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With news from the San Diego Union-Tribune‘s Kevin Acee that Robert Meachem‘s body has reportedly “broken down” according to a source, we’re given a reminder of how expertly the New Orleans Saints have built their pass offense around Drew Brees. Instead of paying Meachem or Devery Henderson decent money to stick around, they jettisoned them for the next line of younger, cheaper deep-threat talent.
It’s unfortunate that the next in line for 2013 was Joe Morgan, who will spend the year on injured reserve due to a recent camp injury, but the idea was sound and followed a strategy that has worked for New Orleans.
General manager Mickey Loomis knows he has to pony up for Jimmy Graham soon and this is a good area to waiver. For now, it’s easy to marvel at the receiving talent around Brees that has allowed him to put up prolific numbers, with of course part of this leaning on Brees making his receivers better.
Graham gives New Orleans nearly a $1.5 million cap hit in 2013 but combined for barely more than that in his first three years combined. Darren Sproles‘ $14 million over four years is a nice deal compared to the load this offense places on him at times. Brees’ top receiver of his Saints era, Marques Colston, cost $36 million over five years ending in 2016, and time will tell if this was money well spent.
Either, it’s all helped pay off the monster deal Brees received last offseason. We’ll see if this strategy pays off as New Orleans now seeks Morgan’s replacement.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
