Falcons CB Robinson is confident in team’s success

The Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson recently made his own prediction on his team’s future in 2010 season, and he sound very confident with the improvements already made by the team. As a six year veteran who used to play with the Houston Texans, Robinson thought that his new team is just a much better one than it was before and confidence is important in its success.

"It's all about confidence," he told PFW earlier this offseason. "When you step out on the field, you have to think that no one on the other side of the ball can beat you. You have to feel like you're the best player on the field. That's the kind of confidence you have to play with. That's what I come to practice with, and that's what I line up on Sundays with. It's not something that I'm trying to bring (to the Falcons). I think it's just in me. (And) I think the players are buying into it."

The Falcons ranked 28th following the 2009 season in term of pass defense and they have a high expectation on Robinson after signing him to a six-year contract that is worth $57 million. By so far, the Falcons have been considered to only team to prevent New Orleans Saints from making another NFC appearance, but if the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback wears back his No.4 Brett Favre jersey for another season, the Falcons is unlikely to have any chance of showing for the Super Bowl XLV game.

Former Saints DT Hand died of unknown causes

Saddest New Orleans Saints news for Friday, a former defensive tackle of this team, Norman Hand was found in unconsciousness on Friday morning at his home in Walterboro, S.C. and died 90 minutes later at a local hospital. The reason for the death is still unknown and the man is only at age of 37.

Hand had ten years spent with five NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants. The former standout defensive tackle for Itawamba Community College was drafted by the Dolphins in 1995 as a fifth-round pick but stayed with the team for only two seasons. He spent the next three with the Chargers, then two seasons with the Saints, one with Seahawks and the last with Giants in 2004.

Hand’s best time should be the tenure with the Saints. While he had a career record of 22 1/2 sacks, Hand started 41 of the 44 games he played in Saints jersey and helped the team make an NFL-best 66 sacks in 2000 season and another NFC record of 53 sacks in 2001. A lot of Saints fans still like to call him their player and keep his Saints jerseys for memory of the time.

Saints added former Colts WR Roy Hall

It was officially confirmed on Wednesday that the New Orleans Saints are planning to sign a one-year contract with wide receiver Roy Hall, who was formerly playing for the Indianapolis Colts, but was released last week.

The 26-year-old man was formerly a third-round pick out of Ohio State in 2007 drafted by the Colts. At the beginning of his NFL career, he was expected to have a brilliant career as he has an impressive combination of size and speed, with a height of 6-foot-3 and weight of 240 pounds. Although he is entering his fourth NFL season, Hall has had little playing experience as he played in only seven games during the past three seasons and caught only one pass for nine yards.

Hall played only in the first three games in 2007 season before he suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. He played in only four games in 2008 season and missed the entire 2009 season for being placed on injured reserve again with undisclosed injury. So it’s obvious that Hall is on a shaky ground even if he has been given a Saints jersey, wish him a healthy season this time.

Saints safety Vaughn and LB Arnoux skip minicamp not for injuries

Earlier reports said that the New Orleans Saints safety Chip Vaughn and linebacker Arnoux would not be available to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp at this weekend. Some people misunderstood the original information and thought the two 2009 draft picks were still recovering from injuries.

Both of the two second-year pro suffered injuries that caused them to be placed onto injured reserve last season. Being held out of team’s rookie camp could easily cause doubts on their health condition. However, the truth is, they have been fully healed up from the injuries and won’t take part in camp simply because they are considered to be veterans, who need not to appear for the rookie camp.

A rookie camp, of course, is held for rookies. But there are also several veterans to take parts. Beside the six draft picks from 2010 NFL draft and 14 undrafted free agents, five members of last year’s squad member are also expected to be at the camp, and the other 40 men will be there in Saints jerseys for tryouts.

Saints are still looking for a qualified backup QB

Finishing last season with a Super Bowl XLIV victory, the New Orleans Saints are in need of a good plan to defend their title. And one of the most important parts is to have a better quarterback group with Drew Brees remaining the starter but backup problem yet to be answered. However, it seems that it may take the Saints a long time to find the best backup.

The backup quarterback is not only to be a good quarterback himself, but also with great experience of starting so that he could take replacement immediately in case the starting quarterback has to take a break. He also has to be experienced NFL player who knows well how to react with anything happens during a real NFL game. On that point, a rookie quarterback like former Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield won’t be a good choice even though he had a brilliant college football career. Former Missouri signal-caller Chase Daniel, in the second year of wearing Saints jersey, is also unlikely to take the job as he has not yet taken any snap in an NFL regular-season game.

There used to be quite a few veteran quarterbacks available on free agents market, but most of them have signed with their 2009 team or a new team. Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington finally returned to the team, and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson was just signed away by the Arizona Cardinals.

Now what seem still available to the Saints are unrestricted free agent Mark Brunell, who was playing with Saints last season, and Oakland Raiders JaMarcus Russell, whose leading role has been at risk since arrival of Jason Campbell. Brunnell has made it clear that he could like to be back with the Saints but has not received any response, while Russell has not been cut by Raiders and not available on market. Actually, there is another possible option with St. Louis Rams free agent Marc Bulger. Bulger used to play for the Saints before joining the Rams, but at age 33 and finishing last season with decreased productivity, Bulger could hardly be a good choice to Saints head coach Sean Payton.

UFA safety Sharper is likely to stay with Saints

According to latest reports, the New Orleans Saints unrestricted free agent Darren Sharper has finished his visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the most important point was, he left without receiving a contract offer. So there is still good chance for the veteran safety to wear back the Saints jersey.

With nine interception during the 2009 season, Sharper helped build up one of the most fierce secondaries in the league for the Saints and is highly expected to return with the team for more seasons. Actually, both the player and the team are hoping for a long-term relationship, but the problem is the 34-year-old veteran is asking for a high way while the Saints are not willing to overpay. While contract negotiation is still going on between the two sides, Sharper takes his actions to visit other teams that hold interests in him. Still, there is money issue. It’s hard to believe there would be any team willing to pay higher than the Saints.

On the other side, the Saints are not staying still waiting for Sharper’s decision. On the same day when Sharper made his visit to Jaguars, the Saints welcomed free agent linebacker Clint Ingram from the Jaguars. Reportedly, Ingram is highly expected to join the Saints and solve the problem with outside linebacker. Does that have anything with Sharper’s return? Well, with the outside linebacker being no more big issue, the Saints now have much room to make moves with positions like cornerback and safety. What’s very likely to happen is that rookie cornerback Patrick Robinson’s arrival will allow the Saints to move veteran Malcolm Jenkins to safety as replacement for Sharper if the latter chooses not to return. Then the advantage is not really laying the Sharper’s side. He is now old and replaceable, if there is an offer, he’d better sign it soon.

Leaving Jaguars, DT Henderson could find right spot with Saints

With addition of younger and cheaper talented rookies, quite a few teams began to get rid of old and expensive veterans. That a good explanation to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ recent release of nine-year veteran defensive tackle John Henderson. However being released could also offer Henderson a good chance to work for a better team, like the New Orleans Saints.

To be honestly, the former two-time Pro Bowler did not live up to expectation in recent years with his production declining from an average of 4 or more sacks and 60 or more tackles to 2 sacks and 40 tackles. Staying with the Jaguars for eight years since being drafted in 2002 as a first-round pick, Henderson finished last season with 36 tackles and 3 sacks. But with a height of 6-7 and weight of 335 pounds, he could still fit in Saints’ depth at defensive tackle well as his big frame will help the Saints a lot in improving the run defense that ranked low in last season.

What makes it more likely for Henderson to put on Saints jersey, the team’s current defensive coordinator Gregg Williams used to work for the Jaguars as defensive coordinator during the 2008 season and knew well how to utilize Henderson to the most. So if Henderson could co-word with Williams again, he is very likely to be much more productive than he was with the Jaguars.

Saints OT Jammal Brown could be traded to Redskins

Remaining a restricted free agent, the New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Jammal Brown now has a new choice if what he wants is to be traded out of the Saints. In need of an experienced offensive tackle, the Washington Redskins recently contacted the Saints about possible trade for the five-year veteran Brown.

As a two-time Pro Bowl and all-pro offensive tackle, Brown is a much better chance than a new player in draft and could offer the immediate help the Redskins need at the moment although he missed the entire 2009 season after a hip surgery to repair a sports hernia. The advantage of adding him is that he is only 29 years old and showed enough ability to lead the tackle group during the years he was healthy.

On the Saints side, they would be willing to trade Brown for some good picks in draft. They have already offered a one-year qualifying offer of $3.619 million to the restricted free agent but Brown just has not yet singed it, causing a lot to guess that he may plan to take off the Saints jersey through a proper trade with some team he is willing to stay for the rest of his career. What makes the trade more possible, The Saints did not suffer any letdown while there was no Brown on the offensive line and replacement starter Jermon Bushrod managed to allow only 20 sacks in the regular season.

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed House Bill 719 allowing contract between state and Saints owner

Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Wednesday that he signed House Bill 719, which make New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson the state’s landlord.

Jindal wants to lease space in an office building in downtown New Orleans as part of a long-term deal to keep the NFL franchise in Louisiana, and the new legislation allows the state to enter a contract and lease office space, a former shopping mall and a parking garage from the team’s owners. There is also a state plan to renovate the Louisiana Superdome, which will allow in fans wearing 49ers jersey, in order to help the Saints generate more money.

HB719 sparked heated debate during the recent legislative session, especially when the state is approving incentives for a sports franchise while cutting funding for higher education and health care.