guard Shawn Andrews and tackle Jon Runyan make up one of the best right sides in the league, and the Eagles can count on them to move their opponent in short yardage and crucial situations. Runyan, who played much of last season with a cracked tailbone, is as tough as they come, and Andrews is versatile enough to kick out to tackle if needed. This is a much better run blocking than pass blocking group, but some of those issues can be attributed to Donovan McNabb's immobility early last season as he nursed his ailing knee. The Eagles' tackles also are getting up in age and not as quick out of their stances as they once were. Still, this is a mauling line that can move bodies, and although it is against his DNA, coach Andy Reid would be wise to incorporate more power running into this offense, which is notorious for throwing the ball. There is some healthy competitiveness and position versatility within this group as well, but there is not a true left tackle of the future. An injury to LT William Thomas could be a major problem.

WhoDatSay.com reader Kris Nichols had this breakdown of the Saints O-line:

With some new faces the Oline will be very competitive this year so here is my analysis of how it breaks down.

Tackle -- at Left tackle all reports are that Jamaal Brown is looking better now than he has since he has been in the NFL which is saying something, so we should expect him back in the probowl this January. Right Tackle has the chance for a good competition to develop. Incumbent starter Jon Stinchcomb will have a battle to hold off 3rd year player Zach Strief who has slimed down from 349 pounds to a svelte 325 and has gained some speed and agility to go along with his huge frame and long arms.

The other Tackle is Jermon Bushrod who was drafted last year in the 4th round, while he won't be pushing for a starting spot look for him to contribute more with more experience in the system now.

Guard -- Left Guard this is another area that I expect to have some competition this year. Right now Jamar Nesbit is the starter but he could be pushed by 2nd year man Andy Alleman or 5th round pick Carl Nicks who won't stay on the sidelines for too long this year. Alleman who is a former DT is very athletic and intelligent and Nicks is also very athletic considering his size 6-4 341 pounds. Right Guard we have a very underrated player in Jahri Evans who should be looking at his first probowl coming up in January.

Center -- With the departure of Jeff Faine to the Bucs the starting job falls to Jonathan Goodwin, don't worry Goodwin is an intelligent athletic player who has earned the right to be called a starter while he doesn't have the finesse of Faine in the passing game he will be a much better drive blocker on running plays. The other center is Matt Lehr who I think will be the odd man out at the end of camp, especially with the questions about steroids flaring up again and now the guy who pointed the finger out him has been found dead. (Makes you wonder about Lehr if he had anything to do with that).

Overall the Saints have made some improvements on the line and with the younger players getting better and more experience look for another season as the lowest number of sacks given up and some much needed improvement in the run game.
-- Kris Nichols

Scout.com's Minicamp Mailbag, Saints Style

On Fox Sports, Scout.com's panel of NFL insiders recently addressed the resigning of Will Smith (and where he ranks among other top defensive ends) and the potential impact of the Saints' off-season defensive additions....

Is Will Smith, as his contract would suggest, a top three or even five DE in the NFL?
—Nick from New Orleans

Ed Thompson: No. I'd place him in the top 10, but it's hard to see him in the top five, whether you look at his performance last season or even over the past three years. He's a highly talented player with plenty of upside, which is why he got paid so handsomely. But as of right now, I'd say he still lags behind players such as Minnesota's Jared Allen, Miami's Jason Taylor, Baltimore's Terrell Suggs, Tennessee's Kyle Vanden Bosch, Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney, Buffalo's Aaron Schobel, and Green Bay's Aaron Kampman.

Chris Steuber: I think a lot of people forget about Will Smith, because he plays in New Orleans on a mediocre defense. But statistically speaking, he's been the Saints most consistent defensive performer and has averaged more than eight sacks a year during his four-year career. The Saints may have overpaid Smith a bit, but the contract he received is the going rate for a pass rusher with his ability. With that said, I don't think Smith is a top five defensive end in the league, he's close, but I'd say he's in the top eight.

Adam Caplan: While Smith is seen as a team leader and is certainly above average against the run, I wouldn't necessarily put him in the top-five of all defensive ends. You could make a case for him around the top-10 as a pass rusher.

Here are the ends I'd put ahead of him:
Jared Allen, Minnesota
Jason Taylor, Miami
Osi Umenyiora, N.Y. Giants
Aaron Kampman, Green Bay
Patrick Kerney, Seattle
Aaron Schobel, Buffalo
Terrell Suggs, Baltimore
Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee
Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis

Tom Marino: NFL GMs have put a premium on QBs, LOTs, DCs and outside pass rushers. Personally I don't think any of them are worth they money the teams are currently paying them, but the market obviously supports what the elite players are getting paid today. I believe Will Smith is a very solid player and among the top five to six at the position within the league. Without question he along with Charles Grant is the best combination within the league. I really liked Will as a college player (light years ahead of Vernon Gholston at a similar stage of his development).

How are the defensive additions looking on the field and do you think the additions are enough to get New Orleans back in the playoffs? Will Jo Lon Dunbar compete for some playing time at weakside linebacker?
—Clint from Shreveport, La.

ET: I think the Saints helped themselves tremendously on defense. Sedrick Ellis is a monster, pure and simple. He's going to have some veteran offensive linemen wondering how they are supposed to stop this kid. Former Jags defensive tackle Bobby McCray was a very smart addition, as well; his versatility will be a big plus. I fully expect Jonathan Vilma to thrive in New Orleans' 4-3 defense as long as he doesn't have any further trouble with his knee. Tracy Porter is going to surprise a lot of folks, as well. I talked to a few wide receivers from this year's draft class who pointed Porter out as the toughest defender they went up against during their college career. As for Dunbar, I was stunned that he wasn't drafted. While I don't think it's realistic that you'll see him getting much time with the starters this year, I do expect to see him make the team and battling for a starter's role by his third season.

CS: The selection of Sedrick Ellis will prove to be the best addition the Saints made this offseason. Randall Gay and Jonathan Vilma were good additions, but Ellis has star potential written all over him. He's looked very good during OTAs and don't be surprised if he's a starter on opening day. Jo Lon Dunbar has a shot to make the team and will have to perform well on special teams. It all depends on how Dunbar plays during training camp and pre-season games to see if he will compete for playing time at weakside linebacker. The Saints have a lot of veterans at LB and Dunbar could be a player they groom for the future.

AC: One player from the offensive side of the ball told me recently he thought Ellis looked good during their OTAs. The expectation is that Ellis will be an impact player right away. As for Dunbar, he has to make the team first since he was an undrafted free agent. But the backup weak-side job still looks to be open so it's not out of the question that Dunbar makes the team.

TM: Clint, Jo Lon Dunbar was a steady college football player with limited physical qualities. The Will backer position is in most cases the most critical of the linebacker positions. At the outset, I don't think he runs well enough to play a "Will" backer position and if a college free agent was good enough to get playing time over established players (Shanle, Fijuta, Simoneau, and Evans), I would say they have some very big holes to fill in New Orleans. I would say his only chance to make it would be as a back-up special teams player. Vilma, Ellis and overpaid D.C. Gay should provide a big lift to the Saints' defensive unit.

full story -- Scout.com minicamp mailbag.

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Saints' Dads out there. This year is my first and I'll be spending the day grilling burgers with my 7-month-old boy. We wish all Dads (sadly even Panthers, Bucs, and Falcons ones) a day full of BBQ and beer.

Enjoy,
Vern

P.S. I wouldn't mind seeing an LSU victory over North Carolina at Rosenblatt either.

Who Dat News: Vilma Nearing 100%

News: The Saints prize off-season acquisition, Jonathan Vlima, is entering the last stage of his rehab, according to profootballweekly.com. “(The knee) feels like (it did) before surgery,” Vilma said. “The only difference is the muscles aren’t used to practicing. It’s been nine months since I’ve been on the field. I just have to get used to the plays again, running and cutting, the defensive and offensive system. I’m just getting acclimated to everything. I’m pretty much able to do everything,” he said. “I really need to be cognizant of when I’m trying to push it too hard and, fortunately, I haven’t been in that situation yet. I’m able to do everything. The question is: How much of everything should I be doing?”

WhoDatSay: Vilma will open the season as the Saints starting middle linebacker. The fall-back option, Mark Simoneau, remains on board, but it seems more evident that Simoneau will be on the bench as the more athletic, younger Vilma stakes claim to his position. When healthy, we know Vilma plays the run well (evident by his NFL best 169 tackles in 2005), but his ability to cover more ground in the secondary should allow Josh Bullocks, who's in a contract year and needs a healthy performance of his own if he wants to get paid, to help with over-the-top coverage on the perimeter. Then, perhaps Jason David will look less foolish. It's amazing how an athletic player in the middle of a defensive can make the other personnel look better. Kudos to Loomis and Payton -- they even ensured Vilma's protection by grabbing Sedrick Ellis in the draft. We like to see an off-season when personnel moves complement each other rather than contradict.

Who Dat Link: Saints #8 in NFLMocks.com Power Rankings

The following is an article on NFLmocks.com's training camp power rankings:

Now that both Peyton and Eli Manning have won their Super Bowl rings the NFL’s attention will swap to a new cast of players that have not yet reached and then won the big game. Peyton was said to fold under pressure early into his NFL career, but broke free last season when the Colts beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. Eli led his Giants past the NFC’s best, Dallas and Green Bay, before beating a team that many thought was unbeatable.

So who’s feeling the heat now?

Click Below for the full story from nflmocks.com... Is that Atlanta at #32? ... poor Falcons.

NFL Power Rankings: Training Camp Edition

Who Dat News: One Down, Two To Go

News: On Wednesday, the Saints agreed to terms with defensive end Will Smith on a six-year, $70 million contract. $26 million will be guaranteed and Smith will become the third highest paid defensive end in the NFL.

Who Dat Say: Wow! Is this not great news? The Saints have now locked up both of their Pro-Bowl caliber defensive ends. Both Charles Grant and Will Smith should end their respective careers in New Orleans. Throw in Sedrick Ellis, who should also sign a six or seven-year contract, and the Saints' defensive line should be solid as a rock for several years to come. Smith, who was the 18th overall pick in 2004, has been one of the more consistent pass rushers since entering the league. Because Charles Grant was injured most of last year, opposing teams were constantly double-teaming Will Smith. As a result, his numbers obviously suffered in all categories last year. With the new season approaching, and Charles Grant's health not a concern at this point (and assuming he can dodge jail time or a league-imposed suspension), the Saints' defensive ends should thrive. Add Bobby McCray to this rotation and the Saints should be one of the better defensive lines in the league. With the signing of Will Smith, the Saints can now turn their attention to resigning Marques Colston and Jahri Evans, both who have completely outplayed their rookie contracts and deserve to be paid. The only negative here is that with these veterans pressuring the team for extensions, and the late hiring of Khai Harley to replace Russ Ball (Harley is the teams' new salary cap guru), it wouldn't surprise to see the Saints' draft picks sign later than normal. An Ellis holdout deep into training camp would not be a good thing.

Who Dat News: Pierre Thomas Out Until Camp

News: Pierre Thomas' sore groin will sideline him for the remainder of OTA's according to an article written on Tuesday by sunherald.com. Apparently, Head Coach Sean Payton wants to rest the running back to ensure that he is 100% for the start of training camp.

WhoDatSay: Payton may find it more difficult than he would like to ascertain which of his running backs will be sharing duties with Reggie Bush. Deuce still has a ways to go, Thomas is not helping his cause with a groin injury, and Stecker doesn't seem to be anything more than reliable veteran insurance. Before now, Thomas was sharing first-team reps with Reggie Bush in OTA's while McAlister remained hobbled by off-season knee surgery. But we are still uncertain where the ball coach believes his role will be. "Pierre is someone who blocks the pressure real well," Payton said. "That's a strength of his. He's so smart. You need that in the nickel because of the looks we get. We get a lot more complex looks in third-down or long-yardage situations than we would in the base. From a running back standpoint, you've got to be smart to see what's going on." This statement suggests that Payton believes Thomas can be useful in third-down situations, a role that most figure Reggie Bush is best suited for (given that he has yet to prove he can be effective running the ball on first and second down). No one doubts Thomas' ability in situational looks; however, it's his diminutive size that has many wondering if he can hold up over a full 16-game NFL slate, and this injury doesn't help his cause in proving those doubters wrong. There is still a lot of questions to be answered at this position: Will Deuce be ready? Can Reggie get over the hump? What will Pierre's role be? Will Payton bring in another big veteran back? Stay tuned folks -- most of these figure to be answered in the first couple of weeks in Jackson.

Who Dat News: Payton Undecided on Kickers

News: The Biloxi Sun Herald reports that New Orleans Saints sixth round draft pick PK Taylor Mehlhaff and veteran incumbent PK Martin Gramatica have not received enough reps for Head Coach Sean Payton to make much of a distinction between the two. "I haven't seen enough, really," Payton said. "Hopefully once we get into training camp and get into some live situations we'll see a lot more. I think that really defines itself. He [Mehlhaff] has a strong leg and you see that. I'm anxious to get started because we'll have a good competition there, which is a positive. Once we start playing and he's able to kick live in games - we've kind of created that scenario a little bit, but it's harder to do right now."

WhoDatSay: Gramatica was brought in for the last three games last season as a replacement for the disaster that was Olinda Mare. Now, after going 5/5 in that stretch and matching his career long of 55 yards, Martin finds himself the club's likely starter going into 2008. Conventional wisdom says that Mehlhaff, who is known for having a strong leg, will handle the kick-off duties, and Gramatica will continue to be the starting field goal kicker. If that turns out to be the case, season-ticket holders can at the very least rest assured that the moments just after successful field goal attempts will provide them some bang for their buck.

35 Games in 1 Season: London Man Will Attempt World Record

Adam is an American football fan from London, England and has recently sold his apartment in order to pay for a world-record breaking NFL trip in which he will witness 35 NFL games in one season. He states that the aim of his trip is simply to meet as many great NFL fans as possible and understand the impact each team has on its supporters and surrounding communities. He will be rooting for each home team and will attempt to learn as much as possible of the culture of each city relative to their support for their football franchise. You can view Adam's schedule here.

WhoDatSay.com will welcome Adam to the City on Monday, November 24th. Stay tuned for events that will be announced for Adam's arrival as we get closer to the date. Prior to that late fall engagement we asked Adam about his opinions of the New Orleans Saints and their fans. Here is what he had to say...

Although I am lifelong bears fan I have always had a soft spot for the New Orleans Saints as I supported them when I went to my first ever NFL game back in 1990 when they played at the old Wembley Stadium in London. You can read about my expereince at http://www.adamsfootballtrip.com/blogs/63/my-1st-nfl-game%2c-aged-10%3a-1990-wembley.htm

Since then, I have always looked out for the Saints and hoped they do well. My whole trip is about finding the great fans out there, and I remember seeing on the T.V. when the Saints moved back to their stadium after the horrors of Katrina, that the fans loved their team so much, and went to the games despite the tragic situations. I remember hearing about fans that had been waiting for their houses to be repaired and they had been living from place to place but still had their season tickets! That's hardcore.

I will be seeing the Saints three times on my trip (Saints v. Chargers in London; Saints v. Packers in New Orleans; and Saints v. Bears in Chicago. I have set myself the task of always supporting the home team, which will be difficult for me in my second game, when I will have to root for the Colts against my beloved Bears! Naturally I will be rooting for the Bears when the Saints come to Soldier Field, but I would still love to hang out with the traveling Saints fans and meet them during the tailgate.

I will be hoping to meet those great Saints fans at the Louisiana Superdome when they host the Packers. I will be rooting especially hard for the Saints that day, as any Packers loss will help the Bears. The Saints are one of those teams where the passionate fans get behind their team no matter what. I will be spending an extra couple of days in New Orleans to interview more fans and get a real understanding of the culture, as well as exploring the role that the team has on its surrounding community. Many people say the football team has been a catalyst for the local economy and given the city high morale.

I thank the New Orleans team for also giving up a home game by playing in my home town, London, when they play the Chargers. There is quite a bit of Saints' fans based here in London, and that may be because they came over in 1990 for an exhibition game against the Raiders. When I was at the London game last season, I spotted some Saints fans and spoke to them, and they had been to that pre-season game that I first went to way back in 1990!

My message to the Saints fans out there is that I simply can not wait to meet them. I will be giving out T-Shirts at each tailgate and interviewing fans for my blog/book and documentary. If any Saints fans out there may like to tell me about their stories supporting their team, then I would love for them to get in touch via my site.

I did have a few problems with the trip. To start with it was supposed to be last season, but I did not have the money, so I sold my apartment! So far the schedule has been great in terms of match ups and rivalry games I'll be seeing, but I will have to cross the country about 8 times, leaving me driving around 35,000 miles, quite a few more than I predicted! Obtaining sponsorship and speaking to corporations has been a bit tricky, but no one said that would be "easy". If any one knows of a person or company that may like to sponsor me, or have their logo on my car, or T-Shirts or my site, then please get in touch. See you in November, New Orleans.
Adam

To read more about Adam’s world record breaking trip, please visit www.adamsfootballtrip.com 35 NFL games in 1 Season! We look forward to seeing him roll through the Crescent City on Thanksgiving Weekend – I’m sure he will enjoy the great food, football, and atmosphere our city has to offer.

Who Dat News: Colston a No-show for Monday's OTA

News: Marques Colston was absent today from the team's voluntary OTA, according to nola.com. "Colston was a miss, again these are voluntary," said Coach Sean Payton, who said he had not heard from the receiver. "A lot of times guys will be traveling, in his case, probably traveling West. I'll find out today. I'll give him a call and find out what the deal is. He's done pretty well so far."

WhoDatSay: Colston, who has been at all other scheduled team activities (mandatory or otherwise), picked an interesting time to no-show. Colston is in the last year of his rookie contract, and his agent has had discussions with the team on a new deal, although the extent of the negotiations are unknown. Ever since Charles Grant got in some legal trouble, the team has picked up the pace of their negotiations with Will Smith, and a new contract for the defensive end seems inevitable. Perhaps Colston now feels left out and is skipping these voluntary workouts to send a message to the team that it's time to shit or get off the pot. If we were the Saints, we would shit and shit quickly. The team is way under the cap ($25 million or so), and it's not like they do not have the money to lock up Smith, Colston, and Jahri Evans. More reasonably, we feel that now that the front office has been restructured and Khai Harley has been brought on to fill Russ Ball's expertise with salary cap management, the team will move quickly to lock up their youngest and most talented players.

Who Dat News: Jacksonville Fans Selling Out

News: The Jacksonville Jaguars are finding it difficult to sell season ticket packages despite last season's 11-5 record and a playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to profootballtalk.com. The team is still 4,000 non-premium season ticket sales away from avoiding local blackouts of their 2008 regular season home games.

WhoDatSay: It wasn't too long ago that the New Orleans Saints had a similar season-ticket sales problem. However, that's when some fans were still wearing bags over the heads. Jacksonville, on the other hand, is coming off a string of impressive seasons, and figures to have made moves this off-season in an attempt to compete with Indianapolis and New England for AFC supremacy. That combined with one of the better head coaches in football and a roster of experienced talent would seem to have fans eager to gobble up season tickets. The reality? The team puts up tarps to cover large sections of empty seats in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. If the NFL is really set on relocating a franchise to Los Angeles, Jacksonville figures to be a far more attractive option than New Orleans, given that the Saints have a lengthy waiting list for season tickets after going a lousy 7-9 and have just recouped considerable sums of money from the state. Enjoy it Who Dats -- we're not going anywhere.

Who Dat News: Bobby McCray Looking Like the Real Deal

News: According to the Times Picayune, Bobby McCray has been the most impressive off-season acquisition in 2008 for the Saints. In fact, if McCray continues to impress with his quick speed and ability to disrupt the entire offensive backfield, Jimmy Smith of the Times Picayune believes he could be the best free-agent pickup the Saints have ever made. McCray, who played his college ball at the University of Florida, has impressed so much at defensive end that Sean Payton is considering moving Charles Grant to defensive tackle, if not permanently, then at least on downs when the Saints are looking to collapse the pocket.

Who Dat Say: Assuming McCray has been as impressive as the Times Picayune reports, imagine the Saints' defensive front four as Bobby McCray and Will Smith at ends, and Charles Grant and Sedrick Ellis plugging up the middle at tackle. Jonathan Stewart, Earnest Graham, and Michael Turner are going to have fits trying to find holes in this defensive line. Throw in backups like Hollis Thomas, Brian Young, Kendrick Clancy, and rookie DeMario Pressley, and the Saints all of a sudden have some ample depth and a good rotation at defensive line. We already know the defensive line has talent. Three of the aforementioned starters are 1st round draft picks (Grant, Smith, and Ellis). If these guys can build chemistry and disrupt the offensive line like the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants did last season, they will be a force to be reckoned with. To say the very least, the Saints' defensive line has improved considerably.

Mickey Loomis Dicusses the Decision to Fire Rick Mueller

New Orleans Saints General Manager spoke with Bobbie Hebert and Hokie Gajan on WWL AM870 sportstalk about topics including his decision to fire the V.P. of Player Personnel, Rick Mueller, the hiring of salary cap guru Khai Harley, and the status of Will Smith's contract extension. Have a listen -- Loomis on sportstalk

Who Dat News: Budget Committee Agrees to Pay Saints, Hornets

News: On Thursday, the House budget committee agreed that Louisiana should pay the New Orleans Saints and Hornets $26 million in state surplus cash to meet the state's contractual obligations. The contract states that if the State fails to make these payments, the teams could opt to move out of New Orleans.

Who Dat News: The State negotiated these deals with the Saints and Hornets in order to allow the teams to compete financially with teams in larger markets. This was before either team was as successful as it is now, though. We would all like to see Tom Benson open his books (something he has never done) and prove to us that the Saints are in need of this payment. Speculation is that even without the payment, the Saints would rank in the middle of the pack of NFL teams in terms of profitability. Regardless, the State made a wise financial decision in leaving Benson no opportunity to move the Saints. In terms of economic stimulus, a payment of $26 million to keep both the Saints and the Hornets in New Orleans generates enormous dividends for New Orleans and for the entire State in helping the city land events such as the NCAA National Championship Game and the NBA All Star Game of this past year – and hopefully a Super Bowl for 2013.

Who Dat News: Break-In Spurs Rash of Copycat Crimes

News: After Green Bay Packers Running Back Noah Herron fended off would-be home invaders with a bed post last week, a wave of copycat crimes has broken out in the city of New Orleans. Although details are thin at the moment, we have received the following information:

One Unidentified Man Broke into the home of Saints Cornerback, Jason David: Reports indicate that David watched the man break into his front door, kept a close eye on the man as he rummaged through his belongings, but let the man run right past and out the back door, thinking Josh Bullocks was going to make the arrest. No arrests were made.

Two Unidentified Men Broke into the Home of Deuce McAllister: This story is still breaking, but indications are that Deuce was able to creep up on the men in dark of night while carrying a baseball bat. As Deuce hid behind a corner, waiting to spring out and catch the burglars, the invaders noticed Deuce's red no-contact robe and were able to escape the house. Police on the scene tell us these men out-ran Deuce by cutting back and forth and generally not running in a straight line, a feat Deuce was unable to accomplish. No arrests were made.

Two Men Break into Home of Former Saint Jonathan Sullivan: Sullivan, who was awake eating chicken wings and drinking gravy, caught the men at the door and was able to block the entrance. However, the robbers ran right around him and sacked the rest of the house before Sullivan could adjust. No arrests were made.

Three Men Break into Eric Johnson's Home: Johnson was in a great position to catch the burglars as he called the police to tip them off. Sadly, the burglars had wire-tapped his phone, and were able to catch the tip. No arrests were made.

Four Men Broke into the Home of Saints Quarterback Drew Brees: A frightening story for any Saints fan, early indications are that Brees realized his arm might not be strong enough to stop the intruders, so instead, he sat them down and had a talk with them and convinced them to participate in the Drew Brees Dream Foundation instead of a life of crime. No arrests were made.

Three Men Broke into the Home of Mark Simoneau: The first robber ran straight at Simoneau, and he had no problem taking him to the ground. However, learning from their partners' mistakes, the final two robbers chose to throw the stolen goods back and forth around Simoneau's home as they exited, and Simoneau could not contain the two. He tried to make a final play on his belongings, but could not intercept one pass, nor could he force a fumble of any of the stolen goods. Luckily, the security guard at the gate, Johnny Vilma, had no problem covering the area and apprehending both suspects.