There's no catchy name for the bounty scandal (I don't like Bountygate), but the Saints did get caught paying each other to take out opposing players.
It's silly for current and former players to insist that it didn't happen when the coach and GM have both admitted it happened and the NFL has thousands of pages of e-mails and other documents proving it did.
Sean Payton will not coach in 2012, Gregg Williams may not coach ever again and the Saints will lose a second round pick this and in 2013.
The Saints, much like they had to following Hurricane Katrina, will still have to find a way to put together a team and coaching staff to play next year. Luckily, there is plenty talent on the roster. Unfortunately, Payton was one of the best coaches in the league and his creativity will be sorely missed.
Offense
As if the bounty scandal hadn't hit the Saints hard enough, New Orleans still doesn't have a long-term deal done with its franchise player Drew Brees.
Brees has yet to sign the franchise tender this spring and the sides apparently aren't even close on the numbers for a contract. Without Sean Payton, the best hope for the Saints this season relies on the intelligence and savvy of Drew Brees.
New Orleans did re-sign Marques Colston, but lost their deep threat, Robert Meachem, to the Chargers in free agency.
The Saints' best offensive lineman, Carl Nicks, also signed elsewhere, making this potent offense considerably more vulnerable heading into 2012. Ben Grubbs was signed from Baltimore to fill in for Nicks, but isn't nearly the kind of All-Pro presence.
Adding depth along the offensive line along with perhaps another receiver will be the Saints' biggest priorities. That is, of course, once they sign the best player in the history of their franchise.
Key Free Agents: Marques Colston (re-signed w/ Saints) John Gilmore TE, John Kasey K, Robert Meachem (signed w/ Chargers) Carl Nicks G (signed w/ Buccaneers) Courtney Roby WR/KR
Defense
Questions about this defense may not be fully fleshed out until we hear what, if any, penalties the players will face for their part in the bounties allegedly paid for knocking out opposing players.Jonathan Vilma was supposedly the ring-leader of the bounty system and is the most likely to be suspended. Making matters worse, linebacker is probably the thinnest position on the New Orleans roster and a target for this offseason.
Atlantla's stand-out middle linebacker Curtis Lofton was signed in anticipation of a major move from the league related to Vilma and will be a welcome upgrade to the team's rush defense.
Broderick Bunkly was also signed to shore up the middle of the New Orlean's defensive line long-term. That leaves outside linebacker, a pass rusher, and depth in the secondary as the biggest holes on defense, particularly with Tracy Porter leaving for Denver.
When you give up 36 points to a 49ers team that usually scored in the teens, there's a serious problem with your pass defense.
Key Free Agents: Jonathan Casillas OLB, Turk McBride DL, Tracy Porter CB (signed w/ Broncos)
Draft Targets
Needs: DL,DB,LB,OL,WR
Round 1 (Pick 21): Traded to New England for Mark Ingram
Round 1 (Pick 21): Traded to New England for Mark Ingram
Round 2 (Pick 59): Forfeited in NFL bounty scandal
Round 3 (Pick 90): Dwight Bentley CB La-Lafayette (Pos. Rank: 13, Overall Rank: 92)
With no picks until the third round, New Orleans has likely already zeroed in on a group of players they believe will be available here. Likely, a defensive upgrade in the secondary will be the target, although a linebacker may be just as likely. Bentley is a small-school prospect who is a little undersized, but runs a 4.4 40 and has the quickness to stay with receivers. He may be a perfect fit as a slot corner early in his career and can transition into a starter as he gets bigger and stronger.
Overall
It's hard to really assess this draft with only one selection in the top 100. The Saints will probably continue to create depth by signing veteran players in free agency, but a player like Bentley, with his speed, could be a solid role player for the Saints. Improving the defense will be the top priority in the draft, so expect an infusion of talent to try and erase the names and faces associated with the bounty fiasco. Getting a deep threat receiver would also make sense given the departure of Robert Meachem. If there is a lineman with value available - there wasn't in my mock - he would be worth a shot here too.
Final Thought
Sean Payton and Drew Brees have pulled New Orleans back from the brink and turned them into perennial contenders. Payton is out for the year and Brees doesn't have a contract - it's even unclear whether or not he'd sign the franchise tender before the season started. Without the scandal, expectations for the Saints would have and should have been that they'd be a Super Bowl contender. With all of the upheaval in Nola, those expectations ought to be tempered and there are still holes to address. If this defense can be improved, the Saints have enough talent to be a factor in the NFC playoff race once again.
Final Thought
Sean Payton and Drew Brees have pulled New Orleans back from the brink and turned them into perennial contenders. Payton is out for the year and Brees doesn't have a contract - it's even unclear whether or not he'd sign the franchise tender before the season started. Without the scandal, expectations for the Saints would have and should have been that they'd be a Super Bowl contender. With all of the upheaval in Nola, those expectations ought to be tempered and there are still holes to address. If this defense can be improved, the Saints have enough talent to be a factor in the NFC playoff race once again.
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