New Orleans SAINTS official thread 2016-17

[Inthend]

Here's hoping this SAINTS thread gets as much traffic as some of your others! :)

I don't know what they see in these threads!

Treeduck, your name alone on threads pulls in a cast of thousands! :)

The New Whorelen Saints suck.

 

hehehe

Edited February 25, 2016 by Inthend

[treeduck]

Here's hoping this SAINTS thread gets as much traffic as some of your others! :)

I don't know what they see in these threads!

Treeduck, your name alone on threads pulls in a cast of thousands! :)

The New Whorelen Saints suck.

 

hehehe

:madra:

[treeduck]

Payton, Saints closing in on a new contract

 

Posted by Mike Florio on February 25, 2016, 2:47 PM EST

 

The annual “this is Sean Payton’s last year with the Saints” rumors will be continuing, for at least the next few years.

 

In an interview that will be televised on Thursday night’s edition of Pro Football Talk on NBCSN, Payton said that he is close to finalizing a new contract with the team. Payton also said he envisions remaining with the Saints for at least the next four or five years.

 

Hired in 2006, Payton led the Saints to the Super Bowl XLIV championship. One of his first orders of business was to sign quarterback Drew Brees as a free agent.

 

Speaking of Brees, Payton said he has no concern about the quarterback’s contract, which currently has a cap number of $30 million for 2016. Payton expressed confidence that Brees and the team will work out an extension soon.

 

Perhaps even sooner than that, Payton will have an extension of his own.

[treeduck]

Sean Payton tells team website no moves have been made yet with Marques Colston

 

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-media/width960/img/tpphotos/photo/2016/02/10/-fac8e5413e5c000b.jpg

 

Colston has not been officially released yet, despite multiple reports saying he had been informed that he would be cut, Sean Payton told the team website.

 

"Marques, officially nothing's happened yet and I think here in the next week or two, we'll have a little bit more closure on that," Payton said.

 

The Saints recently parted ways with 10-year veteran guard Jahri Evans and appear to be headed in that direction with Colston, the franchise's leading receiver.

 

"You're talking about two, unique, unique players, special people to our program, guys that were in our first draft class and I would say the pillars of a lot of the success that we've had," Payton said. "Jahri, who came here as a fourth round draft pick, immediate starter. He's going to be a Hall of Fame candidate type player. His numbers speak for themselves...

 

"For me as a head coach, to have the opportunity to work with guys like that, I've been real fortunate. They've been nothing but consummate professionals."

 

[treeduck]

Drew Brees contract 'will get done very easily,' Sean Payton tells NFL Network

 

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-media/width620/img/saints_impact/photo/19822807-mmmain.jpg

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and Drew Brees during the two minute warning against the Detroit Lions during the game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans Monday, December 21, 2015. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

 

on February 25, 2016 at 3:28 PM, updated February 25, 2016 at 3:29 PM

The agent for Drew Brees and New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis have talked about a contract extension, which coach Sean Payton said Thursday "will get done very easily," Payton said during an interview with NFL Network.

 

"I think the Drew Brees contract, that will get done very easily," Payton said from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "And I think Mickey and Tom (Condon), I know they already visited -- Mickey and I just spoke briefly about it....

 

"I just know there will be an extension. I know that things will get worked out. I know where (Brees is) at, and his mindset and his competitive nature of wanting to be successful. And I know, without speaking for him, both of us feel like there's still more success to be had."

 

Brees under his current contract will count $30 million against the salary cap in 2016. That dollar figure could be lowered with an extension beyond 2016.

 

Payton said his main concern lies not with Brees, but on the defensive side.

 

"I go to bed thinking about improving our defense," Payton said.

 

The coach said the defensive line depth in this draft appears "deeper than it's been for a long time since I can recall."

 

"We got to be spot-on with these picks and then add a player or two in free agency we think can add specifically to a role," he said.

[treeduck]

Saints could return to Louisiana for training camp

 

Posted by Mike Florio on March 2, 2016, 10:20 AM EST

The two-year West Virginia experiment for the Saints could be over.

 

Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports that the Saints are considering returning to their team headquarters in Louisiana for training camp in 2016, after spending 2014 and 2015 at The Greenbrier.

 

That’s consistent with chatter from the Scouting Combine last week, and it’s not a surprise given that the team has gone 7-9 during each of the two years with training camp being held several hundred miles from home.

 

It’s hard not to wonder whether the deliberations are influenced by the possibility that the Saints will be given the Hard Knocks assignment against the team’s wishes. If being at The Greenbrier makes the Saints more attractive to HBO and NFL Films, not going to The Greenbrier could be a way to avoid being drafted to fulfill the Hard Knocks obligation.

 

Whatever the decision, The Greenbrier has proven that it can provide a first-rate experience for any NFL team, and a franchise seeking a relatively isolated experience in a climate that avoids the high heat and humidity of late July and early August could decide to replace the Saints at some point down the road. Last year, for example, the Cardinals spent a week at The Greenbrier between road games at Detroit and Pittsburgh.

[treeduck]

Tom Benson: Few Saints have had class and dignity of Marques Colston

 

Posted by Josh Alper on March 1, 2016, 2:28 PM EST

 

When the Saints released guard Jahri Evans last month, coach Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis offered statements filled with praise for a player who had a key role during the best run in franchise history.

 

The Saints released another player like that when they dropped wide receiver Marques Colston with a “failed physical” designation in a move that saves them more than $3 million under the cap. The move hit the NFL’s transaction wire on Monday, but the team formally announced it Tuesday with more gushing statements like this one from owner Tom Benson.

 

“There have been very few players in our franchise’s history that have represented this team with the class, dignity and performance of Marques Colston,” Benson said. “In the locker room, on the field and in the community, Marques has always been a true professional, a role model and a winner who played a significant role in our team becoming a perennial contender that won a Super Bowl. On behalf of our team, I wish Marques and his family nothing but the best and they will always be an important part of our organization.”

 

Loomis and Payton shared similar sentiments and Colston thanked the Saints for “a dream come true” in a statement on his website. Colston closed it by saying he looks forward to the next chapter of his career, although doesn’t say if he wants that next chapter to be an 11th season as an NFL player and first with a team outside New Orleans.

[treeduck]

[treeduck]

Will Brees set the quarterback bar higher?

 

Posted by Mike Florio on March 5, 2016, 11:56 AM EST

Four years ago, Saints quarterback Drew Brees became the highest-paid player in football, with a six-year, $120 million deal. He held the title for roughly six months, before Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco beat the $20 million-per-year average with a deal that pays $20.1 million annually.

 

This week, Flacco set new records under either standard for assessing contracts, with $22.13 million in new money per year and a total average value from signing of $20.8 million. Now, with Brees four days away from having his cap number spike to $30 million for 2016, the question becomes whether Brees will end up with a better deal than Flacco.

 

Brees’ 2016 cap number comes from a $19.75 million base salary, a $250,000 workout bonus, and bonus prorations of $10 million. A huge signing bonus coupled with a small base salary could easily create more than $10 million in current cap space. The question becomes how hard will Brees push to get a deal that is worth more than $20.8 million at signing and/or that averages more than $22.13 million in real money?

 

Sure, he’s 37. But he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and one of the best to ever play. His leverage comes from both forcing the Saints to carry a $30 million cap number for 2016 and from the reality that, because he has been franchise-tagged twice before in his career, it would cost the Saints a whopping $43.2 million to tag him in 2017.

 

By doing nothing, Brees gets $20 million this year and either a shot at the free-agent market or $43.2 million next year. Under that analysis, he should easily get more than $20.8 million per year under the terms of whatever deal he signs to replace the last year of his current contract.

 

Then there’s the reality that the quarterback market has barely increased in the past three years, as the salary cap has gone up by more than 25 percent. Someone already should be making $25 million per year. Most believe that someone will be Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. In actuality, Brees has the leverage to get there, if he wants to.

 

The only question is whether he wants to.

[treeduck]

Saints sign Michael Hoomanawanui to a new three-year deal

 

Posted by Darin Gantt on March 8, 2016, 11:50 AM EST

Michael Hoomanawanui found a nice little niche for himself in New Orleans last year, and they wanted to make sure he built on it.

 

According to Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com, the Saints have signed the veteran tight end to a new three-year contract in advance of free agency.

 

The Saints acquired Hoomanawanui in a trade with the Patriots last fall, and he played in 12 games for the Saints.

 

He wasn’t exactly Jimmy Graham, as he caught just 11 passes for 76 yards and three touchdowns in New Orleans. But he did carve out a role as a blocker and an H-back, someone versatile and useful as they try to re-tool their offense.

[treeduck]

Coby Fleener joins Saints on five-year deal

 

Posted by Josh Alper on March 9, 2016, 6:56 PM EST

 

When the Colts re-signed tight end Dwayne Allen, it left the question of whether they’d be able to hold onto the other tight end that they drafted a round ahead of Allen in 2012.

 

The answer is no. The Saints announced Wednesday that they have signed Coby Fleener to a five-year contract.

 

Fleener, No. 64 on PFT’s list of this year’s top free agents, was a second-round pick in 2012 and has been a leading receiving option over the last three years in Indianapolis. He caught at least 51 passes each season and averaged just over 624 receiving yards per year while playing with college teammate Andrew Luck.

 

He doesn’t have the same kind of relationship with Drew Brees, but the Saints quarterback will likely welcome the arrival of another receiving target with Benjamin Watson fleeing for a chance to play with the Ravens this week. The Saints also re-signed Michael Hoomanawanui and tendered restricted free agent Josh Hill.

[laughedatbytime]

Coby drops a lot of balls.

[treeduck]

Coby drops a lot of balls.

This is what Walter from Walterfootball was saying yesterday. You and him finally agree on something!

[treeduck]

Saints designate Brandon Browner as post-June 1 cut

 

Posted by Josh Alper on March 10, 2016, 7:00 AM EST

That the Saints would be parting ways with cornerback Brandon Browner came as no surprise.

 

Browner was terrible on the field for New Orleans last season and already said his farewell to the city, but he technically remained a member of the team into the start of the new league year. Browner’s contract called for a $750,000 bonus on the third day of the league year, however, and that appears to have spurred his official departure.

 

According to multiple reports, Browner’s release will hit the transaction wire on Thursday and the Saints will designate Browner as a post-June 1 cut. That designation allows the Saints to spread the remaining cap hits from Browner’s signing bonus — a total of $2.6 million — out over the next two years rather than having it all hit the cap all at once, but means they won’t get immediate cap relief since his contract will stay on the books until June 1.

 

Browner will be free to sign with another team at any time, although his efforts from last season will likely be a sizable deterrent for some teams.

[treeduck]

Coby drops a lot of balls.

The good news on Fleener is although it looks like he's getting $7 million a year his base salary in 2016 is only $800,000 and he only has guaranteed money for the first three years. Also if we cut him after 2016 there won't be a big cap hit.

[treeduck]

[treeduck]

General manager Mickey Loomis realistic as Saints seek to plug holes with limited resources

 

 

 

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is a realist.

 

He knows the Saints entered free agency with limited cap space and were going to be limited in the things they were going to be able to accomplish. He had his lists of “musts, needs and wants” and made calls on a handful of players, but some of those things simply didn’t work out.

 

“Man, it feels like every year it’s higher than you expect,” he said Monday at LSU’s Pro Day.

 

So during the first wave of free agency, New Orleans focused on retaining the players it felt it could not afford to lose and was able to strike a deal with tight end Coby Fleener after losing Ben Watson to the Baltimore Ravens.

 

Loomis is aware that many fans wanted the team to focus on defense, and he sees the logic behind that thinking, but the team had to make the moves it was able to make.

 

“We have limitations in resources,” Loomis said. “You have to fill the right hole with the right value. It may end up being an offensive player when you’re looking to help your defense, or when you have a good defense — there’s nothing wrong with getting a good value and a good player.

 

“It doesn’t always fall like you would hope in a perfect world, and you have to adjust to that.”

 

Free agency still isn’t done for the Saints. With the first wave of players off the market, New Orleans can look to add veteran players at lesser salaries to fill some of the needs remaining on the roster. Some of the spots the team could be looking at are guard, defensive tackle, safety, linebacker and pass rusher.

 

Loomis made it clear the team isn’t done looking for talent. It will look to patch some more holes, whether it be through free agency, the draft or signing unrestricted free agents. He said that last week the team did more monitoring of the market than anything but noted they made several calls on various players.

 

And while the Saints are limited in what they can do since they have only a little bit more than $5 million in cap space, he said the team did not approach this offseason as gun shy after making the costly mistake of signing cornerback Brandon Browner last offseason and not getting the expected return yet from running back C.J. Spiller.

 

“We always approach these things cautiously, and yet you can’t let a past mistake prevent you from taking a risk in the future,” Loomis said. “Now, it’s calculated. It’s always calculated for us. We have a great staff of evaluators. We have coaches that evaluate. We get opinions and then make a collective decision.

 

“We recognize there’s risk involved. The risk doesn’t just begin and end with the player’s talent. There’s injury, there’s fit, scheme fit, there’s all kinds of things that contribute to a player’s success and failure with our team.”

 

Loomis was asked about the success around the league and the number of players who fail to make it beyond the second year of their contract when joining a new club via free agency, such as Browner.

 

He noted that players often end up being paid more than what they are capable of contributing, but added that it’s dangerous to oversimplify things.

 

“You have to be cautious of painting everything with a broad brush and saying there’s a reason. There’s not,” he said. “There’s lots of variables involved, and I mentioned a few of them.

 

“I do think this: The bigger the deal, the higher the expectations. And the higher the expectations, the more difficult it is to fulfill the expectations. You always have to keep that in mind — I don’t know who judges the success or failure, you in this case — I think you have to be cautious.”

 

The Saints are being cautious this year. But that’s mostly because they don’t have a choice. And that might not be a bad thing.

 

After years of battling with the cap, New Orleans is in a position to be mostly free and clear of the troubles next season with only $88 million committed to the 2017 cap.

 

When asked about escaping the woes, Loomis responded by saying, “Oh, yeah.” He then added that the team is keeping an eye on the future and is cautious of doing anything that would put them back in this position.

 

“We’re always trying to look ahead a year, two years, three years in advance,” Loomis said. “It’s part of the reason why you guys are writing stories — not you specifically, but the media in general — about how tight we are in the cap.

 

“We’ve understood where we we’re at, we understood where we were at a year ago, we understand where we’re at this year. We have a plan for that. But we do look out. I wouldn’t say we look out five or six years, but we’re looking out one, two, three years down the road.”

 

For now, it looks like the Saints will keep plugging holes until they can make a splash next year.

[treeduck]

[treeduck]

Linebacker James Laurinaitis set to join Saints

 

Former Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis is signing with the New Orleans Saints.

 

According to multiple reports, and confirmed by Laurinaitis via his Twitter account, the seven-year veteran will be joining the Saints after he was released by the Rams last month.

 

Laurinaitis has been incredibly durable despite playing a position more prone to high-speed collisions than others. He’s started all 112 games of his career without missing a single game and rarely missed any snaps on defense. He’s posted 852 tackles – at least 109 in every season he’s played – with 16.5 sacks, 10 interceptions and two forced fumbles.

 

Laurinaitis should help improve a defense that was absolutely atrocious in 2015. The Saints ranked 31st in total defense (413.4 yards per game) and 32nd in points per game allowed (29.8).

[treeduck]

Saints scheduled to visit with Nick Fairley, sign Jamarca Sanford

 

 

The Saints made the signing of linebacker James Laurinaitis official on Thursday and that may not be the only defensive player they pick up from the 2015 Rams.

 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that defensive tackle Nick Fairley is set for a visit with the Saints. Fairley spent last season with the Rams after four years with the Lions.

 

Fairley played 15 games with the Rams last season and had 29 tackles and a half-sack as part of a strong defensive line rotation in St. Louis. He started 30 games during his last three years in Detroit.

 

Fairley has also drawn interest from the Eagles and Jets since the start of free agency. The Jets signed Jarvis Jenkins and Steve McLendon this week, however, and may be out of the market for further additions to the defensive line at the moment.

 

The Saints also announced that they have re-signed safety Jamarca Sanford. He appeared in all 16 games last season and saw most of his action on special teams.

[treeduck]

Sean Payton agrees to 5-year extension with Saints

 

http://i1.wp.com/thacover2.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sean-payton.jpg

 

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a five-year extension through the 2020 season, the coach said Wednesday.

 

The extension is worth in excess of $45 million, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder. Payton, who has coached the Saints for 10 years, was already one of the NFL's highest-paid coaches at $8.5 million in his previous deal, which ran through 2017.

 

Payton revealed the news -- actually pointing to his briefcase, which contained the unsigned contract -- during his news conference at the NFL owners meetings.

 

 

Sean Payton has an 87-57 record in his nine seasons as coach of the Saints. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In addition, the Saints are continuing negotiations with quarterback Drew Brees on a proposed four-year contract extension, sources told Werder, which would also keep him with the team through the 2020 season.

 

There was ample speculation throughout last season that Payton might consider leaving New Orleans for another team if the Saints agreed to work out a compensation package -- which made for a tense couple of days after the season.

 

But nothing materialized, and Payton emphasized his long-term commitment to the Saints by the middle of that week during a unique hourlong news conference attended by owners Tom and Gayle Benson, among others.

 

 

Payton said Wednesday that the contract extension became a "formality" after that point, but there was no rush to get it done. He said he worked out the details with general manager Mickey Loomis and president Dennis Lauscha, among others.

 

"There's so much of you in there, that I don't see myself working anywhere else," Payton said of his decade in New Orleans. "There's been really good stability and consistency at ownership. We just had dinner with Mr. B. last night, Mickey, and I think that doesn't guarantee anything, but it gives you a chance. It's been very functional.

 

"That stability, obviously, I don't take for granted."

 

Among active coaches, only Bill Belichick of the Patriots (16 seasons), Marvin Lewis of the Bengals (13) and Mike McCarthy of the Packers (10) have been with their teams longer than Payton, who has been in New Orleans for nine seasons, not including his 2012 suspension.

 

Payton began his first and only NFL head-coaching job with the Saints in 2006, the season after the team had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, he has gone 87-57 in the regular season with five playoff appearances and one Super Bowl title in the 2009 season. His playoff record is 6-4.

 

His overall record excludes the 2012 season, when he was suspended in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation.

 

Negotiations with Brees, who has one year remaining on his own contract, has picked up recently as the Saints have incentive to lower his NFL-high salary-cap figure of $30 million for 2016.

 

"I know Mickey and [brees' agent, Tom Condon] have had quite a bit of discussion in the last week and a half," Payton said. "I would say ongoing now. It always takes a little longer than you want it to, and they're never the same. This was a different type of negotiation than the last one [in 2012, when Brees was under the franchise tag]. But I know there's been quite a bit of dialogue."

[treeduck]

Saints, LB Craig Robertson reach 3-year deal

 

http://media.cleveland.com/browns_impact/photo/robertson-lb-pass-breakup-2013-jkjpg-02d9e3928f20c0ce.jpg

 

Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Craig Robertson has reached an agreement on a three-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

 

Robertson, 28, went from an undrafted free agent signed in December 2011 to starting 37 games the next five seasons.

 

He is a solid inside linebacker who has improved his pass coverage skills each season.

 

Robertson started nine games last season, recording 50 tackles, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

[rushfanforever!]

Sean Payton agrees to 5-year extension with Saints

 

http://i1.wp.com/thacover2.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sean-payton.jpg

 

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a five-year extension through the 2020 season, the coach said Wednesday.

 

The extension is worth in excess of $45 million, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder. Payton, who has coached the Saints for 10 years, was already one of the NFL's highest-paid coaches at $8.5 million in his previous deal, which ran through 2017.

 

Payton revealed the news -- actually pointing to his briefcase, which contained the unsigned contract -- during his news conference at the NFL owners meetings.

 

 

Sean Payton has an 87-57 record in his nine seasons as coach of the Saints. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In addition, the Saints are continuing negotiations with quarterback Drew Brees on a proposed four-year contract extension, sources told Werder, which would also keep him with the team through the 2020 season.

 

There was ample speculation throughout last season that Payton might consider leaving New Orleans for another team if the Saints agreed to work out a compensation package -- which made for a tense couple of days after the season.

 

But nothing materialized, and Payton emphasized his long-term commitment to the Saints by the middle of that week during a unique hourlong news conference attended by owners Tom and Gayle Benson, among others.

 

 

Payton said Wednesday that the contract extension became a "formality" after that point, but there was no rush to get it done. He said he worked out the details with general manager Mickey Loomis and president Dennis Lauscha, among others.

 

"There's so much of you in there, that I don't see myself working anywhere else," Payton said of his decade in New Orleans. "There's been really good stability and consistency at ownership. We just had dinner with Mr. B. last night, Mickey, and I think that doesn't guarantee anything, but it gives you a chance. It's been very functional.

 

"That stability, obviously, I don't take for granted."

 

Among active coaches, only Bill Belichick of the Patriots (16 seasons), Marvin Lewis of the Bengals (13) and Mike McCarthy of the Packers (10) have been with their teams longer than Payton, who has been in New Orleans for nine seasons, not including his 2012 suspension.

 

Payton began his first and only NFL head-coaching job with the Saints in 2006, the season after the team had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, he has gone 87-57 in the regular season with five playoff appearances and one Super Bowl title in the 2009 season. His playoff record is 6-4.

 

His overall record excludes the 2012 season, when he was suspended in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation.

 

Negotiations with Brees, who has one year remaining on his own contract, has picked up recently as the Saints have incentive to lower his NFL-high salary-cap figure of $30 million for 2016.

 

"I know Mickey and [brees' agent, Tom Condon] have had quite a bit of discussion in the last week and a half," Payton said. "I would say ongoing now. It always takes a little longer than you want it to, and they're never the same. This was a different type of negotiation than the last one [in 2012, when Brees was under the franchise tag]. But I know there's been quite a bit of dialogue."

 

Hey Duckie, you got the brews lined up?? This is great news!!!

[treeduck]

Sean Payton agrees to 5-year extension with Saints

 

http://i1.wp.com/thacover2.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sean-payton.jpg

 

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a five-year extension through the 2020 season, the coach said Wednesday.

 

The extension is worth in excess of $45 million, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder. Payton, who has coached the Saints for 10 years, was already one of the NFL's highest-paid coaches at $8.5 million in his previous deal, which ran through 2017.

 

Payton revealed the news -- actually pointing to his briefcase, which contained the unsigned contract -- during his news conference at the NFL owners meetings.

 

 

Sean Payton has an 87-57 record in his nine seasons as coach of the Saints. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In addition, the Saints are continuing negotiations with quarterback Drew Brees on a proposed four-year contract extension, sources told Werder, which would also keep him with the team through the 2020 season.

 

There was ample speculation throughout last season that Payton might consider leaving New Orleans for another team if the Saints agreed to work out a compensation package -- which made for a tense couple of days after the season.

 

But nothing materialized, and Payton emphasized his long-term commitment to the Saints by the middle of that week during a unique hourlong news conference attended by owners Tom and Gayle Benson, among others.

 

 

Payton said Wednesday that the contract extension became a "formality" after that point, but there was no rush to get it done. He said he worked out the details with general manager Mickey Loomis and president Dennis Lauscha, among others.

 

"There's so much of you in there, that I don't see myself working anywhere else," Payton said of his decade in New Orleans. "There's been really good stability and consistency at ownership. We just had dinner with Mr. B. last night, Mickey, and I think that doesn't guarantee anything, but it gives you a chance. It's been very functional.

 

"That stability, obviously, I don't take for granted."

 

Among active coaches, only Bill Belichick of the Patriots (16 seasons), Marvin Lewis of the Bengals (13) and Mike McCarthy of the Packers (10) have been with their teams longer than Payton, who has been in New Orleans for nine seasons, not including his 2012 suspension.

 

Payton began his first and only NFL head-coaching job with the Saints in 2006, the season after the team had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, he has gone 87-57 in the regular season with five playoff appearances and one Super Bowl title in the 2009 season. His playoff record is 6-4.

 

His overall record excludes the 2012 season, when he was suspended in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation.

 

Negotiations with Brees, who has one year remaining on his own contract, has picked up recently as the Saints have incentive to lower his NFL-high salary-cap figure of $30 million for 2016.

 

"I know Mickey and [brees' agent, Tom Condon] have had quite a bit of discussion in the last week and a half," Payton said. "I would say ongoing now. It always takes a little longer than you want it to, and they're never the same. This was a different type of negotiation than the last one [in 2012, when Brees was under the franchise tag]. But I know there's been quite a bit of dialogue."

 

Hey Duckie, you got the brews lined up?? This is great news!!!

Aye! And even better news is it's linked up to a 4 year extension for Brees which is coming soon. :clap: So we're set for the next 5 years! :cheers:

 

Hey where've you been lately? :o :smoke:

[treeduck]

Report: Patriots out on Nick Fairley, expected to sign with Saints

 

Posted by Josh Alper on March 25, 2016, 12:09 PM EDT

Defensive tackle Nick Fairley has drawn interest from several teams since the start of free agency earlier this month and it looks like he’s closing in on a decision about where he’ll sign for the 2016 season.

 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Fairley is expected to sign with the Saints, who met with Fairley last week. Rapoport reports the Patriots are out of the running for his services and presumably the Jets and Eagles, who also showed interest, have fallen out of the running as well.

 

Fairley would likely slot in next to nose tackle John Jenkins on the interior of the New Orleans line. That would likely lead to more playing time than Fairley saw as a member of the Rams last season. Fairley played behind Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers and saw 422 snaps on defense over the course of the year.

 

Fairley had 29 tackles and a half-sack over those snaps and had 98 tackles and 13.5 sacks over four years with the Lions.