29 April 2006

New Orleans Saints: Day 1 of the 2006 NFL Draft

The first day of the NFL Draft is presumably over for the New Orleans Saints. They don't have a 3rd round draft pick, so I'll look at what the team did for the first two rounds.

ROUND 1: REGGIE BUSH, RB (USC): What can you say about the pick? It's obvious that this team needs a lot of improvements on defense and the offensive line, so Bush wasn't an urgent "need pick." But there's no way you can complain about it. This guy can score anytime, anywhere. We have NEVER, I repeat NEVER IN THE 40 YEAR HISTORY OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, had a player like him. Then there's the rest of it. He's the most marketable player in the draft. He instantly becomes the face of the franchise. People who have never cared about the team will pay attention to the Saints . Jerseys will sell out. More season tickets will be sold. It's a great day and a great pick. But don't expect any miracles. This team still has a lot of holes, and they're a ways away from being a contender. But we'll be more fun to watch at least.

ROUND 2: TRADE WITH CLEVELAND, ACQUIRE JEFF FAINE, C (BROWNS): Well, that settles one problem. We need a center. Faine's a starting NFL center. Check. I probably wouldn't expect him to be a Pro Bowler though. From what I heard, he struggled to pick up his position in his first two years. He improved last year, but they brought in (ironically) LeCharles Bentley to replace him. But we needed him, so you have to be at least mildly satisfied with the decision.

ROUND 2: (VIA TRADE WITH CLEVELAND): ROMAN HARPER, S (ALABAMA): I'm going to reserve my final comments on this one, but I have mixed feelings on this one right now. Come on--do we really need another safety? How many are we going to bring in? We've picked up 2 more (Stoutmire and Scott) in the offseason, tried to pick up one more (Keith Davis), and we still have 3 other servicable safeties (Bullocks, Smith and Bellamy) on the roster. On WWL Radio, Mike Detillier says that this means that Dwight Smith is gone. Hopefully, we'll get something decent in exchange for him. But the thing they're constantly talking about with this guy is "character." Payton said it in his press conference. The WWL announcers also pointed it out after they interviewed him too. So that's a plus. If Smith is indeed on his way out, then the pick makes more sense. But while he's still here, I just don't understand it.

The Saints currently do not have a 3rd round draft pick. So this is probably it for today. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more to say about the rest of it.


TAGS: New Orleans Katrina Saints , .

4 Comments:

At April 29, 2006 6:49 PM, Blogger Mr. Clio said...

I liked D. Smith, but I'm now suspicious of anything Haz touched. I'm open to whatever Coach Peyton wants to try at this point.

 
At April 29, 2006 8:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Mr. CL Ten.

But man, I was thinking we could really use another offensive lineman.

Right now, I'm in the honeymoon period, and have blind faith in Peyton. The first pick and the trade were brilliant.

 
At April 29, 2006 10:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Harper definately has character. He is a hardworking team player. I'm not just saying that because he's from the team I'm a fan of (I'll call an Alabama player out if need be.) He can lay down some brutal hits too.

He caused a game saving fumble against Tennessee this year on a fullback that probably outweighed him by 30-40 pounds. Harper just sacrificed himself and knocked the guy into next week on about the three yard line causing him to fumble out of the endzone for a touchback.

Definately a guy that will give everything he has.

 
At April 30, 2006 4:06 PM, Blogger dillyberto said...

Our New Orleans Saints have a movin and shakin going on in that scheming front office.

Buddy D. is crackin a smile in his grave, wondering about that dress.

 

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