Thursday, May 11, 2006
Saints pick
The Saints swapped one underachieving young linebacker for another on Wednesday, sending Courtney Watson to the Miami Dolphins for Eddie Moore.
Both linebackers were second-round picks (Moore in 2003, Watson in 2004), but both were deemed expendable under new coaching regimes.
"I think it was just, for this staff, we're trading a guy that doesn't really fit our defense for a guy that doesn't really fit their defense," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.
Moore (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) projects as a backup weakside linebacker who can also contribute on special teams. He has been limited to 18 games and four starts in three years because of a variety of injuries, but the Saints liked his speed and potential coming out of the University of Tennessee.
"Really, he's been hurt throughout his career, so he has yet to prove it on the field," Loomis said. "But we like what we've seen in the games he has played."
Moore, 25, was labeled a bust in Miami, especially because there was some well-publicized dissent in the front office when he was drafted instead of receiver Anquan Boldin. Moore missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, then ended the past two seasons on injured reserve with knee injuries.
Last year under new coach Nick Saban, Moore played sparingly in five games, primarily on special teams
Watson, 25, has been slightly more productive since being drafted out of Notre Dame in 2004. But he was never able to lock down the starting middle linebacker job with the Saints.
Watson (6-1, 246) started 14 games in two seasons and showed promise toward the end of his rookie year. But he never was able to play at full speed and be a consistent tackler while still managing the middle linebacker duties.
Last year, Watson was arrested for driving while intoxicated and began to fall out of favor with the coaching staff on the field and off. He lost his starting job to veteran Ronald McKinnon even before he was placed on injured reserve with a torn medial collateral knee ligament.
BUSH'S JERSEY: The Saints are still waiting for a decision from the league on whether rookie Reggie Bush will be allowed to wear his college No. 5 in the NFL.
Both linebackers were second-round picks (Moore in 2003, Watson in 2004), but both were deemed expendable under new coaching regimes.
"I think it was just, for this staff, we're trading a guy that doesn't really fit our defense for a guy that doesn't really fit their defense," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.
Moore (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) projects as a backup weakside linebacker who can also contribute on special teams. He has been limited to 18 games and four starts in three years because of a variety of injuries, but the Saints liked his speed and potential coming out of the University of Tennessee.
"Really, he's been hurt throughout his career, so he has yet to prove it on the field," Loomis said. "But we like what we've seen in the games he has played."
Moore, 25, was labeled a bust in Miami, especially because there was some well-publicized dissent in the front office when he was drafted instead of receiver Anquan Boldin. Moore missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, then ended the past two seasons on injured reserve with knee injuries.
Last year under new coach Nick Saban, Moore played sparingly in five games, primarily on special teams
Watson, 25, has been slightly more productive since being drafted out of Notre Dame in 2004. But he was never able to lock down the starting middle linebacker job with the Saints.
Watson (6-1, 246) started 14 games in two seasons and showed promise toward the end of his rookie year. But he never was able to play at full speed and be a consistent tackler while still managing the middle linebacker duties.
Last year, Watson was arrested for driving while intoxicated and began to fall out of favor with the coaching staff on the field and off. He lost his starting job to veteran Ronald McKinnon even before he was placed on injured reserve with a torn medial collateral knee ligament.
BUSH'S JERSEY: The Saints are still waiting for a decision from the league on whether rookie Reggie Bush will be allowed to wear his college No. 5 in the NFL.
# posted by neworleanssaints @ 9:16 PM 
