The New Orleans Saints had a wonderful team this past season.
A true Super Bowl dream happened less than two months ago. Drew Brees held up the Vince Lombardi Trophy solidifying the win and capturing the true spirit of what he and his teammates accomplished. The Saints won it for "Who Dat Nation" and the city of New Orleans.
It’s now the offseason, though, recognized in true shapes and colors.
Building and improving the team becomes a priority, even though the Saints are on top. This is the time to prepare for next season. Some free agents were captured in the light and glory of the Super Bowl, and some moved around the league to different teams. On the other hand, the Saints may perhaps re-sign some free agents. They also may select new players from free agency in addition to the draft in April.
This weekend, many things happen behind the scenes in the team’s front office and among the players who are free agents.
The witty and strong linebacker Scott Fujita accepted an offer by the Cleveland Browns to help fill their defensive need. He played a solid role this past season for the Saints as their starting outside linebacker.
He was very grateful to the city of New Orleans and gave to the city even up until the day he left. He donated half his Super Bowl paycheck to charity in Haiti and New Orleans Disaster Funds.
It’s great to see someone who now received a new contract for three years $14 million, of which $8 million is guaranteed, care about the people that rooted for him during the season. He will remember 2009 for all his life, when he won his first Super Bowl ring.
The Saints need to move on and fill in the whole either through free agency or the draft. Surely, Fujita will be missed. Though, I think the Saints made the right decision by letting him go.
Mike Bell is another Saints free agent player who could be on his way out. Bell was part of the Saints' "three-headed-monster" at the running back position this past season. He showed his skills with a total of five touchdowns and running for 654 yards in the '09 season in New Orleans. He is currently visiting with the Seattle Seahawks. He will fill the Seahawks' need for a power back if he chooses to sign with Seattle.
The Saints did in fact do some work themselves, re-signing offensive lineman Nick Leckey and safety Pierson Prioleau on Saturday. Both are players are primarily used on special teams.
Leckey played in only eight games during the 2009 season, usually on special teams, with spot duty at center, and appeared in three playoff games.
Proileau led the Saints with 21 special teams tackles, playing in all 16 games with one start in his 11th season. He also made 18 tackles as a reserve defensive back with a pass defense and a fumble recovery. Prioleau played in all three playoff games and made four tackles on special teams to tie for the team lead.
Saints have re-signed cornerback Leigh Torrence to a one-year contract as well. The four year veteran defensive back played in only 12 games with the New Orleans Saints in his career. In four seasons with New Orleans and Washington, Torrence has 55 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and 42 special teams stops in 47 games.
Other players around the league are rumored to play for New Orleans in 2010. A source told FOXSports.com March 8, 2010, “that the Saints will host St. Louis defensive end Leonard Little on a visit Wednesday and Thursday.”
Last season, Little played 13 games with the last-place St Louis Rams. Little, 35, is a 12-year veteran in the NFL. He has 87.5 career sacks, 6.5 last year with the Rams.
If New Orleans decides to sign Little, he will make up for the pass rushing ability the Saints lost when linebacker Fujita signed with Cleveland. New Orleans also released defensive end Charles Grant earlier this offseason.
According to the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, being that the New Orleans Saints were defending Super Bowl champions, they were not allowed to sign an unrestricted free agent from another team until losing one of its own, that being linebacker Scott Fujita.
Other rumors are spreading about where Saints' free agent Darren Sharper will end up, though it will all come down to him as he tests the market. Sharper is now one of the top free agents still available. He was an option for the New York Giants last week prior to them signing Antrel Rolle.
The other team that may ask about Sharper's services is the Miami Dolphins, though it remains a rumor. Talks are still very positive in New Orleans to bring back the 34-year-old Sharper, who had great year with nine interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, in '09. It would be great to see if Sharper can finish his career in a few years wearing black and gold.
The offseason is not the best time to grab a cake and ice cream and sit back on the couch. It’s actually very exciting, intriguing, and unexplainable time of the year in the NFL. You never know who will have the better team until it's fall again.
Knowing the Saints, they will make the right choice to secure their losses and fill their holes to make the New Orleans Saints 2010 NFL season even better than the last.
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