As of Tuesday we officially have less than 100 days until we can relax with our buddies, kick up our feet and watch our favorite football teams. For most of the readers in this area, that would be the Saints. A lot has happened during the off-season with notable signings, releases, and even some coaching changes that all fans should be aware of. As you may or may not know, I am from the town of Charlotte, North Carolina, home of the heart attack Panthers. My ties with them are still strong, however I cannot help but notice the Saints getting better each year, making the NFC South more competitive and fun to watch.
To start, it is going to be vastly different not seeing Marques Colston in black and gold this year, as he was released in late February. The wide-out has spent his entire NFL career with the Saints, leading all of the team’s receivers in receptions (711), yards (9,759), and touchdowns (72), according to footballdb.com. A little before the Saints released Colston, the organization made a power move naming Dan Campbell assistant head coach and tight end coach. Campbell was the interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins last year, making a large splash in the NFL pool when he turned around the Dolphins’ year in the tough AFC East.
Another notable signing was a $3 million one-year contract deal with defensive tackle Nick Fairley. The Saints needed to focus on their defense in the off-season, and did so with this signing.
For those that have been missing Jimmy Graham, get used to saying a new name, Coby Fleener. Fleener signed a five-year contract with the Saints in early March. He is good at all aspects of a tight end, whether it be blocking, catching, and he even has the breakaway speed to evade a large amount of linebackers, keeping Drew Brees happy.
While on the topic of keeping Brees happy, the Saints came to terms with left tackle Terron Armstead. The 6-foot-5, 304-pounder is arguably one of the best left tackles in the league, according to ESPN, keeping his quarterback safe and allowing him time to make plays down the field.
Finally, all is right with the world of football, as the Saints were able to keep Head Coach Sean Payton on a five-year contract in late March.
The connection between him and Brees is something that a majority of teams in the league do not have, and is the first ingredient to reaching the Super Bowl.