2008 NFL Training Camp and Preseason Thread.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Saints in the NFC Championship Game? I think I'm going to pee my pants. Seriously I'm only kidding, that is what I like about this time of year. The optimism and anticipation for the upcoming season. Unless your a Chiefs fan, I just hope Croyle doesn't get carted off on a stretcher in week 1. (Or I could be wishing for it by week 4).

Thought that would get a reaction but really interested to see what Brees can do with Shockey after he made Antonio Gates a star. Once Favre goes to the Bucs (how can Gruden resist another QB?), the NFC south should be real cool to watch this year.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

What is the status of McAllister anyway? Active, PUP?

As of now, Dulymus is active, running routes. Mike McKenzie is supposedly healing up as well.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

What is the status of McAllister anyway? Active, PUP?

He took a contract shave in the spring, and he's been saying he'll be good to go, so we'll see. I still think the Saints try and add another back, Alexander sign yet?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Alexander hasn't signed. I think he'll wait til the last minute hoping for a major injury somewhere.

I can't wait for this season. I think there will be some MAJOR surprises in the standings.

[rubecube]

Apparently the Eagles got both Trevor Laws and Desean Jackson under contract today. Good news.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Broncos waive Mike Bell. Might be a good depth pick up for some team lacking in the backfield.

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=8158

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

.....after he made Antonio Gates a star...

Brees made Gates a star? Or Gates made himself a star?

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Brees made Gates a star? Or Gates made himself a star?

Darn right he did, Gates was a flyer, a bb player who Brees developed great chemistry with and continued to get him the ball, all the way to the pro bowl.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

He took a contract shave in the spring, and he's been saying he'll be good to go, so we'll see. I still think the Saints try and add another back, Alexander sign yet?

I'd rather them take a guy like LaMont Jordan than SA(Jordan hasn't signed anywhere yet has he?). I'm also really interested to see how Pierre Thomas looks in training camp. The fact the Saints did absolutely nothing(so far) this off-season to fill a potentially massive hole in the run game makes me think they like what they have in PT.

[Saint Troy]

I'd love to see them give Pierre a real good run at the starting job, the guy is a talent who is tough inside. I agree with you on Jordan, though he'll be a Deuce replacement if his knee doesn't make it through camp.

[Montana Moe]

Not everyone is happy with the Shockey trade in Big Blue land:

"People talk about how we're a better team without him, but those are the people that don't know football," wide receiver Plaxico Burress said, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. "I hear that and it's like, 'You people are crazy. You've never played a down of football in your life, so what would you even know?' The guy walks on the field and he demands a double team. Before he even straps it up and goes out to play, he's already made the team better. Him going to New Orleans, he makes them one of the best offenses in the league."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3498795

My wife is a huge Shockey fan, and was a Giants fan because of it. With Tiki and Strahan also gone, we are no longer a house divided!

The more I think about it, the more I believe the injury issue is overblown. He plays hurt, and has only missed more than two games once in his career.

[Pagal4321]

Antonio Gates career stats...
2005 - 89 receptions, 1101 yards, 10 TDs (w/ Brees)
2006 - 71 receptions, 924 yards, 9 TDs (w/ Rivers)
2007 - 75 receptions, 984 yards, 9 TDs (w/ Rivers and a new coordinator)

While I see a slight drop off after Brees left, I find it hard to say that Brees MADE Gates....I think that statement is just ridiciulous actually...

[burn_baby_burn]

Its like saying Elvis Grbac made Tony Gonzalez.

[burn_baby_burn]

Sounds like the Bears and Urlacher have come to an agreement on a new contract. Just in time for camp too.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3499320

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Antonio Gates career stats...
2005 - 89 receptions, 1101 yards, 10 TDs (w/ Brees)
2006 - 71 receptions, 924 yards, 9 TDs (w/ Rivers)
2007 - 75 receptions, 984 yards, 9 TDs (w/ Rivers and a new coordinator)

While I see a slight drop off after Brees left, I find it hard to say that Brees MADE Gates....I think that statement is just ridiciulous actually...

I'm not saying Gates is not a talent, but he was an undrafted free agent whom Drew Brees gained a ton of confidence in, threw him the ball a ton, and got him into the pro bowl. Not a knock on Gates but, it was all about the qb getting him the ball, like it is for most star receivers.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

The more I think about it, the more I believe the injury issue is overblown. He plays hurt, and has only missed more than two games once in his career.

Agreed. 4 Pro Bowls in 6 years, and ya he can be injury prone from time to time.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

I'm not saying Gates is not a talent, but he was an undrafted free agent whom Drew Brees gained a ton of confidence in, threw him the ball a ton, and got him into the pro bowl. Not a knock on Gates but, it was all about the qb getting him the ball, like it is for most star receivers.

Or the other side of the coin is Brees was a first round bust who saw his replacement drafted and didn't do anything until Gates arrived on the scene. Gates has never had an "off" year no matter who has thrown him the ball.

I think both players are great, and to think that one "made" the other is hogwash.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

The more I think about it, the more I believe the injury issue is overblown. He plays hurt, and has only missed more than two games once in his career.

The guy wears down over the season to the point where he's not very effective at the end of season/playoffs. Go check his game logs from the last few seasons. He's usually pretty good up until about week 13 or 14 and then ends the season with a whimper.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The guy wears down over the season to the point where he's not very effective at the end of season/playoffs. Go check his game logs from the last few seasons. He's usually pretty good up until about week 13 or 14 and then ends the season with a whimper.

Hey, that's cool. The Saints could have the division locked up by week 14. That would give him plenty of time to rest for the playoffs.

I would consider him an upgrade from Eric Johnson, Mark Campbell, and Billy Miller. The Saints offense may just go from very good to great, depending on the RB situation.

I'm more concerned about them being able to stop people from scoring.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Hey, that's cool. The Saints could have the division locked up by week 14. That would give him plenty of time to rest for the playoffs.

I would consider him an upgrade from Eric Johnson, Mark Campbell, and Billy Miller. The Saints offense may just go from very good to great, depending on the RB situation.

I'm more concerned about them being able to stop people from scoring.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great pick up from the Saints POV and I'm happy he's out of the NFC East. I just don't think he's the type of player to get a team over the hump in the playoffs.