WhoDat Hearsay: Mike Will be Ready for Next Season

Hearsay: A WhoDatSay reader and Saints insider tells us that he shared a suite at the Hornets game last night with the one and only Mike McKenzie, and the news from Mike is nothing if not great. According to our reader, Mike walks with no noticeable limp anymore. As a matter of fact, the only thing different about Mike physically is that his dreadlocks were styled in a "Princess Leia-esque headress." Our reader also tells us that Mike is noticeably excited about the draft and the players they got, explaining that Tracy Porter is raw, but really talented, and repeating over and over again that the two defensive tackles the Saints got are "nasty." But the best news of all: Mike says he will be ready to go when next season rolls around.

WhoDatSay: If this isn't good news from the home team, then I'm not sure what is. Mike is a fan favorite, the heart of our secondary, and a true football player, a guy that shows up every single week ready to give everything he's got, cover the other team's best receiver, make tackles in run support, and play every down like it's the last play of the Superbowl. If this news is accurate and Mike is ready to play for the first regular season game, then I'm expecting big things from our newly revamped defense in 2008-2009. I know it's early, but after this off-season, this draft, and now word that Mike has a good shot of being ready to play earlier than expected, I'm thinking Black and Gold Superbowl. Anyone else?

Tuesday's Reader Rant

Every Tuesday we want you to "go off" on whatever Saints-related topic is bothering you. Tell us how you feel and don't spare any expense. To submit your rant, send an e-mail to whodatsayteam@gmail.com. We will sift through the garbage and post the best stuff every Tuesday. If we get 5 good ones, we'll post them all. Happy complaining.

By Reader Benny B - Baton Rouge, LA

I'm upset about the Saints' draft but I am going to focus on the main thing that pisses me off. I don't understand how we could draft a kicker (Taylor Mehlhaff) not named Brandon Coutu. Coutu is, according to ESPN and most other media outlets, THE BEST kicker in the draft, hands down, no questions asked. But forget even that for a second --- how did we draft any kicker and not draft a player like Ali Highsmith?? Now for the name game:


1) He enrolled in 2004, and in his first three seasons (2004-'06) appeared in 38 games (24 starts), recording 159 tackles (17 for losses), eight sacks and an interception. As a senior in 2007, he started all 14 games at weak-side linebacker and had 101 tackles (nine for losses), three sacks, two forced fumbles, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery and 22-yard return for a touchdown. A first team All-America selection last season. Who is he????


2) He appeared in 37 games in his first three seasons (2004-'06), recording 162 tackles (13.5 for losses), 5.5 sacks and two interceptions. As a senior in 2007, he played 12 games (11 starts) at weak-side linebacker, turning in 78 tackles (five for losses), three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and four pass breakups. A first team All-America selection last season. Now who is he?????


1) Ali Highsmith--undrafted, signed by the freaking black hole we sports fans know as the Arizona Cardinals.


2) Keith Rivers--#9 pick Bengals.


How does Ali not even get a shot to come start for our defense? He has more tackles over a four year period than Rivers, more sacks and tackles for loss, and was the leader of a dominant defense. I may just be a homer but come on, give the man a shot to make the team, Saints! So what if his forty time isn't as fast as Reggie's; it didn't stop him from making plays for the Tigers, and it wouldn't have stopped him from making plays for the Black and Gold next year!

Who Dat Say News: Saints Sign Big Running Back

News: The New Orleans Saints signed Portland State fullback and undrafted free agent Olaniyi Sobomehin, according to NFLdraftbible.com.

WhoDatSay: Sobomehin (we have no clue how to pronounce his first or last name) was Portland State's leading rusher last season. At 6'1", 230lbs, Sobomehin is a bruising back that does most of his work between the tackles. Although this is not exactly the RB we have wished for all off-season (in case Deuce cannot make it through the year as the teams' battering ram), Sobomehin could fill an important role in the Saints' backfield. We see Sobomehin as a situational player in short yardage and around the goal line. Last season, he had 515 yards rushing on 110 attempts (4.7 average), 377 yards receiving on 40 receptions (9.4 average), and 11 total touchdowns. Given Sean Payton's penchant for versatility, a guy that can pick up the tough yards and also make receptions out of the backfield could prove useful by season's end -- that is, if he even makes the team.

Smart Money is on Sedrick

Heading into the draft, everyone knew the Saints needed to focus on defense. Although it appeared the Saints had many options with the #10 pick, from all indications, Glenn Dorsey was the player the Saints were really after. Although we didn’t get Glenn Dorsey, and the LSU homers will never admit this, it looks like the New Orleans Saints may have actually made out better by drafting Ellis.

When Kansas City was on the clock at pick #5, I’m sure many Saints fans out there (including myself) were expecting Roger Goodell to announce a trade that involved the Saints. While I am sure the Saints tried their best to work out a deal with Kansas City in order to move up to the #5 pick, a deal could never be reached. The Saints later admitted they offered the Chiefs this year's first-round selection, #10, next year's first-round pick, and this year's seventh-round pick to move up to #5 and take Glenn Dorsey. According to the draft pick value chart that the teams use to determine the value of trades, the package that the Saints offered was worth considerably more than the #5 overall selection. Because a deal could never be reached, the Chiefs drafted Dorsey. Rather than panicking, Sean Payton and Mickey Loomis focused all of their attention on the only other dominant defensive tackle in this draft, Sedrick Ellis. They quickly found that New England was willing to deal out of the # 7 spot. And with that, the fans of the black and gold nation became ecstatic, and Sedrick Ellis became a Saint at pick #7… and this move may have been a miracle in the making.

If the Saints had traded up with the Chiefs, they would have no 1st round draft pick next year. While most Saints fans hope and believe next year’s pick will be late in the 1st round, that pick is still extremely valuable. This year, that pick would have easily landed any team Jeremy Shockey or Lito Sheppard. Last year, a fourth round pick landed Randy Moss for the Patriots. Trading away your only first round pick is always a huge sacrifice.

The Saints front office got the best deal available on Saturday. Not only did they trade up in front of the Cincinnati Bengals, who would certainly have drafted Ellis, but in doing so, the Saints only had to give up their third round pick (No. 78) in exchange for a fifth-round selection (No. 164). While Ellis wasn’t ranked quite as high as Dorsey, make no mistake about it: Ellis is an excellent addition to the New Orleans Saints defense, and a legitimate stud. Ellis and the rest of the defensive line in New Orleans will provide fits for such division rival running backs as Ernest Graham, Michael Turner, and Jonathan Stewart. Drafting Ellis automatically adds a day one starter and a huge upgrade at the defensive tackle position. Unlike Jonathan Sullivan, who the Saints traded up to draft and who turned out to be a major bust, Ellis is pretty close to a sure thing as possible. Plus, Ellis is being reunited with the same position coach who recruited him to USC and coached him for two years in college, Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron. That means Ellis will already have a good rapport with Orgeron, will have an immediate comfort zone coming into the NFL, and will not have much of a learning curve while adapting to the professional game. Having the same coach in the NFL will make the transition that much easier and make Ellis immediately serviceable.

The Saints also added the defensive tackle for a lot less of a price tag than Dorsey would have cost. While Dorsey’s contract will be in the neighborhood of $62 million over 6 years with all its incentives, Ellis’ contract will peak out under $50 million over the same 6 years, saving the Saints a possible two million per year. The Saints currently have starters making less than that. Rather than trading up to acquire Dorsey, the Saints are getting at least the second best defensive tackle who has never had injury concerns, they’re saving millions of dollars with the salary cap, and they have their 2009 first round draft pick. Dorsey would have to outperform Ellis by leaps and bounds in his career to be worth the extra draft picks and salary cap hit.

Based upon the high opportunity cost associated with acquiring Dorsey, the Saints made the right move in the 2008 draft in taking Ellis, a move that should pay substantial returns on a much smaller investment than Dorsey would have been.

Saints Draft Player Videos

Check out our 2008 Saints Draft Player Videos on the right (-->). Watch Adrian Arrington tear apart Florida's secondary and you'll understand why Payton asked to trade back in to Round 7 to take him.

Who Dat Say News: Saints sign 11 UDFA's

News: The team has has signed 11 undrafted free-agents including TCU safety David Roach, LSU linebacker Luke Sanders, Houston LB Rocky Schwartz, Iowa State receiver Todd Blythe, and Stanford QB T.C. Ostrander. The full list of Saints 2008 UDFA's is as follows:


QB T.C. Ostrander (Stanford)
LB Rocky Schwartz (Houston)
DE Jeremy Geathers (UNLV)
OL Jason Boone (Utah)
S David Roach (TCU)
LB Luke Sanders (LSU)
OT Akim Millington (Illinois)
WR Todd Blythe (Iowa State)
P Waylon Prather (San Jose State)
LS Ryan Senser (Ohio)
G Nate McManus (Georgia Tech)

WhoDatSay: Very surprising to us is that the Saints did not sign a RB such as Ole Miss' Benjarvus Green-Ellis or Georgia's Kregg Lumpkin. Nor did they bring in another body at TE -- something else that tells us the Saints may give one last try at obtaining Jeremy Shockey this off-season. We think the headliner of this UDFA class is TCU safety David Roach. Roach, a three-year starter for the Horned Frogs, can cover a lot of ground in the secondary, is excellent in run support, and brings the "big hit" with him. He garnered a lot of attention in college and has a ton of experience as the leader of TCU's defense the past 3 seasons. Another interesting prospect is Iowa State receiver Todd Blythe. Blythe is 6'5", 215lbs. and finished as the Cyclones' all-time leading receiver with 176 receptions for 3,096 yards and 31 touchdowns. He is relatively slow by NFL standards, but did manage a 4.58 forty at his pro-day in March. Rocky Schwartz has speed to burn, T.C. Ostrander was one of the most highly recruited QB's coming out of high school a few years ago, and Luke Sanders is the hometown LSU boy. We wish them the best, but all will be facing up-hill climbs to make the final roster. Here's to hoping there is another Pierre Thomas in the bunch.

The 2008 NFL Draft: Day Two

And we're back! More picks, more Saints spin, more excitement.

Buddon (5:38 PM): Apparently, we were not finished. The Saints traded with the Packers to obtain this pick. Payton loves drafting receivers with size (see Colston and Meachem) and now added another one with some size. This pick is right around the same time we picked Colston two years ago. Let's hope that lightning strikes the same place twice.

An interesting observation about this year's draft is that we have no picks from small schools. I guess Loomis learned his lesson from last year.

Pick #237 (7th Round) - Saints: Adrian Arrington, WR, Michigan

Buddon (2:59 PM): And we're done. Not a big surprise that we drafted Mehlhaff since we did have him in for a visit. Our kicking game last year was woeful. I'm not sure what this means for the Argentinian nightmare, but we will have some competition at the kicker position. The good news is that rookie kickers can make an immediate impact. Look at Mason Crosby of Green Bay. Hopefully Mehlhaff can do the same.

Disappointingly, we did not address the RB and TE positions. Let's hope that the we can sign some undrafted free agents to add depth there.

Pick #178 (6th Round) - Saints: Taylor Mehlhaff, PK, Wisconsin

Buddon (2:15 PM): This looks like a good value pick. Scouts Inc. graded Nicks out as a 2nd or 3rd round prospect. So, to get him in the end of the 5th, means that we got good value. Nicks played left tackle, but is a better right tackle prospect. He has allowed only 1 sack in the last two seasons. At 6'4", 340 lbs, he is a huge offensive linemen and plays with a mean streak. Not surprisingly, because he is so big, he does not move as well laterally, but is a great drive blocker. Hence, his projected status as a right tackle. There are some potential character flags out there, as he has been suspended by the Cornhuskers before. In our locker room, though, with leaders like Brees, Bush, and Vilma, I'm not overly concerned. Since Stinchcomb is in the last year of his contract, and since he has been relativley mediocre anyway, this is a good choice.

Pick #164 - Saints: Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska

Buddon (1:38 PM): Ten more picks until our second pick of the 5th round. Let's hope our next two picks address the RB and TE positions.

Buddon (1:22 PM): None of us could have predicted this pick, but we can all agree that any pick addressing the defense is a good thing. Pressley has a larger frame than Ellis, but is not nearly the player. The knock in him is his inconsistent effort and lack of the kind of motor Ellis has. The hope is that his motor will pick up when he is only asked to play in a rotation, rather than every snap, 60 snaps per game, as he did in college. Look for Ellis' motor to rub off on Pressley, and look for the Pressley pick to keep Ellis motivated.

Also, we have to laugh at the Cincinatti Bengals. This is twice in one draft that we have jumped ahead of them and sniped their pick. The Bengals picked a DT right after us this time, so it's likely they could have been interested in Pressley as well. It looks like we gave up our 7th round pick to move up these two spots.

Section123(1:10PM): You can never have enough defensive tackles, especially when your starters from last year are either old or undersized. If Pressley can get into our defensive tackle rotation at all, then he is a great pickup. I can't take another season of watching teams run the ball all over us. I'm glad Mickey Loomis seems to agree that defensive tackle is just as big a need as corner.

Pick #144 - Saints: DeMarrio Pressley, DT, NC State

Section123(12:58PM): Ah, day 2 of the draft. Lots of fairly big names going in rounds 3 and 4. I want to take a look back for a second at the Shockey/Shepard situation though. It looks to me like the Giants and Eagles completely ignored the laws of supply and demand when trying to shop Shockey and Sheppard. It was clear to anyone who watched the Giants last season that Shockey and Eli go together like oil and water; Eli is the kid whose lunch money Shockey used to steal. I would bet there is an entire generation of Eli Manning's that received swirlies from Jeremy Shockey growing up. Despite what the Giants want everyone to believe, they would have been better off taking a second round pick for Shockey this season. They still may move the tight end, but with all the talent that was available in round 2, they may have already missed the boat.

Same goes for the Eagles with Sheppard. We all know you just broke the bank on Asante Samuel. We all know Lito Sheppard wants a new, much bigger contract, and we all know that with Samuel and Sheldon Brown on your roster, you aren't going to give Sheppard that contract. Why not get some value for him, take a solid second round corner who is five years younger than Sheppard, pay him not even half as much, and bring him up in your system under Brown and Samuel? It makes sense from a monetary standpoint, and it's a good move for the future of your franchise. Paying three high-priced corners is not.

Instead, both teams decided to pretend like that which was completely obvious to everyone else, the fact that Shockey and Sheppard are both beyond expendable at this point, was not the case by demanding considerably more for either player than his realtive worth to the team. The Giants and Ealges have to understand that the only reason people are banging down their doors for these two players is because everyone realizes they are expendable, not because everyone is dying to have a Drew Rosenahus client and a player with a history of injuries. Teams want Shockey and Sheppard because they want a good deal, and when you refuse to acknowledge the reality of this situation, you end up taking your players and going home, like New York and Philadelphia will be doing. And frankly, good luck with that. Neither guy is happy, and they are both going to cause off-field problems for your teams should you not move them today.

Buddon (11:22 AM): There are still some rumors out there that the Shockey trade is not dead. I doubt that we would trade Tracy Porter, our 2nd round pick, now that we have had him for this long. However, I can see Shockey making a Chad Johnson-type stink of not being traded. Having won a Super Bowl without him, the Giants know that they do not need him and also don't want the distraction. So, there is some room for us to play hardball with the Giants and drive down Shockey's trade value. Maybe we can get away with giving up a 2nd round pick next year and getting Shockey.

Buddon (11:16 AM): I think offensive line depth is a priority. Look for us to take a guard in the next few picks. I also think a backup quarterback at some point is a possibility. John David Booty and Erik Ainge are still out there. Look for more depth at safety and linebacker as well. If Craig Steltz is still available when we pick, I would jump all over him. Most importantly, I would like to see us draft a big running back. BenJarvus Green-Ellis of Ole Miss would be a nice addition, as both Forte and Hester are off the board.

Buddon (11:05 AM): We still have a while to wait before the Saints next pick. There is some possibility that the Saints will package their two 5th round picks to trade into the 4th round, but I don't think it's very likely. We have our two high-end players, one who will be a day one starter and one who will hopefully contribute in nickel and dime packages. Now it is time to build some depth and to take a few fliers on small school prospects.

The 2008 NFL Draft -- Live Bloggin

Welcome, everyone, to WhoDatSay's first annual draft day bonanza. Section123SaintsFan and Buddon are now here to put a Saints spin on every pick of the first day.

No one can say our readers don't know their shit. You all overwhelmingly nailed our exact pick in the first round (see poll). We brought you the most legitimate possibilities, and you proved your knowledge. Bravo. Tomorrow, expect for us to nab a safety, running back, offensive lineman, and tight-end. Outside linebacker is a possibility, but we think the the first four positions are most likely.

Excerpts from Draft blog:
Buddon (6:31): Based on some of our previous drafts, we could have done worse than to draft Porter. I'm just relieved that we did not pick a receiver. The early scouting report indicates that Porter has 4.37 speed and has great coverage skills, although his run support skills leave something to be desired. I'm fine with that. Our coaches can develop his run support skills a lot easier than they could develop his coverage skills. And our run defense is already greatly improved with the additions of Ellis and Vilma. Let's hope that Porter can help limit the big passing plays. The Saints aren't up again until the 5th round. Althoug Chris Mortensen said that the Giants are also interested in Porter and that the Shockey trade might still happen. I wouldn't count on it.

Pick #40 - Saints: Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana

Buddon (3:35): Thankfully, the one player I did not want was just picked by the Giants: Kenny Phillips. I also do not want a wide receiver. With no receivers picked in the first round, a wide-receiver would be a great value at #40, but I can't bear the thought of wasting another early pick on one. Please, Mickey, no wide receivers!

Buddon (3:24): Saints are up in ten picks. No news yet about a Shockey or Sheppard trade, but I think those are definite possibilities. What are our other options? Brandon Flowers is still on the board, and I think he might be there when we pick. I don't love the guy because of questions about his size and speed, but I definitely can't question his toughness. If we are going the CB route, though, why not trade for a proven CB in Sheppard? Fred Davis is another option, but the same rationale of trading for a proven player in Shockey applies here. I think Dan Connor is another possibility. As far as RB goes, I think it is way too early to pick Forte, and all the other available running backs are on the smallish side. If not a trade for Shockey or Sheppard, I wouldn't mind seeing a trade down.

...Pick #30 - Jets: Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue


Section123(4:21): A good pick for the Bucs, their secondary is aging, and they will have time to develop Talib into a solid corner. They're going to need more than that tocover Colston, Bush and Shockey next year though.

Pick #20: Bucs - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

Buddon (3:53): Also, this trade has to make Saints fans feel good about our trade with New England. KC gave up a 3rd and 5th to move up two spots to #15. We gave up a 3rd and received a fifth to move up 3 spots -- in the top 10!

Section123(3:45): KC, my new least favorite team, trades with the Lions to move up two spots (???) to grab Branden Albert. Do you not realize who you just traded with? Did you think the Lions were going to break their streak of drafting disappointing skill position players? Again, I just hope Albert can throw the ball, because Brodie Croyle cannot. Enjoy your 5-11 record next year.

Pick #15 - Kansas City: Brandan Albert, OG, Virginia

Buddon (1:37): Snooze... another OT pick. Bend down, Chicago Bears, bend down. After the top 15, we are going to turn this to Saints talk only.

Pick #14 - Bears: Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt

Section123(3:31): Looks like the Panthers thought their biggest need was to replace DeShaun Foster's 60 yards rushing per game. I hear they are also looking for someone to step into Deangelo Williams's role as being a massive disappointment all the time.

Pick #13 - Panthers: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon

Buddon (3:26): Solid pick here for the Broncos. They get the OT that some were projecting to go in the top 10. You fanasy football nerds out there will be excited about the next Broncos running back to run behind Clady.

Pick #12 - Broncos: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

Section123(3:22): I think this is who we would have taken had we stayed put. The Bills step up and take player in the top 15 that was actually in other teams' top 15 as well, for the first year in quite some time. The Bills typically draft about as well as they play

Pick #11 - Bills: Leoids Mcelvin, CB, Troy

Buddon (3:15): Somewhat of a surprise here. If the Patriots didn't like a corner enough to draft one here, I guess the corners in this draft just aren't that good. This pick only further validates our selection of Ellis.

Pick #10 - Patriots: Jerod Mayo, ILB, Tennessee

Section123(3:11): And the Bengals make a solid pick here and take the position of need that falls to them. They could have used Ellis, no doubt, and defensive tackle is a more glaring need, as seen by their offseason attempts at signing one, but when your defense (or team for that matter) is as bad as the Bungles, you can always use a good speedy linebacker, and Keith Rivers is that.

Pick #9 - Bengals: Keith Rivers, LB, USC

Buddon (3:05): Don't ask what the Jags were doing here, but honestly I don't care. We got our guy, Ellis. He will come in and immediately have a Dorsey-like impact. Black and Gold Supa Bowl!

Pick #8 - Jaguars: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

Section123(2:57): So we give up our third and get a fifth in return. This means we are still in the Shockey/Shepard sweepstakes. Evidently, it's looking like we are going to get Shockey for our second this year and our fifth next year, or maybe even the fifth we just picked up. Vilma, Gay, Shockey, Ellis, Morgan... Wow. Looking like one of our best off-seasons ever. My temporary heartbreak over not getting Dorsey is gone, especially when we come out of the today with Jeremy Shockey.

Buddon (2:54): Holy ##@#*! This will go down as the best draft day trade the Saints have ever made. I'm curious to see what the trade details are.

Pick #7 - Saints: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

Buddon (2:48): Now things get interesting. Will we trade up with New England? Come on, Mickey, 5 Steps to a Black and Gold Supa Bowl. The Patriots would do well to trade down. They can get their corner or LB at #10. They don't need Ellis.

Pick #6 - Jets: Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State

Section123(2:40): Well, that about sucked. Evidently we had 2 picks on the table, I would think our first and second this year, which is technically more than the pick is worth, but KC wouldn't bite. KC needs to grab a quarterback somewhere in this draft lest they trust the reigns of their offense to Brodie Croyle for a few more seasons, and that second round pick would have really helped. I'm surprised KC wouldn't move, but the possibility of a trade for Dorsey is not completely dead. Almost, but you never know.

Buddon (2:36): No one panic here. Yes, Dorsey would have been nice, but we didn't want to give up all that was necessary to get him. Ellis, Ellis, Ellis!

Pick #5 - Chiefs: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

Buddon (2:30): Kiper? McShay? Mayock? Our mock has the top 4 picks exactly right, and I'm guessing the #5 pick will be right on, whether KC actually picks or whether the Saints move into that pick to secure Dorsey.

Pick #4 - Raiders: Darren McFadden, RB, Arakansas

Section123(2:26): Shockingly the Falcons didn't really want Dorsey. Had no idea. I mean, going into the draft with DJ Shockley, Joey Harrington, and Chris Redman (did that guy sell me my car insurance?) was basically like wearing a sign that said "will give head for qb."

Buddon (2:21): Everything going according to plan: J. Long, C. Long, M. Ryan. Hopefully, the Raiders don't pull a surprise pick here and take Dorsey. If they take McFadden as expected, things should get interesting with the next pick.

Pick #3 - Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

Section123 (2:10): Call me an LSU homer, but I think Dorsey is worth it. He is an absolute stud who dominated defenses in the SEC while terrorizing quarterbacks from the tackle position. I want nothing more than to see us jump up and get Dorsey (for a reasonable price) and worry about Shockey and Shepard afterward. If we get a shot at Dorsey, we need to take it. A dominant defensive tackle is invaluable, especially to a team that has trouble stopping the run like the Saints.

Pick #2 - Rams: Chris Long, DE, Virginia

Buddon (1:55 PM): We are also hearing that these Jammal Brown trade rumors might mean that we retain our 10th overall pick and just trade Brown for the Chiefs pick straight up. That's an intriguing scenario. That means we could get Dorsey, draft a Ryan Clady at #10, and then still retain our 2nd and 3rd round picks to go after Sheppard or Shockey.

Buddon (1:50 PM): So, what would it take to move up to the Chiefs pick at #5? Looking at the draft value chart, our pick is worth 1300 points and the Chiefs pick is 1700. That would mean giving up our 2nd round pick, which is worth 480 points and acquriing the Chiefs 4th round pick which is 96 points. Is Dorsey worth it? What about when you consider that we can probably move up to #8 and get Ellis instead by giving up a 3rd and receiving an extra 4th? That's a tough call. Getting Dorsey at #5 might mean that we can't get Shockey or Lito Sheppard. If it's a question of Ellis and Sheppard vs. just Dorsey, we need to go with the Ellis option.

Buddon (1:28 PM): Just like our Mock Draft predicted, it looks like Glenn Dorsey could very well slip to pick #5. From ESPN reports, the Rams are almost a lock to take Chris Long, the Falcons will likely take Matt Ryan, and the Raiders are enamored with Darren McFadden. If all of that happens, expect the Saints to make an effort to move up and land Dorsey.

WhoDatSay is Live Bloggin for the 2008 NFL Draft!

Be sure to join us at 1:30pm cst on Saturday, April 26th for our live internet coverage (live blog) of Saints' Draft Day, 2008. We will fill you in on any last minute news leading up to ESPN's telecast and, as the first round progresses, we will break down each pick, detailing what it means for the Saints and the player(s) who will end up donning the Black and Gold.

Who Dat News: St. Louis will not trade back

News: The St. Louis Rams have all but ruled out a trade-down scenario with the New Orleans Saints because they do not want to move all the way down to No. 10, according to fanball.com.

WhoDatSay: The website listed ESPN as the source, but did not say who reported the news. While we still think a trade with St. Louis is still a possibility, it remains an unlikely one. St. Louis drafted Adam Carriker last year and plan to move him inside as he's up over 300lbs now. That move mostly likely means the Rams are targeting Chris Long or Vernon Gholston. St. Louis' defensive ends combined for just 5 sacks last season and the team would benefit from a premier outside pass rusher. If they were to move back to #10 overall, they would take themselves out of the running for Long or Gholston. As such, they are most likely to stay where they are. That said, the Saints will turn their attention to picks 3-5 depending where (and if) Dorsey falls.

Who Dat Say News: Saints may be Shopping Jammal Brown

News: League sources report that the Saints are shopping starting left tackle Jammal Brown in a potential trade in order to move up in Saturday's draft to get LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, according to CBSsportline.com. Reportedly, the Saints would have to jump the Atlanta Falcons (who are also interested in the DT) at the #3 spot in order to get Dorsey. Thanks to reader Bob Hawkins for the tip.

Who Dat Say: It appears the Saints are willing to do just about anything to get their hands on what many consider the premier defensive player in this year's draft. We question the Saints rationale here, as shipping Brown to St. Louis would leave them with Jon Stinchcomb and Zack Strief as their starting tackles. And with Matt Lehr's future uncertain because of a federal investigation, the already thin offensive line could be downright putrid if Brown were sent packing. Despite the public perception that St. Louis will take Dorsey, we believe that they are targeting Virginia DE Chris Long. We hope the Saints exercise a little more patience and call Atlanta's bluff that they will not take signal-caller Matt Ryan. If neither the Rams or the Falcons take Dorsey, he will most likely fall to the Chiefs at #5. It would be far easier to move up to #5 overall than #2 overall; and the Saints would have to give up a lot less to do so.

Who Dat Say News: Reggie Bush Even Takes Better Showers than You

News: Kim Kardashian told Fox News this week that her attempts to save the planet include taking showers with her boyfriend, New Orleans Saint Reggie Bush. "I conserve water by showering with my boyfriend so we can save water together," said Kardashian. Story complements of Rene from Blackened Out.


Who Dat Say: If Reggie Bush can't rush for 100 yards after spending his morning in the shower with Kim Kardashian, then it may be time for the Saints to reevaluate his presence on the team. If each of my days started out with twenty minutes of naked time with Kim, I would have cured cancer already.

Who Dat Say News: Atlanta, Seattle Enter Shockey Sweepstakes

News: The New Orleans Saints have already expressed their interest in Jeremy Shockey and now the Seattle Seahawks and possibly the Atlanta Falcons are entering the fray for the disgruntled tight end, reports the New York Daily News. The Giants aren't actively trying to trade Shockey, but they are listening to offers and have discussed the possibility as more teams come knocking at their door.

Who Dat Say: Both the Falcons and the Seahawks have obvious needs at TE, so this makes sense. Shockey has been telling friends he wants to go to the Saints, where he would be reunited with head coach Sean Payton, who was the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants when Shockey was drafted. But now since Atlanta and Seattle appear to be after the TE, the Saints will have an uphill climb to acquire his services. New York knows that there is interest and will likely pit two teams against each other in hopes of driving up the price for Shockey's services. Atlanta, with three 2nd round picks, might have an advantage in landing him.

Reader Questions

Reader: Bullmoose from Baton Rouge, LA.
Who Dat Say: That's a weird name.

Bullmoose: With the draft quickly approaching on Saturday, which LSU Tiger (other than Big Glenn Dorsey) would y'all like to see in a Black and Gold uniform in the 2008 Season? Also, which Tiger (again besides Dorsey) do yall think will have the most productive career in the NFL?
Who Dat Say: We want to see Craig Steltz in the Black and Gold next year. Why? Because that means we would have drafted a safety, which statistically increases the chances of Josh Bullocks not being on the field. Not to take anything away from Steltz. Steltz had quite a fine career as a Tiger, leading the team in tackles (108) and interceptions (6) his senior year. Scouts, of course, question his speed. Steltz's lowest time in the 40 was a 4.52. Does that number scare you? Let me throw a number at you that may make you think twice. When John Lynch was at Stanford, he ran a 4.64. Steltz is a solid tackler with better than average ball instincts. That just might be enough to make him a quality strong safety in the NFL.

Of all the Tigers in this year's draft other than Dorsey, Early Doucet will have the most productive career in the NFL. Early compares favorably to Hines Ward-- former QB (although only in high school), similar build, excellent blocker, and savvy route-runner. The question for Early, though, has never been his ability. It’s whether or not he can stay healthy. If he does, having the success that Hines Ward has had is not out of the question. At the very least, Early should be able to have the career that current Saint David Patten has had. Although never a #1, Patten has quietly put together some nice numbers in his 11-year NFL career. There is no reason why the former LSU star, who has two inches and 20 pounds on Patten, can't do the same.

Bullmoose: How much can the Saints rely on Mike McKenzie in the first half of the season? Do you think he can still be our number 1 corner coming back from injury or should we expect him to have an "off" year?
Who Dat Say: Unfortunately, we won't be able to rely on McKenzie much at all in the first part of the season. The average ACL rehab normally takes about 9 months. To put McKenzie's injury in perspective, let's compare it to Roman Harper's injury the year before. Roman suffered his knee injury on October 8, game 5 of the 2006 season, and it took him until the first part of the 2007 season to regain confidence in his knee (whether or not he regained his old form is debatable, but here we refer only to his being comfortable and confident enough to go full speed on the knee). McKenzie injured his knee in the second to last game of the season on December 23. Simple math, then, puts McKenzie ready to play in about October-- and that's not to mention the confidence battles that often go along with a knee injury of this sort. Considering those confidence issues, I expect McKenzie to have an "off" year, and that's a damned shame, because he is coming off of his best season as a pro.

Bullmoose: Will Sean Payton and Micky Loomis look to continue their trend of drafting small- schoolers, or should we look for them to go in a different direction and take some players from big name, power conferences?
Who Dat Say: I don't think we'll see as many small-schoolers this year. But, I don't necessarily believe that it's because Payton and Loomis have abandoned the small-school strategy. Rather, with only 6 picks, and a possible early round trade that could consume a couple more, it turns into a simple numbers game. As an "experiment," in fact, the results of drafting small-school players for Payton and Loomis are mixed. In year 1, we drafted 2 small school players-- Marques Colston and Jahri Evans-- and the results speak for themselves. In year 2, we drafted 4 small school players-- Usama Young, Andy Alleman, Jermon Bushrod, and David Jones. Jones is no longer on the roster, and the results of the other 3 are largely still pending-- but we can't yet really say that they have been failures. In fact, one of the problems with last year's draft strategy was that the "big schoolers" didn't work out (see Robert Meachem in Round 1 and Antonio Pittman as a later round "steal"). For the sake of argument, though, I would bet that the Saints take 1 small schooler this year. With relatively few picks on draft day, and the echoes of last year's "poor" draft still ringing, we will see fewer uncertainties in 2008.

Bullmoose: Do you foresee the Saints seeking the eventual replacement for the Argentine fan-favorite Martin " I celebrate a field goal like a just won the World Cup" Gramatica in the later rounds of this years draft? We all know Martin is a threat from outside 15 yards, but if he happens to make one from over 35 he may just be out for the year from the celebration. Perhaps Brandon Coutou (UGA) and Alexis Serna (Orgegon State) are possibilities? And, finally, how will the Black and Gold community Black and Gold, and Locks for Love, cope with the retirement of fan - favorite Steve Gleason? Is Gramatica a potential replacement? Thanks, Bullmoose.
Who Dat Say: No. I think Ronaldhino-- excuse me, Gramatica-- proved last year that he has at least a year left in the tank. But you bring up a good point about his celebration tendencies. Word out of Buenos Aires is that Gramatica plans to celebrate his 35+ yarders with a rendition of the national dance of his country- the tango- rather than jumping up like a moron and tearing his ACL.

But seriously, considering what we said in the previous answer-- that each pick is simply precious this year-- we don't see one being spent on a FG kicker. That is a position that can be easily be addressed in the off-season.

And yes, Steve Gleason will undoubtedly be missed, but it is our prediction that Automatica Gramatica will turn into the fan favorite. And don't worry about Gramatica’s ability to replace Gleason’s “locks of love” -- it is illegal to get a haircut in Argentina.

To ask the WHODATSAY team a question, just email us at whodatsayteam@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

5 Steps to a Black and Gold Supa Bowl: Draft Deuce's Replacement

With the final installment of my series, 5 Steps to a Black and Gold Supa Bowl, I leave you, Mickey, to make the dream a reality this weekend.

Given the type of offense that Sean Payton runs and given the current stable of running backs, the reality of the matter is that the Saints must get a big young running back, or chances are they will end up paying a hefty price in the middle of the 2008 season. Sure, we are all glad Deuce McAllister restructured his contract to remain with the team; he is, after all, a fan favorite and vital locker room veteran. However, because of injuries suffered in the past three years, Deuce’s production has waned to the point where it's difficult to trust that our beloved workhorse will remain healthy for an entire season. Deuce recently had surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, plus microfracture surgery on his right knee to stimulate cartilage growth. That means two surgically repaired knees for a running back who has already been in the league for 7 years. That's some serious stuff, people, and it begs the unpopular question, "Are Deuce's best days behind him?" Mickey, if you are smart, you will see the writing on the wall and draft a big young running back this weekend.

Although coaches and team executives have repeatedly praised Deuce for his value to the team both on and off the field and are publicly rooting for Deuce to make a full recovery, they should privately be making plans to bring in Deuce's eventual replacement. I realize that for many that's a tough pill to swallow. But I advise that you look at the issue without your emotional glasses and understand the reality of the Saints running back situation. Deuce has been in this league for 7 years. That's seven years of running into a massive NFL lineman, getting knocked down, and getting back up just to do it again on the next down. The average shelf life of a starting NFL running back is 4 years, and Deuce is already 3 years on the wrong side of that number. Do I think he's capable of coming back and producing at his pre-injury level? Sure. Will he get hurt again? Maybe not. Do I like the odds that either is true? No, I don't.

In Deuce's first four years with the Saints he averaged 4.7 yards per carry. In his last three – 3.9 yards per carry. In Deuce's first four years he played in an average of 15 games per season. In his last three – 7 games. In two of the past 3 years, he suffered season-ending knee injuries. Based on the last three years, it looks as if Deuce has about a 66% chance of ending the season on the trainer's table. If you don’t think it’s fair to use such a limited sample size, I would take a look at how he injured his knee last year: he jumped up to catch a pass. He wasn’t hit, he didn’t perform some unworldly athletic feat. He just jumped and landed. Injuries from things like that simply do not happen to 21-year-old running backs. Add to that the fact that he now has problems with both knees instead of just one, and I’d say it’s almost certain that Deuce will not make it through an entire season. Is that the type of percentage we want to continue to bet our ground game on?

I know many will say that we have Reggie Bush, Aaron Stecker, and Pierre Thomas to carry the load should the inevitable befall Deuce. The problem with those three is that NONE is the bowling-ball type back that can pick up the tough yards when we need them. I think it's obvious by now that Bush cannot. Stecker, too, is more of a change-of-pace back at 5'10", 215lbs, and is far from a long-term answer. Pierre Thomas, who only boasts 1 career rushing touchdown, is even lighter than Stecker – Thomas weighs 210lbs.

While NFL running backs don’t have to be as big as the Giants' Brandon Jacobs (6'4", 264lbs.), the Saints' reserves pale in comparison to other top NFL big backs: St. Louis' Stephen Jackson is 6'2", 230lbs; Kansas City's Larry Johnson is 6'1", 230lbs; Miami's Ronnie Brown is 6'0", 232lbs; Minnesota's Adrian Peterson is 6'2", 220lbs. Even those not tabbed as "power backs" like LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshawn Lynch, and Fred Taylor all top the scales at over 220lbs.

To be a "tough runner" is not enough in the NFL. I can run with as much effort as Rocky and never convert a short yardage opportunity because I'm simply not big enough. A healthy Deuce is so productive at moving the chains on third and short because he is 6’1”, 232 pounds. And because our offense is essentially a ball-control offense that is predicated on putting together long drives, rather than quick hits, we often find ourselves in 3rd and short. There is a reason our offense ranked 4th in total yards, but only 13th in points per game. It’s because we put together those long-drives that gained lots of yards, but often found ourselves stalling on 3rd downs.

Luckily, the 2008 draft is stocked with running backs, several of whom can tote the load between the tackles. If Jonathan Stewart (5'10", 236lbs.) would fall into the 2nd round due to concerns over his injured toe, the Saints would be wise to grab him. Not often, if ever, will you find a back that size that can run a 4.38 in the forty. Talk about Thunder and Lightning. A future backfield of Stewart and Bush would be downright unfair.

If Stewart is already gone by the time the Saints pick in the second (and I think it’s likely he will be), another option is Tulane running back Matt Forte. Forte, who is 6'1", 221lbs and is as chiseled as Reggie Bush, has been quietly popular among scouts. Chicago, Detroit and Houston, along with several other NFL teams, have visited with the former Tulane standout and all are showing serious interest. The Saints too had Forte in for a private workout earlier this month, and I could not fault Mickey for pulling the trigger on him later in the second round – provided we trade down a few spots and acquire an extra pick or player. I would hate to visit Detroit in Week 16 with a running game spear-headed by Bush, Stecker and Thomas as Forte, dressed in silver and blue, rips us for the century mark.

Lastly, Mickey, if you choose not to go that route, then I hope you will at least consider former Tiger, Jacob Hester in a later round. If there's one thing Hester (5'11", 230lbs.) has proven, it's that he can pickup a 1st down even if the entire defense knows he's going to get the rock! Look no further than this video to see what big plus tough equals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRJczt7YZF4). That is the kind of attitude and toughness our running game lacked after Deuce went down, and I would be surprised if our running game has it for the whole year if we do not draft Deuce’s replacement.

Who Dat Say News: Miami Agrees to Deal with Jake Long

News: The Miami Dolphins have reached a contract agreement with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and will select him with the No. 1 overall pick, according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network. Long will reportedly receive $30 million guaranteed as part of his five-year, $57.5 million deal. That is $2 million less guaranteed than JaMarcus Russell got last year. An official announcement will be made at a 1:45 p.m. ET news conference.

WhoDatSay: Well, well. It seems the first pick of the 2008 NFL Draft is in the books. Long will be a Dolphin and should drastically improve Miami's offensive-line play. Now, all attention turns toward the #2 overall pick which St. Louis possesses. The Rams know the Saints want to trade up to select defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, but the organization is leery of dropping down to No. 10, even for an additional first rounder in 2009. Presumably they are weighing their options as to who they would select if they chose to make a trade. Nothing yet is reported to have been offered by the Saints as talks are seemingly still informal. Stay tuned.

Tuesday's Reader Rants

Every Tuesday we want you to "go off" on whatever Saints-related topic is bothering you. Tell us how you feel and don't spare any expense. To submit your rant, send an e-mail to whodatsayteam@gmail.com. We will sift through the garbage and post the best stuff every Tuesday. If we get 5 good ones, we'll post them all. Happy complaining.


By reader OnOme Ojo -- Uptown, New Orleans.

DRAFT A FREAKING CORNERBACK!!!

I pray to all things that are holy that the saints finally draft a cornerback in the first round. It seems like for over a decade now the saints biggest need going in to the draft has been a cornerback and for a decade now my beloved saints have neglected to draft an elite sought-after corner. Instead, we sign 5 feet 8 inch cover two midgets left over from other teams. I am no expert on the draft and don't pretend to be. I can't tell you which cornerback the saints should draft with the 10th pick – that’s what the saints pay scouts for. But I do know that I want them to draft ANY cornerback with the 10th pick. Too many times the saints have drafted project cornerbacks in the later rounds who have been absolute busts (Michael Hawthorne, Keyou Craver). I WANT and NEED an impact corner who we can be excited about. I know many people want a defensive tackle and I would equally like Dorsey; however, we have to give up way too much to get him! I also know many other people want us to swap our 10th for the eagles’ 19th pick for Lito Sheppard. NO!!!!! First off, why do want someone else's unwanted players? I have never understood that philosophy of trading for players that a team doesn't want anymore – it makes no sense whatsoever. If they are that good then why would a team want to get rid of them? Sometimes I admit there are exceptions (i.e. Vilma because that was a system change). Secondly, who would we draft at 19? Sure there would be corners of value on the board, but we wouldn’t need one b/c we just traded for Sheppard!!! There will be no defensive tackle or linebacker worthy of the 19th pick on the board. So what the hell to you suggest? …Trade back again with New York to get Shockey? Please, shut up. The pick swapping for Sheppard is stupid and a won’t happen. The saints need to strengthen their D through the draft and by getting younger (not by trading for other people’s garbage). Better would be trading a 5th round pick to the “J-E-T-S -- Jets” for Dewayne Robertson a player much like J. Vilma who no long fits in their scheme.

MICKEY LOOMIS, PLEASE DAMNIT, draft a cornerback with the 10th overall pick and and stop ignoring the biggest weakness on defense for over a decade!

Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 36-40

Your Who Dat Say contributors will roll out the first 40 picks in the NFL draft as we believe it will unfold at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 26th. We will post 5 picks/day, concluding with the Saints 2nd round pick (#40 overall). Our Mock Draft Champion will be the contributor who gets the most picks right. In the event of a tie, the ugliest contributor loses – this does not bode well for "The Dowg." As always, we invite you to toast any pick you love or roast any pick you hate. Let the games begin.

Round 1 (picks 1-5): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 1-5
Round 1 (picks 6-10): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 6-10
Round 1 (picks 11-15): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 11-15
Round 1 (picks 16-20): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 16-20
Round 1 (picks 21-25): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 21-25
Round 1 (picks 26-30): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 26-30

Round 2 (picks 36-40):

36. New York Jets (Vern's pick) -- Dan Conner, LB Penn State. Eric Mangini knows that to contend with the Patriots he must be able to shut down Tom Brady and the Pat's high-octane offense. Gholston was nabbed in round 1 to affect the quarterback and now Mangini gets a guy who he hopes can fill the hole vacated by Jonathan Vilma. Dan Conner (6'3", 231lbs.) should be up for the task. Just a few weeks ago, he was considered the top middle LB in the draft and many teams probably still think he is. The Jets get a great value in Conner and exit the first two rounds with two players they will immediately press in to starting roles.

37. Atlanta Falcons (Duncan Donuts' pick) -- Dre More, DT Maryland. Atlanta lost their starting QB to the slammer, traded away their best defender to Oakland, cut their pro bowl tight end, and their group of receivers couldn't start at LSU. Excellent management Mr. Blank. I respect you as founder and former CEO of Home Depot, but you need to stop bringing your business skills into the NFL...it's not working. But back to the draft. Drafting Matt Ryan and Brandon Flowers with the first 2 picks is a huge step in the right direction. Because Atlanta's defense was so poor this past year, they will use this 2nd round pick and draft Dre Moore, DT from Maryland. He could have easily been a 1st round pick if not for so much depth in this year' draft. He's a day 1 starter and a must get after letting Rod Coleman go.

38. Baltimore Ravens (Section123Saintsfan's pick) -- Antoine Cason, CB Arizona. Both Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle are solid starting cornerbacks in the NFL but turn 31 and 32 respectively this year. Both were sidelined with injuries at some point in the 2007 season as well. No other corner on this team is worthy of starting...ever. Can you even name another corner on this team? A future franchise shutdown corner needs to be drafted with this pick in order to play nickel as a rookie and to be groomed as a future No. 1 corner. Another needs to be drafted to play dime as a rookie and to be groomed as a future No. 2. That said, with this pick, the Ravens will select Antoine Cason from Arizona. He's simply way too valuable to pass up here. A starter since his freshman year at Arizona, Cason is very instinctive and has unbelievable quickness and agility. He is a good athlete, plays with great awareness, and can contribute as a return man.

39. San Fransisco 49ers (Buddon's pick) – James Hardy, WR Indiana. San Francisco has not had a viable weapon at wide receiver since T.O., and Alex Smith's ineptitude doesn't help the situation. Last year's free agent acquisition, Darrell Jackson, did not work out; nor do I see ancient Isaac Bruce as a long-term answer. Enter 6'5-3/8" James Hardy, who will go down, in addition to Vernon Davis, as the latest talented kid to see his career plop in the toilet due to the play of Alex Smith.

40. New Orleans Saints (The Dowg's pick) – Pat Sims, DT Auburn. Who Dat Nation undoubtedly knows the importance of these first two picks for its Black and Gold. If Coach Payton and Co. choose wisely, it could be the catalyst for another deep run in the playoffs. If not, well… I'll be friggin pissed. There are a million scenarios being tossed around, and it's hard to know what will transpire on Saturday. My criteria is simple: If we come out of rounds 1 and 2 with probable starters at defensive tackle and cornerback (be it through a trade or the draft), I will be more than content. Considering that we drafted a corner in round 1, we should go defensive tackle here. I think we go with Pat Sims. Scouts love his upside, but question his attitude and desire. That would have been a concern last year, but we have Ed Orgeron, baby. Coach O could get Dirk Nowitzki to toughen up and quit whining every time David West touched him. Moreover, luckily for the Saints, Sims played defensive tackle for Auburn and not d-line against them. If he had played defensive line against Auburn, a knee injury is sure to have ended his career, or at the least hurt his draft status. Nonetheless, the six-foot-four, 315 pound beast remains unclipped. So Sims it is. I can hear Coach O yaw-yawin from here!

Who Dat News: Saints are Serious about Dorsey; Shockey Trade not Dead Yet

News: According to Peter King from SI.com, the Saints are serious about trading into the top four for LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. King said, "This one really surprises me, and at first I didn't think it was true, but New Orleans is serious about trading into the top four..." Also, King has seemingly put parameters around the Shockey trade. "It won't get done if the Giants insist on receiving in-his-prime, 25-year-old safety Roman Harper (a 2006 second-round pick), plus the 40th pick in the draft. If the Giants want, say, Harper and a sixth-round pick for Shockey, or a second- and sixth-rounder for him, then I could see the trade getting done."

WhoDatSay: First, let's discuss moving up to get the hometown hero. While we would love to get our hands on Dorsey, it will cost an awful lot to get into the top four, and quite frankly, we don't think the Saints are willing. However, if the Saints have targeted Dorsey as a unquestioned leader and talent in the mold of Ray Lewis, and think Dorsey will bring Lewis' type of attitude and relentless motor to their defense (which right now it sorely lacks), then a giant move up wouldn't surprise us. Still, more likely is the scenario that New Orleans will offer up far less to swap with either New England or Baltimore and take USC's Sedrick Ellis. As far the Shockey deal, it's more evident than ever that Payton really wants the former Miami star. Payton simply loves using the tight end in his offense (and we know Brees likes throwing to him) and does not want to start the season with Eric "dropped it again" Johnson as the #1 tight end.

5 Steps to a Black and Gold Supa Bowl: Trade for Lito Sheppard

From the look of our poll, I do not need to convince most of our readers that trading for Lito Sheppard is in our best interest, but convincing GM Mickey Loomis of that might be another story.

The more I think about our draft, the more I am convinced that even if the Saints brass follows only the first three steps of my plan (see 5 Steps to a Black and Gold Supa Bowl), I would still consider this draft a huge success. If we emerge from the first 4 rounds of this draft with Sedrick Ellis, Lito Sheppard, and Jonathan Vilma – and no one else – would you not say that our draft exceeded all expectations going into the off-season? That would mean three potential pro-Bowlers added to our defense. These are not the role players like Jon Stinchcomb, Devery Henderson, or Josh Bullocks that we usually pick up in the second round. Nor are they the busts, like Alfred Fincher or Cie Grant, that we draft in the third round. These guys are future Pro-Bowlers. It’s time for Mickey to admit, “Hey, I’m just not that good at drafting players, BUT I have been effective in putting together some pretty sweet trades.”

Loomis has already proven adept at hoodwinking the Eagles. In the 2006 draft, the Saints traded down 9 spots in the 4th round (from pick 99 to pick 108), acquired Hollis Thomas from Philly, and still drafted Jahri Evans with the Eagles’ pick. That trade is Vick-for-Tomlinson-esque – well maybe not quite that extreme, but impressive nonetheless. The newest target for highway robbery is Lito Sheppard, a 27 year-old former Pro-Bowl cornerback, who became expendable to the Eagles when they signed Asante Samuel to a 6 year, $57 million contract. Sheppard has fallen from grace because he is somewhat injury prone and is not content with his current contract. Certainly, his injury history and his contract are two issues the Saints would have to deal with; but in actuality, given the current composition of our team, we have very little choice in the matter.

As of now, our team has nothing even closely resembling a true number-one corner. Before his injury, Mike McKenzie was that number-one guy and was, other than Colston, the only player on our roster who deserved to make the Pro Bowl. We realized just how valuable McKenzie was after he went down in the Eagles game. No longer could the safeties help out only on Jason David’s side. They were forced to – hold onto your seat now – man the entire field. Imagine that. And then we really saw how pathetically inept our secondary is. I watched Donovan McNabb dissect our defense as if he were Joe Montana on “The Drive.” In week 16, when we were still in playoff contention, this was undoubtedly a low point of the season.

I still have high hopes for McKenzie’s successful return, but he tore his ACL in the second-to-last game of the season. At what point of this season, if any, will he be healthy enough to run with Steve Smith? I am not willing to stake my season on the recovery of McKenzie’s 31-year old knee. And I know for a certainty that no other corner on our team can play nearly as well as Mike did last year – when we still had serious problems in the secondary. So, you say, why not draft a corner? Admittedly, there are some intriguing cornerback prospects out there, but no rookie corner can enter this league and thrive when placed on an island all game in Gary Gibbs’ defense. It simply does not happen.

The solution? Trade for Lito Sheppard. We missed out on a number-one corner in free agency when we lost the Asante Samuel sweepstakes. The only other guy out there who is somewhat available (and I don’t even want to consider Pac Man) and who can match up with a number-one receiver is Lito Sheppard. I initially said that we can probably acquire Sheppard by flip-flopping 2nd round picks with the Eagles and giving up a 4th rounder. I think that is still a possibility, but only if the Eagles are as eager to move him as the Raiders were eager to move Randy Moss last year. Given the tandem that Samuel and Sheppard would make, I doubt that they are.

On the other hand, I do think that the Saints are, or at least should be, desperate to land Sheppard, as he would immediately upgrade the Saints secondary and provide a presence as a number-one corner that the Saints cannot fill through any other means. With two interception returns of over 100 yards each and 17 career interceptions, Sheppard also brings some big play ability that our defense sorely lacks. Although he is injury prone, he is still young at 27 and might still have some of his best years ahead of him. Remember, McKenzie was also 27 when we traded for him, and he has worked out very well for us.

Trading for Sheppard also means that we will not have to rush McKenzie back before he is 100%. When Mike does return near the middle to the end of the season, we will have two fringe Pro-Bowlers in our secondary to lead our defense into the playoffs and to (finally!) shut down the big play on both sides of the field.

So, Mickey, if you have to completely give up that second round pick (or throw in one of our many wide receivers, ahem, Devery) to get a guy we desperately need, the Black and Gold faithful would not fault you. With the additions of Ellis, Sheppard, and Vilma, I may just go ahead and book that flight to Tampa for late January.

Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 31-35

Your Who Dat Say contributors will roll out the first 40 picks in the NFL draft as we believe it will unfold at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 26th. We will post 5 picks/day, concluding with the Saints 2nd round pick (#40 overall). Our Mock Draft Champion will be the contributor who gets the most picks right. In the event of a tie, the ugliest contributor loses – this does not bode well for "The Dowg." As always, we invite you to toast any pick you love or roast any pick you hate. Let the games begin.

Round 1 (picks 1-5): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 1-5
Round 1 (picks 6-10): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 6-10
Round 1 (picks 11-15): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 11-15
Round 1 (picks 16-20): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 16-20
Round 1 (picks 21-25): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 21-25
Round 1 (picks 26-30): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 26-30


Round 1 (pick 31):

31. New York Giants (Duncan Donut's pick): Kenny Phillips, S Miami. Well, what can you say about the defending Super Bowl Champions? Where could they possibly need an upgrade? I can actually think of several places, but I'll stick with the obvious. Starting strong safety, Gibril WIlson, left during the off-season. The Giants did sign Sammy Knight, but he is obviously not the long-term answer at the ripe-old age of 32. With this pick, the G-Men will draft Kenny Phillips from the U. He has the size, speed and "Miami bloodlines" to be an impact player. While he's not a future hall-of-famer, he will serve as a solid starter in this league for many years. Very rarely is the #1 player at his position available with the last pick of the first round (okay, maybe if the player is a kicker, punter, or center). Phillips is the best safety in this year's draft and the Giants would gladly add him to their secondary.

Round 2 (picks 32-35):

32. Miami Dolphins (Section123Saintsfan's pick): Quentin Groves, OLB Auburn. Groves recently sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams following heart surgery on March 27th to treat his Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. WPW is an abnormality in the heart's electrical system that can lead to rapid heart beats if left untreated. WPW is commonly cured through the surgery and Groves says there is no concern. I think Bill Parcells, who wants to add perimeter speed to his defense, believes him. If the old man is right to trust the former Auburn star, Miami is getting a steal. When healthy, Groves is simply a freak and Miami would love to stand him up at rush linebacker in their 3-4 alignment. If Parcells is wrong, then Miami is getting the "Tin Man" from the Wizard of Oz. Here's to hoping that Big Tuna doesn't walk through Radio City Music Hall wearing ruby red slippers.

33. St. Louis Rams (Buddon's pick): Sam Baker, OT USC. A poor defense coached by an even poorer-minded defensive coordinator, a quarterback who is always hurt and who is relatively uninspiring even when healthy, a wide receiver who is past his prime, an a former Pro-Bowl left tackle on the verge of retirement -- these are the players that define the Rams. These also happen to be the winless players who ended the Saints four-game winning streak last year. At least St. Louis can replace one of those players by Baker as a replacement for Orlando Pace. Baker was slowed last year by a hamstring injury, but still played well enough to become a three-time All American. His injury history and his miserable showing in the Senior Bowl call into question his ability to transition to the pro game, but he has shown enough in college to warrant early-second round consideration.

34. Atlanta Falcons (The Dowg's pick): Brandon Flowers, CB Virginia. Atlanta is such a bad team that they could go any direction with this pick… CB, DT, OL, LB, S, WR. If they in fact take Matt Ryan in the first, I bet they go corner, defensive tackle, and wide-receiver in the second – that's right, the Falcons have 3 second-round picks. Their first priority should be to replace Rod Coleman and DeAngelo Hall. With Flowers slipping here, I think he's the choice. DT Pat Sims also makes sense, but I bet he's still available 3 picks from now; I can't say the same thing for Flowers as the Jets are reported to have a keen interest in the Virginia Tech cornerback. Flowers is not as highly regarded as other small-school corners in this draft, but he should be. Listen to this… Besides his 5 interceptions and NO touchdowns allowed in 2007, Flowers has led all NCAA corners for the past two years in tackles behind the line of scrimmage. A guy that can cover and hit are few and far between. I hope this guy falls to the Saints at #40. As it is, our division rival gets a gem.

35. Kansas City Chiefs (BR Boy's pick): Chilo Rachal, OL USC. Kansas City's line needs help all over and they must address that position after going DT in the first. While Sam Baker may have been the preferred choice because of his ability to play tackle, his USC teammate will immediately start inside. Rachal is the second best guard in this year's draft behind Branden Albert. He is a fierce run blocker and did not give up a single sack last year. Larry Johnson and the offense are sure to welcome him. Round 1 – Glenn Dorsey; round 2 – Chilo Rachal; round 3 – QB? KC should hope.

Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 26-30

Your Who Dat Say contributors will roll out the first 40 picks in the NFL draft as we believe it will unfold at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 26th. We will post 5 picks/day, concluding with the Saints 2nd round pick (#40 overall). Our Mock Draft Champion will be the contributor who gets the most picks right. In the event of a tie, the ugliest contributor loses – this does not bode well for "The Dowg." As always, we invite you to toast any pick you love or roast any pick you hate. Let the games begin.

Round 1 (picks 1-5): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 1-5
Round 1 (picks 6-10): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 6-10
Round 1 (picks 11-15): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 11-15
Round 1 (picks 16-20): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 16-20
Round 1 (picks 21-25): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 21-25

Round 1 (picks 26-30):

26. Jacksonville Jaguars (Duncan Donuts’ pick) – Kentwan Balmer, DT UNC. With the off-season losses of Marcus Stroud to Buffalo and Bobby McCray to New Orleans, the Jaguars need to address both the defensive tackle and defensive end positions. With the 3 best defensive ends (Derrick Harvey, Calais Campbell, and Phillip Merling) already off the board, the Jaguars will have to address the defensive tackle position. Although Quentin Groves will be tempting here, they will select Kentwan Balmer from North Carolina. Hopefully, Jack Del Rio can get Balmer motivated because he's been known to take plays off and has a questionable work ethic. On the positive side, he has good size, is very strong, and is known for his ability to penetrate inside.

27. San Diego Chargers (Section123Saintsfan’s pick) – Felix Jones, RB Arkansas. Michael Turner says good-bye and Felix Jones says hello. This draft is very deep at the running back postion and San Diego serves to benefit by getting a great value with the 27th overall pick. Tomlinson isn't getting any younger, and the team should look for a pair of young legs to keep him fresh for a few more years. And, no, Keebler Elf Darren Sproles cannot handle the cookie load if Tomlinson were to go down. Felix Jones can.

28. Dallas Cowboys (Buddon’s pick) – Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon. Jerry Jones is disappointed that San Diego sniped his Arkansas boy, Felix Jones. However, Jones still has his heart set on a running back. Stewart is not as good of a fit as Felix Jones because his between-the-tackle running style is somewhat similar to Marion Barber's. Still, Stewart does have the one component missing from Barber's game: break-away speed. Jones, unable to pass up 4.4 speed and 238 pounds of solid muscle, makes the true value pick.

29. San Fransisco 49ers (The Dowg’s pick) – Gosder Cherilus, OL Boston College. With Mike Martz on board, many expect the 49ers to take a receiver here. But with Limas Sweed and DeSean Jackson off the board, the Niners will go for the next best thing-- someone to protect the passer so Martz and Co. can chunk it 60 times a game. Plus, it makes sense-- the Niners gave up 55 sacks last year. With the addition of the Cherilius, who seems best fit play right tackle, Joe Staley can slide to the left side, giving San Fransisco a nice young duo at tackle for years to come.

30. Green Bay Packers (BR Boy’s pick) – Jerod Mayo, LB Tennessee. Although most analysts predict Green Bay will choose to add depth to their secondary or offensive line with this pick, I think they go in another direction. The Packers are a solid team across the board and have no glaring weaknesses. Thus, they are in a position to take the best available player, which I believe is Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo. Following in the footsteps of the past two NFL defensive rookies of the year (Patrick Willis and DeMeco Ryans), Mayo is quickly convincing NFL teams that he is the real deal. Mayo, who is 6-1 and 242 pounds, led the SEC in tackles last year with 140 and has been clocked as low as 4.49 in the forty. Sure, Brady Poppinga (Green Bay's current OLB) is serviceable, but Mayo, who can play all three positions, would team with Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk to form the most dominating LB core in the NFL.

Tomorrow: Picks 31 - 35 (round 2).

Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 21-25

Your Who Dat Say contributors will roll out the first 40 picks in the NFL draft as we believe it will unfold at Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 26th. We will post 5 picks/day, concluding with the Saints 2nd round pick (#40 overall). Our Mock Draft Champion will be the contributor who gets the most picks right. In the event of a tie, the ugliest contributor loses – this does not bode well for "The Dowg." As always, we invite you to toast any pick you love or roast any pick you hate. Let the games begin.

Round 1 (picks 1-5): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 1-5
Round 1 (picks 6-10): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 6-10
Round 1 (picks 11-15): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 11-15
Round 1 (picks 16-20): Mocking It Up: WhoDatSay's Mock Draft, Picks 16-20

Round 1 (picks 21-25):

21. Washington Redskins (Section123Saintsfan’s pick) – Phillip Merling, DE Clemson. Merling projects to be an every-down starter in the NFL, but lacks elite speed and strength. The Redskins project to be an average team in the NFL, but lack anyone really worth watching (who are their receivers again?) unless you like seeing Clinton Portis in drag (and who doesn't?). All in all, Merling should be a good bet to fade into obscurity like the rest of this team, with the exception of a speedy, hard-hitting safety who played his college ball in the great state of Louisiana.

22. Dallas Cowboys (Buddon’s pick) – Limas Sweed, WR Texas. Everyone says the Cowboys are picking two skill players at RB and WR with their first two picks. Everybody also says the 'Boys are going RB with the first of their two picks. I have to disagree. With Tennessee obviously looking for a WR two spots below them, I think Jerry Jones goes ahead and takes his receiver of choice now and finds the running back later. Terry Glenn is aging and can't stay healthy, and Dallas needs someone opposite T.O. so that teams cannot double team him all day. Is that Limas Sweed or DeSean Jackson? I don't think it's Jackson because he looks more like a slot receiver/return guy to me. Moreover, Jones can't resist the idea of having two big, physically imposing wideouts; nor can he resist Sweed's ties to Texas.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers (The Dowg’s pick) – Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh gave up 47 sacks last year while New England, who represented the AFC in the Super Bowl, only gave up 21. If the Steelers have any plans of getting back to the big game, they must protect Big Ben and run the ball more effectively. They also lost their best lineman, former LSU star Alan Faneca, to free agency. The Steelers would be thrilled to have the massive Otah fall to them at 23. While probably not quick enough to start at left tackle in the NFL, Otah would dominate inside and could easily play right tackle at the next level. Many scouts consider him raw, but the Steelers will be more than happy if they get the opportunity to press him in to the starting lineup.

24. Tennessee Titans (BR Boy’s pick) – Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma. While I understand that Tennessee has big WRs, none compare to Kelly. He is big, strong, smooth in and out of breaks and has a great set of hands. While DeSean Jackson, the wide receiver from California, is the trendy pick, the Titans will go with Kelly here. Although Kelly's pro-day antics left many desiring much more, it's nothing an off-season slap or two from Vince can't fix. Kelly is a very solid player who led the Sooners in receptions in '05 and '06, finishing 2nd on the team in '07. I see Kelly as the big time wide receiver Vince Young needs to compete week in and week out in the very tough AFC south.

25. Seattle Seahawks (Vern’s pick) – DeSean Jackson, WR/PR Cal. You two have available the next Steve Smith and you take the next Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett? Tennessee -- who's going to return punts w/ Pacman heading to Dallas? Honestly, thank you both. Sure, Jackson is rather smallish, but he can flat out fly. He is an impeccable route runner (unlike Devery Henderson or Ted Ginn) and rarely drops a pass. LSU recruited this guy out of high school very aggressively but he signed with Cal instead. He was constantly doubled in college and still burnt corners and safeties on a weekly basis. If Jackson had played in a dominant conference, he would be the #1-rated WR in this draft; rather he is slipping b/c of size concerns. He brings Devin Hester-esque talent to the return game and is a much more polished receiver than the Bears' game-breaker. He's an unbelievable value this late in the 1st round and Seattle should not hesitate to add him to the mix.

Tomorrow: Picks 26 - 30.