Saints questions linger
June 8, 2008
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton walks the practice field during the NFL football team’s minicamp in Metairie, La., Saturday, May 31, 2008.
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Reggie Bush case postponed until Aug. 1
June 6, 2008
The civil lawsuit against Reggie Bush and his parents has been put on hold until Aug.
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Saints Shake Up Front Office
June 5, 2008
The New Orleans Saints shook up their their front office Wednesday, firing Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Mueller.
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Saints dump Mueller, make department changes
June 4, 2008
Posted by Jimmy Smith, The Times-Picayune June 04, 2008 2:32PM Categories: Saints The Saints have fired Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Mueller in a restructuring of the player personnel department, the …
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Saints dump Mueller, make department changes
June 4, 2008
Saints dump Mueller, make department changes – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Jimmy Smith, The Times-Picayune June 04, 2008 2:32PM
Categories: SaintsThe Saints have fired Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Mueller in a restructuring of the player personnel department, the team announced Wednesday.
At the same time the club said it had hired Khai Harley as director of football administration, replacing Russ Ball who left earlier this year to become vice president of player finance for the Green Bay Packers.
League sources indicated that Coach Sean Payton would likely assume greater personnel control in the Saints’ organization and that some of Mueller’s recent decisions on players have been less than spectacular.
Payton, whose mentor Bill Parcells often sought the final word in personnel decisions by saying “if you’re going to cook the meal you may as well buy the groceries,” may now get a bigger voice in certain personnel decisions.
The Saints issued a press release touching upon the department’s reorganization and the departure of Mueller saying the department would now consist of a pro and college scouting department, each led by specific directors both reporting to General Manager Mickey Loomis.
The team will also add two more scouts.
“This is always a tough decision when you make changes and as a result positions are eliminated,” Loomis said in the press release. “Rick has been a valued part of this team since 2000; and it was under his direction that players such as Deuce McAllister, Will Smith, Charles Grant, Jahrii Evans and Marques Colston were drafted by us.”
Loomis did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking further comment. Mueller also could not be reached for comment.
Harley spent the last five years working with the NFL Management Council as manager of labor operations.
With the Saints he’ll be managing the salary cap, and his responsibilities will also include contract negotiations, coordinating different areas of the football operations and being involved in the administrative functions of running the club on a daily basis.
Saints hire former NFL executive Harley as part of restructuring
June 4, 2008
Saints hire former NFL executive Harley as part of restructuring – David Gladow – New Orleans Sports
Posted by David Gladow, NOLA.com June 04, 2008 1:39PM
Categories: NFL, SaintsCourtesy of Dave Lawrence
Communications Assistant, New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans — Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis today announced the hiring of Khai Harley as Director of Football Administration. Harley arrives in New Orleans after serving the last five years as the Manager of Labor Operations with the NFL Management Council.
“We went through a thorough search to find a replacement for Russ Ball and we feel like our careful search has paid off with the hiring of Khai,” said Loomis. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to the position; he has experience working at the League office and the Management Council and is very knowledgeable of the inner workings of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and where it is heading. I have worked with him for a number of years and consider him a valued asset to the team.”
Harley’s primary focus with the Saints will be managing the salary cap, and his responsibilities will also include contract negotiations, coordinating different areas of the football operations and being involved in the administrative functions of running the club on a daily basis.
Harley has an extensive background in NFL salary cap administration, CBA regulations and the research of player contracts. In his previous position with the NFL Management Council, Harley was responsible for ensuring personnel transactions and player contracts submitted by each team complied with the CBA and the NFL’s Constitution & Bylaws while also providing advice to club officials during contract negotiations.
Harley served as an administrative intern with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2001-02 – gathering data used to determine whether players earned performance-based incentives while also handling other administrative duties – and earlier in 2001 served as football operations intern for the Indianapolis Colts.
Loomis also announced today the restructuring of the Player Personnel Department, including the elimination of the current position of Vice President of Player Personnel, recently held by Rick Mueller.
Loomis noted that the player personnel department will consist of a Pro Scouting Department and a College Scouting Department, both headed by specific directors with both reporting directly to the GM. Loomis also added that the College Scouting Department will be bolstered by the addition of two experienced scouts to the staff.
“This is always a tough decision when you make changes and as a result positions are eliminated,” said Loomis. “Rick (Mueller) has been a valued part of this team since 2000; and it was under his direction that players such as Deuce McAllister, Will Smith, Charles Grant, Jhari Evans and Marques Colston were drafted by us.”
Saints oust Mueller, department restructured
June 4, 2008
Saints oust Mueller, department restructured – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by Jimmy Smith, The Times-Picayune June 04, 2008 12:12PM
Categories: SaintsThe Saints have fired Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Mueller in a restructuring of the player personnel department the team announced Wednesday.
At the same time the club said it had hired Khai Harley as director of football administration replacing Russ Ball who left earlier this year for a to become vice president of player finance for the Green Bay Packers.
League sources indicated that Coach Sean Payton would likely assume greater personnel control in the Saints organization and that some of Mueller’s recent decisions on players have been less than spectacular.
Payton, whose mentor Bill Parcells often sought the final word in personnel decisions by saying “if you’re going to cook the meal you may as well buy the groceries,” may now get a bigger voice in certain personnel decisions.
The Saints, issued a press release touching upon the department’s reorganization and the departure of Mueller saying the department would now consist of a pro and college scouting department, each led by specific directors both reporting to general manager Mickey Loomis.
The team will also add two more scouts.
“This is always a tough decision when you make changes and as a result positions are eliminated,” Loomis said in the press release. “Rick has been a valued part of this team since 2000; and it was under his direction that players such as Deuce McAllister, Will Smith, Charles Grant, Jahrii Evans and Marques Colston were drafted by us.”
Loomis did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking further comment. Mueller also could not be reached for comment.
Harley spent the last five years working with the NFL Management Council as manager of labor operations.
With the Saints he’ll be managing the salary cap, and his responsibilities will also include contract negotiations, coordinating different areas of the football operations and being involved in the administrative functions of running the club on a daily basis.
Smith stays for voluntary workouts
June 4, 2008
Saints defensive end Will Smith , seeking a contract extension and a major pay raise, attended his first voluntary workout of the offseason Tuesday.
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Ex-Tiger hoping to show special skills
June 4, 2008
Ex-Tiger hoping to show special skills- NOLA.com
Saints spot would be ‘perfect’ for Green
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
By Jimmy SmithThe last thing Skyler Green wanted, as he languished on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad at the end of last season, was a return trip to Dallas. That’s where he had been released toward the end of the 2006 season after being drafted, cut and re-signed by the Cowboys.
A chance at making his hometown team was what the L.W. Higgins High School grad and Westwego resident desired.
When the Saints called in January and offered the opportunity, Green was more than receptive.
“This is very special,” Green said after Tuesday’s practice. “I can’t wait for the opportunity to come out on the football field. When it does, I’ll make the best of it.”
Through five minicamp practices and six organized team activity sessions, Green, whom the Saints liked coming out of LSU in the 2006 draft, according to Coach Sean Payton, is making the most of his chance thus far.
“It’s hard, because you’re not really getting a lot of good return looks,” Payton said Tuesday. “Until we get into the preseason, you won’t know exactly where he’s at as a punt returner. But, certainly, he’s a candidate to be competing for a position on the team, starting with special teams and as a backup receiver.”
Was it possible, Payton was asked, if Green exhibited enough ability primarily as a returner, for him to be considered for a spot strictly as a specialist?
“I think you always have to consider that. Yes. Yes. Yes,” Payton said. “If a guy brought something to the table more than what you felt like you had, I think you see teams each year do that. One of the things we mentioned at the onset of this camp was improving the return game, both kickoff and punt returns. We are collectively looking for those guys; who are they going to be.”
Green could provide the kind of return-game upgrade the Saints seek. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a quarterback and running back his last year at Higgins before switching to wide receiver and return specialist at LSU. There he led the nation with an 18.5-yard punt-return average in 2003, when the Tigers won the BCS title.
Green said Tuesday he is doing what he can in limited work to open the eyes of the coaching staff, aware that his best opportunity to make the 53-man roster is likely on special teams.
“I just have to go out here and do the thingsI’m asked to do,” Green said. “I have to make the plays when the plays are there for me to make and justsome kind of way catch the coach’s eye, show them I have given all the effort I have to make this team.
“This is not the easiest time to do it. But when you can go out there and do it repetitiously every day, it’s good on your part that they see you give the effort every single time you’re out there.”
Payton said Tuesday that Green, 5 feet 9 and 190 pounds, appears to be as swift as he was coming out of LSU in 2006 when the Cowboys, then guided by Payton’s mentor, Bill Parcells, selected Green in the fourth round.
“My priority here is to be a returner and special teams guy first,” Green said, “then work my way
into the receiving corps. The things I’m doing now, the coaches see I give the maximum effort every time — catching balls, making the big plays when they’re there to be made. The only thing I need to do is get into that playbook a little more, get a little better understanding.“To be a part of the Saints organization, make it as a punt returner first, starting punt returner, and getting in there in the offense and playing some wide receiver. . . . That would be the perfect world.”
NOTES: Defensive end Will Smith, who had skipped the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning workouts and was a no-show at the beginning of the organized team activities, remained in New Orleans for this week’s sessions after completion of the mandatory weekend minicamp.
Smith, who declined to comment, did not work Tuesday because of a toe problem. Neither did defensive tackle Brian Young (knee) or running back Pierre Thomas (knee). Center Jonathan
Goodwin was absent because of the birth of a child. Smith’s agent, Joel Segal, has been in dialog with the Saints regarding a contract renegotiation for the one-time Pro Bowler. . . . The Saints signed two free agents who had been in the minicamp on a tryout basis — cornerback
Jerametrius Butler and center Marquay Love. Butler is an eight-year NFL veteran of two teams (St. Louis, Buffalo). Love signed last season with Miami as an undrafted free agent. The Saints also waived rookie free-agent linebacker Chris Graham.
Breaking news: Saints sign two free agents
June 3, 2008
Breaking news: Saints sign two free agents – New Orleans Saints Beat – Times-Picayune – NOLA.com
Posted by The Times-Picayune June 03, 2008 9:34AM
Categories: SaintsThe Saints signed two free agents, it was announced Tuesday morning. They’ve signed cornerback Jerametrius Butler and center Marquay Love.
Butler, who played collegiately at Kansas State, is an eighth-year veteran defensive back who spent his first six NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams and played in 2007 with the Buffalo Bills. The 5-foot-10, 181-pound former fifth-round draft choice has played in 71 career regular season games, starting 32.
He has made 218 tackles along and nine interceptions, 25 pass defenses, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries.
Love, who is 6-0, 307 pounds, signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in May 2007. The collegiate defensive tackle made the switch to the offensive side of the ball during Miami’s training camp before being waived in the team’s final round of roster cuts. The former University of Houston lineman participated also took part in the team’s recent minicamp as a tryout.
The Saints also waived linebacker Chris Graham, who was signed as a rookie free agent last month.
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