ND Kalu Knows He's Gone...

[BigEd76]

2005
Unrestricted: Runyan, Kalu, C.Lewis, Adams, Gordon, McCants, J.Thomas, Ena, Brewer, Ford, Landeta
Restricted: D.Johnson, Hood, Mahe, Mikell
Suspended/Inactive: Owens

2006
Unrestricted: Dawkins, M.Lewis, Fraley, H.Thomas, Detmer, McMahon, Buckhalter, McMullen, Grasmanis
Restricted: Parry, Short, Strickland

[mussa]

2005
Unrestricted: Runyan, Kalu, C.Lewis, Adams, Gordon, McCants, J.Thomas, Ena, Brewer, Ford, Landeta
Restricted: D.Johnson, Hood, Mahe, Mikell
Suspended/Inactive: Owens

2006
Unrestricted: Dawkins, M.Lewis, Fraley, H.Thomas, Detmer, McMahon, Buckhalter, McMullen, Grasmanis
Restricted: Parry, Short, Strickland

u da man, thanks! 

[Wingspan]

2005
Unrestricted: Runyan, Kalu, C.Lewis, Adams, Gordon, McCants, J.Thomas, Ena, Brewer, Ford, Landeta
Restricted: D.Johnson, Hood, Mahe, Mikell
Suspended/Inactive: Owens

2006
Unrestricted: Dawkins, M.Lewis, Fraley, H.Thomas, Detmer, McMahon, Buckhalter, McMullen, Grasmanis
Restricted: Parry, Short, Strickland

other than runyon and dawkins for maybe 2 year contracts each....they could not offer a dime to any of those guys and i dont think i would care.

[BigEd76]

Not a fan of Mike Lewis?

[Wingspan]

there is a difference between being a fan of his (which i am) and thinking he deserves a long term extension (which IMO, he does not).

[mussa]

i think lewis deserves it, but not until next year.  this year he had a rough year, but so did everybody.  everyone played down.  Def Dawkins,M. Lewis and Runyan.  I'd like to keep McMahon around just for his feet and mediocre arm.  Hollis .  Maybe Gordon, just for reassurance.  Detmer for Akers.  Hood corner depth. Adams and Short for special teams. 

Everyone else can jump on the bus, especially Landetta and his Hoyda of a leg and weird eyes. 

[Wingspan]

Landetta and his Hoyda of a leg and weird eyes. 

social security checks may count against the cap anyway

[ice grillin you]

i think lewis deserves it, but not until next year.  this year he had a rough year, but so did everybody

absolutely...it really is amazing how the absence of a pass rush will make a secondary look bad

[mussa]

or lack of overall team confidence affects everyone too

[Rome]

Thank God you're not the GM...

[bobbyinlondon]

"I'm 30, and I have one sack," Kalu said. "... You have a star emerging at my position, and [Jerome] McDougle is going to come back strong. It just makes sense.

Saying McDougle will come back strong is wishful thinking. I wouldn't mind seeing an every down end added to the mix. Cole's been good this season but I'm not convinced he's the answer. Hopefully Freeney hits the market and if not I'd like to make a run at Howard.

Howard is done in New Orleans.




More From The Times-Picayune   |   Subscribe To The Times-Picayune
Howard likely done in New Orleans
Benched DE says chance he'll return is 'zero'
Thursday, December 15, 2005
By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer
SAN ANTONIO -- Defensive end Darren Howard's six-year career with the Saints appears to have come to an abrupt conclusion.

Saints coach Jim Haslett said Howard would not play again this season because of an injured right knee, thereby giving coaches and personnel officials a better chance to evaluate rookie defensive end Jimmy Verdon, a seventh-round pick from Arizona State.

Howard, who's making a base salary of $7.8 million as the team's franchise player this season, was inactive for Monday night's 36-17 loss to Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

"This is not a discipline problem with Darren whatsoever," Haslett said. "We have an opportunity to play a young kid (Verdon), who I think is going to be a good player. Darren probably won't be back with us next year because of salary-cap reasons, and it's an opportunity to step up and play a young guy."

Howard's contract expires after the season.

Howard, 29, said he has no plans to re-sign with the Saints and would "quit" if team officials prevented him from testing free agency by making him a franchise player for a third consecutive year.

Asked his chances of being with the Saints in 2006, Howard replied: "Zero."

"The bottom line is this situation has nothing to do with Darren Howard's knee," Howard said. "This is all about Darren Howard and the New Orleans Saints not growing with each other. That's the bottom line. I've played on this knee the last three seasons.

"If I'm going to be inactive the rest of the season, there's no point in me to keep pounding on it. I go out there like a warrior every week, and I play on it and I practice on it. There's no reason for me to do that anymore."

Howard, the first pick under Haslett and the 33rd overall selection in the 2000 draft, has missed 12 starts because of injuries since the start of the 2003 season.

He ranks among the club's top 10 leaders in sacks with 44 ½, including 3 ½ this season. He started nine games and made 41 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Team officials unsuccessfully attempted to trade Howard to the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2005 draft. He was chosen the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Buffalo in Week 4. He had two sacks, forced a fumble and defended a pass in the Saints' 19-7 victory.

"I was upset at first when (Haslett) told me of his plans to deactivate me," Howard said. "I've calmed down a lot since then. Now after looking at the situation and knowing the situation we're in right now, if that's what he wants to do, fine.

"I'm kind of torn because I want to play. At the same time, it isn't smart for me to play, especially after the guy wants to deactivate me for the last four games. That's where we're sitting right now."


At 29, you have to ask yourself what kind of contract he'd be demanding--ie, for how many years.

[Eaglez]

2005
Unrestricted: Runyan, Kalu, C.Lewis, Adams, Gordon, McCants, J.Thomas, Ena, Brewer, Ford, Landeta
Restricted: D.Johnson, Hood, Mahe, Mikell
Suspended/Inactive: Owens

2006
Unrestricted: Dawkins, M.Lewis, Fraley, H.Thomas, Detmer, McMahon, Buckhalter, McMullen, Grasmanis
Restricted: Parry, Short, Strickland

I'd keep Adams if he's willing to go back and be the captian of the Special Teams unit and take a decent paycut, Gordon I'm iffy about but I'm guessing if Buckhalter can't stay healthy again then I'd consider keeping him, and Brewer because he's been playing great on Special Teams.

As for the restricted I'd say goodbye to Reno, friggin' scrub. Maybe someone will sign him? I think the Eagles should just play him the rest of the year and give him a ton of touches to trump up his stats to maybe get some team interested, and then hopefully get a late round pick for him. Wishful thinking, though. The rest can stay but I really don't care either way.

For 2006-2007, Mike Lewis is the only one, I think, the Eagles will seriously offer any time of cash. Unfortunately Dawk has reached that magicial age and no one else is worthy of signing unless they are willing to sign strictly on whatever the front office wants them to sign for.

As for restricted I'd hope that Parry is gone after this season and the only person I would like to keep is Short because he's great on Special Teams. He can blow people up and bring that fire.

[qwert246]

I'd keep Adams if he's willing to go back and be the captian of the Special Teams unit and take a decent paycut

How many pay cuts do you want him to take?  He already took one to stay this year.

Gordon I'm iffy about but I'm guessing if Buckhalter can't stay healthy again

I think you answered your own question.  Buckhalter is done.

[LBIggle]

they should re-sign lewis this year with all the money they have under the cap and the off-year he had.  if he blows it up next year i doubt we see him in an eagles uni again.

i wouldn't mind a westbrook gordon moats with buckhalter on the PS.


thats about it.

[Sgt PSN]

I don't think Buckhalter is PS eligible.  But if by "PS" you either mean "IR" or "Released", then I agree.