Darren Howard

[MURP]

would look good in an Eagles uni.

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."

link

[DH]

drool

[Feva]

"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.

Dammit!  3rd person talk! 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Two first names! 

[Rome]

Kearse + Howard = Super Bowl Championship.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Kearse Cole + Howard = Super Bowl Championship.  (with Kearse lining up at "joker" and other places, also Howard occasionally lining up at DT in pass rush situations)

Yep, maybe.

[General_Failure]

Either way, I'm for moving Kearse to LB. Sure, he's never played there and he doesn't know how, but that hasn't stopped Jim Johnson from plugging a dozen other guys in there.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Either way, I'm for moving Kearse to LB. Sure, he's never played there and he doesn't know how, but that hasn't stopped Jim Johnson from plugging a dozen other guys in there.

The important question is, would Kearse be any more sucky than what we have now?  I contend not.

[ice grillin you]

trent cole = superbowl

[The BIGSTUD]

Howard is having a very below average year. I'd be very careful about signing him.

[Cerevant]

Either way, I'm for moving Kearse to LB. Sure, he's never played there and he doesn't know how, but that hasn't stopped Jim Johnson from plugging a dozen other guys in there.

The important question is, would Kearse be any more sucky than what we have now?  I contend not.

I think Kearse would be an amazing pass-rushing LB.  He probably wouldn't get a whole lot of sacks, but the batted balls should be astronomical.

While I'm spouting useless shtein, he should be trying to block kicks too.  Make the farger earn his paycheck.

[Rome]

Trent Cole = Situational Pass Rusher Only.

[ice grillin you]

Trent Cole = Situational Pass Rusher Only

so was burgess

[Rome]

Yeah, so?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Actually...Cole plays the run pretty good. He's pretty disciplined too...he doesn't shoot down the line immediately on runs away from him or playaction so he's able to have outside contain.