Reggie who? Saints reportedly sign Darren Sproles
Well, that didn’t take long.
On the same day that the New Orleans Saints traded former top pick and electric running back Reggie Bush to the Miami Dolphins, the team replaced him on the roster with a nearly equally exciting player.
Late Thursday, the buzz around the NFL and Twitter was that the Saints had come to terms with running back Darren Sproles, formerly of the San Diego Chargers. He chose to sign with the Saints over the Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.
According to sources, Sproles signed a four-year deal with the team worth $14 million, with $6 million of the deal guaranteed.
After losing Bush, the Saints were missing a true kickoff and punt return threat, as well as a third-down back and short-yardage receiver. With Sproles, they picked up almost exactly what they traded earlier in the day. If anything, Sproles does a more consistent job in the offensive weapon role that Bush occupied with the Saints in the past.
The offseason has only been going on for a few days, but with the moves the Saints have made, it’s clear they’re not content with being one-year-wonders as Super Bowl champions.
Despite ‘bust’ label, Reggie Bush helped save football in New Orleans
Before he even walked across the stage at the Radio City Music Hall, USC tailback and Heisman winner Reggie Bush was being compared as a hybrid of Walter Payton and Barry Sanders, a “can’t miss” prospect who was destined for stardom.
Fast forward five offseasons and after the former No. 2 overall pick was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a backup safety and undisclosed draft pick, the term ‘bust’ has been used to describe him. Be it his injury history, his inconsistency running between the tackles or the limited impact he has made on the field, he hasn’t come within lightyears reaching the potential that was set for him before he even came into the league.
With all that being said, Bush played an integral role in helping the Saints reach two NFC championship games and win a Super Bowl. His “wild card” presence on-the-field also helped quarterback Drew Brees elevate the Saints offense to one of the best in the league’s history.
So in this offseason, since he is no longer a member of the black and gold, it’s important to realize the impact he has had on the Saints during his short career in New Orleans. He can actually take credit for helping the Saints stay in the Big Easy.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it took a prolonged period of time for the NFL to finally announce that the Saints would be returning to New Orleans. When they did, many fans ordered season tickets to support the team, but there was not a lot of excitement surrounding the team. It was hard for a hurricane-ravaged city to get excited for a team that finished 3-13 the previous season and had just signed a quarterback with a bum throwing arm.
Then, Bush fell to the Saints. The Texans took Mario Williams (wisely in hindsight, I may add) and the electrifying running back from Southern California came to the Saints.
Immediately after Bush was signed, the Saints season ticket sale went through the roof, and the excitement for the team’s return reached epic levels. A perusal of YouTube shows an almost panicked reaction from Saints fans at draft parties after the Bush selection was announced.
That excitement has carried the Saints to unthought of heights: a Super Bowl win and being considered one of the best offenses in NFL history. So the next time a ‘Bush is a bust’ conversation breaks out, one can think of how he didn’t reach the levels of hype that were projected for him, or then can think of how he rejuvenated a fan base and helped lead the Saints to NFL glory.
This post previously ran on Saints Post several weeks ago. It was ran again due to the trade of Reggie Bush.
New Orleans Saints acquire safety in Bush trade
Overnight Wednesday, the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins put the trade together the sent former No. 2 overall draft pick Reggie Bush to Miami, where he signed a renegotiated deal with the team.
No one outside of both teams’ front offices knows all the details in the trade, but it has been confirmed that the Saints received a player in the deal.
Jonathon Amaya, a backup safety and special team standout, was acquired by the Saints in the deal with Bush. The teams also exchanged undisclosed draft picks, which will likely be dependent on Bush’s production in 2011 with Miami. Amaya was called the Dolphins’ most valuable special teams player by their head coach Tony Sparano.
While the Amaya acquisition won’t make headlines anywhere, it is an interesting move for the Saints, who are trying to shore up their special teams after a dreadful season of coverage in 2010. The team used the later rounds of the draft to target players who were versatile on special teams, and Amaya’a acquisition only furthers that notion.
It could also mean a competition for players like Chris Reis, Pierson Prioleau and Amaya who are gunning for roles on the team as special teams specialists. Prioleau was special teams captain last year, and the special teams role will be another interesting battle to watch for in training camp.
Saints have productive day, resign Bushrod, Shanle, others
While the trade of Reggie Bush to the Miami Dolphins will get the headlines on Thursday, the New Orleans Saints had a very productive day Thursday with resigning their own free agents during the NFL’s free agency frenzy.
After getting the good news about wide receiver Lance Moore resigning yesterday, the Saints also received a commitment from left tackle Jermon Bushrod, who agreed to a two-year deal with the team. Several other teams, most notable the Bengals, Bears and Vikings, showed interest in Bushrod’s services, and his resigning will help ensure that the Saints offensive line is shored up for the 2011 season.
Additionally, the Saints head coach Sean Payton announced during a press conference late Thursday that the team had resigned Scott Shanle, Leigh Torrence, Chris Reis and Jo-Lonn Dunbar to contracts. There are no true “big names” in that group, but they will all compete for roster spots as starters and reserves for the 2011 season.
The other big names missing from the being resigned list are obviously safety Roman Harper and tight end David Thomas, who the Saints would both like to lock up but are weighing their options across the league.
However, even with their futures still unknown, Thursday was a solid day for the Saints in free agency.
New Orleans Saints’ free agents drawing interest across the league
While the New Orleans Saints got off to a good start with the free agents by reportedly signing wide receiver Lance Moore to a five-year contract, a lot more work has to be done to recoup their 28 remaining unrestricted free agents that could soon find homes in other cities.
As the free agency signing period gets closer and closer, whispers of team interest in certain players is becoming apparent throughout the league.
For starters, the latest rumor is that the Chicago Bears have shown a strong interest in signing left tackle Jermon Bushrod, arguably the most valuable free agent the team needs to resign. While the Bears are the only team that has been definitively linked to having interest in Bushrod, he would certainly have interest across the league, as solid starting left tackles are hard to come by.
Additionally, Saints safety Usama Young is reportedly being shown significant interest by the Cleveland Browns, a team from Young’s home state. It’s unclear how valuable his return is to the Saints, but during his tenure in New Orleans, he has provided quality depth. Defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson, who played well when healthy, has had interest shown to him by the Seattle Seahawks and may be in the process of a visit to Washington.
Scott Shanle, the team’s outside linebacker who may not get a lucrative offer from the Saints, has had interest shown in him by the St. Louis Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Obviously there is time for the situation to play out, and it will be interesting to see what comes from the rumors and who will be a Saint in 2011.
