Sean Payton announced today in his press conference that the team has placed undrafted rookie center Alex Fletcher on the reserved/retired list due to a life-threatening kidney issue.
The complete details of the problem are unkown, but apparently Fletcher is already down one kidney while the other is in serious enough condition to possibly end the Stanford product’s professional career before it ever starts.
“Unfortunately, Alex will not be able to continue to play because of the medical issue,” Payton said. “He has one kidney and the one kidney he has needs some work. It’s pretty serious. He was upset and disappointed when we talked but he knows that he has to get this thing better.
Meanwhile, former Ram center Nick Leckey, whom the team signed this off season, had surgery on his right ankle to remove bone spurs.
Leckey will miss the remainder of the teams OTA’s but is expected to be healed in time to fully participate in the upcoming training camp.
Leckey and Fletcher were brought in to compete with Johnathan Goodwin for the starting center role—one of the Saints most pressing needs.
To replace Fletcher New Orleans signed Digger Bujnoch(6′5 285), a former University of Cincinnati starter at center and Giant practice squad player to the roster.
Keith Null is the lead writer at whodatdish.com, part of the fansided blog network. Follow the New Orleans Saints through whodatdish.com at twitter.com/whodatdish
The last game between these two teams on December 23, 2007, saw Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb light up the Saints secondary to the tune of 263 yards and three touchdowns.
Westbrook totaled 100 yards on the ground to help seal the Eagles victory over the Saints 23 – 38. Once again the Saints were left looking for defensive answers en-route to finishing a disappointing 7-9.
On a side note, New Orleans swept the Eagles during the 2006 season, knocking them off in a NFC divisional playoff game. The playoff win secured the teams first appearance in an NFC championship game.
Next Meeting: Sunday, September 20th, 2009
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
Series Leader: The Eagles lead the all time regular season series between the two clubs 16-9.
Offensive Keys To Success:
The normally potent Saints’ passing attack was derailed by Philly’s defense as Drew Brees was 30/45 passing for 289 yards, one interception, and no touchdowns. New Orleans has to do more than this in the next game – better protection for Brees and shorter play action passes will be the key. The Saints must control the clock to keep the Eagles’ offense on the bench. Payton has to call more run plays to keep the defense guessing and they must convert on third down, something they could not do in the last meeting.
Defensive Keys To Success:
McNabb, Westbrook, and Buckhalter made the Saints defense look silly. Philly totaled 447 yards of offense finding the endzone four times, three through the air and one on the ground. The Saints’ secondary must do a better job of keeping McNabb in check, they must apply more pressure up front as well if they expect to win. They have to shut down McNabb’s favorite target, DeSean Jackson, and keep Westbrook in check on the ground. Westbrook ran for 100 yards on seventeen carries the last game, an average of 5.8 a carry. It’s simple: shut down McNabb and Westbrook and you will win the game.
Game Stats From Last Meeting: Stats
Prediction: If Gregg Williams’ new defense plays as advertised, I expect the Saints to pull out a victory here, 28-17
Keith Null is the lead writer at whodatdish.com, part of the fansided blog network. Follow the New Orleans Saints through whodatdish.com at twitter.com/whodatdish
For the second time in 13 months, linebacker Dan Morgan has retired, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus, who announced the retirement on his Twitter page.
Rosenhaus says this time around, the decision is final and that Morgan would not pursue another comeback to the NFL.
“Dan Morgan has informed the Saints that he has decided to retire due [to] continued injuries,” Rosenhaus said. “Dan would like to thank the Saints for the chance to come back this year, but injuries would not let him continue his career. His decision [is] final and he will be moving on to focus on his restaurant business in Charlotte. Dan also wants to be able to spend more time with his wife and children.”
Morgan was once a standout player in the NFL while with the Carolina Panthers from 2001 to 2007. Morgan just couldn’t seem to stay healthy, battling injury in virtually every season of his pro career, and never played a full 16 games.
After Morgan was released from Carolina last season, he signed with the Saints early in the 2008 offseason, only to announce his retirement some weeks later, blaming his constant injury and their lingering affects.
He sat out the entire 2008 season before announcing he planned to make a comeback to football with the Saints, citing he was as healthy as he had ever been.
Morgan was re-instated on Feb. 12, shortly there after he joined the team in Metairie for the start of the team’s offseason workouts.
He had been active in every workout and OTA since and by all accounts was doing extremely well. It was even rumored that Morgan may have been the favorite to start at the weakside linebacker position.
During the teams recent mini-camp on June 5, Morgan was hampered by what was reported as a very minor calf injury.
Apparently to Morgan, it wasn’t so minor.
After the injury, he dressed, left the facility, and was not heard from by the team again until he announced his re-retirement.
The Saints are now down two linebackers after Morgan’s retirement. The Saints fourth-round pick, Wake Forrest linebacker Stanley Arnoux, most likely will miss the entire season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during the teams rookie mini-camp.
Keith Null is the lead writer at whodatdish.com, part of the fansided blog network. Follow the New Orleans Saints through whodatdish.com at twitter.com/whodatdish
Yesterday marked the end of the Saints first mini camp. By all accounts, it was a rousing success and definitely a very solid showing for the new look defense.
Reports have the Saints defense playing with more intensity and energy than in recent years—safeties flying in for sacks, linebackers stopping runs at the line of scrimmage, the secondary blanketing coverage and picking off passes, and constant pressure on the quarterback.
What a difference a year makes, as new DC Williams is clearly installing his brand of defense, changing the culture once and for all. There is only one word that can describe it, ATTACK.
Do you think the rest of the NFC South is paying attention now?
The general consensus among players and coaches is that this offseason is one of the more spirited in recent memory.
Every player or coach interview you read or watch emphasizes how much this team wants to win and the renewed dedication of everyone to achieving that goal.
To be honest, it’s about darn time this team starts to show a little confidence in what they can do defensively; they have lacked swagger for far too long.
All this just tickles the mad visor (Sean Payton) to death. The head coach couldn’t be happier about the progress his team has made this offseason and has had this to say:
“I have been very pleased with where we are at this time of year in the different facets, whether it be overall fitness of the team or the way they are picking up what we are giving them,” Payton said. “I’m very encouraged.”
Does it get any better than this, Saints fans? Personally, I don’t think it can.
The wealth of positive information flowing from the Saints training camp is an enormously good sign, positioning the 2009 Saints for possibly their best season since 2006.
Some of the more memorable moments from the three day camp, as reported on the Saints Web site, are as follows:
-QB Drew Brees connecting on a timing route to Devery Henderson over the middle of the field for a nice gain.
-Reggie Bush bursting through a hole on the left side of the offensive line for a nice gain.
-CB Jabari Greermaking a highlight film interception deep down the middle of the field on a pass intended for WR Robert Meachem.
-DE Bobby McCray applying heavy pressure on QB Mark Brunell.
-MLB Marvin Mitchell knocking down a pass intended for rookie RB Herb Donaldson.
-DE Jeff Charleston flying off the edge to “sack” Joey Harrington.
-Bush taking a pass from Brees out of the backfield and racing up field for a long gain.
-LB Jonathan Vilma and S Roman Harper meeting RB Mike Bell at the line of scrimmage.
-DE Charles Grant displaying a strong pass rush move during one of the team periods.
-Brees to Bush over the middle of the field, DT Sedrick Ellis quickly spun away from the line of scrimmage and doggedly pursued the speedy running back.
-WR Marques Colston making a nice one-handed grab of a Brees offering across the middle of the field.
-TE Billy Miller made a diving reception for a 12-yard gain.
-DT DeMario Pressley knocking a ball loose from Brunell as the quarterback backpedaled.
-TE Jeremy Shockey made two nice receptions during the second portion of the team drills.
-DT Rod Coleman splitting a double-team and getting to the quarterback.
-S Usama Young recorded a pass defensed with a strong play on the ball.
-Henderson making a double move to shake free from DB Pierson Prioleau for a 20-yard gain.
-Colston making a hard catch look easy in front of speedy cornerback Leigh Torrence.
-Bush teaming up with RT Jon Stinchcomb to perfectly pick up a blitz and giving Brees time to find WR Robert Meachem for a nice gain.
-DE Paul Spicer knocking down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
-WR Paris Warren making a nice reception from Harrington, who released a pass a split second before a blitzing Chris Reis could get to the quarterback.
-LB Jo-Lonn Dunbarrunning stride for stride with FB Olaniyi Sobomehin, causing a pass to fall incomplete.
-WR Matt Simon making a nice grab on a pass from QB Mark Brunell.
-Charleston beating his man and getting to Brunell for a would-be sack.
-DT Remi Ayodele getting into the backfield for a would-be sack.
-CB Tracy Porter applying blanket coverage on Meachem and forcing an incompletion.
-Brees to Colston for a nine-yard third down conversion.
-DE Will Smith reading a play and knocking down a pass at the line of scrimmage.
-DT Sedrick Ellis snaring RB Pierre Thomas at the line of scrimmage.
-Billy Miller making a nice catch from QB Drew Brees for a 15-yard gain.
-Jonathan Vilma corralling Thomas on a toss sweep play.
-Mike Bell bursting through a hole, on the play CB Tracy Porter came up and deftly punched the ball loose and LB Tory Evans alertly pounced on it.
-Bobby McCray batting down a QB Mark Brunell pass at the line of scrimmage.
-Devery Henderson tracking down a long bomb from Drew Brees against man-to-man coverage for a touchdown.
-Mark Simoneau teaming up to stop rookie RB Herb Donaldson at the line of scrimmage.
-Remi Ayodele and S Chris Reis joining forces to sack QB Joey Harrington.
-Will Smith and DE Charles Grant halting Thomas near the line of scrimmage.
-Heath Evans on a wheel route out of the backfield for a 10-yard gain.
-Robert Meachem for a gorgeous play deep down the middle in front on a diving FS Darren Sharper.
-Jeremy Shockey making a nice catch and run for a nice gain.
-Buck Ortega, who had found a crease in the zone defense and quickly turned around to give Brees an open target that the quarterback zipped an intermediate pass into.
-Roman Harper jumping a route by Robert Meachem and forcing a pass to fall incomplete.
-Darian Barnes making a nice reception in traffic and pinballing through some would be tacklers.
-Paul Spicer recording a sack of Brunell.
-Lynell Hamilton making a nice catch and run out of the backfield.
-Tracy Porter knocking down a pass along the sideline.
-Leigh Torrence also recorded a pass defense when heavy pressure on Brunell forced the veteran signal-caller to get rid of the ball a few seconds earlier than he would have liked.
-Chris Reis knocking down a pass. Sedrick Ellis hustling to the sideline to defend a screen pass intended for Mike Bell.
-Vilma jumping up from his middle linebacker spot and knocking down a Brees pass.
-A coverage sack where the secondary and linebackers blanketed the eligible receivers and forced Harrington to scramble out of the pocket.
-Shockey catching a pass in front of Sharper, who reached in and wrestled Shockey for the ball as the two fell to the grass field. Shockey retained possession of the ball.
-Meachem making a nice reception down field from Brees.
-Spicer getting to the quarterback for what would have been his second sack of the morning session.
Keith Null is the lead writer at whodatdish.com, part of the fansided blog network. Follow the New Orleans Saints through whodatdish.com at twitter.com/whodatdish
The New Orleans Saints continue the offseason player shuffle, announcing the re-signing of guard Shawn Flanigan and the release of offensive tackle Augustus Parrish.
Flanigan was originally released May 22 after being signed as an undrafted rookie out of the University of Sioux Falls.
To make way for Flanigan, the Saints waived tackle Augustus Parrish, a Kent State standout, who signed with the team right after this year’s draft.
Parrish seemingly has a good shot at returning to the team at a later date.
The Saints seem to be indecisive on who they want or don’t want, releasing players only to re-sign them weeks later.
Also, the team signed yet another receiver to the growing arsenal of ball catchers on the roster, bringing the total to 11.
Rod Harper, 6’1″ and 205, was a member of the Arkansas Twisters Arena League team before being signed by the Saints.
He was also acquired briefly by the Green Bay Packers in 2008 after going undrafted but was released before the start of the season.
Harper caught the attention of the Saints after setting a Twisters record with 14 receptions for 275 yards and seven touchdowns in their 82-59 victory over Corpus Christi a week ago.
Keith Null is the lead writer at whodatdish.com, part of the fansided blog network. Follow the New Orleans Saints through whodatdish.com at twitter.com/whodatdish
The last meeting (December 21, 2008) between these two teams was one to remember. Records were set for both clubs as the Saints 42-7 routing of the Lions solidified Detroit’s place as the first 0-15 team in league history.
New Orleans tied a team record with 32 first downs, never punting. The Saints had the best success on third down of any team since 1991 and broke the team record with their 50th TD of the year, finishing the game with 53.
Next Meeting: Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009
Location: Louisiana Superdome
Series Leader: The Saints evened the series at Detroit last season bringing the all time record to 9-9-1 between the two clubs.
Offensive Keys To Success: There is not much that the Saints need to change offensively heading into this next game. After all New Orleans totaled 532 total yards of offense, 351 yards through the air, and another 181 yards on the ground.
In a display of just how dangerous this offense can be the team totaled six touchdowns on the day, running in four by four different Saints. Drew Brees then pitched in two touchdowns of his own by connecting with receiver Marques Colston twice on successive drives in the third quarter.
If it’s not broke don’t fix it!
Defensive Keys To Success: The Saints defense actually played a pretty decent game against Detroit last season, a rarity amongst what was a consistently bad squad. New Orleans only gave up 255 yards of offense to the Lions and one lone touchdown to rookie runner Kevin Smith.
Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky was picked of twice by the unit completing only 10 of 23 passes before being benched in the fourth quarter.The Saints must do a better job stopping the run and containing Smith. Smith ran all over them posting 111 yards on 24carries, averaging 4.6 yards a carry.
Orlovsky will no longer be the starting quarterback as it appears the Lions first round pick Matthew Stafford will be the starter heading into the 2009 season. It’s not clear how good Stafford will be but I don’t expect him to post big numbers as long as the Saints shut down his top receiving weapon in Calvin Johnson.
Game Stats From Last Meeting: Stats
Prediction: Just like the last meeting I expect the Saints to handle the Lions pretty easily at home, 34-6.
Keith Null is the lead writer at whodatdish.com, part of the fansided blog network. Follow the New Orleans Saints through whodatdish.com at twitter.com/whodatdish
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