Posted by Brian Allee-Walsh, The Times-Picayune March 04, 2009 10:20PM
Jabari Greer
Saints officials hit two free agency goals Wednesday, returning one offensive player to the fold and filling a glaring need in the secondary.
Around mid-day, the team re-signed veteran wide receiver Devery Henderson and a few hours later signed Bills cornerback Jabari Greer.
Each agreed to four-year deals.
Henderson is the third high-profile player to re-sign with the Saints since the start of free agency on Friday, joining middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and right tackle Jon Stinchcomb.
General Manager Mickey Loomis and Coach Sean Payton are continuing their push to upgrade the secondary with free agents from outside the organization, most notably safeties Darren Sharper (Minnesota) and Gerald Sensabaugh (Jacksonville), both of whom visited earlier this week.
Fullback Heath Evans (New England) concluded his two-day visit with Saints officials Wednesday.
“There are two phases to this free agency,” Payton said. “This initial phase is quieter than it has been in past years. The second phase is where all of a sudden some of your better bargains can become available. It’d be hard to say that once we sign a defensive player or two we’re going to be done, because you don’t know what becomes available a month from now.
“But I’m excited that we were able to keep the guys that we’ve signed right now. Vilma was critical for us with how he played last year, after giving us stability at the mike linebacker position, and getting Stinchcomb and Devery was important. So I’m excited about us being able to protect those three players internally. Now we’ll try to get a few more pieces that we’ve identified, most likely on defense. That’s kind of where we’re at in the process.”
Greer’s contract reportedly is worth approximately $23 million (an average of $5.75 annually), according to The National Football Post. Those numbers suggest Greer, 5 feet 11, 180 pounds, likely will be a favorite to win a starting job.
He comes to the Saints after starting 23 games the past two seasons as an undrafted free agent with the Bills. He has four career interceptions, including two last season, that he returned for touchdowns. He missed the final six games in 2008 with a knee injury.
“I’ve been traveling non-stop since Friday,” said Greer, who also visited Detroit, Tampa Bay and Cleveland. “Everything has worked out wonderfully. I am elated and excited about this opportunity.
“After talking to the players (specifically defensive backs Mike McKenzie, Tracy Porter, Roman Harper) and getting their point of views on the team, the coaching staff and the executives upstairs, they had nothing but great things to say. They really believe in this program.”
Greer, 27, said he is familiar with the type of defense new Saints coordinator Gregg Williams plans to install in New Orleans. Greer spent his first three seasons at Buffalo working under defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, who has a long history coaching with Williams.
“Coach Williams has a (defensive) system that I am familiar with,” Greer said. “It’s a lot of the same terminology and schemes that I feel comfortable with. I know he’s a coach that expects a lot out of his players. Having that challenge is exciting to me.”
The Saints’ newest signings have one thing in common: each is extremely fast. Greer, 27, was a standout hurdler at Tennessee, winning the 2003 NCAA Indoor 60-meters championship.
Henderson, who enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2008, already is one of the fastest players on the team.
Last season, Henderson averaged career highs in yards per catch (24.8) and yards after the catch (8.5).
“Devery is a guy who has gotten better and better each year,” Payton said. “He’s progressed and has been a big part of what we do offensively. His speed and his yards per completion are things we don’t take for granted. He runs exceptionally well, especially after the catch. We’re not talking about just big completions, but he’s a guy who can catch a shorter throw and advance it.”
Payton said the team’s decision to give Henderson a long-term deal shows the confidence they have in him.
“A year ago, to Devery’s credit and to Mickey’s credit, we just signed a one-year contract just to further see where both sides were,” Payton said. “So when he became free this year, there were other teams interested in him. There’s a comfort level he has in what we’re doing and having a quarterback here in Drew Brees and having the system intact, he felt really good about it.”
Henderson said he is relieved to have the business aspect behind him so he can concentrate on trying to fulfill his potential with the team that selected him in the second round of the 2004 draft.
“It was important for me to be back here,” said Henderson, who had interest from Minnesota, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and San Francisco. “It’s the only (NFL) team I’ve ever known. It’s good to know that I’m still wanted here. They wanted me back, and it was important to them to have me back.
“I think I can do a whole lot more than I’ve shown. I want to show everyone around here that I can do it.”
Specific details of Henderson’s contract are not known. However, Payton said no roster moves or restructuring of players’ contracts had to be done to accommodate the latest signings under the $27 million salary cap.
In other free agent developments, Payton denied reports that the Saints are interested in running back Rudi Johnson and no visit has been scheduled for cornerback Shawn Springs, who visited Philadelphia Tuesday and Wednesday.
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