McCray & Gay signings (1 Viewer)

[DahnVill]

While I'm all for adding players to our defense, I'm not sure I get why we're gonna pay these guys as much as we apparently are.

I don't know much about McCray, but you don't pay someone that much unless you plan on playing him a lot. So what does this mean for Grant & Smith? Will they let Smith walk after this season, or will they move Grant inside to DT (or will they do something else?)

Also, IMO Gay isn't really NFL starter quality and I don't know that he'll be that much of an upgrade over Jason David - he certainly won't be able to take over from McKenzie if he's unable to return after his injury.

I don't want to sound like I'm getting down on the FO as I'm really pleased with the Vilma deal, but it almost seems like we're trying to fill needs with backups rather than starter quality players, so I just hope we have a good draft otherwise it could be another season of underachievement on the horizon.

 

[longtime lurker]

Darren, I think both of these guys are going to see alot of time on the field. McCray can get after the QB and that was something really missing from the team last year. I think we are going to see Gibbs find ways to get McCray, Smith & Grant on the field at the same time....the Giants did this last season and rode it all the way to the SB.

Gay is going to get plenty of playing time and will probably start the season at CB.....he looked ok in NE and right now ok is better than the Saints had last year.

 

[St. Geezy]

Gay will compete with Jason David for the starting spot with the loser of the competition being the nickle back in my opinion. McKenzie or our first round pick (IMO) will be the starter on the other side (the variable being if McKenzie will be back in time).

McCray will play a ton. He is a pass rush specialist who had double digit sacks in 2006. I also expect Charles Grant to be used as a 3-tech defensive tackle pretty often this season, moreso on passing downs. I think we'll copy the Giants pass rush techniques by getting as many ends on the field as possible in certain situations.

 

[Nevimeister]

it almost seems like we're trying to fill needs with backups rather than starter quality players

That is essentially the Saints attitude to free agency

 

[DaveParks1]

Usama Young will be in the mix to start or start as the nickel back....

 

[Brock Meaux]

Also, I think people's definition of "a lot" has to change in regards to pay. Just two years ago, $4 million a year was reserved for stars, but the salary cap has jumped exponentially, and as a result, so is the amount that players get paid - both mediocre and star alike. $4 million a year for either of these guys like $1-2 million a few years ago. Think of it as inflation. It's part of why I'm not afraid to give one star defensive player a monster contract. At the rate the salary cap's going, he'll be making league average in a couple years and it won't be such a burden on the cap.

 

[4saintspirit]

McCray started on tyhe Jags and their defense is pretty good -- so I am happy with that move -- and besides shelling out big bucks for Samuels we got a quality CB -- not a great one but definitely an upgrade over our current guys

 

[catch22]

That is essentially the Saints attitude to free agency

You guys are such downers. Those signings are very good. There wasn't much out there to begin with. Sammuel wanted way too much player and in reality was probably a product of the system. I love what the FO is doing. Look for us to draft Ellis or Dorsey 1st round and go corner in the second. Good job Payton and Loomis.

 

[Hawkeye Saint]

Darren, I think both of these guys are going to see alot of time on the field. McCray can get after the QB and that was something really missing from the team last year. I think we are going to see Gibbs find ways to get McCray, Smith & Grant on the field at the same time....the Giants did this last season and rode it all the way to the SB.

+1 Remember the way Zook used Charlie Clemons as a 3rd pass rusher? I could see all 3 turned loose with positive results.

 

[chrisandersen]

Keep signing defensive guys (period)

 

[Conrad]

Gay and Jason David might look a lot better if on 3rd downs our DL looks like Smith, Young, Grant, McCray and is actually getting some serious pressure. Gay is not an elite CB but he can start if we are getting pressure on the QB.

 

[Randy Jones]

While I'm all for adding players to our defense, I'm not sure I get why we're gonna pay these guys as much as we apparently are.

I don't know much about McCray, but you don't pay someone that much unless you plan on playing him a lot. So what does this mean for Grant & Smith? Will they let Smith walk after this season, or will they move Grant inside to DT (or will they do something else?)

Also, IMO Gay isn't really NFL starter quality and I don't know that he'll be that much of an upgrade over Jason David - he certainly won't be able to take over from McKenzie if he's unable to return after his injury.

I don't want to sound like I'm getting down on the FO as I'm really pleased with the Vilma deal, but it almost seems like we're trying to fill needs with backups rather than starter quality players, so I just hope we have a good draft otherwise it could be another season of underachievement on the horizon.

You know it is one thing to question the choice of the free agent, but it is totally another to question how much they are paid. What source of knowledge are you using to make such a judgement? The folks that negotiate these contracts are professionals and most likely know what they are doing. I would put some faith and trust into our front office that in this end of the business particularly they know what they are doing. I would say that the only person who has a right to question the amount of the FA contract is Benson.

 

[tj]

great signings both were productive starters. Our high dollar ends sucked last season. Maybe they were on the feild too long. Gay is a definite upgrade. I like what the saints are doing so far......C'mon Draft day!!!!

 

[Great Dane]

The FA this off season has been to a B+. Vilma, Gay & McCray is an upgrade. Importantly they have at least 6 years left in the tank. A very smooth rescheduling off our defense. I like the signings and the fit they have with our team

 

[bergeaux]

As others have said, the amount you have to pay people has changed. I am fine with the approach our front office has taken so far. Let's be honest, signing any UFA is a gamble. Look at what happened from last year. The best signings in FA last year were on the Giants and Patriots squad and they weren't big dollars. Now let's be straight, the Pats have an advantage as they can pay stars low dollars because people want to win and make a run for the hall of fame, so it's not fair, but it's true. The biggest disappointments were the blockbuster deals.

Nate Clement?
Cato June?
Nick Harper?
Joey Porter?

Do you consider those the best signings last year? Those were the names that were big on defense. The most successful defensive "mega-deal" was Patrick Kerney. But that's one out of how many that actually worked? The only one that I wish we would have gotten was London Fletcher and I'm not sure if he even gave us a chance anyway. I like the approach of signing a bunch of non-cap busting guys and saving the money to keep OUR good players and concentrating on drafting more good players. Last year was not a good draft for us in terms of who ended up on the field in 2007. Let's hope that some of those guys end up on the field in 2008 and even more of our draft class of this year end up on the field in 2008.

Oh and BTW, I look at the McCray signing like the Fletcher signing last year. It's s steal. McCray is NOT a backup. He's a dang good starter and we got him for what? 4 mil a year? that's backup/barely starter money in today's FA. He probably should have gotten 6-7 mil at least. Look at what Justin Smith got (6 yr @ 7.5 mil/yr) and I consider McCray a BETTER signing than Smith.