My Mom's gettin married on the 26th at 2:00.  WTF, and she's even a pretty big football fan. (she's got season tickets to the Texans but she still loves the Saints). Anyway, i'm gone after the ceremony. Unless, i can talk her into having a T.V. at the reception. When does the draft start? Isn't it at 2.

By the way, take the advice Shade IMO and stay outta the dog house. Use the brownie points later. 

Nah, the doghouse only lasts 2 or 3 days, worth it to watch the draft in my opinion.

OMG I can't believe no one has said this yet:

Our biggest 'X-Factor' next year is going to be whether or not Deuce can return to playing at his full potential and play injury free.  While Pierre Thomas can has shown the potential to be the downfield runner that we need to complement Reggie no one can deny that if Deuce comes back to form he is by far (at least for now) the superior runner.

If he can do what he did two years ago and our defense steps up as it should (as of our free agent acquisitions and hopeful draft picks) we will have a far superior team than the one that challenged for the NFC crown. 

Deuce is the key people until I see Thomas posting consistently good numbers.  (One game doesn't a player make.)

X factors? Too many too count. 

I don't know about Deuce, he could come back from two torn ligaments in two knees and patch together a remarkable season.  Or he could only be useful in a relief roll, I don't know. 

Robert Meachem... is he just too dumb to get the play book?  How long does it take to get in shape?  He could be Moss-like in his ability to stretch a field and open things up for the TE or the slot, but that also remains to be seen. 

Reggie... no more free-flow-do, so maybe if he focuses on football in the offseason he'll play better next year. The 10 lbs. he was planning to add on couldn't hurt.  I hope he's developed the patience to really get this game.

The secondary... we've got Gay, but David, Young, Harper, and Bullocks all have to improve their game from last season. Not Roman so much, but everyone can improve.

So... lots of unknowns.  No sure answers as of yet, short of DRC, Ellis, or Dorsey.

The reason DEUCE hasn't been brought up is because he's a GIVEN! 

Bygkev will love this.....  but--

DEUCE will not miss a beat watch and see!!!

 

McAllister, who was due a $1 million roster bonus by April 15, worked out the deal that cleared the way for him to remain on the roster. McAllister is traveling out of the country and was not available for comment.

Yeah, I do believe that Duece will do some things for us next year. He has been rehabbing for quite some time now and I think he is going to be more prepare than a lot of people think. It will be interesting to see how things go though. I guess we will start to get a better picture of things when OTA's and training camp rolls around.

I tell you 2 things I am really looking foward too. One is I want to see our new LB corp in action. I can't wait to see what Vilma is going to bring to the table for us, and I want to see if Dan Morgan is going to be able to hold it down for us this year. Next up I want to see how coach o is going to whip the Dline back into shape. Man I am really looking foward to see what kind of progress he is going to have with those guys. I thought that Marion Hobdy did a really good job with what he had, but it seems that Coach O might be a better motivator and I hope that translate really well on the field for our front 7. He has some tools to work with now so we will get a chance to see what Gary Gibbs can do with some fine position coaching.

I would love to see Duece come back and be the main man again, but if he cannot there are other solid options in the running game (imo).  Like most people, I am far more concerned with the defense, but the off-season additions and hopefully the draft will put that concern to rest (at least somewhat).  I have no problem winning games with a stout offense, but in the crappy weather games (i.e. December in Chicago) we are going to need some defense too. 

Lastly, with away games in Denver, Kansas City and Chicago this year, it would be a sin not to get in at least one game in person this year.  Being a Saints fan from the midwest can be lonely at times and I get so sick of the Bears, Chiefs and Vikings!!!  This would be the first live game since 2000 for me (21 - 10 win over the Cardinals in Phoenix).  One day I may actually get to a home game...........