NFL - Sports Rumors - New Orleans Saints

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All the speculation finally becomes something more Saturday when the NFL draft begins at 3 p.m. Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, barring some unforeseen development, will become a member of another team, and we'll all get to see what he brings in return. Early Friday evening, it was the New Orleans Saints' second-round pick that qualified as the best offer on the table.

A league source said five teams had made offers for Sheppard. The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were among those teams, and the source said the Eagles were still hopeful when they went to bed last night that some team would improve its offer today.

The Saints' second-round pick is the 40th overall. Another league source said the Rams were unwilling to give up their second-round pick, which is the 33d overall. In a normal draft year that would be the first pick of the second round, but this year it is the second pick because the New England Patriots were stripped of the 32d overall pick in the first round. Some reports Thursday said that Tampa Bay was the front-runner to land Sheppard, but the league source said the Bucs did not have the best offer on the table as of early Friday evening. There was also speculation that the Bucs might include Michael Clayton in a deal for Sheppard, but the source said the Eagles were not interested in the veteran wide receiver. Tampa Bay has the 52d overall pick in the second round.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

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Former New York Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton has made no secret of his desire to be reunited with Jeremy Shockey. The only question now is this: How much is the reunion worth to him?

According to one NFL source, the New Orleans Saints were willing to increase their initial offer of a second-round pick to include another pick late in the draft — possibly their fifth-rounder. However, the Giants had asked for a second-round pick and safety Roman Harper and didn't seem to be backing off their high demands.

That's because, according to a source, the Giants are wary of appearing to just Shockey away, especially if they use the second-round pick on a player who doesn't work out. They want either an established player or a first-round pick in return — two things they're not likely to get for a banged-up 27-year-old coming off a broken leg. At least, it doesn't appear they'll get that much, but some league insiders cautioned not to underestimate Payton's desire to build his offense around Shockey, who has been telling friends for weeks he wants - and expects — to be traded to the Saints. His unhappiness and his recent demands to renegotiate his contract also could convince the Giants they should trade him away.

Source: New York Daily News

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Could Jeremy Shockey be the answer to the Seattle Seahawks' need for a tight end? No, the club said Wednesday, after the New York Daily News reported that the Seahawks are among the teams interesting in trading for the Giants' disgruntled tight end according to a report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The Seahawks quickly dismissed the report, saying they have no serious interest in the four-time Pro Bowler, who sat out the Giants' run to the Super Bowl after breaking his leg in Week 15 of the regular season. The Seahawks plan to address the tight end position in the NFL draft this weekend.

The Giants are not actively trying to trade Shockey, 27, the Daily News reported, but the paper also said some in the organization are convinced he will be traded before the first day of the draft has been completed. The New Orleans Saints are interested in acquiring Shockey, who has been telling friends he wants to go to the Saints to be reunited with Sean Payton, the Giants' former offensive coordinator who is now New Orleans' head coach. Shockey also is looking to rework his contract, the paper reported, even though there are four years remaining on the deal.

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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If the New York Giants decide to trade Jeremy Shockey this week, it won't necessarily be to the New Orleans Saints. Whether the Saints or Seattle Seahawks up the ante between now and the start of the draft on Saturday will likely determine whether the Giants make the bold move to dump the 27-year-old Shockey, who has been expressing his frustrations with the Giants to his friends this offseason. According to team sources, the Giants aren't actively trying to trade him, but they are listening to offers and have discussed the possibility according to the New York Daily News.

Some in the organization are convinced Shockey will be traded before the first day of the draft is over, although most sources have indicated it could go either way, depending on how high the offers go.

One source also indicated that other teams have expressed an interest in Shockey, although none more than the Seahawks and Saints. The source did not say who those teams were, but one possibility is the Atlanta Falcons, who are looking to replace tight end Alge Crumpler. The Falcons, by the way, have three second-round picks (34th, 37th and 48th).

Source: New York Daily News

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New Orleans Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis confirmed that the team has been exploring the idea of moving up from the No. 10 spot in this weekend's draft. Loomis was vague throughout his pre-draft press conference Tuesday, saying he didn't want to offer any information that could help the competition. But he did admit that the Saints have talked with "a number of teams in front of us about the possibility of moving forward." Loomis also revealed that the Saints have not talked with anyone about moving down in the draft and said he doesn't foresee that happening.

The speculation is that the Saints covet LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, because he might be the best defensive player on the board and he fills the team's most glaring need. But the Saints might also have their eye on tackle Sedrick Ellis, defensive ends Vernon Gholston and Chris Long, or all of the above.

The cost of moving up to No. 2 or No. 3 in the first round could be stiff — perhaps the Saints' top three picks in this year's draft (No. 10, No. 40 and No. 78). The price would be a little cheaper to get Ellis, especially if he starts slipping past the sixth or seventh pick. But the Saints might have to move into the top five if they want a guarantee that he'll be available.

Source: Times-Picayune

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As it turns out, the Atlanta Falcons have gotten calls from teams interested in moving up to No.3 in this weekend's NFL draft according to Profootballtalk.com.

One of them came from the New Orleans Saints, who were linked last week to the St. Louis Rams at No. 2.

The Saints are believed to be hoping to move up in an effort to land LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. They currently hold the 10th overall pick in the draft.

Source: Profootballtalk.com

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Jeremy Shockey has not formally demanded a trade from the Giants, but he has made it very clear he wouldn't be upset if it happened, either. The brash tight end, who missed the Giants' championship run with a broken leg, has been sounding off for more than a month about his frustrations with the Giants, according to NFL sources. And he has told friends he would welcome a trade to the New Orleans Saints, who made an offer for him last month the New York Daily News reported.

But while Giants GM Jerry Reese admitted yesterday that he has had "conversations" with other teams about trading Shockey, he also said he is not shopping his tight end. "Anything can happen in personnel," he said. "But right now, Jeremy Shockey is our starting tight end and we're looking forward for him to be back on the field for us this fall."

According to team sources, at least two clubs have inquired about Shockey and the Giants have made it clear they are willing to listen. The Saints reportedly offered them a second-round pick for Shockey last month, but the Giants wanted more. "We're not just going to give him away," the source said.

Source: New York Daily News

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