Saints’ Morgan calls it quits
May 22, 2008
Saints’ Morgan calls it quits- NOLA.com
Injury-plagued linebacker retires after seven seasons
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
By Mike TriplettLinebacker Dan Morgan announced his retirement Monday at 29, ending his comeback attempt with the Saints.
Morgan signed a one-year deal in March after he was released by the Carolina Panthers. But he decided that he would not be able to come back from an Achilles tendon injury and a series of concussions that derailed his promising career the past two years.
“It definitely was not an overnight decision,” said Morgan, who said he consulted with his wife and family before making the decision a few days ago. “It was just waking up in the morning, the retirement thing was in my head, and it wasn’t going away. I’ve never felt like that before.
“I think the Achilles will eventually heal. But that, with (the other injuries in) my past all wrapped up, is kind of what drove me to this decision. I just really kind of had enough and was ready to move on with my life.”
Morgan had been training and rehabbing primarily with a personal trainer in Arizona. His decision came just before the start of the Saints’ offseason training activities, a four-week stretch of voluntary full-team practice sessions.
Morgan’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, commended the Saints for their support of Morgan’s decision.
The Saints staff is disappointed, but they knew Morgan’s return was a long-shot proposition. He signed an incentive-laden deal that is not believed to have included any signing bonus. If so, it was minimal.
Morgan was expected to compete with veteran Scott Shanle for the starting weakside linebacker job. Now, Shanle likely will face competition from veterans Mark Simoneau and Troy Evans and second-year pro Marvin Mitchell.
“When we signed Dan he was committed to making a fresh start, and he was making every effort to rehabilitate the leg injury that he suffered last year,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said. “But it wasn’t responding as well as he had hoped it would. We wish him well in his continued recovery, and he will be remembered for the excellent player he was during his career.”
At his peak, Morgan was a menace, one of the best young playmakers in the league. The highlight of his career came in Super Bowl XXXVIII, when he had an astounding 25 tackles during a 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots.
He finished with 452 tackles in his seven-year career, including a career-high 109 in 2004, when he was selected a Pro Bowl starter. He had four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, five interceptions and seven sacks.
He also had a terrific college career at Miami, where in 2000 he was the first player to win the Butkus Award, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award in the same season.
Morgan’s NFL career always was plagued by nagging injuries (a broken leg in 2001, a series of concussions and groin, shoulder, hamstring and ankle injuries the next few years). However, they took a more serious turn in 2006 when he missed 15 games with two major concussions. He missed 13 games last season because of the partially torn Achilles tendon.
ROSTER MOVE: The Saints signed undrafted rookie offensive lineman Brian Stamper on Monday and waived offensive lineman Kevin Tuminello. Stamper (6 feet 5, 300 pounds) was a five-year starter at Vanderbilt
Morgan Content With Ending Injury-Plagued Career
May 20, 2008
The dull pain in Dan Morgan’s shoulder wouldn’t go away. His Achilles’ tendon ached.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Saints Sign OL Brian Stamper
May 20, 2008
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Monday the club has signed rookie offensive lineman Brian Stamper and waived lineman Kevin Tuminello .
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Saints No Longer Interested in Jeremy Shockey
May 20, 2008
The New Orleans Saints are no longer interested in New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, according to Rotoworld.
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
Saints reinforce sagging defense
May 19, 2008
With the temperature and humidity rising to uncomfortable levels last Friday on the opening afternoon of the New Orleans Saints’ rookie minicamp, several players went to the sideline because of dehydration and others appeared heavy-legged from fatigue.There was no such lethargy in coach Sean Payton, who bounded around as if breathing carbonated air. At one point he grabbed a towel and wiped a waterfall of sweat from his face, but there was no erasing the excitement from his eyes as he looked ahead to the coming season.
“I like where this team’s at,” he would say. “The locker room, the environment here, they’re both real solid. I like the guys that we’ve got on this team. The season can’t come quick enough. I’m looking forward to it. I like the way it’s shaping up.”
Perhaps it’s because the Saints may once again have a defense to complement their potent offense. Such was the case two seasons ago, when New Orleans advanced to the NFC Championship game in Payton’s first season; the offense ranked first overall and fifth in scoring, and the defense finished 11th overall and 13th in points allowed.
However the scales were out of balance last year during a 7-9 finish. The offense remained strong, ranking fourth overall. But the defense slipped to 26th overall and 30th against the pass. Worse, the unit forced just 23 turnovers while surrendering a league-high 68 plays of 20 or more yards.
When Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis met after the season, there was no need to discuss which direction the team needed to go to return to prominence. “We needed to make a dramatic improvement on our defense,” says Loomis, adding: “We’ve got some good defensive players — Will Smith is a good player, Charles Grant is a good player, Brian Young is a good player, Scott Fujita has been a good player for us. Mike McKenzie was having one of the better years of any corner in the league before he got hurt, and we’ve got two young safeties that we’re excited about in Josh Bullocks and Roman Harper. There are some elements there, but clearly we had to add to that.”
They did so by trading a fourth-round draft choice to the Jets for middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, signing end Bobby McCray and cornerbacks Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn in free agency, then spending their first three draft choices on defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (first round), cornerback Tracy Porter (second) and defensive tackle DeMario Pressley (fifth).
Now, it’s not a reach to say that the Saints should be mentioned among the NFC contenders to reach the Super Bowl. They were a popular preseason pick last year, after going 10-6 and advancing to the NFC championship, where they lost at Chicago. But the hype died quickly when they lost their first four games and failed to ever get above .500.
Their offseason moves this year were made with specific objectives. Vilma is viewed as a sideline-to-sideline tackler; McCray as a situational pass rusher; Gay as a nickel back and potential starter; Glenn as an experienced backup; Ellis as a disruptive force on the interior after recording 8.5 sacks as a senior; and Porter, who had 16 career interceptions, as a possible starter or nickel back. Pressley also should provide depth.
All Payton will say with regard to his roster is that nothing is promised. He says he will send out his best players, regardless of name, contract or draft status. He wants production.
“Each year, it starts anew,” he says. “We’ve played free agents over
draft picks and vice versa, so we’re really not biased as to how we got
these players. What’s most important is, who’s playing the best when we
start the season?”It would be tough to say anyone played
well in passing situations considering opponents burned the Saints for
54 plays of 20 or more yards, a league high. New Orleans also
surrendered 15 pass plays of 40 yards or longer, tying Baltimore for
the league high.A key could be whether McKenzie returns to
form after tearing an ACL in December. Loomis says the medical reports
have been good and McKenzie is expected to be full-go by training camp.
That leaves fellow starting cornerback Jason David, who flopped last season after leaving Indianapolis as a free agent.“We
have not by any stretch of the imagination given up on Jason David,”
says Loomis. “Jason had a tough year, a tough transition period, going
from the [Cover 2] defense that the Colts played to the defense that we
played. What we asked him to do, in terms of being out on an island and
covering guys man-for-man more often than he did with the Colts, it
took an adjustment period for him. But he’s got the ability to be a
good corner for us, and that’s what we expect.”There is an even higher expectation for the offense, which actually could be better than it was a year ago if running back Reggie Bush returns to his rookie form of two years ago and wide receiver Robert Meachem, their top draft choice in 2007, gives them anything after failing to suit up last year because of a knee injury.
Loomis
says Bush has spent more time at the team’s training facility and
“wants to prove to people who have been critical of him that they’re
wrong.” Meachem has spent the early offseason working out with veteran
wide receiver David Patten. Workhorse running back Deuce McAllister remains a question mark after having knee surgery, but Payton is high on Pierre Thomas (105 yards rushing in the season finale at Chicago) and Aaron Stecker. The Saints also have talked to free-agent running back Shaun Alexander and still have an interest in trading for Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, though Loomis says New York “has moved on.”Even
if they’re unable to sign those two, the Saints feel they should be
back in the championship hunt provided they stay healthy.“Those
are the types of expectations that we have of ourselves,” says Loomis.
“But we’ve got to live up to them. We don’t want to let last year
happen again.”
First look at Saints is chance to scrutinize
May 19, 2008
First look at Saints is chance to scrutinize- NOLA.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Mike TriplettFor the first time in nearly five months, we’ll get a look at the Saints on the field this week when they begin four weeks of organized team activities.
Four of those practice sessions will be open to the media — one Wednesday and three in June. The team also will be on display during its three-day minicamp in two weeks.
Here’s what I’m most looking forward to seeing:
– 1. The new linebackers. Jonathan Vilma and Dan Morgan will be limited during practice because they’re recovering from injuries, so we probably won’t see them at full speed until training camp. But it will be nice to get a feel for how quickly they’re coming along and how well they’re fitting in with their new defense. It also will be nice to talk to Morgan for the first time. He hasn’t been available to the media since he signed with the team.
– 2. Sedrick Ellis. The Saints’ first-round draft pick was impressive in rookie minicamp, according to Coach Sean Payton, but now we’ll see him against the starting offensive line. The team doesn’t wear pads or do live tackling during this work, but he’ll still have a chance to display the explosiveness and relentlessness we’ve been hearing so much about.
– 3. Robert Meachem. Last year’s first-round pick is supposedly a new man. He’s healthy, for one, after being slowed by a balky knee for most of last season. He’s also more confident and determined, and he has been earning rave reviews for his progress the past few months. I’m curious to see how good he looks, and where the Saints are using him in a crowded receiver group that includes Marques Colston, David Patten, Devery Henderson, Lance Moore, Terrance Copper and rookie Adrian Arrington.
– 4. The cornerback jumble. Speaking of crowded position groups, the Saints have at least seven viable candidates for the top four or five spots at cornerback this season, and none of them is a sure thing. Starter Mike McKenzie isn’t likely to participate this week because he’s still recovering from knee surgery. So that leaves newcomers Randall Gay, Aaron Glenn and Tracy Porter battling with Jason David, Jason Craft and Usama Young.
My guess is that David and Craft will line up with the starters, since they know the defense, but Gay will quickly work his way into that mix.
– 5. The backup quarterbacks. We’ll get our first look at veteran Mark Brunell, who signed during free agency. And we’ll also get our first chance to see how far second-year pro Tyler Palko has come since last summer. Payton seems to have high hopes for Palko, who could push Brunell for the backup job this preseason.
– Honorable mention. Tailback Reggie Bush, who should be healthier and more determined than ever. . . . New defensive end Bobby McCray, who should give the defense a pass-rushing dimension. . . . Jonathan Goodwin, who will take over for Jeff Faine as the starting center.
— What we won’t see. Tailback Deuce McAllister, who
likely won’t do much while recovering from knee
surgeries, and defensive end Will Smith, who is seeking a
contract extension.The workouts are voluntary, so Smith technically
isn’t drawing a line in the sand just yet. But the
minicamp is mandatory, so it will be interesting to see if
he shows up or swallows the fines.BREES’ CHARITY BLITZ: You can’t say enough good
things about the way Drew and Brittany Brees have embraced
the New Orleans community since they arrived in 2006. This
week has been the pinnacle of their charity efforts.
On Thursday they presented a $400,000 check to Lusher
Charter School to complete funding for the school’s new
athletic fields. That project was part of a greater $2
million effort by the Brees Dream Foundation, titled
Operation Kids: Rebuilding Dreams in New Orleans.Also this week, Brees hosted 31 of his Sigma Chi
fraternity brothers from Purdue, his alma mater, and from
Western Ontario University, as they joined Habitat for
Humanity and former President Jimmy Carter to rebuild houses
in the Upper 9th Ward.Brees is hosting his annual Brees on the Seas outing in
Venice Marina this weekend, where he takes 30 kids from
Children’s Hospital and Ochsner and pairs them with
professional anglers and some of his Saints teammates for a
day of fishing.“This city has embraced us in so many ways,”
Brees said. “We’re just trying to give back as
much as we can.”HORN UNHAPPY AGAIN: Former Saints receiver Joe Horn has
apparently discovered the FieldTurf isn’t any greener
in Atlanta. After one forgettable season with the Falcons,
the 36-year-old veteran wants to be traded to a team that
will use him more.“I want to win a Super Bowl here in Atlanta, but I
don’t think I can help this team win a Super Bowl
sitting on the bench, waiting for third down,” Horn
told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Horn’s comments came on the final day of the
team’s minicamp, after it became apparent the
rebuilding Falcons are looking to get their younger
receivers more involved. Second-year pro Laurent Robinson
replaced Horn in the starting lineup.
“I’m not rocking the boat,” insisted Horn,
who signed a four-year deal worth up to $18.5 million with
incentives last year. “They’re going with the
younger guys, and I don’t have a problem with that, if
that’s the course they’ve chosen. I want to have
an opportunity to play with a team that needs a veteran to
play and contribute and who helps the young guys.”Those comments sound familiar. Horn said similar things
on his way out of New Orleans, feeling that he was
undervalued by Payton and the Saints’ coaching staff.
But Payton was proved right when Horn’s replacement,
David Patten (54 receptions, 792 yards, three touchdowns),
had a much more effective season. Horn caught just 27 passes
for 243 yards and a touchdown in 12 games last season,
partly because of a nagging hamstring injury.Hey, maybe there is one last hurrah remaining for Horn,
who will go down as one of the best and most beloved players
in Saints history. Unfortunately, though, it sounds like he
needs to come to grips with his new reality.
FLYNN IN FAMILIAR BATTLE: The Green Bay Packers are high on
former LSU quarterback Matt Flynn, whom they drafted in the
seventh round. But they also drafted quarterback Brian Brohm
five rounds earlier.Aaron Rodgers is heading into his first year as the
Packers’ starter after Brett Favre’s retirement.
But then again, Flynn was always considered an afterthought
in college, where he jockeyed for position with JaMarcus
Russell, Ryan Perrilloux and Marcus Randall. And he wound up
leading the Tigers to a national championship.“It’s kind of the same situation me and
JaMarcus were in,” Flynn told the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel. “Brian is very talented. We’re going to
be pushing each other, and it’s going to make both of
us better. . . .“Start from the bottom and hopefully over time and
years work up the hierarchy of quarterbacks and eventually
become a starter. That’s my goal. It’s a crazy
league. You never know what can happen.”HASLETT’S ‘LONG’ CAREER: Former Saints coach
Jim Haslett has been coaching in the NFL for 16 years, but
he’s already into his second generation.As defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams,
he’ll get to mold rookie defensive end Chris Long.
Haslett also worked with Long’s father, Howie.Haslett began his NFL coaching career as a linebackers
coach with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1993, Long’s
final season with the team.“Howie was just like Chris,” Haslett said.
“Practices hard, very intelligent, understands the
game, goes 100 miles per hour.”
No bid on Super Bowl before lease is signed
May 19, 2008
No bid on Super Bowl before lease is signed- NOLA.com
‘Long-term solutions’ goal for Saints; 2012 game likely to Indy
Sunday, May 18, 2008
By Jimmy SmithOn Tuesday in a posh Atlanta hotel, NFL owners will award the 2012 Super Bowl, likely to Indianapolis. That will extend the time between championship games hosted by New Orleans to a full decade, the longest such drought since seven years passed between XXIV and XXXI in the Superdome.
It’s a lull the city, state and the Saints are hoping to end by 2013, the next time the Crescent City could embrace the big game.
There’s one glitch: The Saints’ lease with the State of Louisiana, which includes financial inducements, expires in 2010. And until a new agreement is reached, the Saints and New Orleans won’t be back in the Super Bowl-hosting business.
The team and the Superdome Commission have held preliminary talks toward a long-term lease agreement.
The Saints declined to make anyone available for interviews, but responded via e-mail to several questions regarding the city’s Super Bowl future.
“New Orleans intends to bid on the 2013 Super Bowl,” Vice President of Communications Greg Bensel wrote in the e-mail. “Per NFL Super Bowl bid policy, there must exist a lease for the host team. We did explore extending our lease with the intent to bid for the 2012 Super Bowl.”
Asked for an update regarding the progress or status of talks with the state on a lease agreement, Bensel wrote: “We have a good relationship with the leadership of the state and look forward to continuing to discuss long-term solutions. We will aggressively bid for numerous future Super Bowls once our lease is extended.”
The NFL said this week that “there is no specific language in the bid policy, but the status of a club’s stadium agreement could be a factor that owners take into consideration as part of the Super Bowl site selection process.”
Ron Forman, recently selected chairman of the Superdome Commission and the point man for negotiations between the Saints and the state, said this week the parties are looking toward a long-term commitment.
“We at the Superdome are excited about the Saints, excited about the leadership, excited they’re selling out their games, that there’s waiting lists to come in,” Forman said. “It’s very positive. In conversations with (Gov. Bobby Jindal), he’s very positive about the Saints and the Hornets. They’re a real asset to our state and to our city.
“On our side, we’re committed to work hard, to
work with Tom Benson and the Saints, to come out with a
long-term contract. We have begun discussions and will
continue our discussions. I’m optimistic we’ll
come to a good conclusion. That will lead us into the
ability for the Saints and Tom to bid for 2013, and we all
think that’s a priority for New Orleans. We know the
economic opportunities that creates. The city and the state
are feeling very, very positive.”Studies have indicated that a Super Bowl can generate
about $300 million to $400 million for local economies.Doug Thornton, regional vice president of SMG, the group
that runs the Superdome and the New Orleans Arena for the
state, said there were brief thoughts of preparing a bid for
the 2012 game — the deadline was April 1. But the city
also was seeking to secure the NCAA Final Four in the same
year, and the NCAA customarily frowns on a city hosting
another major sporting event in the same calendar year.
“To have a Super Bowl and Final Four in the same
year within four months of one another in the same community
is a very tough challenge,” Thornton said.He added the city is “pulling out all the
stops” to secure the 2012 NCAA basketball championship,
and, “I think we would like to bid for the 2013 (Super
Bowl).”New Orleans has hosted nine Super Bowls, tied with Miami.
But South Florida will surpass the Crescent City by hosting
its 10th championship game in 2010.In recent years, the league, which once alternated the
Super Bowl between Los Angeles, Miami and New Orleans, has
spread the game around to different venues, particularly
league cities that have built stadiums.Super Bowl XLII was played last February in
Arizona’s new facility, and Super Bowl XLV in 2011 was
awarded to metropolitan Dallas to be hosted in the
Cowboys’ under-construction 100,000-seat stadium.Indianapolis is christening a stadium in 2008, and just
missed out on the 2011 game awarded last year.Forman said Gov. Jindal, who appointed Forman to his new
post, has charged him with securing the futures of the
Saints and Hornets long-term in the state. But Forman said
although he has kept Jindal’s chief of staff, Timmy
Teepell, abreast of the preliminary discussions with both
teams, no one from the governor’s office is yet
involved in talks.Teepell said in an e-mail statement that it was a
priority for the state to keep the Saints in New Orleans and
secure future Super Bowls.“Their current contract runs through 2010, and we
look forward to continuing to work with them on renewing
it,” Teepell said. “The city has hosted nine Super
Bowls, each of which had an estimated impact of nearly $300
million, and we certainly hope there will be many more to
come.”“We’re optimistic,” Forman said.
“We’re having good dialog. I don’t want to
speak for Tom Benson, but I feel like the Saints are very
much interested in New Orleans. Our governor has expressed
strong interest in the Saints and the role they play in our
economy. Our goal is if (an extended lease) is part of the
puzzle we need to complete before we work toward that (2013)
Super Bowl, we’re going to work toward that date.“The governor, obviously, will have the final say.
We feel confident that he wants us to do the job he asked us
to do and take it back to him. He said, ‘Work hard,
make it happen, and I’m very much supportive of the
effort.’ ”. . . . . . .
Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or
(504) 826-3814.
Saints no longer trying to trade for tight end Jeremy Shockey
May 19, 2008
Saints no longer trying to trade for tight end Jeremy Shockey | thenewsstar.com | The News Star
The Jeremy Shockey trade rumors finally may have run out of gas.New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis admitted Thursday
he’s no longer in pursuit of a deal for the veteran tight end because
the Giants set the price too high.The Saints inquired about
Shockey’s availability shortly after the Super Bowl and reportedly were
unwilling to give up a second-round pick and safety Roman Harper before
the draft.“It’s no secret we had some discussions with them and
we just couldn’t come to a conclusion on the right compensation,”
Loomis told Sirius NFL Radio. “I understand that. He’s a very good
player and the Giants don’t want to just give him away — unless they
feel like they’re getting really good value.“But for the most part that’s dead,” he said of the trade talks. “I don’t anticipate that being rekindled.”
Saints Analysis: Five to Watch Leading Up to Minicamp Who Stays?
May 18, 2008
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton gushed over the play of defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis during last weekend’s rookie minicamp. via Sunherald.com
http://www.topix.com/nfl/new-orleans-saint…
DE Wynn visit Giants
May 16, 2008
“I don’t anticipate (trade talks for TE Jeremy Shockey) being rekindled”
Veteran DE Renaldo Wynn, a former member of the Redskins and Saints who began his career as a first-round pick of Tom Coughlin’s Jaguars, visited the Giants on Wednesday, his agent, Peter Schaffer confirmed. via NJ.com
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