The coaches, GM and players are all saying the right things, but is this the year the Saints defense can just play complimentary football?
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“There are certain areas we’re paying attention to, but I don’t know if we would sit down and list specifically (areas of concern)”, Saints coach Sean Payton said during a pre-camp news conference. “Plus, he wouldn’t stop texting me”. He also sent Payton training videos.
Nicks’ hunt for a roster spot with the Saints began Friday, when the team signed the veteran to bolster its receiver corp. He participated, in a limited capacity, in New Orleans’ second training camp practice at The Greenbrier.
McCown said, “He’s got a nose for the ball”.
A first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2009, Nicks eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in 2010 and 2011 and helped the Giants win the Super Bowl in 2011. He started 2015 with the Tennessee Titans, but didn’t play last season until rejoining the Giants, playing six games with just seven catches for 54 yards. “That’s the one element that I’m sure will take care of itself”. It’s a legit question to ask since we’ve gone almost an entire year talking about the contract extension that hasn’t happened yet.
Which means that Condon and Loomis need to get on the same page as to what Brees would be worth on the open market in order to get on the same page as to his value moving forward. “He spent, obviously, an inordinate amount of time rehabbing and working in the training room”.
That his phone is ready to ring.
In seven National Football League seasons, Nicks has caught 356 passes for 5,081 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Now he’ll try to carve out a role on a New Orleans receiver corps led by Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, Brandon Coleman and rookie Michael Thomas.
To that group, they added some veteran free agents in middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive tackle Nick Fairley, strong safety Roman Harper and defensive end Darryl Tapp.
“I’m only 28”, he said, laughing. “But I’ve got a lot to bring to the table, my skill set brings a lot to the table”.
Said Payton: “From a leadership standpoint, there’s one element”. From an experience standpoint, guys like Cooks and Snead, those guys are smart players. Payton joked that Nicks has only texted him since March. This team was happy to get back on the practice field today, and they were out in the community yesterday helping to fix the damage done by the floods, and QB Drew Brees and head coach Sean Payton said it was a rewarding experience.
When asked if he feels like this should be easier, based on his years of service and relationship with the organization, Brees said, “Uh, I would hope so” and laughed. You kind of look to that – you might not say anything, but you kind of look to that to see how to conduct yourself throughout the building.
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Will Drew Brees’ contract situation be a distraction?
