Who Dat Hearsay: Henry to Saints a Possibility?

News: The Denver Broncos released Travis Henry yesterday after questioning his commitment to the team. “We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team,” head coach Mike Shanahan said. “Although Travis has the ability to be one of the top running backs in the NFL, we have to make decisions that are in the best interests of our organization and its goal of winning a Super Bowl.” Henry missed the first week of the Bronco’s passing camp. Despite Shanahan’s wishes that Henry would be healthy enough to return to the field last Tuesday for minicamp, the running back missed the rest of the week as well.

WhoDatSay: What Shanahan may not have known is that his former starting running back was in New Orleans last month on two separate occasions and was seen playing blackjack at a downtown casino. According to an inside source, Henry commented several times about how much he loved the city (New Orleans). To our knowledge the running back did not meet with team officials during his two May visits, and both trips could have been for vacation only. Two vacations in the span of one month to New Orleans when your current team is battling through OTA’s and minicamp in Denver… hmmm. We all know the Saints have been in the market for a bigger running back to place in their stable should Deuce have another setback, and Henry (at 230lbs.) would fit that bill. That said, the Saints would have to buck their trend of signing high-character players if they were to bring in this guy.

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.

Last week, we brought you a report (from CBS columnist Pete Pricso) tabbing Reggie Bush as the most overrated player in the NFL. Prisco’s statement got us wondering just what Saints’ fans think of the ultra-talented, somewhat controversial running back. We asked you to send us your opinions. Here are a few we received:

Stan C.
Metairie, LA
-With my wife manning the remote control last night, I reluctantly watched the TV show Keeping up with the Kardashians. That crew, what a bunch of clowns! Anyway, it was the episode that was filmed partly in New Orleans where they tour the 9th Ward and eat at Brennan's restaurant. My wife really likes the show, so I have seen parts of several episodes. I was hoping to watch the Spurs-Lakers series, but my lobbying efforts were unsuccessful. The whole show, but mainly this most recent episode, has really struck a nerve with me. After thinking about the Reggie Bush situation, I can’t help but wonder, will Reggie ever become the superstar running back/ playmaker in the NFL that we fans all hope for, that the Saints need him to become? With Reggie, I feel there is too much glitz and not enough grit. That he is a cream puff, a pretty boy. I mean, seriously, it must be hard to focus on football with all the extracurricular B.S. that he is involved with. I know, you’re thinking, what about Peyton Manning, he is involved with all types of off-the-field distractions? My response is, Peyton is focused and he has proven himself ON THE FIELD. He can do whatever he wants. You say, “what about Tony Parker?” My response, sure he has a famous wife, but he also has championship rings. Is football Reggie’s top priority? I think it is, but the margin between football and his other priorities may not be wide enough. As a Saints fan, I really hope to be proven wrong because our team is better when Reggie is doing his thing. I hope to be eating crow after the 2008 season. But, so far, Reggie has lived off of his reputation at USC and his PRO DAY. Reggie has NOT gotten it done in the NFL!

Jonathan B.
-Hey, thanks for putting it out there, I'll keep reading it. and if my job didn't restrict me from posting, I'd do that too. Anyway about Reggie, if media hype equals what you are supposed to do, then he is a bust. But I don't care what the media had anticipated Reggie would do. His stats are low, especially YPC, but you can't name a Defense that says "Oh, we don't really need to be concerned with him." If he continues to play decoy, I don't give a shit, fine by me. But may God be with any corner on an island that's looking at him one-on-one

“RCR”
Reader Comment
-While Reggie hasn’t produced quite like we all hoped, he’s far from the most overrated player in the NFL.

Prisco doesn’t exactly give his criteria for the most over-rated player, but it seems like he’s really saying that Bush is the biggest bust.

Saying he’s overrated now means that he’s currently being hyped as something he’s not. At this point in the game, that’s not true. We all know that Reggie is more of a complement back at this stage of his career; nobody’s expecting him to carry the load without a power back like Deuce. So I don’t think it’s fair to call him overrated.

As for being a bust, that’s not fair either. He’s an integral part of our team, and played a HUGE part in our success in 2006.

So, using Prisco’s definition of “overrated,” who should win? My vote would be Mike Williams, now of the Titans. He was drafted #10, and has been an overweight bust. He has 44 catches in 3 years. According to him, he’s slimmed down to 242lbs. in order to try and compete again.

So let’s recap – Bush has been a major part of a successful team and has been a role player with the potential to be much more. Mike Williams is fat, slow, and has been on 3 teams in 3 years.

Who’s more overrated? Who’s more of a bust? Screw Priso. The shot at Kardashian’s huge ass just goes to show that this guy is writing more for jokers that would rather watch E! than real football fans.

Who Dat News: Reggie as the Punt Returner?

News: The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that Sean Payton will be zeroing in on special teams throughout this preseason in the hopes of dramatic improvement in that area. "We have to get our return game going; we really haven't been very effective in two years in that, be it kickoff return or punt return," Payton said. "We finished last in the league in field goal percentage (68); that's something that we need to address and improve on." Included in those plans is a more active role for Reggie Bush in the punt return game. Payton said Bush will be involved as a punt returner, something he was limited in last year after Deuce McAllister was lost to a knee injury and Bush became a bigger part of the running game.

WhoDatSay: It only makes sense to use Reggie in the return game. It's clear that he will not be an every down back for this club, and that means the coaches must find a way to get him more touches (especially since Payton said in the same article that he wants more 20+ yard plays this year). Allowing Reggie to return punts is a great way to get him those additional touches. It still remains to be seen the extent to which he will be used in the return game -- will he be "the" punt returner or "a" punt returner? This news also begs the question about Lance Moore and his future with the club. With the acquisitions of Tracy Porter and Tuff Harris in the off-season, who also figure to battle for the return spot, one wonders if Moore will find a spot on the final roster. Our readers seem to think he won't (see our current poll), and we agree. The spot that Moore would occupy on the final roster will be absolutely essential, especially considering the fight at the wide receiver position, and if Moore won't be the exclusive punt returner, it makes little sense to keep him.

Who Dat Say Minicamp Update

Members of the Whodatsay team attended Saints minicamp this past Saturday and are pleased to bring you this mincamp update. Present for Whodatsay were Vern, Mrs. Vern, Little Vern (the biggest 7-month old Saints fan you will ever meet), Section123, Section123 Girlfriend, and Joseph, the winner of our first annual Take a Fan to Minicamp Contest. Joseph was declared winner when he passed out on my couch the night before, leaving us no other choice than to bring him along. With six sets of eyes hard at work for our readers, we’re fairly certain we took everything in.

We don’t want to brag but….

We’re finally getting some of that well-deserved, hard-earned, respect and admiration from our peers and fans alike. Below, you will see some of the shots we took from our exclusive, roped-off, very VIP, Whodatsay area.

Jump on board while you still can folks, we’re headed for the big time.

Our exclusive press credentials gave us access to fans and players alike; at one point, we even managed to get up close to this guy:

Although we are still unsure what Panama Jack was doing at Saints mincamp, we at whodatsay have always welcomed Saints fans of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Plus, we’re hoping that he sends us a few pairs of sunglasses so that we can avoid being blinded by the light reflected off Todd Blythe’s legs.

What we saw:

The date was May 31, and because summer typically starts some time in late February around here, it was hot. New Orleanians know to avoid the dark colors in the summer heat, but not today – today was a Saints day, and that meant the Black and Gold had to be proudly displayed, regardless of weather conditions.

We watched with the masses (what appeared to be several thousand) as Devery Henderson caught a simple pass in the flat and was cheered as if he had just completed the Immaculate Reception. We saw Deuce taking handoffs up the middle, a sight that can’t help but bring a sense of normalcy and rightness to the mind of any Saints fan; it was certainly a sight for sore eyes, and one which we hope to see a lot more of. We watched as David Patten abused Usama Young on a deep route, faking him out of his shoes and making a catch in the end zone. All the while, the general, clad in his long sleeves and visor, walked the ranks of his players, looking for something, a well-run route, a vicious block, a well thrown ball from Palko or Brunell.

Vern’s Take:

Vern focused his attention mostly on receivers and defensive backs, and had the following to report: Although it is par for the course, Drew Brees looked good. Really good. He threw with consistent accuracy and velocity. Together, Brees and Colston make even the most difficult routes look effortless.

Tyler Palko… well, pretty much the exact opposite of everything we just said about Brees. He under-whelmed and under-impressed us with his accuracy all morning long.

Deuce Mcallister still has a long way to go. It appeared that every handoff he took was straight up the middle, and it looks like he is a long way from being able to move laterally at full speed. We’re not expecting Deuce to be 100% when training camp opens.

Reggie Bush seemed to show no ill effects from last year’s injury, and moved quickly and confidently with the ball. Early indications are that he will be used in much the same way as last year, despite the entire Who Dat Nation calling for some new looks with Reggie in 2008.

Marques Colston is truly in a class all his own on our team. His routes always looks smooth, and he catches every ball with his hands, even when it looks like it would be easier for him to catch it with his body.

Although there has been a lot of positive talk about Robert Meachem lately, he failed to impress at minicamp. Despite his straight line speed, he still seems to be a little slow in and out of his breaks, and he catches too many balls with his body. Meachem doesn’t drop many balls, but he needs to make more of an effort to extend his arms to the ball and not just let the ball come to him. At times, he almost looks lazy running routes.

Despite running mostly with the third team, Adrian Arrington managed to impress us. Arrington just appears to be a complete receiver, with a quick first step and the ability to get separation, despite what the scouting reports said about him. He catches the ball well with his hands, and with his large frame, he really has the potential to develop into a red-zone threat. If Arrington learns the playbook and continues to improve, he could have a bright future with the Saints.

Tracy Porter looked good. He’s definitely raw, and that showed when he bit on a few moves and got beat a few times. His recovery speed, however, appears to be excellent, and he mostly did a good job of keeping receivers in front of him. We’re looking forward to watching him develop.

With Mike McKenzie walking around pad-less, Randall Gay was the most consistent defensive back on the field. He blanketed Colston on an out-route and covered receivers tight on deep balls. It’s obvious that Gay has been playing under Bill Belichick when you see how impressive his footwork is.

What it all means…

Depending on who you ask, attending minicamp is either a great way to pick up subtle clues regarding the staff’s mindset, or a nice way to get a jumpstart on that farmer’s tan you will be sporting all summer. However, no one will argue that mincamp isn’t a great place to hang out with other Saints fans, support the Boys in Black and Gold, and start getting excited about the 2008 season. We’ll see you in Jackson.

Who Dat News: Smith and Colston Will Attend Mandatory Minicamp

News: Defensive end Will Smith and wide receiver Marques Colston will participate in the New Orleans Saints mandatory minicamp, according to espn.com. Joel Segal, the agent for both players, said he wanted to clarify speculation that contract disputes could lead both players to miss this weekends mandatory camp, the first of the offseason. "Will's feeling is that if it's mandatory, it's football, then he will be there," said Segal. "We're having (contract) talks with the team on both players. They both have the same philosophy -- they'll play football and I'll deal with the contract."

WhoDatSay: This is great news for a team that desperately needed some at the defensive end position. What was just a month ago perhaps, the deepest position on the defense, has suddenly become a major concern for the Saints. Newly acquired Bobby McCray is injured, and Charles Grant is dealing with an involuntary manslaughter charge. Now, at least the team won't have to worry about a lengthy holdout from arguably their best defensive end. While it appears that neither Smith nor Colston will attempt to leverage his bargaining power by holding out, skipping team activities, or creating off-field drama ala T.O. or Chad Johnson, Loomis would do well to get both of these guys inked for the long term as they are part of a solid core of young players this team can lean on for years to come.

Who Dat News: New Orleans Planning to Bid for 2013 Super Bowl.

News: According to nola.com, several influential NFL owners say they will support a New Orleans bid on the 2013 Super Bowl, and Saints owner Tom Benson says he plans to bring the nation's premier sporting event back to the city after an 11-year dry spell. The Super Bowl alone would create an economic impact of $400 million for the city of New Orleans.

Who Dat Say: The city of New Orleans and the Super Bowl go together like bread and butter. Since the inception of the Super Bowl, New Orleans has hosted the game a record nine times (tied with Miami). With a $193 million renovation after Hurricane Katrina, the Superdome is primed to host another Super Bowl. The Big Game's economic impact would definitely help with the continued rebuilding process in New Orleans, a process which will last until at least 2013 and beyond. And there has never been more hype about football in New Orleans than at the present. The Saints are looking great headed into next season, it's difficult to get your hands on a season ticket with the three year waiting list, and hopefully, we will be hosting (and playing in) another Super Bowl in the near future. It's a great time to be a New Orleanian.

Dining with The Saints

Blackened Out called our attention to this unique opportunity for New Orleanians who love the Saints and enjoy great food. Oh, and it's all for a great cause, the youth of New Orleans. From Blackened Out

"Ever wonder what it would be like to have Deuce place a composed cheese plate in front of you? Or what it would be like if Drew Brees tossed you a roll? Mike McKenzie pouring a vintage Burgundy as Scott Fujita unlids a Chateaubriand? Well, here is your chance. Saints, Food, and a good cause.

In our book, that is a perfect evening. If the link does not work, just go to http://www.neworleanssaints.com/"

Major defensive imports will fix what ailed the Saints

Here is a great article from CBS.sportsline.com's Clark Judge on the Saints' off-season defensive improvements (picture by US Presswire). Judge begins:

When I look at what the New Orleans Saints did since the end of last season, I start wondering who beats them in the NFC South. Carolina should be better, and Tampa Bay's the defending champ, but, honestly, if I had to choose a winner right now, I would probably take the Saints.

And here's why: defense. The Saints look as if they are serious about playing with one.

To read Clark Judge's article in full, link http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10843912/rss.

Realistic Expectations for Robert Meachem

Amidst reports and rumors that Robert Meachem is looking good, practicing hard, and competing for the third wide receiver spot, one can’t help but wonder just what to expect from Meachem in 2008. As most Saints fans know, Meachem posted 0 receptions for 0 yards, combined with his rushing stats (0 yards on 0 carries), in 0 minutes of 0 games last season, not exactly the first year numbers Coach Payton had projected for him. However, the Saints may already have a niche carved out for Meachem in 2008, one which should provide him with the opportunity to get his name on the stat sheets with something other than “DNP” next to it.

When Meachem was drafted, he must have looked like the combination of the best traits of Devery Henderson and Marques Colston. At 6’2”, Meachem is three inches taller than Henderson and has the blazing forty speed (as fast as 4.36) that Colston lacks. One can’t blame the coaching staff for salivating at the prospect of having Reggie Bush, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem on the field at the same time. However, that possibility quickly went from prospect to pipe dream in 2007, as Meachem never officially dressed for a single game all season, and the Saints went with veteran David Patten as their consistent number two option. This season, however, the Saints seem to be focusing on a more realistic position for Meachem – replacing Devery Henderson in the offense, a move that makes sense for many reasons.

Devery Henderson seemed to have only one problem catching footballs last season: an intense and insurmountable fear of contact with anything other than the ground. Nine times out of ten, a ball thrown to Henderson between the hash marks and against a defense with safety help would be dropped. If Drew Brees could find a way to get the ball to Henderson on the sideline, there was at least a thirty percent chance that it would be caught. And, if Henderson could find himself all alone and forgotten behind the entire defense, those balls would be caught approximately 60% of the time. Of course those statistics are fabricated, but the truth of the matter is not far off – Devery Henderson drops far too many balls to be considered anything more than an occasional big-play target.

But with all dropped balls and missed opportunities Henderson accounted for last season, he did serve one vital role, keeping the opposing defense from cheating up and stacking the box too often. Henderson gave the Saints an option to go deep on any play, and with a veteran quarterback capable of reading defenses like Brees at the helm, a deep ball was merely an audible away. Meachem is fast, can run a fly route, and reportedly has good hands. These attributes alone should allow him to replace Devery as the Saints’ deep threat and third receiver in 2008. This position should provide a great opportunity for Meachem to produce at a fairly high level, but without much pressure. Although Meachem should be the Saints third option all year, expect him to score six or seven touchdowns this season, with half coming from deep balls and the other half goal line passing situations. Additionally, expect Meachem to see some limited time at the number two wide receiver spot. As an excellent blocker, Meachem should be an asset to the running game as well, and could be used in certain running formations.

Meachem is a good bet to make an important contribution to the Saints’ offense this season. Although he is not yet, and may never be, the solid number two option that will cut down on the double teams Colston sees, Meachem will have to play a significant role in our offense for the Saints to succeed in 2008. Meachem already appears to be in position to beat out Henderson as the third option, and if he can avoid the same mistakes Henderson made last year, he may quickly shed the label of "first round bust."

Who Dat News: CBS Columnist Tabs Reggie as Most Overrated Player in NFL

News: Pete Prisco, a Senior Writer for CBSsports.com has labeled New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush as this year's most overrated NFL player. "Is two years in the NFL enough to earn somebody overrated honors?" Prisco posed. "It is for Reggie Bush." Prisco goes on to say, "In 28 NFL games, Bush has one 100-yard rushing effort. His 3.7 career average per rush is not impressive at all. He does have 161 catches in two seasons, but the Saints expected a lot more with him running with the football when they selected him (#2 overall)."

WhoDatSay: Reggie Bush's production (or the lack thereof) in his first two seasons has been one of the most hotly-debated topics heading in to the 2008 season. Some Saints fans love him and think comments like this are unjustified given the teams poor performance across the board last year; some agree with Prisco; and others have compromised opinions on his past performance and future promise. Next week, we will address the Reggie conundrum by posting your opinions on the running back. Is he a bust? Email your thoughts to whodatsayteam@gmail.com