Saints Trade Rumors

"The Saints completed their visit with free-agent tailback Shaun Alexander on Wednesday, but he returned home to Seattle without a contract offer. It's unclear how serious the interest is from either side. Alexander, who was released by the Seahawks last month, has just started to test the market. He visited Cincinnati on Sunday and Monday before flying to New Orleans. Alexander's agent, Jim Steiner, said the former league MVP and three-time Pro Bowl player has not set a timetable for choosing a team. "

" Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry on Wednesday became the latest troubled player to seek refuge with the Dallas Cowboys. Henry is awaiting trial for misdemeanor charges of assault and a ruling from the NFL on whether he will be able to play in 2008. On Tuesday, an Ohio judge ruled Henry be released from electronic monitoring and house arrest to travel for tryouts. No visits have been scheduled, but Henry told ESPN.com the Cowboys and New Orleans top his list of teams. "

"The Saints will bring in free-agent tailback Shaun Alexander for a visit this week, a sign that they're still in the market for some insurance in case Deuce McAllister is unable to return to form. Alexander, 30, was released by the Seattle Seahawks last month after two disappointing, injury-plagued seasons. The former league MVP and three-time Pro Bowl player was scheduled to make his first free-agent visit with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday. "

"Bengals coaches and executives wrapped up a two-day visit Monday with former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander. Alexander, a Boone County High School graduate from Florence, is scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, Alexander's agent Jim Steiner said. Alexander was released April 22 after eight seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. "I have talked to Shaun," Steiner said Monday afternoon. "I have not talked to (the Bengals). We don't even know if the Bengals are interested." Alexander grew up a Bengals fan."

"As it turned out, the Saints didn't do anything shocking on draft day. Despite numerous reports the past few months that the Saints were interested in trading for New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, the deal didn't happen. And chances are, it won't. "

"Jeremy Shockey is not a saint. Well, no kidding. The talented but controversial tight end has a better chance of being Cantonized than canonized. But the big news today is that he's not a Saint with a capital S, as in a member of the team from New Orleans that was trying to pry him away from the Giants for several weeks."

"The Giants wanted a second-round pick and then some. The Saints weren't willing to go that high. A league source familiar with the Giants' situation described the Saints' pursuit of Shockey as "not very hard." In the end, Reese stood pat because the value just wasn't there."

"But until the last name is called, the uncertainty will continue, exacerbated by last-minute reports like the one that surfaced late Thursday night that the Saints were offering starting left offensive tackle Jammal Brown to the St. Louis Rams as part of a package to move up to the No. 2 spot in the draft. New Orleans then could select LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey... The Saints could also pull off a draft-day deal to acquire disgruntled New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey, who reportedly has told the Giants he is no longer interested in playing there."

"Former Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton has made no secret of his desire to be reunited with Jeremy Shockey. The only question now is this: How much is the reunion worth to him?"

" To that end, this draft for the Giants is mostly about adding depth and deciding what becomes of tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Giants have not actively shopped him, but there's no doubt interest is coming at them, mostly from the Saints and New Orleans coach Sean Payton, the Giants' former offensive coordinator who covets his former player, and that the Giants would deal Shockey for the right price. "

"There is "a good chance" that Jeremy Shockey will be part of a trade that ends his tenure with the Giants on Saturday, according to a league source familiar with the team's situation. The Saints remain the most likely suitor for the tight end in a draft-day deal, with growing interest from the Falcons among others."

"Could the Eagles trade down from 19, draft Phillips at the end of the first or high in the second, and pick up an extra draft pick, as they did last year? (The third-rounder they got from Dallas ended up being Stewart Bradley, penciled in as this year's starting middle linebacker.) Sure, they could, but they enter draft weekend with 11 picks and more expected, assuming they finally consummate a Lito Sheppard trade."

"Cornerback Lito Sheppard, barring some unforeseen development, will become a member of another team, and we'll all get to see what he brings in return. Early yesterday evening, it was the New Orleans Saints' second-round pick that qualified as the best offer on the table. A league source said five teams had made offers for Sheppard. The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were among those teams, and the source said the Eagles were still hopeful when they went to bed last night that some team would improve its offer today."

" The New Orleans Saints are trying hard to move up in Saturday's draft for a shot to draft defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of LSU, and one of the pieces they are shopping in a trade is left tackle Jammal Brown, according to a league source... To get to Dorsey, the Saints would likely have to work out a deal with the St. Louis Rams to get the second pick. The Rams also like Dorsey, so it might be tough to pry that pick away."

"One source also indicated that other teams have expressed an interest in Shockey, although none more than the Seahawks and Saints. The source did not say who those teams were, but one possibility is the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking to replace tight end Alge Crumpler."

"Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis confirmed that the team has been exploring the idea of moving up from the No. 10 spot in this weekend's draft."

"These Jeremy Shockey-to-the-Saints rumors won't go away, especially in the wake of recent reports that Shockey wants out of New York... The Saints have not been linked to Philadelphia cornerback Lito Sheppard like they have been with Shockey. But it wouldn't be surprising to see the Saints make a run at him on or before draft day."

"No one around the Giants expects to see Shockey much or at all until the June 11-13 mandatory veteran mini-camp and his working out in Miami is no longer the source of any legitimate controversy. But whether Shockey returns for his seventh season with the Giants has been a point of conjecture ever since the Giants won the Super Bowl without him, and the Saints tried to trade for the four-time Pro Bowl tight end."

"Jeremy Shockey was nowhere to be found yesterday at Giants Stadium. Then again, it's April and Shockey doesn't usually arrive in East Rutherford until late May. But with rumors swirling for the past three months about a possible Shockey trade -- perhaps to the Saints -- the injured tight end's absence didn't do much to silence rumblings of a divide between himself and his teammates. "

"If the Eagles really have "significant" offers for cornerback Lito Sheppard, as some suggest, then why haven't they made the trade? According to a very influential league source, who also knows the Eagles, there is no way they will get a No. 1 pick for Sheppard... Cincinnati, at No. 9 and New Orleans, at No. 10, are possibilities. "

"Saints defensive end Will Smith, apparently unhappy that the team has yet to restructure his soon-to-expire contract, is not participating in the team's offseason conditioning program, Coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. Smith played for a base salary of $695,000 last season. Fellow lineman Charles Grant last year signed a seven-year contract that could eventually be worth $63 million. "

"The Saints and tailback Deuce McAllister agreed to push back his $1 million roster bonus from March 15 to April 15, giving the team a better chance to gauge his health before making any financial decisions."

"Veteran quarterback Mark Brunell has agreed in principle to a contract that will likely make him Drew Brees' primary backup, a league source said Thursday night. Brunell, a 37-year-old left-hander, has not yet signed the paperwork, but is expected to finalize the contract in the next few days, the source said. "

"The Saints confirmed Tuesday that veteran free-agent quarterback Mark Brunell spent part of the day visiting the team and speaking with Coach Sean Payton about the possibility of playing in New Orleans."

" Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan, apparently, will call New Orleans home. An Internet report Thursday night had Morgan, who was released last month by the Panthers, signing a one-year deal with the Saints. The Saints did not respond to inquiries Thursday night about Morgan's possible signing. "

"Former Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan is going to sign with NFC South rival New Orleans, a source close to the situation confirmed. Morgan had an injury-plagued career for the Panthers, including concussions, but was one of the NFL's best middle linebackers when healthy. He's expected to play outside linebacker for the Saints with Jonathan Vilma, recently obtained from the Jets, in the middle."

"The Saints also spent much of the day courting free agent cornerback Randall Gay, a Brusly native who played at LSU before spending the past four years with the New England Patriots... The Saints had a visit planned today with Tennessee Titans defensive end Travis LaBoy, but he canceled the visit after spending two days in Cleveland."

"Although it still seems to make the most sense for Moss to stay in Foxboro, the money has to work, and right now it doesn’t. The NFL.com story also noted that Moss doesn’t plan to take another discount to stay with the Pats. If Moss leaves, where might he go?"

"The Saints have a busy day of visits scheduled today: Tennessee Titans defensive end Travis LaBoy and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jacques Reeves are due in, according to their agents, and league sources said New England Patriots cornerback Randall Gay, formerly of LSU, also is due to visit."

" The Saints called and expressed interest in trading for tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Giants are not shopping Shockey and they declined to discuss any trade. Shockey is coming off surgery on his leg and ankle and could not at the moment pass a physical. The Giants have some interest in Seahawks running back/kick returner Alvin Pearman. They also could be interested in a similar player, Maurice Hicks of the 49ers, and possibly two veterans, CB Jason Webster (Bills) and DE N.D. Kalu (Texans)."

"OK, so it wasn't exactly the haul of playmakers Bucs fans were hoping for. And, yes, the Bucs did spend rather extravagantly, giving $37.5 million over six years to Jeff Faine, now the highest-paid center ever... As for those playmakers the Bucs were believed to be looking for, it seems receivers Devery Henderson and D.J. Hackett may be the biggest names currently on their radar."

"For all the talk about the Bears low-balling their free agents, 24 hours into free agency it looked like they were right on the money. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian visited Minnesota on Friday but has yet to sign a contract, an indication the Vikings were not outbidding the Bears. Berrian is scheduled to travel to Oakland today."

"Trying to find better fits in their 3-4 defensive scheme, the Jets were on the verge of trading the disgruntled Vilma to the Saints, according to NFL sources. They also were working through the night on a deal for the Panthers' Jenkins, sources said."

"That’s just what the Chiefs might do now that the free-agent market has opened. New Orleans center Jeff Faine and Seattle kicker Josh Brown could be their initial free-agent visitors, perhaps as soon as today."

"Linebacker Jonathan Vilma and nose tackle Dewayne Robertson are on the trading block; the trading period begins Friday...The Saints and Jaguars are believed to have interest... The Jets may have committed a tampering violation by expressing their interest in Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel before the start to the free-agent signing period."

"Given the Bears' contract offers to three of their own free agents — Lance Briggs, Bernard Berrian and Brendon Ayanbadejo — that would come as little surprise. As good as Alan Faneca would look at left guard penciled in next to Olin Kreutz, the bidding for Faneca could enter territory the Bears might not believe they have to enter. The same scenario could play out in the Michael Turner sweepstakes, with teams such as Carolina and New Orleans rumored to have interest."

"The Saints lost out on free-agent linebacker Zach Thomas on Saturday when he decided to sign with his home-state team, the Dallas Cowboys... Those meetings would seem to indicate that the Saints are preparing to replace middle linebacker Mark Simoneau, a pending free agent."

"Jonathan Vilma's days with the Jets are numbered. The popular linebacker, whose star has dimmed in two seasons under Eric Mangini, has received permission from the Jets to shop himself for a potential trade, the Daily News has learned... The Jaguars and Saints are believed to be among the potential suitors. "

"Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas' first stop on his free-agent tour was New England, where the AFC East rival Patriots hosted Thomas on Monday, according to a source. Thomas, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and the Dolphins' all-time leading tackler, who was released last week, is also scheduled to meet with the Saints today... There's also speculation at least four other teams (Houston, Denver, Buffalo and the Jets) have expressed interest in talking to Thomas, but he's stressed a preference to play for a contender with an established quarterback."

"The NFL Network reported Friday that Thomas plans to visit New Orleans next week and the Dallas Cowboys the following week. The Cowboys, who play a 3-4 defense, tend toward fast, athletic linebackers, but coach Wade Phillips also has a history of playing smaller linebackers in the middle."

"The Green Bay Packers have targeted Russ Ball of the New Orleans Saints to be their next contract negotiator and, barring unforeseen complications, an announcement of his hiring is expected within 48 hours."

"The lead contract negotiators for the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams are prime candidates to become the top negotiator for the Green Bay Packers."

"The New Orleans Saints worked feverishly to retain quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael Jr. on Monday, and it appears that he's leaning toward declining the Dolphins' offer to make him offensive coordinator, according to an NFL source."

"He said they've had some "preliminary discussions" with the agents for defensive end Will Smith, receiver Marques Colston and guard Jahri Evans, all of whom are heading toward free agency in 2009. And he was noncommittal about tailback Deuce McAllister's future, saying the Saints don't need to decide about the rehabbing running back until at least March, when he is due a $1 million roster bonus."

"If the Saints want to splurge on a premier defensive free agent this spring, they can probably afford to do so. The Saints are projected to be around $25 million-$30 million under the NFL's $116 million salary cap, and they already have most of their key players under contract through next year and beyond. Of course, it's not that simple. "

"Lewis refuted reports that he is a candidate for the vacant head football coaching position at the University of Michigan. He was reported to be on a short list with Saints head coach Sean Payton and two college coaches. Lewis, who spent 2002 as Washington defensive coordinator, also has been rumored as a replacement for Joe Gibbs if the Redskins go in another coaching direction."

"The teams enduring the biggest struggles all have relactively young or new coaches – New Orleans (Sean Payton), Atlanta (Bobby Petrino) and Miami (Cam Cameron). Cincinnati, Minnesota and St. Louis are woth keeping an eye on. All are underachieving. But, remember, we're only six games into the season."

" On Tuesday, Payton said, the Saints worked out veteran kickers Mike Vanderjagt, Martin Gramatica and Billy Cundiff, in addition to "three or four younger guys who are not as well known." League sources indicated they were former Giants kicker Josh Huston, former Tulane kicker Seth Marler, former Murray State kicker Shane Andrus and former Virginia Tech kicker Brandon Pace. "

"But with immediate uncertainty regarding Mare's groin injury and his erratic play, the Saints will audition at least three more kickers today. League sources indicated Mike Vanderjagt, the most accurate kicker in National Football League history and someone whom the Saints worked out in March, is among those scheduled to work, as is former Dallas and Tampa Bay kicker Martin Gramatica. The agent for former Saints kicker Billy Cundiff confirmed Cundiff's scheduled workout."

"There's a chance Thompson again could look to Denver for help. This time, it would be in the form of a much-needed healthy halfback. The Broncos have an excess of running backs, and might cut second-year pro Mike Bell or rookie Selvin Young... Another hot name is New Orleans Saints rookie Pierre Thomas, an undrafted free agent from Illinois."