NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FAN ZONE

Saints Football News, Schedule, Pictures and Players

JACKSON, MISS. -- The Saints still had not worked out contract agreements with their top two draft picks as of Thursday night, and they seem especially deadlocked in talks with first-round pick Sedrick Ellis.

Continue reading "Sedrick Ellis and New Orleans Saints still working on contract" »

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Running backs

Continue reading "New Orleans Saints training camp news and notes for July 24" »

JACKSON, MISS. -- Early Thursday afternoon Jeremy Shockey was where he had been so many times before -- in front of an overflowing pool of cameras and reporters determined to record his every word.

Continue reading "Jeremy Shockey says he's relieved to be out of New York" »

Receiver Marques Colston was back on the practice field Thursday afternoon after sitting out the morning session to rest his knee. He'll probably take it easy for a few days, but it looks like there's no reason for alarm.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey (leg), tailback Deuce McAllister (knee) and defensive tackle Brian Young (knee) all took it easy during the afternoon session, as expected. Those guys will likely stick to the one-a-day routine for the first week or so.

Continue reading "Thursday afternoon New Orleans Saints practice report" »

Video on the first day of Saints training camp after the jump.

Continue reading "Video: Saints Camp Day 1" »

Training camp can be a grueling process. But for many New Orleans Saints coaches and players, after a single day of practice, it feels good just to be back in action.

Read on for press transcripts from head coach Sean Payton, running back Reggie Bush and quarterback Drew Brees.

Courtesy: Dave Lawrence
Communications Assistant
New Orleans Saints

Continue reading "Thursday Saints transcripts: Payton, Bush and Brees" »

Continue reading "Chat with Mike Triplett, live from Saints training camp" »

We've got a lot to cover on the first day of Saints' training camp, so keep checking back here throughout the afternoon for updates and insights. We've also got a video blog on the way.

The biggest news nugget of the day is that receiver Marques Colston missed his first practice Thursday morning, though both he and Coach Sean Payton described it as a precautionary measure. Colston had his knee drained Wednesday after experiencing some swelling. He's expected to participate in individual drills this afternoon.

Continue reading "Thursday morning New Orleans Saints practice report" »

JACKSON, MISS. - Wide receiver Marques Colston agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Saints on Wednesday as players reported for training camp on the campus of Millsaps College. It was the Saints' second major transaction in an action-packed week that began with the arrival of tight end Jeremy Shockey on Monday.

Terms of Colston's extension, which runs through the 2011 season, were not disclosed. But Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and Colston's agent, Joel Segal, both described the deal as a "bridge" between the 25-year-old's original rookie contract and the next contract he'll have an opportunity to sign before he turns 30.

"It truly is a win-win for both Marques and the Saints. That's the best kind of deal," said Segal, whose client was scheduled to earn $445,000 this season.

Continue reading "Colston agrees to 3-year extension with Saints" »

As the New Orleans Saints get ready for training camp in Jackson, Miss., Mike Triplett, beat writer for The Times-Picayune, poses 10 questions the team needs to answer

Continue reading "New Orleans Saints: Top 10 questions going into training camp" »

Breaking down the Saints roster as the team readies for training camp which July 24 today in Jackson, Miss.

Continue reading "New Orleans Saints set to begin training camp" »

The arraignment in Saints defensive end Charles Grant's involuntary manslaughter case has been scheduled for Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. in Early County, Ga., according to the county clerk's office.

Continue reading "New Orleans Saints' Charles Grant to face charges Aug. 15" »

Aaron Brooks is one of several former black NFL quarterbacks who are having trouble finding work in a league that needs quarterbacks

Continue reading "Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks has arm, will travel" »

After nearly six months of on-again, off-again trade talks, the Saints finally made a splash on the eve of training camp, acquiring New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey for two 2009 draft picks.

Continue reading "Jeremy Shockey will meet New Orleans Saints in Jackson, Miss. today" »

Well, Saints fans, as you all know by now, your team acquired TE Jeremy Shockey from the Giants on Monday for a second- and a fifth-round pick.

While I'm sure the mood is mixed in the Big Easy about this move for numerous reasons, let's take a step back from the real world and take a look at what sort of impact this move will have in the Fantasy realm.

Obviously there are a few elite players affected by this trade, so let's do this thing one player at a time (and don't forget to vote on the poll at the bottom!):

Continue reading "Shockey -- a Fantasy analysis" »

ESPN analysts are never shy about sharing their opinion, so of course they had plenty to say about the New Orleans Saints acquiring Jeremy Shockey for a pair of draft picks. Perhaps surprisingly, the experts love the deal for New Orleans.

Check their opinions out after the jump.

Continue reading "Talking heads like the Saints-Shockey trade" »

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey said he is excited to join the the team's high-powered offense and to be reunited with Coach Sean Payton, who was his offensive coordinator during his rookie season with the New York Giants in 2002.

Continue reading "Jeremy Shockey says he's glad to be with Saints" »

Okay, I'll be the first to ask it. Everyone is thinking it (and has been wondering it for months), but with the New Orleans Saints' trade for Jeremy Shockey official, someone's got to say it.

What does this deal mean for the team? Does it help, or does it hurt?

Make your own voice heard and vote after the jump.

Continue reading "Is Jeremy Shockey going to help or hurt the Saints?" »

It took nearly six months, but the New Orleans Saints finally got their man, agreeing to a trade for New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey on Tuesday.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis confirmed the deal, which is still contingent on league approval and Shockey passing a physical. League sources said the Saints gave up a second-round and fifth-round pick in 2009.

The Saints have been targeting Shockey since before the start of free agency in February, and they had reportedly offered similar picks in this year's draft back in March and April. But the Giants had been reluctant to give up the volatile four-time Pro Bowler for anything less than a first-round pick.

Continue reading "Saints trade for Jeremy Shockey" »

The New Orleans Saints have seemingly had an interest in a tight end in the mold of Giants star Jeremy Shockey ever since Sean Payton took over as head coach. At some point that interest turned to the embattled tight end himself, and while talk about a deal had cooled considerably following the conclusion of the 2008 NFL Draft, the tiniest glimmer of hope remained that the Saints could still acquire Shockey from New York.

Continue reading "Can Jeremy Shockey still end up in New Orleans?" »

New Orleans Saints quarterback working with kids to curb childhood obesity

Continue reading "Drew Brees touts fitness in San Diego" »

Sorry it has taken me so long to put this up, but I've been a little busy here this week at CBSSports.com (my regular employer) filling in for our No. 1 baseball guy Eric 'EMack' Mack, who is on vacation somewhere. I swear he gets about nine weeks off, seeing as he's been here so long.

We finished our first mock draft last week and I wanted to get your opinion on who you think has the best starting lineup (K and DST excluded).

Our league, which we won't play out, would have 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR and a TE, so take a look at these groups of seven players and then vote for who you think has the best lineup. Also, feel free to say why in the comments section, and maybe give me a worst team (I won't be offended if you choose me, but I will consider deleting your comment!) and a sleeper team, or some other category of your choice.

Continue reading "Mock draft poll" »

The New Orleans Saints and receiver Adrian Arrington have agreed to a three-year deal, the team confirmed today.

Continue reading "New Orleans Saints agree to deal with receiver" »

After two months, the Federal Communications Commission has approved Tom Benson and his Louisiana Media Company to officially take ownership of WVUE-TV, which is Fox 8, it was announced today.

Continue reading "New Orleans Saints owner takes over local TV station" »

The New Orleans Saints and kicker Taylor Mehlhaff have agreed to a three-year contract, according to a league source.

Continue reading "New Orleans Saints agree to contract with drafted kicker" »

Don't say we never read your comments.

In this week's sports comment recap (hopefully the first of many), we see that the NOLA community has an opinion on everything from SEC projections (a strong opinion, at that!) to the return of a certain prep program to Brett Favre's anti-retirement. And while many Hornets fans loved the Chris Paul deal, they also continue to fret over a pending James Posey decision.

Read on for the best of what your brethren had to say this week!

Continue reading "NOLA-grams: Your take on the week in sports" »

SI.com's Peter King mentioned today in one of his articles that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been spending time in Afghanistan as part of a USO Tour with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Okay, I'm not going to gush too much here, but have you ever noticed that Brees is always in the news, and it's always for something positive? I think Goodell should give this guy a medal (or at least a nice Christmas gift ... maybe a Wii?) for making his league look better in the wake of the Chris Henry/Pacman Jones tidal wave of negativity.

Speaking of Chris Henry, the most recent charges against him were dropped, meaning plenty of Saints fans will soon be clamoring for his services ... again. Given the presence of Brees on the roster, does this make the least bit of sense? I mean, you'd think people in this city could see an example of a good, decent man playing football at a high level and hold the rest of the team to his same standard.

Continue reading "Brees volunteers time for USO" »

Let's start with the obvious -- it's way too early to project the Saints' final 53-man roster.

The first training camp practice is 11 days away. The first preseason game is two weeks after that. At least two or three of these guys probably will be injured. And that final roster probably will include at least two or three guys that aren't even with the team yet.

But for the over-eager Saints fan, there's really nothing better to do during these final, agonizing days of downtime.

Continue reading "Gazing into crystal ball for look at Saints' roster" »

The Saints have agreed to a three-year contract with rookie defensive end DeMario Pressley, his agent Hadley Engelhard confirmed on Saturday.

Pressley, a fifth-round pick out of North Carolina State, is the first of the Saints' six picks to agree to a deal. Saints officials were not reached for comment, and terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pressley missed some time during the Saints' offseason workouts because of a minor foot injury, but Engelhard said he has been working out in Atlanta and will be ready to go for the start of training camp on July 24.

Currently residing in Hattiesburg, Miss., apparently out of the picture in Green Bay, Wis. and almost certainly not heading down the road to New Orleans, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is officially searching for a new place to call home.

According to the Associated Press, the recently retired quarterback has requested a release from the Packers so that he can join another team and make his return to the NFL.

While the New Orleans Saints don't figure in his immediate plans, you've got to figure a Favre return impacts the entire National Football League, in particular any teams ... Saints included ... trying to make an '08 playoff push.

Continue reading "It's official: Favre wants Packers release; looking for 2008 comeback" »

With so much going on in the New Orleans sports community, it's easy to lose sight of things.

That's where NOLA.com comes in. David Gladow offers a weekend preview of sorts every Friday at noon in the form of a live chat with the New Orleans community.

Want to talk about the Hornets' latest moves or the upcoming Saints season? Want to vent your frustrations over the Zephyrs' losing? This is your time to sound off. Send in your questions and comments, and Dave will touch on your hot topics every week.

Continue reading "Live Chat: Friday sports talk" »

Well, after a bit of a sputtering start we finally managed to get out mock draft completed on Thursday afternoon. I wouldn't say it was a resounding success by any means, but we got through 14 rounds and only one person had to do the dreaded autodraft.

Thanks to the 12 folks who participated and also to the many people who showed up to talk about the mock draft with Dave Gladow in the live chat.

I've posted the results of the draft below, so feel free to take a look at who did well and who didn't. Maybe we can get a poll up or something like that about best and worst teams. Also, we might have another mock in August and then hopefully I can get a league together with some lucky readers later this summer.

Continue reading "Mock draft results" »

Well, it looks like we're all set for our mock draft at 2 p.m. CT, and we've set up a live chat for those of you interested in who gets picked where today.

Also, if you e-mailed me and didn't get into this mock draft, we're expecting to have another one closer to the start of the season once some of the position battles have played out. We also might have an actual Fantasy league set up for my readers to battle it out.

I will post my thoughts on the mock draft either later Thursday or on Friday, so don't forget to check back for that. Click below to get to today's chat.

Continue reading "Live mock draft chat today!" »

Thanks to all of you who contacted me regarding Thursday's Fantasy Football mock draft! We have our 12 participants, me being one of them, and we're all set to go.

As far as I know, we'll have a live chat going on during the whole thing, so even if you're not involved, you can check in and see who is being picked where and make fun of whoever you want to (within reason of course).

This league will be a 12-teamer with a starting lineup of one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one K and one DST. There will also be five bench spots, for a total of 14 rounds. Also, it will be based on standard scoring (six points for passing TDs) with no points per reception.

Continue reading "We're all set for the mock" »