Stupid Is As Stupid Has Always Done??

In a division that saw three of the four teams make significant moves in an attempt to get better this off-season, the 2007 NFC South Champion New Orleans Saints chose to have one of the stupidest drafts in their storied, stupid history. The whole draft + for Ricky Williams notwithstanding, this years draft made Saints fans scratch all over their bodies, not just their heads. The Saints only need to bolster a couple of key positions and they are primed to make another historic run through the NFC playoffs and what do they do? They choose not to address them.

Stupid #1 TE Greg Olsen from Miami fell in their lap. The only offensive need the Saints have is at tight end and Olsen would have been a perfect fit. He has size and speed and treats the position more like a WR than a TE and would have given QB Drew Brees that “go to” threat over the middle. The team signed Ernie Conwell from the St. Louis Rams after the 2002 season and he promptly went down the tubes.

Stupid #2 Drafting small school players in early rounds. I know, …there are a myriad of reasons that kids play at small colleges, but the biggest one is that they are small college talents. When the Saints selected CB Usama Young from Kent State with the 66th overall pick there were players available from big programs that are used to playing against wide outs from big programs. Marques Colston is the exception, not the rule. We don’t talk about 7th round studs every year, we talk about them every five or six years, but this notion of drafting small school players sounds like it’s becoming a draft strategy with the Saints.

Stupid #3 The New Orleans Saints, with Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush on the roster, actually traded up in the 4th round to select RB Antonio Pittman from The Ohio State University. With Deuce and Reggie being options 1 and 1A in the running game, veteran running back Aaron Stecker has been a steady back up for the past three seasons and has filled in very well when needed. The incredibly speedy Michael “the Beer Man” Lewis returns kickoffs and Reggie Bush is one of the most exciting punt returners in the game leaving Mr. Pittman no chance at being more than a glorified special teams guy and I just can’t see how a team can justify giving up a draft pick for that.

Stupid #4 All this brings me to the Saints stupidest move of all, WR Robert Meacham of Tennessee. While being fast on the outside of the field, Meacham is considered soft going over the middle and shows no desire to fight for jump balls either for first downs or in the end zone. Note to Mr. Meacham, EVERY PASS IN THE NFL IS A JUMP BALL!! Oh, and on top of that, his first impression to the Saint’s coaching staff (not to mention fans) was showing up at rookie mini-camp overweight and out of shape. When asked about his conditioning, Meacham responded with this little gem:

“I took a lot of visits with teams before the draft and every place you go they give you a big meal. For me, I tried to work out when I could but I don’t think I got enough workouts in.”

Are You Kidding Me?? You didn’t get enough workouts in?? You’re a first round draft pick in National Football League for crying out loud.

The bottom line is, …for a team, a city, and a region thirsting for any reason to believe things are getting better, this is as scary as it gets and the fans of the New Orleans Saints deserve better.