So impressed were the New Orleans Saints with wide receiver Marques Colston’s first two seasons, they gave him a three-year contract extension as the team opened their 2008 training camp today. This move ensures Marques will be with the Saints through 2011. Said head coach Sean Payton:

“It was a priority for our team to get this done before our training camp practices started. He is an established player in the NFL and a key part of our offense. He is also becoming a leader on our team, and certainly within our group of wide receivers.”

The only one happier than Coach Payton and Marques himself is Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Marques’ first two seasons were nothing short of outstanding catches passes from Drew — 70 receptions for 1,038 yards and eight TDs as a rookie and 98 catches for 1,212 yards and 11 TDs last season.

Source: NewOrleansSaints.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Marques Colston Gets Contract Extension

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

The N.Y. Giants traded disgruntled tight end Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints today for second and fifth round picks in next year’s NFL Draft. I expected this trade to happen back in April, so it’s really no surprise the deal finally went down. It’s just a couple months later than I envisioned.

The Giants proved they could win without Jeremy last season as they steamrolled through the playoffs while he watched from the sidelines on crutches. His displeasure with his contract and affinity for stirring the pot in New York made him expendable. Now the Giants just need to make sure Kevin Boss stays healthy. I felt Jeremy made the Giants better right now and gave them a luxury at the tight end position, but obviously the team felt he was doing more harm than good.

I think both the Giants and Saints win in this trade. The Giants get rid of a potential distraction while the Saints get a four-time Pro Bowler and emotional, talented playmaker. Along with Reggie Bush and Marcus Colston, suddenly the Saints have a plethora of weapons for QB Drew Brees to play with. Jeremy will also be reunited with Saints head coach Sean Payton where he was the NFL’s Rookie-of-the-Year (74 receptions, 894 yards) when Coach Payton was his offensive coordinator in 2002.

Source: NY Times, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Giants Trade Jeremy Shockey to Saints

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

It’s nice to see Mark Brunell continuing to thrive in the National Football League. At 37-years-old and now a 16-year vet (hard to believe, I know), Mark has gladly taken on the role of backup quarterback to Drew Brees in New Orleans. And he’s apparently doing quite well in OTAs. According to head coach Sean Payton:

“He’s a quick study. He’s very experienced, and there is a level of confidence when a guy like him has played so long and at such a high level. He still has the arm strength, still moves around well. He’s been a good addition. He has handled everything we’ve given him now, and when you’re at quarterback, there is a lot of things that go on when you change organizations. He also brings some leadership to this locker room, which is important.”

Mark will compete with Tyler Palko for the second-string spot, but I like the experience and smarts Mark brings to the Saints. Tyler played at my alma mater (Pitt) and will be a fine quarterback in this league, but he’s only in his second season and still has a lot to learn. Who better to study from than Drew Brees and Mark Brunell? As with any team, the backup QB is just one play away from being the starter and while Mark certainly won’t showcase the same excitement he brought to the game as a youngster (he was amazing in Jacksonville), he can still get the job done. The Saints are lucky to have him.

Source: Nola.com, Photo: Newscom

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Mark Brunell Brings Leadership to Saints

After starting this 2007 season 0-4, the New Orleans Saints have impressively fought their way back to .500 at the midway point. For a while there, Saints fans were left wondering if the magic their team created in 2006 would ever return. Well, it certainly has. Led by QB Drew Brees’ 445-yards passing against a tough Jacksonville defense last week, the Saints’ offense has to be considered as one of the most-feared in the NFL once again. But if you want to relive the incredible and inspirational story of that team’s spectacular run to the NFC Championship last year, in the words of the people who made it happen, pick up a copy of Alan Donnes’ “Patron Saints: How the Saints Gave New Orleans a Reason to Believe.”

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, devastating not only buildings and homes, but the hope, spirit, and faith of its people. The Saints were cast out on the road, not knowing when they would return home, and faltered to a losing 3-13 season amidst the chaos. People wondered whether the city could even sustain an NFL team anymore.

Then, a funny thing happened on the way to economic devastation. The city of New Orleans, its population cut in half and its local industry a mess, rallied to buy up the first season-ticket sellout in franchise history. Led by head coach Sean Payton and the aforementioned Drew Brees, the Saints produced a worst-to-first season that gave their fans a reason to believe, both in the team and in themselves. Together they inspired each other to do the impossible: put the Saints in the NFC Championship game and put New Orleans on the road to recovery.

Though the Saints lost that NFC Championship game to Chicago, they returned home as true champions. In this book, former Saints reporter Alan Donnes has compiled over 100 interviews with players, coaches, politicians, and colorful locals who made it happen. Together, these powerful voices recount the history of the team and the city, how the horror of Katrina brought them together, and how one winning season brought hope to a place that hope forgot.

Click here to order this book from Amazon.com.

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Book Review: ‘Patron Saints: How the Saints Gave New Orleans a Reason to Believe’