Lance Briggs - Now Visiting Tampa [M E R G E D]

I can somewhat understand not overpaying for Samuel although he would have been a nice pickup. There are rumors that his deal is going to be worth as much as $13.5 per season although we know that's probably not real money. But if Briggs goes to Tampa, I am going to be VERY upset. You don't break the bank but you have to show that you are serious about contending. Of course, I am MINDFUL that free agency is far from over and has just begun. There is a lot that the Saints can do prior to the draft. But if we think that adding Vilma is enough, to me, that would be a huge mistake. Adding Briggs would solidify our linebacking corp and make that a strength on a defense that has been ineffective. The move would also justify the signing of Randall Gay who is a better fit for a zone scheme. If Shanle remains at WLB, we are not going to be able to run as much zone as we would like as he does not have the speed and range for that. Of course, we could run zone and just allow him to be a liability. Signing Briggs also would mean that our safeties do not have to constantly play in the box and could play over-the-top coverage. But if we allow Briggs to get away and sign either Gay (who's a steady but not spectacular player) or, even worse, Jaques Reeves, this is the same ole story being retold. And we all know how that story has ended for us.

This is not a doom and gloom post. I am optimistic that the Saints will make the right moves. Maybe I am prisoner of hope. I also recognize that you cannot sign everyone and just because you're interested in a player does not mean that the player is interested in you. But you cannot suggest that you are going to add an impact player and only add Vilma, who's great when healthy but, otherwise, is coming a major injury and remains a question mark. I think the Saints have done their homework on him and he should be fine. It's a low risk/high reward trade since we traded a conditional 3rd or 4th for him in 2009. But he cannot be the end-all of impact players we plan to bring in prior to the draft, especially if the reports of us wanting to send a #2 to the Giants for Shockey are true.