I guess I have to start off with something about Shockey.

First of all, Shockey will be wearing #88 for the black and gold this season. You'll have to jump for the rest, and it is quite a lot.

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Thank you.

With players required to report to training camp tomorrow, today is officially the last day of the 2008 offseason. I think I speak for many Saints fans when I say that this has been one of the best and most hopeful Saints offseasons in recent memory.

It seems you may have realized the same thing we the fans have known for a while; championships don't just happen.

I applaud you for having the bravery and self-awareness to notice our teams flaws, face them head on, and counter it by making bold moves to immediately alleviate the Saints inadequacy's. It takes a lot of courage to recognize one's own shortcomings and even more courage to do something about it. For years we, the fans, have sat idly by as we watched you make poor decision after poor decision. This offseason has been a breath of fresh air and serves as an example of what good teams do to try and become great.

We desperately needed help in our backfield and you delivered Randall Gay, Aaron Glenn and Tracy Porter. The team needed a play-making linebacker and you brought us Vilma (You couldn't predict Morgan's retirement). The Giants proved a strong pass rush is necessary for success and you responded by getting Bobby McCray and locking up Will Smith. At draft time, you guys didn't take a wait and see attitude, hoping the right pick would fall in your lap. Twice you traded up to get the exact guy you were going for. Finally, when all of us assumed the roster was set and we prepared for training camp, you made one last move and pulled the trigger on a trade that brings Jeremy Shockey into the fold. I will assume you are not dumb enough to let Colston leave.

Whether you realize that this is probably the best chance this city has ever had at bringing home a Superbowl or you are just sick and tired of being a running joke in this league, mission accomplished.

If the team you have worked so tirelessly to put together this summer turns out only to be great on paper, I don't think this team and its fans would have the right to blame you. None of this guarantees a championship, I understand. You guys can only do so much and its all up to the players from this point on. But if the teams on-field success does not match what is expected and victory eludes us once again, I think it is safe to say it would not be fair for you to share very much of the blame.

I know this letter may be premature with training camp not even underway, but a Who Dat just can't help but be excited. I also know we have been here before, as this time last year had me filled with the same feelings; but last summers attempts to better this team pale in comparison to the assertiveness you have shown this year.

So to Tom Benson, Rita Benson-LeBlanc, Mickey Loomis, Sean Payton, Khai Harley and the entire Saints staff, once again, thank you for your efforts this offseason.

Saints in '08!!

Your fellow Who Dat,

Canal Street Chronicles

Suffering from Shockey hangover? CSC has got your cure. More Shockey!

I have put together everything I could find about the man. There were some I simply left out because of redundancy. You should all be Shockey experts by the end of this.

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I was in the middle of writing one of my usual Saints News posts the other day, when I stumbled upon this news story from BusinessPortal24.com. Actually, it's more of a press release from a company called Neekam.

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Is Shockey's leg alright? (Photo Source)

Well, I can't believe I am writing this but apparently it is true. The New Orleans Saints have gotten TE Jeremy Shockey! Jay Glazer at Fox Sports has the breaking news story.

The Giants have agreed to trade their disgruntled tight end to the New Orleans Saints for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick, FOXSports.com has learned. The deal is pending league approval, according to a league source. Shockey must also pass a physical.

We have all been talking about this for months now and I honestly thought it was a dead deal. So, now that this has happened, what do you guys think? I really like Shockey as a player and I think he could be just what our offense needs but my only worry is Shockey's attitude and his antics. However, I am glad to see the Saints and the front office doing everything it takes to make this team a Superbowl contender.

Alright guys, this is it. The final countdown to training camp. By the time this week is over we will begin the process of answering all of the questions we have been asking each other for the last few months. Until then its more of the same.

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I forget to tell you guys about this yesterday even though I knew about it. Amid the signings of our draft picks, the Saints also released a few players. Once again, the New Orleans Saints official website gently breaks the news to us by subtly hiding it at the end of a positive article.

The Saints also made three other roster moves today, waiving CB Anwar Phillips, QB Travis Lulay and DE Jeremy Geathers.

The staff over at The Advocate have come out with the ultimate Saints training camp preview, putting all over training camp preview to shame. They are Adobe Acrobat files in .pdf format but they are cool with lots of fancy pictures. It also has full schedule, directions, players by position, coaching roster and 2007 statistics. You should definitely check it out. Here is page one and here is page two.

The Advocate also had an article about how all of the major NFL publications have predicted the Saints to win the division. Old news.

From the Sun Herald we have, shockingly, a training camp preview! They give us 10 questions the Saints will face in the next month. Of course most of them are the usual queries regarding Deuce, McKenzie, Reggie, Smith and Grant, cornerback, wide receiver, etc. Here are two of the more interesting questions.

6. Is Sean Payton on the hot seat? Nope. The 2008 roster is too talented not to succeed and Payton is too innovative not to figure out how to run this offense. Like Bush, Payton should be closer to the coach from 2006 than 2007. And think about it, Jim Haslett lasted for six seasons despite only one postseason win. Payton also isn't hanging his coaching career on an inept quarterback.

10. Are the Saints interested in Brett Favre? I think Drew Brees will do just fine and he'd at least call someone other than Greta Van Susteren if he has some beef with Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis. He'd at least call Larry King, Barbara Walters or New Orleans native Ellen Degeneres.

In case you wanted yet another training camp preview, you're in luck! The Sports network has their own. This is what they have to say.

REPORT DATES: Rookies July 23rd, Veterans July 23rd

SITE: Millsaps College, Jackson, MS/Saints Practice Facility, Metairie, LA

CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Saints were horrible against the pass last season, and head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs need to spend July and August identifying a reliable starting cornerback tandem. Free agent pick- ups Randall Gay (Patriots), Jerametrius Butler (Bills), and Aaron Glenn (Jaguars), and rookie Tracy Porter (Indiana) will be among those with a chance to win jobs. A below-average pass rush was bolstered via the addition of ex- Jaguar Bobby McCray, and first-round draft choice Sedrick Ellis (USC) will be counted on to show progress in the run-stopping game. There isn't much new to speak of on offense for New Orleans, though Payton needs to see progress from Reggie Bush and suitable health from Deuce McAllister in order to take some pressure off of the passing game. Speaking of which, New Orleans must locate a reliable complement to No. 1 wideout Marques Colston, who bore too much of the receiving load last year.

This will soon be all over.

The Times-Pic had a short article about Drew Brees' time in San Diego and his  community efforts to raise awareness about childhood obesity.  I discussed this event yesterday in Saints News. Okay, so I didn't actually mention the community/raising awareness aspect of it, so here it is.

"This is important because childhood obesity in this country is a major problem," said Brees, a former San Diego Chargers player who still owns an offseason home in Carmel Valley, Calif. "When you talk about this Play 60 campaign, it's urging kids to get out 60 minutes a day and get some form of exercise. It can be sports-related -- whether playing a sport or a hobby -- or just playing out in the yard with their brothers, sisters, parents or friends."

CBS Sports had an update to their usual Notes and Quotes segment. Here was an interesting fact I did not know.

Each team was allowed to distribute $3.15 million to lower-salaried players, depending on the playing time they got last season. Eight Saints received at least $100,000, which is awarded on top of their base pay.

Evans earned $266,667 and ranked ninth in the league. Colston was 11th with $257,894 in extra pay. Both players had base salaries of $360,000.

The Saints' top five also included wide receiver Lance Moore ($143,226), safety Josh Bullocks ($130,456) and running back Pierre Thomas ($129,775).

They also had a quote from Deuce that didn't look familiar to me.

"I'm proud and pleased with (my progress). I don't know if there's really a 'next benchmark' to be met on my part. It's pretty much getting out there and trying to make plays. That's what I am looking forward to."

Some of you wanted more Archie and you've got it. I love Archie just as much as the next guy, and I am never really insulting him, but it is ridiculous the amount of appearances he does. This time it was with former NY city mayor Rudy Guiliani at a conference for the employees of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had the story. Archie had some words of wisdom for everyone.

"I really think, at the end of the day, that's what we come down to, whether we're selling insurance or practicing law or medicine or playing football - you've got to work," Manning said. "To me, that's really the similarity we all go through in our free enterprise system."

Another Kush spotting. This time it was at a Matt Leinart charity bowling event. You can check out a couple of pics I posted in the FanShots. What the heck is the deal with the military inspired clothing Reggie has been sporting? That is the second outfit like that he has been photographed in. Is this the new thing? I run a retail apparel store, do I need to be keeping my eye on this? Weird.

We all know about the draft pick signings so I will just start with the rest of the news.

Well, its official. Tom Benson is now the head honcho over at WVUE. The Times-Pic had the quick story.

After two months, the Federal Communications Commission has approved Tom Benson and his Louisiana Media Company to officially take ownership of WVUE-TV, which is Fox 8, it was announced today.

"This is a proud day for me, and a good day for the city of New Orleans," Benson said. "It's important to keep major employers in this city owned by local people - I believe that is a key factor in rebuilding our area. And WVUE will be a completely independent entity from my other businesses. We have a very good management team there, and they will operate independently as such with no pressure or agenda placed upon them."

It is ridiculous how many training camp/team analysis type articles there are out there. They come out of the woodwork from all types of websites. Everyone's an expert.

Here is one from EndZoneBuzz.com.

New Orleans Saints

Why They Might Win the Division
Drew Brees still leads the attack at QB and they have a plethora of receiving weapons. New Orleans also added Jonathan Vilma to the linebacking crew, and Sedrick Ellis at defensive tackle, to play next to their two talented defensive ends in Will Smith and Charles Grant.

Why They Might Not Win the Division
Right now, RB Reggie Bush is a good slot receiver, and nothing more. He simply has to become a more effective runner out of the backfield in order for them to truly excel. And that secondary which was so hideous last season is still a major concern.

Yet another look into training camp. This one is all the way from Arizona at AZCentral.com.

New Orleans Saints (7-9)

Veterans report: July 23

Site: Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss.

Fan access: Free, most practices open to the public; 504-733-0255

Key changes: The biggest addition was LBJonathan Vilma to man the middle. The Saints also traded up three spots in the draft to select DT Sedrick Ellis at No. 7. C Jeff Faine left as a free agent for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. CBs Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn, signed in free agency, add depth.

Key issues: There's uncertainty in the backfield with RB Deuce McAllister coming off two knee surgeries and Reggie Bush's inability to show he can be the featured back. At cornerback, who will start opposite Mike McKenzie, who is recovering from knee surgery and may not be ready to start himself? Ellis and newly extended DE Will Smith are cogs along the line, but DE Charles Grant has off-field issues. And they must decide between sixth-round pick Taylor Melhlaff and Martin Gramatica at kicker.

ESPN has a question for the Saints heading into training camp.

Do the New Orleans Saints realize how important it is to get Sedrick Ellis into camp?
Ellis, New Orleans' No. 1 pick in this year's draft from USC, has value because he finally gives the Saints a big-bodied defensive tackle who can eat up blocks and free up DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith. Grant and Smith were consistently double-teamed last season because opposing offensive lines had no respect for the Saints' rotating bodies inside at DT. The Saints still have question marks at cornerback and they're not going away any time soon, but it is amazing how pass-rush pressure can suddenly make mediocre corners better football players. With an offense well-equipped to bounce back, Ellis and the Saints' D-line could be the key to the whole season.

I agree with this one. I would love to see the Saints get Ellis under contract this week, but I am afraid he and Tracy Porter will be the last two to sign.

The Sporting News ranked the top ten offensive tackles in the league. Fortunately for us, and Drew, the Saints own Jammal Brown was on that list.

7. Jammal Brown, New Orleans Saints. If not for his struggles early last season, he might be rated higher here. In his defense, he is still adjusting to his move to left tackle, but he came on strong in the second half of '07. Drew Brees rarely gets sacked, and Brown is a big reason why. He's also a dominant run blocker, which would be more prominent if the Saints get a healthy back to attack between the tackles.

Speaking of Drew, SignOnSanDiego.com (I always think of Anchorman) had an article about Drew and his feelings about leaving San Diego (It means a whales vagina) and being in New Orleans.

“I wasn't bitter,” said Brees, who yesterday was running about three dozen kids through their paces at Cathedral Catholic High as part of the NFL's Take a Player to School program. “Certainly, I felt like there was one person who didn't quite believe in me like the rest (of the Chargers). That's unfortunate.”

“Things have worked out for both sides,” said Brees, who spends “six to eight weeks” in San Diego, where he still owns a home. “I think he's (Rivers) done a good job. Look at the results. I'm happy for him. The Chargers have been successful the last few years and so have the Saints. New Orleans is a very special place. Things happen for a reason.

“I definitely wanted the Chargers to sign me back, but I signed with the Saints. It's like a calling.”

Call it a win-win situation.

Drew gets into some heavy stuff next.

“Winning the Payton Award is not a reward for what you do in the past,” Brees said. “There's a responsibility for what you do in the future. That's why we remain so active with the foundation. We support the league however we can. I love athletics. I want to leave the game better than I found it.

“God has a plan. There still are areas (in New Orleans) that look like a bomb went off yesterday. When we thought about where we were going to live, we tried to pick an area that hadn't been flooded. We bought a house that still had $52,000 worth of roof damage. We wanted to be in the middle of town. Right in the thick of it.”

It's funny because his house actually does flood when it rains very heavily. This article from ESPN proves it. Though it says his basement flooded, everyone from New Orleans knows there are no basements in NOLA. He is definitely in the thick of it.

In regards to playing his old team, this is what Mr. Perfect had to say.

“We're excited, obviously, but we still have a lot of games to play before that one,” he said. “I always hoped we'd come back here to play them. Maybe in four years. I still care about this community.

“There are some educated people in London who think New Orleans is still under water. This is a chance to show we're coming back.”

Is he like the perfect person or what? I really don't think Drew has a bad bone in his body. Am I too old to be adopted?

Apparently Thibodeaux, LA is a breeding ground for athletic trainers. I found this article from CSTV.com about athletic training students getting first hand experience working with NFL teams around the league during training camp, including our very own New Orleans Saints.

The New Orleans Saints will welcome Brett Chaisson, a senior from Thibodaux, La., while fellow NFC South member the Atlanta Falcons will have Scott Hebert, a senior from Galliano, La., to assist with their camp.

Traveling far away from the friendly confines of Thibodaux will be Nathan Quebedeaux, a senior from Hammond, La., and Dexter Charles, a senior from Thibodaux, La. Quebedeaux accepted an internship with the Detroit Lions, while Charles will assume the same role with the Arizona Cardinals.