re: Bill Barnwell of ESPN doesn't really like the Saints offseason moves...

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Fleener will be productive and post his best career numbers with the Saints, but that's not the issue. The Saints can plug a lot of tight ends into this offense and produce big numbers. They can't do the same on defense, where they've been a mess for years now. I'm not sure spending the money they've assigned to Fleener on a cornerback or edge rusher would have solved the Saints' problems, but it would have at least addressed an issue of concern. Tight end should be one of the last things the Saints are worrying about. It's reminiscent of the 2015 offseason, when they were facing down a terrible defense and decided to double down on running backs by re-signing Mark Ingram and adding C.J. Spiller.

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i'm not super excited about Fleener coming to the Saints either but... spending up a corner or a pass rusher would have cost more I'm sure. Somebody look that up. Hopefully Spiller won't be dinged up this year but I did think it was odd they paid the same to sign him or maybe even more than what Ingram makes. What gives there?

and the part where he says they've been a mess for years on defense isn't totally accurate. Throw in a Top 5 defense in one those seasons. injuries have plagued the Saints on defense the last two years when the talent to begin with was mediocre at best. So of course when guys get hurt things will go from bad to worse.

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New Orleans allowed a 78.8 QBR to opposing quarterbacks, which means the average passer against the Saints would have been the second-best quarterback in football.

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and so this offseason the Saints have added more depth to the D-line. Hopefully Lewis won't get hurt again, I think his injury the last few years has been a big letdown to the secondary. And if Byrd is washed up (and he could very well be)... get Vonn Bell in there.

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What?

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Look, you're never not gonna convince me that in a world where we sign Junior Galette to two extensions two years in a row two years EARLY, a world where the Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady's of the world get a new deal with no problem that it isn't the least bit embarrassing the one of the historically bad franchises in the league is nickel and diming one of the best players ever who also single handedly dragged us kicking and screaming to success no matter how poorly we surrounded him with "talent" (aka, historically bad defense 3 of last 4 years, below average defense over the last 10, not enough draft picks compared to other franchises with HoF QBs, revolving door of DCs, ZERO pro bowl receivers)

The fact this organization has the nerve, the audacity, the unmitigated gall, the temerity to drag Brees' contract extension down to the wire again is beyond disrespectful and quite frankly I'm disgusted. This franchise would be lucky to win 2 games without Brees and the fact his contract is up in the air as if the moron GM hasn't a care in the world again would be enough to end the #Loomising experience if we had a competent owner which we probably don't.

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And you have to explore getting Norman when a player of his caliber is available.

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This kind of shite thinking is what got us Byrd

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Yeah, because everyone knew Byrd's outcome in New Orleans at the time of his signing. Jesus, he was a top flight, pro bowl corner that was signed to be a dynamic game changer on D. When he signed here it was huge and not one fricking person thought it was a terrible signing. Now that he has not played up that contract and has been a huge disappointment, it is somehow the Saints fricking fault and they get pile driven for it? Man, come the frick on. You may have an argument on Gallette, but even then he got paid and then just self destructed. Still no fault of the Saints. But flame on.....

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Up Vote

Does anyone like Bill Barnwell?

He was the worst part of Grantland.

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Does anyone like Bill Barnwell?

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I've never liked him.

Clown shoes= Barnwell

I'm not going to quote you to save you some embarrassment, but that second point is terribly wrong.

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Does anyone like Bill Barnwell?

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Lester?

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I'm not sure the talent difference in the NFL is that extreme.

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Its not.
They are elite. The best of the best.
I think our team in 2011 was better than 2009 but we didn't get as far as 2006.
So much is chemistry, injuries, luck and everyone getting on the same page if just for a few years.

But some folks need a easy scapegoat and there are plenty to be found and thats why football is awesome. There's fun to be found for everyone

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This is an organization that, on a daily basis, is regretting the Jairus Byrd signing, which was made under similar circumstances. The Saints would have needed to give Norman a massive second-year roster bonus and convert that to a signing bonus to fit Norman under their cap, a move that has bit them twice with Byrd and Junior Galette. The time to extend Brees to create cap space was February, not April. At the end of the day, the Saints seem to be in denial about their problems. They repeat, or at least attempt to repeat, the same mistakes over and over. The result has been a team that is wasting the final years of one of the great quarterbacks in football. It's fascinating to see the contrast between the Saints and Panthers. Carolina made it to the Super Bowl and felt like it wasn't one player away from winning. New Orleans finished 7-9 for the second consecutive season and felt sure it was.

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What does it matter when they extend Brees?

They freed up cap space as they went.

They've actually been on the conservative side compared to years past, UNTIL it came to the draft.

I liked the players we got, but I don't want to get back into that habit again. All it takes is a player getting injured here, another under performing there and you're right back in the same mess.

Sorry man. Could have gotten my point across without attacking you like that. You've been cool with me always.

But what I said was IF we string together some great drafts that pan out I'd still hear the grumblings of past from the same doomsayers. That's it.