Kaspers Korner

The New Orleans Saints currently is the team to beat as they are just good on every area.

However, there is one thing that can derail the Saints and that is injuries.

Right now the Saints have been lucky in thos area as they have not suffered any season ending injuries to starters.

However, as the season goes on sooner or later that will happen.

The key for the Saints is that it happens to only one or two players.

In the end if the Saints have a rash of injuries then they can forget abpout the Superbowl.

The New Orleans Saints Sunday beat the snot out of the New York Giants improving to 5-0 on the year.

The question now is can anyone stop them?

The Saints faced their toughest defensive opponent yet and they still put up 48 points.

Not only is the offense looking good the defense held the Giants to 17 points before Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning was replaced for the rest of the game by backup David Carr.

Right now the Saints are looking like the New England Patriots from 2007.

In the end the way they are playing, ans if they stay healthy, the Saints could go undefeated.

The New Orleans Saints have had an outstanding passing game since they signed quarterback Drew Brees in free agency.

With the running game and defense looking good 2009 is starting to look like the year that the Saints make it to the Superbowl.

Last week the Buffalo Bills held Brees in check, but countered that with their running game as they made enough plays to stay on the field and eventually wear out the defense.

The more important aspect to come out of last weeks game for the Saints was the fact that their defense is starting to take form as they held the Bills to 243 yards of total offense.

Now, with the offense and defense taking both taking for the Saints ar now a Superbowl contender.

In the end the only thing they need to worry about to the end of the season is injuries.

The end of the StarCaps saga has finally came to a close as the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has made its ruling reaffirming Judge Paul Magnuson’s decision.

Thus the National Football League has learned in court that when they draw up their next Collective Bargaining Agreement they are going to have to take into account all national and state laws.

Magnuson earlier in the year that Minnesota Vikings Kevin and Pat Williams may play while they sue the National Football League over their suspensions in Minnesota State Court as the state of Minnesota provides extra protection against drug test.

In Minnesota laws regulate how and when employers can test for drugs and alcohol.

Most likely the Williams wall will win their case in Minnesota State court, but if they do not win their case they will not be suspended until 2010.

Magnuson’s decision also covered New Orleans Saints Charles Grant and Will Smith as they were codefendants with the Williams Wall.

Unlike Minnesota the State of Louisiana doesn’t have and state laws that protect employees, so Grant and Smith will have to start serving their suspension as of next week as it is too late for week one to do so.

There has been some reports that the NFL will allow the two to consecutively serve their suspensions, so that they have at least one of them.

The one question I have is will their bye week count as a game served?

It should not, but you never know.

This is good news for the Buffalo Bills as there has been a couple of changes as of late, which include their left tackle as they cut Langston Walker who was replaced by Demetrius Bell.

In the end finally one of the most weirdest cases in NFL history is finally over.

The New Orleans Saints drafted running back Reggie Bush with the hopes that he be the franchise all around running back that they have been looking for.

Simply, it is time for the Saints to cut ties with Bush.

One of the knock on Bush coming out of college was that, because of his size he will not be able to endure a full season for the past two years.

Then already this year he is hurt again as he suffered a calf injury in a morning practice on Thursday.

The sad part is that it is not even the regular season yet.

So, why would the Saint cut Bush after this year?

Bush’s salary cap numbers for 2010 is eight million and for 2011 is $11.8 million, and that is not including incentives.

If Bush salary was lower he would be well worth keeping as he is tremendously talented and is a weapon in the passing game.

The only way Bush will remain a Saint after this year is if he takes a salary cut or he proves everybody wrong by having a tremendous.

In the end it is boom or bust for Bush.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sen Payton led the Saints to the NFC Championship game in 2006, but since then they have not come close as they haven’t even made the playoffs.

The Saints offense was led by their passing game as it was ranked first in the league 2008 and have been no lower than third since 2006, which has been led by quarterback Drew Brees.

However, their running game is not even existent as it was ranked 28th last year.

The main problem is Reggie Bush as he was taken second overall in the 2006 National Football League Draft, but has been nothing but a mere toy.

The defense is also talented, but for some reason or another has just not lived up to its billing.

Last year the defense was hit by injuries that caused several key players to miss most of the season.

To make matters worst this upcoming season the Saints will be without defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith for a failed drug test.

The two foolishly sued the NFL, because the they felt that the league did not do enough to inform them that a supplement that they were taking had a banned substance in it.

The case was resolved as it was dissmissed by the court as players are ultimately responsible for what goes into their body, which means if you want to lose weight eat right and work out.

In the end the lack of a solid running game and the loss of Smith and Grant for the beginning of the season are almost impossible to overcome, which means Payton most likely is a goner.

The New Orleans Saints defense was the reason why that they did not make the playoffs.  In due time they will be a force to reckon with.

Saints general manager Mikey Loomis did a dramatic make over of the defense, which started with the hiring of Gregg Williams as defensive coordiantor.

Everywhere Williams has gone that he has been with a team for an extended period of time has turn the defense into one of the best in the league.  That included his defense when he was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, which turned out to be a disaster due to other things.

The thing is that Loomis and fans maybe expecting dramatic results overnite.  That is not going to happen, especially with the news that came out today.

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Magnuson rejected most of the claims made by Minnesota Vikings Pat and Kevin Williams.  Also, Magnuson dismissed the lawsuit brough up by the NFL players union on behalf of both Williams, free agent running back Duece MacAllister, New Orleans Saints Charles Grant, and Will Smith.

That means Grant and Smith will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season.  Even for a coach as good as Williams losing both your starting defensive ends is crippling.

Loomis in free agency signed safety Darren Sharper, defensive end Paul Spicer, and cornerback Jabari Greer.  Also, they drafted cornerback Malcom Jenkins in the first round.

The problem is that people are banking on Sharper and Spicer to improve the defense, but both men are 33 years old, and are in the twighlight of their career.

The fact of the matter is that it takes time to time make a defense one of the best in the league.

Williams will improve the Saints defense this year, but not as much as people expect.  However, if he is given more than one year the Saints will be a force to reckon with since the offense is already one of the best in the league.

Running back Ladanian Tomlinson is contemplating an offer from San Deigo Chargers management that will determine his future with the team.  If Tomlinson rejects the offer the New Orleans Saints need to steer clear of Tomlinson.

The Chargers have asked Tomlinson to take a paycut.  The reason being that they think his best days are behind him.

However, there is a problem in a former teammate.   Former Charger quarterback Drew Brees has admitted that he has talked to Tomlinson about his situation.

Brees admitted in an interview with XX 1090 AM in San Diego that he believes that Tomlinson should not take a pay cut.  Also, that the lack of production last year was due to being injured most of the year.

Brees admitted that he is waiting for opportunity that if he becomes a free agent to snatch he.  Then in a follow up question he admitted that he has shared those sentiments with Tomlinson.

Clearly Brees has advised Tomlinson not to take a pay cut.  That is a clear violation of tampering rules.

The Saint would be wise to steer clear of Tomlinson if he does reject the Chargers offer.

Chargers general manager AJ Smith is not one to be messed with.  If the Saints sign Tomlinson it is almost assured that Smith would file tampering charges against the Saints.

The Saints cannot afford to lose anymore draft picks.  The reason being that they had to give the New York Giants their second round draft pick in the Jeremy Shockey trade.

In the last tampering charges case the San Francisco 49ers only lost a fifth round draft pick.  It was not higher, because the Bears were able to resign linebacker Lance Briggs that the 49ers tampered with.

If the Chargers were to lose Tomlinson, then the penalty the Saints will most likely be much higher.

Josh Bullocks S unrestricted

Mark Campbell TE unrestricted

Troy Evans LB unrestricted resigned with team two year deal
Jahri Evans G restricted

Aaron Glenn CB unrestricted

Martin Gramatica PK unresticted

Joey Harrington QB unrestricted

Devery Henderson WR unrestricted resigned with team four years
Antwan Lake DT unrestricted

Matt Lehr G unrestricted

Lance Moore WR restricted

Courtney Roby WR restricted

Montavious Stanley DT restricted

Aaron Stecker RB unrestricted

Jon Stinchcomb OT unrestricted resigned with team five year deal
Zach Strief OT restricted

Leigh Torrence DB restricted

Jonathan Vilma LB unrestricted resigned five years $34 million, $17 million guaranteed

The New Orleans Saints had a dissapointing season in missing the season, after they made some moves in the offseason.  With the hiring of Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator the Saint should be in the playoffs next year.

Even as head coach of the Buffalo Bills Williams had one of the best defensive units in the league.  Now, Williams takes over a unit that is loaded with talent, but has under acheived.

The Saints have a lot of talent on defense, especially on the defensive line.  The only problem the Saint have had is keeping them all healthy.

The Saints problem unit is defintely the defense, since the offense was ranked first last year.  That is mostly due to the performance of quarterback Drew Brees who averaged 311 yards passing per a game last year.

The defense ranked 23rd in the league, and was mostly dragged down by it passing defense.  The Saint passing defense was ranked 23rd, while the rushing defense was ranked 17th.

Part of the low ranking was due to the fact that starting defensive end Charles Grant, and cornerback Mike McKenzie, missed half the season each with injuries.

With the signing of Williams the defense instantly becomes better, beacause of his aggressive blitzing defense. 

Also, the Saints have the 14th pick in the 2009 draft, and most likely that pick will address the defense.  If it is not then the pick will most likely be a wide receiver, or running back.

People should watch out next year, because the Saints will take some people by surprise how good they will be.