Jeremy Shockey's first season with the Saints was a relative disappointment, but he says he's prepared to work hard this offseason.
"I'm going to do a lot of work with Drew (Brees)," Shockey said. "I'm going to be here working with these guys. I haven't done that in five or six years, and I'm not saying that I didn't make the right decision in the past. Just here, I think it would benefit myself and the team a lot more than it would if I was playing, doing the one up in New York.
"So I'm going to still work out in Miami, that's the normal plan, but really show my face and come around here a lot more than I've ever done in my whole career."
RealGM Note: Despite missing four weeks due to injury, Shockey was ranked 18th amongst tight ends in season FIC and had a +0% Reina Value. He didn't score a touchdown for the first time in his career, and his 9.7 yards per catch was his second worst output.
April 2008 - New Orleans Saints Wiretap
Shockey: I'm Going To Work With Brees In The Off-Season
Saints To Show Interest In Raiders' Asomugha
The Saints are expected to show interest in Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha if he becomes available.
New Orleans is in dire need of help in the secondary, and he is considered among the best in the league at his position.
Deuce Playing Final Game With Saints?
It's possible that veteran running back Deuce McAllister could play his final game with the Saints on Sunday against the Panthers.
"The way the people in this city love him, you hear it every Sunday," quarterback Drew Brees said. "They're chanting, 'Deuce,' and I've got to tell them to 'Shhhh, be quiet,' so the guys can hear me give the snap count down in the red zone."
McAllister is the Saints' all-time rusher.
"All I can do is go out and play and whatever happens after that is going to happen," McAllister said after Wednesday's practice. "I'm going to play again. There are a couple more years I still want to play. I have a contract, you know, so we'll see what happens."
Before the 2005 season, McAllister signed a seven-year extension that potentially would pay him a little more than $50 million through 2012. Since then, he has had reconstructive surgery on both knees.
Saints List Vilma As Top Priority
Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma is expected to be a top priority of the Saints this coming offseason.
"I honestly didn't know what to expect," said Vilma, who was sent from the Jets to the Saints in an offseason trade. "I was coming off an injury and just happy to get back to playing, to be honest with you. As I said way back when the season started in training camp, naturally everything else will fall into place as long as I was playing and playing well. I felt like I played well. I'd say I can do a lot better, but it's been a good ride for me. I've enjoyed it."
Vilma's play has made him perhaps the most important free agent for the Saints to retain in the offseason, or as Saints Coach Sean Payton said, "a priority."
NFL Appeals Order That Blocked 5 Suspensions
The NFL reportedly wants an appeals court to reconsider a federal judge's order that blocked the suspensions of five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy.
Attorneys for the league filed notice they were asking the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to take up the issue after U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson in St. Paul, Minn., earlier this month cleared the way for Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Vikings, and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister, and Will Smith of the Saints to continue playing.
Lions Now One Loss From Unwanted History
After losing to the Saints on Sunday afternoon, the Lions are 0-15 and one loss away from entering the history books.
Detroit is the first NFL team to go 0-15, and will travel to Green Bay in their season finale. The Lions haven't won at Lambeau Field since 1991.
"It's very real," center Dominic Raiola said. "It's right there in front of us.
"It's pretty sad that its come to this."
Archie: Saints Should Be Wary Of Lions
Archie Manning believes that the Saints should be wary of the winless Lions when they take the field on Sunday.
"I never played in a playoff game and won it, never have, in the NFL, been in a championship game. But I don't think a championship win could be better than to get that monkey off your back," Manning said this week.
Manning played for the Saints in 1980 when the team opened the season 0-14 before recording a win in their final game.
"I know the Saints are out of the playoff picture, but they don't need to go up there and wallow around," Manning said. "They need to be up and mentally ready to play as hard as they ever have. To me, if I'm a coach, I would rather be going in there to play an 8-6 team instead of an 0-14 team."
Brees Needs To Average 376.5 Yards To Beat Marino's Record
Drew Brees needs 753 yards, or an average of 376.5 yards in his final two games, to surpass Dan Marino's record of 5,084 yards.
"That's a huge record," Brees said. "Would it be an honor to break it? Yeah. Is that something we can all share in? Absolutely. Do I wish that, if it does happen, that it would have come with a playoff season? A hundred percent, without a doubt. So if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't. But certainly that's a huge record, one of the bigger ones in the game."
Saints Place Bush On IR
Reggie Bush will miss the final two games of the Saints? season, according to an Associated Press report.
Bush injured his left knee during the Saints? loss at Chicago last Thursday night. The knee was examined over the weekend and coach Sean Payton said at practice on Wednesday the team decided to put Bush on injured reserve.
Bush Upset With Saints' Payton?
Saints running back Reggie Bush is reportedly upset with coach Sean Payton for holding him to one carry in the second half of Thursday's game against the Bears.
Bush sprained his knee in the second quarter of the game, but apparently wanted to return in the important NFC battle.
He even had choice words for Payton's play-calling after the loss.
Saints' Bush To Have MRI On Knee
New Orleans' running back Reggie Bush will have an MRI on his injured left knee to determine the extent of the damage.
Gould's OT Field Goal Gives Bears Playoff Hope
The Bears beat the Saints 27-24 in OT on Thursday night that boosted the team's playoff hopes.
Brees Received Most Votes In Pro Bowl Fan Voting
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received 951,246 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in fan balloting for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl.
Urlacher: No Hard Feelings Against Bush
During the 2006 NFC championship game, Reggie Bush pointed at Brian Urlacher before doing a flip into the end zone to celebrate an 88-yard touchdown reception off a screen pass.
Judge Blocks 5 Of NFL's Drug Suspensions
A federal judge has blocked the NFL from suspending five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy.
NFL Suspends Six Players
The NFL has suspended six players, including Deuce McAllister and a pair of Minnesota defensive linemen, for four games each for violating the league's anti-doping policy.