As the veterans report to the team's facility in Metairie today, this will mark the first time since his suspension that Sean Payton will have the opportunity to address the entire team. This program will run for nine days through April 26th before picking back up three days later after the draft exercise is completed and lasting through the end of May. We're 10 days away from the draft which will see a number of other new players joining the roster but for now the team has seven new faces. Those are:
CB Keenan Lewis
LB Victor Butler
S Jim Leonhard
DE Kenyon Coleman
TE Ben Watson
QB Luke McCown (sort of new, he was with the team in camp last year)
T Jason Smith
In addition to these seven additions, with Lewis clearly being the crowning jewel of the new recruits, there's a few players with an unresolved contract situation. The free agents without a contract are Devery Henderson, Sedrick Ellis, Elbert Mack, William Robinson and Scott Shanle. I could see maybe two of those players coming back, with Ellis and Shanle least likely. Then there's restricted tender to Chris Ivory, who is currently exploring a trade with the Jets. If Ivory is traded that would free up around $2 million of cap room to possibly sign another free agent.
With Sean Payton now officially back and leading the troops today, expect him to make an emphatic and stern return in an attempt to right the ship that went horribly off course last season. The first order of business will be Rob Ryan beating a new scheme into the brains of the defense. What can go wrong?
