Harper/Smith likely to be cut within a few days...

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As the Saints try to deal with an aging defense and an untenable cap situation, several players who have been key components of the franchise’s recent success could soon be out the door.

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man talk about lazy journalism

It has begun.







Cutting Smith is a given. For Harper, cutting him seems odd to me. Considering his cap figure it seems like restructuring his deal or trimming it down (if he were to do this) would make more sense. Cutting him wouldn't be saving much of anything. Also, I realize he is awful in coverage, but he is solid playing the rover position. It will not be easy to find a replacement at his level, and skill set of playing up in the box, for a cheap price.

Even though we been asking for this for a few years now, Im kinda sad to see them go.

Great team player guys

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As the Saints try to deal with an aging defense and an untenable cap situation, several players who have been key components of the franchise’s recent success could soon be out the door.

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Aging defense?

Galette and Jordan are 25
Hicks and J Jenkins are 23
Vaccaro is 22
Butler is 27
Lewis is 28

That doesn't even count guys like Bush/T Johnson/Reddick/Lofton

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It will not be easy to find a replacement at his level, and skill set of playing up in the box, for a cheap price.

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Yeah I agree with this, but it could be like thrillho said that maybe he is getting better offers than what we are asking him to take a pay cut for.

And restructuring won't really work without a pay cut because he only has 2 years left.

I think the defence did not get worse when he was injured.

Not to say we are worse without Harper, just that his skills in the box are different than what we get with our other safeties(though I think Vaccaro with another year could easily surpass him), and we don't really have a linebacker that's as good in coverage.

We talked about this in another thread, but he is the coverage linebacker we are lacking. And by that I mean on the short/some mid stuff and not someone like Urlacher(who was a fricking beast). I'd much rather him over Lofton, Hawthorne, or Galette covering someone.

I noticed Lofton, Hawthorne, and White getting picked on way more than Harper this season.

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Harper needs to go he's abysmal in coverage. Yea he makes a big hit every now and then but he's certainly not a sure tackler. Also if he's out there he gets picked on non stop. 

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Do you even Saints bro?

In 2011 Harper was .5 sacks away from breaking the single season db sack record. Then He played lights out in 2012. Second in tackles,with 13 passes defected and 2 picks. Head and shoulders above the other ss's in the league. Last year he was hurt. He only played in 9 games this year, but he was looking comfortable in Ryan's system.

Add in he is a veteran, humble, lockerroom leader, and I assure you he will be hard to replace him.

I don't think the saints lose both Safeties Harper and Jenkins, and I think they are willing to replace Jenkins. I think they might try and trim down that contract of Harper's though. He provides something not really any of our other Safeties provide, unlike Jenkins who can be replaced more easily.