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View Full Version : TP - Trade activity could include Darren Howard - Skins inquired this week



inmate running the asylum
April-23rd-2005, 04:41 AM
Hmm. Skins are still inquiring about Howard. :rolleyes:


http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1114236024108300.xml

Trade activity could include N.O.'s Howard
Saturday, April 23, 2005
By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer

Grab your pencils and erasers, it could be a busy day of trades today in the NFL draft. The disparity in player rankings among teams and the high number of veteran players on the blocks are the reasons.

"This might be a record-setter," first-year Seattle general manager Tim Ruskell said. "I don't remember one with this much activity being talked about prior to the draft."

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said he doesn't expect this weekend's draft to be any more chaotic than others.

"I think it'll be the same as past years, there'll be about 20 to 30 deals," Loomis said.

The Saints might contribute to that total.

New Orleans has shopped defensive end Darren Howard throughout the offseason. The Saints have also dangled tight end Boo Williams and guard Kendyl Jacox, according to two league sources.

Dallas still seems the most willing suitor for Howard, whom the Saints have designated as their franchise player. The Cowboys have two first-round picks, Nos. 11 and 20, and a willingness to pull the trigger. Dallas has dealt its first-round pick 10 times since 1993, including last year to Buffalo.

The Saints have fielded calls from Dallas, Washington and Philadelphia this week.

The Cowboys reportedly offered to swap first-round picks with the Saints, sending the No. 11 pick to New Orleans in exchange for the No. 16 and Howard.

Philadelphia also reportedly offered its first-round pick, No. 31 overall, for Howard.

The Saints, however, appear reluctant to part with their most productive defender for anything less than a middle first-rounder.

Howard, who led the Saints with 11 sacks last season, has been a regular participant in the club's offseason conditioning program. The Saints are scheduled to pay him a $7.8 million base salary this season. Loomis would like to lower that figure so he can complete long-term contract extensions with Joe Horn, Deuce McAllister, LeCharles Bentley and Mike McKenzie.

If Howard isn't dealt, the Saints are expected to sign him to a long-term deal in July that would lower his $7.8 million salary-cap figure.

RabidFan
April-23rd-2005, 06:57 AM
Our deal with the 25th pick for Howard sure beats Philly and Dallas if the above is what they are offering. The problem is he wants a $16mil signing bonus

Thinking Skins
April-23rd-2005, 08:48 AM
How old is Howard?

sammino
April-23rd-2005, 09:21 AM
everyone wants a big pay day in this league... what happened with the concept of "for the love of the game and team" ? :)

Brooklynskinsfan
April-23rd-2005, 09:25 AM
too much for howard i would give up a 2nd round pick an nothing more

Thinking Skins
April-23rd-2005, 09:30 AM
Originally posted by sammino
everyone wants a big pay day in this league... what happened with the concept of "for the love of the game and team" ? :)

Just like everything else in america. When people see they can use it as a means to make money, the quality goes down in order to get mass production.

SkinsNorth
April-23rd-2005, 09:31 AM
If the skins trade the 25 for a vet, I hope its for Nate Clements.

bulldog
April-23rd-2005, 10:25 AM
Too expensive to sign him to a long-term deal. He's a very good player, but again, we need to find talent that works at a reasonable wage for a change.

We already have big bonus dollars on D going to Griffin, Washington and Arrington while Sean Taylor is likely to get some kind of re-worked deal in 2005 or 2006.

No way we should trade a #1 pick for DH. A #2 as part of a trade down would be the most I would offer and that was if we could be assured of working out a deal with him BEFOREHAND.

We already made the mistake of trading for Santana Moss before the parameters on a new deal were established.