Saints Sign Four Free Agents

by Dave Lawrence, NewOrleansSaints.com
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 – 4:00 PM

Following the close of their three-day rookie minicamp, New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Wednesday the signing of three players that took part in the camp on a tryout basis. Signed by the team were quarterback Travis Lulay, defensive tackle Marcus Pittman and wide receiver Carlos Robinson. Loomis also announced the signing of rookie free agent offensive tackle Carnell Stewart.

Lulay, a 6-2, 216-pound product of Montana State, first signed a professional contract with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent in May of 2006. The Aumsville, Ore. native participated in the Seahawks’ training camps in ’06 and ’07 and played for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europa in the spring of ’07. In college, Lulay passed for 10,746 yards and 58 touchdowns and left Montana State as the school’s all-time leading passer.

Pittman was a two-year starter at defensive tackle at Troy after transferring to the Alabama school from Garden City (Kan.) CC and played in 25 games, amassing 42 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. The 6-4, 290-pound defensive lineman proved his ability to play both defensive tackle positions at the collegiate level.

Robinson is a speedy 6-1, 180-pound receiver who last played in 2006 at Grand Rapids Community College in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich. The 23-year-old wideout caught 28 passes for 421 yards and was an all-conference selection for the Raiders in ’06.

Stewart, a native of Metairie, played collegiately at LSU and started every game at right tackle for the 2007 National Championship team. The 6-5, 320-pounder switched to offensive line prior to the 2006 season after spending his first three seasons in Baton Rouge as a defensive tackle. The graduate of John Curtis High played in 27 games in his college career with 14 starts, 22 of the games coming after his shift to the offensive side of the ball.

In a corresponding roster move, the Saints waived offensive linemen Nate McManus and Akim Millington as well as receiver Evan Moore and quarterback T.C. Ostrander, each of whom were signed as rookie free agents after last month’s draft.

By Adam Schefter | NFL Network

Bill Parcells and the Miami Dolphins have been unable to find a trading partner for the No. 1 pick. But the St. Louis Rams now have options at No. 2.

The Saints have made inquiries with the Rams about what it would take to go from New Orleans’ scheduled 10th overall pick all the way up to St. Louis’ at No. 2.

Based on the antiquated NFL draft point chart, the Rams pick at No. 2 is worth 2,600 points. The Saints pick at No. 10 is worth 1,300, and their second round pick is worth another 490, meaning New Orleans is going to have to come up with more than its two first-day picks.

New Orleans is looking at add a stud defensive player, and it could opt for LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, a pick that would be enormously popular in that area, or even Ohio State linebacker Vernon Gholston, who would be a terror on the turf in the Superdome.

People who have spoken with the Saints insist the talks are not substantiative, more informal, but the fact that one team has pursued moving up is noteworthy. This year, no team has been willing to move up to Miami‘s spot at No. 1, even New Orleans. The Saints are unwilling to pay what it would take to satisify the Dolphins or the player picked at No. 1.

In previous years, teams have declined to move into the top 10 picks. The last time there was any type of blockbuster trade was 2004, when the Chargers and Giants were involved in a trade that featured quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Eli Manning.

As interested as the Saints might be in moving up, the Rams are in no rush to relinquish their pick. They recognize that they’re going to come away with help for one of their lines -– either Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long or Dorsey.

In an upset, the Rams could always opt for the top-rated player on their board -– running back Darren McFadden. But it’s up to the Saints -– or any other team that’s interested –- to entice the Rams with an offer that is good enough to get them to surrender the No. 2 overall pick.

The NFL has released the Saints 2008 schedule. The Saints host the Buccaneers to open the season September 7th. In all the Saints will have three prime time games, including two Monday night games at home against Green Bay and Minnesota. The Saints will play the Bears in Chicago in a Thursday night game.

Here is the complete schedule.

Date	Opponent	Time
Sept. 7	TAMPA	Noon
Sept. 14	@ Washington	Noon
Sept. 21	@ Denver	3 p.m.
Sept. 28	SAN FRANCISCO	Noon
Oct. 6 (Mon.)	MINNESOTA	7:30
Oct. 12	OAKLAND	Noon
Oct. 19	@Carolina	Noon
Oct. 26	SAN DIEGO (London)	Noon
Nov. 2	Off
Nov. 9	@Atlanta	Noon
Nov. 16	@ Kansas City	Noon
Nov. 24 (Mon.)	GREEN BAY	7:30
Nov. 30	@Tampa	Noon
Dec. 7	ATLANTA	Noon
Dec. 11 (Thurs.)	@Chicago	7:15
Dec. 21	@Detroit	Noon
Dec. 28	CAROLINA	Noon

PACKAGE OPTIONS AND
ORDERING INFORMATION

OPTION 1: ON LOCATION COMPLETE TICKET, HOSPITALITY & TRAVEL PACKAGES

PACKAGE BENEFITS

• Stay with other Saints Fans at a great hotel in a perfect, and safe, location in London.

• Guarantee the authenticity of your game tickets, game hospitality and ground transportation with NFL On Location, the only League approved travel packages for the 2008 International Series.

• Saints fans receive discounted package rates, saving you money while offering exclusive ticket, game day hospitality, special events and transportation to/from the game.

All Packages include the following:

• Three nights (Fri, Sat, Sun) hotel accommodations at the Hyatt Regency London – Churchill

• Saturday evening party featuring Saints Celebrities with ground transfers provided to/from hotel and event.

• Game day round-trip ground transportation to/from Wembley Stadium

• Official NFL International Series Gift Bag

• Plus, select one of the four Game Ticket & In-stadium Hospitality options from below

Club Package

• Official NFL Tailgate Party for 3 hours pre-game (food & beverage available for purchase)

• Ticket in end zone location on the Club Wembley Level

• VIP Entrance to the stadium

• Access to exclusive Club Wembley cash bars and cafes pre-game

Price per person:

Double Occupancy: $2,399

Single Occupancy: $2,949

Premium Package

• Official NFL Tailgate Party for 3 hours pre-game (food & beverage available for purchase)

• Premium sideline ticket on Club Wembley Level

• VIP Entrance to the stadium

• Access to exclusive Club Wembley cash bars and cafes pre-game

Price per person:

Double Occupancy: $2,449

Single Occupancy: $2,999

Sapphire Package

• 3-course meal with wine before the game in one of Wembley’s stunning restaurants

• Complimentary bar with wine, beer and soft drinks before the game, cash bar post-game

• Official Souvenir Program for each guest

• Premium ticket near the 50-yard line on Club Wembley Level with access to all concourse facilities, including exclusive use of Club Wembley cash bars

Price per person:

Double Occupancy: $2,749

Single Occupancy: $3,299

Diamond Package

• Champagne reception on arrival

• Superb 3-course meal with wine before the game in one of Wembley’s exclusive dining areas

• Complimentary bar including wine, beer and soft drinks before the game, cash bar available post-game

• Premium ticket near the 50-yard line on lower tier, either side of players’ tunnel

• Official Souvenir Program for each guest

• Seat with access to cash bar facilities throughout the event

Price per person:

Double Occupancy: $3,099

Single Occupancy: $3,649

Additional Available Options:

• Round-trip airfare with ground transfer to/from hotel

• Day & evening sightseeing tours

• Additional Room Nights

WEMBLEY STADIUM SEATING DIAGRAM – PACKAGES

• Diamond (sec 101) • Sapphire (sec 226) • Premium (sec 225) • Club (sec 213)

 

HOW TO ORDER:

Packages go on sale Monday, April 7

For more information or to order one of the NFL On Location hospitality and ticket packages:

By Phone: call 1-800-449-2479

By Internet: visit www.quintevents.com/ics-2008

In order to receive these special discounted package prices please use this code:

Saints Promo Code: SAINTSLONDON

 

OPTION 2: INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS

Individual Game Tickets go on sale Monday, April 14 at 10:00 AM

TO ORDER VIA INTERNET:

• Visit www.neworleanssaints.com and click on the “London Game” link under the Tickets tab.

• Follow the steps to order individual game tickets.

• Once you have selected the price category and ticket quantity, enter your credit card number to complete your order.

• Specific seat locations will be assigned in July. Your credit card will be charged when your seat location is assigned. Orders will be processed in UK currency and converted to US dollars on your credit card.

• Ticket orders will be processed on a first come, first served basis and subject to ticket availability.

TO ORDER BY MAIL:

• Simply select the price category and quantity of tickets.

•Mail your ticket order to:

New Orleans Saints Ticket Office

Attn: London Ticket Offer

5800 Airline Drive

Metairie, LA 70003

• Please enclose your credit card number and expiration date.

• The Saints Ticket Office will forward your ticket order to the UK NFL Ticket Office for processing. Specific seat locations will be assigned in July.

• All ticket orders will be processed on a first come, first served basis and subject to ticket availability.

TO ORDER IN PERSON:

• Stop by the New Orleans Saints Ticket Office:

5800 Airline Drive

Metairie, LA 70003

• Credit cards will be accepted.

• Checks will be made payable to NFL International LLC.

• The Saints Ticket Office will forward your ticket order to the UK NFL Ticket Office for processing. Specific seat locations will be assigned in July.

• All ticket orders will be processed on a first come, first served basis and subject to ticket availability.

TICKET DISTRIBUTION

Individual game tickets ordered will be available for pick-up in London the week of the game. Season Ticket Holders will be required to show photo identification when picking-up their tickets. Your seat assignment will be sent to you in July and will include information on where to pick-up your tickets in London.

WEMBLEY STADUIM SEATING DIAGRAM

 

Note: Prices listed in UK pound amount above. The actual charge for tickets purchased will be based on the current conversion rate with the UK pound to US currency and will be determined at the time of seat assignment. Due to conversion rate, credit card is the preferred method of payment.

 

Defensive end appears unhappy with unsettled contract situation

Thursday, April 03, 2008By Jimmy Smith

PALM BEACH, FLA. — Saints defensive end Will Smith, apparently unhappy that the team has yet to restructure his soon-to-expire contract, is not participating in the team’s offseason conditioning program, Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday.

Smith played for a base salary of $695,000 last season. Fellow lineman Charles Grant last year signed a seven-year contract that could eventually be worth $63 million.

Smith’s original contract earned him $20 million in bonuses, and by reaching certain incentives, Smith (the club’s first-round draft choice in 2004) is scheduled to earn more than $1 million this season in the last year of his contract.

Payton said he understands Smith’s position and feels certain the team will come to a new agreement with the former Pro Bowl player.

“He’s one of the guys who has become a leader in that locker room,” Payton said. “I think for him it’s wanting to get a new deal, and hey, all parties want that. It’s just a matter of sorting through and arriving at the right number.”

Smith’s agent, Joel Segal, did not return calls Wednesday.

Payton said he respected Smith’s demeanor last season, not complaining about Grant’s multi-million dollar deal, and met with Smith about a month ago when Smith informed Payton of his decision to sit out the offseason conditioning program in New Orleans.

“I think this, and I told him, the day after Charles got a new contract, five reporters are in his locker asking him how he feels,” said Payton, who participated in the annual NFC coaches media breakfast at the NFL owners meeting in Palm Beach. “And the bottom line is when any one of us signs a contract, a year later there’s going to be someone at the same position signing one for a higher number. Last year he was two years away from another contract. He understands, and his representation understands, the business side of this, and hopefully it will be something that’s resolved sooner than later.

“He’s a very talented player. We’ve stayed in communication. My main focus has been on the guys who’ve been there, and that’s got me excited. Because I’ll call the strength coach, and these guys are all there for every lift and run. That’s good.”

Payton said that Smith has been the program’s only absentee.

“I’ve had guys where things come up, I visit with them, and they move on and get right back in it,” Payton said. “Everyone that I’ve talked with has been there. It’s been encouraging. Will and I had a chance to visit and talk probably three or four weeks ago, and it’s a decision the player makes. I understand why. We have a great relationship, as Will does with (General Manager) Mickey (Loomis). I think for me, I get more excited about 99.9 percent of the team being there.

“If any given season there’s one player who’s not, it’s a pretty good offseason program. Will will stay in shape and do what he needs to do get ready. It’s part of what we deal with.”

Payton said he had concerns about the health of running back Deuce McAllister’s knees, though he added McAllister’s rehabilitation from surgery on his left anterior cruciate ligament and microfracture surgery on his right knee were progressing well.

“I think you have to have some concern with what he does and the position he plays,” Payton said. “As best we can, we’re trying to gather all the information and seeing how he responds to the treatment and rehab.”

. . . . . . .

Jimmy Smith can be reached at jsmith@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3814.

by Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Thursday, April 03, 2008 – 1:00 PM

The New Orleans Saints learned today they will begin their 2008 preseason with a nationally televised game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. and then will play three straight games against AFC foes to close out their preseason schedule.

The opening game for the Black-and-Gold will be on Thursday, August 7, 2008 with a nationally televised game on ESPN in Arizona against the Cardinals.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.

In preseason week two, the Saints will host the Houston Texans at the Superdome (date and time to be announced at a later date).

Week three of the preseason will see the Saints travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals (date and time to be announced at a later date). It will be a re-match of the 2007 preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium, a contest the Saints won, 27-19.

The Saints will return home for their final preseason game of the 2008 preseason when they host the Miami Dolphins (date and time to be announced at a later date). The two teams met last season in the preseason finale, with the Saints prevailing, 7-0.

The 2008 regular season schedules will be announced in the coming weeks.

Check back to NewOrleansSaints.com for the latest news.

NewOrleansSaints.com

Thursday, March 20, 2008 – 9:57 AM

Lehr previously played for Coach Payton in Dallas.

The New Orleans Saints have signed unrestricted free-agent offensive lineman Matt Lehr, it was announced by the club today. Terms of the contract were not announced. Lehr, who has started 48 -of-85 NFL games and is entering his eighth season, has played both center and guard in his career.

Arriving in New Orleans after playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007, Lehr (6-2, 304) has also had stints with Atlanta (2005-06) and Dallas (2001-04). Originally a fifth-round pick by the Cowboys out of Virginia Tech, he was with Dallas while Saints’ Coach Sean Payton was with the club as Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach starting in 2003.

Lehr opened all 16 games in 2003 at guard for the Cowboys, and 26 games from 2005-06 for Atlanta, including 11 starts his final season with the Falcons at left guard. Last year he was a top reserve for the Buccaneers and played in every game, without a start.

by Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com

Monday, March 17, 2008 – 4:26 PM

The New Orleans Saints began their 12-week strength-and-conditioning program for the 66 players currently on the team’s roster today. Under the direction of Strength and Conditioning Coach Dan Dalrymple, the Saints’ players returned to New Orleans with the intent of preparing for the 2008 season, and by all accounts, day one was a rousing success.

The majority of the work the players will undergo throughout the course of the stringent voluntary program focuses equally on weight training, conditioning and speed development for those players that are physically at the point of being able to fully participate. A handful of other players, such as CB Mike McKenzie and RB Deuce McAllister, are still in phases of injury rehabilitation that may limit some of the exercises that they are able to perform, while still being able to join in the important camaraderie and team-building principles that take place through working together.

“It’s good to be back around the guys and catch up,” said LB Scott Fujita. “I know that in speaking to the rest of the guys, we want to put the bad taste out of mouths and get started towards our goals in 2008. That’s why we are all here and it’s great to see virtually every guy here right off the bat.”

A few players, including DT Hollis Thomas and QB Drew Brees, are representing the team at NFL Players Association meetings in Hawaii, but are expected to return to New Orleans in the very near future.

Head Coach Sean Payton said today that the off-season work that the players invest in is important for a number of reasons, primarily the ability of the players to get in peak physical condition after having allowed their bodies proper rest over the course of the past two and a half months. “These are professional athletes and this is their vocation,” Payton said, sporting a muted green sports shirt in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. “There are a lot of prideful players in that locker room and it’s good to see them excited about what lies in front of them. They know the off-season program is challenging but it’s for their best interests and most importantly, for the success of our team.”

The strength and conditioning sessions will transition into some on-the-field work later in the spring with three weeks of organized team activities (OTA’s), while there will also be a mini-camp (May 9-11) soon after the NFL Draft, as well as a full-squad mini-camp (May 30-June 1).

Payton, along with the rest of the Saints’ front office and coaching staff, have been busy at work in re-tooling the composition of the team’s roster with a handful of new players, including MLB Jonathan Vilma, LB Dan Morgan, CB Randall Gay, DE Bobby McCray and QB Mark Brunell. Many other players re-signed with the team, thus insuring stability and consistency in the team’s team-first approach, including such notable contributors such as LB Mark Simoneau, TE’s Eric Johnson and Billy Miller, RB Aaron Stecker, WR David Patten, among others.

“That is an important part for all of us,” Payton said of the infusion of new players and the chemistry that is associated with the newcomers blending in to the composition of the returning players. “The one thing that I know is that we have a locker room that is made up of good, solid individuals who understand how important teamwork is, and I also feel strongly that we have spent a lot of time thinking and talking and researching them, before we added them, about the new players that we have brought in and what positive impacts they will have on the make-up of our roster. That is important to me and important to us.”

Players were given the option of working either in the morning or in the afternoon, with a full-team meeting sandwiched around the workouts sessions. The meeting, according to Payton, was to outline the expectations of what the strength-and-conditioning sessions will entail, the importance of participation, and of the challenges and opportunities that lie in front of the 2008 Saints.

Payton also mentioned that in discussions with RB Reggie Bush, he expects Bush to be a regular in this year’s program. Last season Bush split time between his West Coast home and New Orleans. News that evidently pleased Payton, “He (Reggie) is planning on being involved in all of our off-season, which is good and encouraging. I think it’s important for him and for all running backs, with the pounding they take, to be real diligent in the weight room.”

The team’s roster, now in the mid 60’s, will swell to close to 80 players in a less than two months, pending the team’s 2008 Draft class and incoming rookie free agents. When asked about the direction the team may head in late April’s Draft, Payton, as expected, said that the team was still in the process of evaluating all of the draftable candidates and didn’t shed any particular insight into what direction the team may head with the 10th overall pick.

“Clearly we will be looking to get a player there that can help us,” Payton said. “But I know that our feeling is that we want players in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, as well. We have had players here that were taken in all of those rounds that we count on and we believe that will continue.”

Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Sunday, March 02, 2008 – 3:34 PM
The New Orleans Saints announced today that they agreed to terms on a five-year contract with unrestricted free agent defensive end Bobby McCray. The announcement of McCray’s agreement was made by Saints’ Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

McCray, 6-6, 262-pounds, was one of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting defensive ends the past two seasons and ranks tied for seventh in franchise history with DT Marcus Stroud, who was recently traded to the Buffalo Bills, with 22 career sacks. A seventh-round pick out of the University of Florida by Jacksonville in 2004, McCray has played in 61 regular season games during his four-year career and recorded 94 tackles, 22 sacks and seven forced fumbles. The 26-year old native of Homestead, Fla. registered a career-high 10 sacks in 2006. In addition, McCray has played in three career playoff games, starting both the AFC Wild Card and AFC Divisional Playoff games the Jaguars advanced to in 2007, while also appearing in an AFC Wild Card game in 2005.

“Bobby is a player we identified as being able to come in and help us in the defensive line rotation,” said Loomis. “He is a player that is quick off the edge and has displayed a penchant for being able to generate pressure on the quarterback and be disruptive in passing situations.”

As a collegian with the Gators, McCray played in 36 games, making 15 starts over the course of his last two seasons, and recorded 107 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for losses, 31 quarterback pressures, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

NewOrleansSaints.com
Sunday, March 02, 2008 – 7:00 PM

 

The New Orleans Saints announced Sunday that they have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with unrestricted free agent cornerback Randall Gay. The announcement was made by Saints’ Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

Gay, a 5-11, 190-pound defensive back comes home to Louisiana after spending the first four years of his professional career with the New England Patriots. The Brusly, La. native and former LSU Tiger has played in 39 regular season NFL games, making 14 starts, along with six postseason games since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2004.

“Randall is a player we targeted early on in this free agent market and we’re extremely pleased to be able to bring him on board,” Loomis said. “He’s a very talented player that has demonstrated throughout his football career that he is a winner and we’re confident he will prove to be an asset to our defense.”

The four-year veteran has played in two Super Bowls in his young career and earned a ring following his rookie season with a win in Super Bowl XXXIX, a game in which he made 11 solo tackles. He has recorded 83 career tackles and five interceptions, along with 14 pass defenses, forced a fumble and recovered three, returning two of the fumbles for touchdowns.

Gay enjoyed the best statistical year of his career in 2007, intercepting three passes and knocking down seven others, to go along with 33 tackles. He also forced a fumble and scooped up the loose ball to return it 15 yards for a touchdown. Playing in three additional postseason contests, Gay tallied eight tackles, two pass defenses and a forced fumble. The 25-year old cornerback played in all 19 games for New England after seeing his 2005 and 2006 seasons cut short by ankle and hamstring injuries, respectively.

A champion on the collegiate and pro levels, Gay was part of the 2003 BCS National Championship team at LSU and completed his career in Baton Rouge with 123 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and 28 pass defenses in 42 games.