IMO, the funniest fucker on the planet...

We did our Moms day stuff yesterday. Sushi and Sashimi at the Waka House here in Baton Rouge was fantastic. It's a small, hole-in-the-wall with great service and good food. Everything was fresh and presented well. We're pigs when it comes to sushi, but we like taking some home for the next day.

Now we prepare for Father's Day...

It's been a while since an LSU-related post, so I thought that I might drop a few words in LSU's next uber-recruit, Russell Shepard.

To be honest, this cat is going to need some work. His passing skills are very raw (although he put on a clinic at the recent Nike Camp I'm told) and he lacks what coaches call "ideal height" in a QB. This isn't usually as big of an issue in college football as it in in the NFL. However, this guy's legs are what's going to make him special. Case in point:

Yeah, you saw that. UT fans have cooled off on the kid since he verbally committed to LSU, but every school was after him and choose LSU very early in the game. Normally I would be wary of a kid with strong ties to schools in another region, but this guy has put on the Purple and Gold glasses quickly and has not taken them off. Most recently, his remarks to the Reveille certainly put him in a place that makes it hard for me to see him pulling his verbal barring something dramatic in the LSU Football program.

"I know that all I can give right now is my verbal commitment," Shepard said. "But my word is my bond. When I say that I am going to do something, I am going to do it. That doesn't mean just play football. That means I am committed to other things, and recruiting is one of them."

With LSU storming out of the 2009 recruiting gates with 11 commitments, Shepard said he has continued to try and do his part to help the Tigers stay atop not only the Southeastern Conference but all of college football.

"I am trying to talk with everybody that LSU has on their board," Shepard said. "I am talking with [Rueben] Randle, [Chris] Davenport, [Craig] Loston, [Jamarkus] McFarland and a ton of other guys. I want the best class in the nation. I want this class to be better than LSU's in 2003."

His coach calls him "a touchdown waiting to happen" and compares him to Tyrod Taylor, the VaTech phenom that will have the Hokies vying for a Nat'l Title very soon.

Keep an ear open for this kid...

and I'm not talking "I'd really like to see those two chicks make out with that monkey" sick. I'm talking, kill me now so my head will stop pounding, Ryan Perrilloux blew his 15th chance and I don't want to watch the Hornets game sick.

I fought through the day to get home and now I'm downing a glass of "medicine" to ease the drifting off dreaming of the now defunct Arizona State Cheerleading team and a prayerful Gary Busey.

So what's the final verdict on the Saints' acquisition of Sedrick Ellis, Tracy Porter, DeMario Pressley, Carl Nicks, Taylor Mehlhaff and Adrian Arrington?

While I would have like to have seen a good safety prospect added to the roster along with one of the many pass catching tight ends, I can't really complain. Instead of having a 3rd round pick to draft a safety prospect like Notre Dame's Tom Zbikowski or Cal's Thomas Decoud, the Saints moved up to draft Sedrick Ellis. Instead of taking Kentucky tight end Jacob Tamme, the Saints acquired the QB of their defense in Jon Vilma. So now looking back at how the picks were used, how do we feel about the 2008 Player Selection Meeting?

We feel happy.

Not Glenn Dorsey happy, but Sedrick Ellis happy and that is still quite contented...

With this draft, the Saints improved the middle of the their defense ten-fold from the 2007 season (barring injury of course) and added a top-flight CB prospect with excellent return abilities who should begin to push for playing time at the nickel spot almost immediately. They added yet another talent to one of the better O-Line's in the NFL and added a couple decent prospects at the kicker (at least it wasn't a lunch lady) and receiving spots that might actually make it back from Jackson, MS. Let us not forget the mega-talented but freakishly recent injured Demario Pressley who could be a pass rushing presence up the middle an a season or two or yet another uber-hyped Beast by Message Board Guy.

Be sure to check out the draft recaps from this guy, this guy, these chicks. They're Saints-ilicious and receive the full endorsement of this here blogger. :tup:

Saints | Faulkner to try out for team
Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:59:15 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports Indiana State LB Shonda Faulkner will try out for the New Orleans Saints.

Saints | Team signs Roach
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:02:04 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed undrafted free-agent FS David Roach (Texas-Christian University) Tuesday, April 29. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs Blythe
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:00:40 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed undrafted free-agent WR Todd Blythe (Iowa State) Tuesday, April 29. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs Tuminello
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:00:22 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed undrafted free-agent C Kevin Tuminello (Georgia Tech) Tuesday, April 29. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs G. Davis
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:04:27 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed undrafted free-agent OT Gerald Davis (Valdosta State) Tuesday, April 29. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | L. Sanders signs with team
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:23:06 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed undrafted rookie free-agent LB Luke Sanders (Louisiana State) to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Contract details: Boone
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:22:40 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed OT Jason Boone to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Contract details: Prather
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:21:32 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed P Waylon Prather to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Contract details: McManus
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:20:44 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed OL Nate McManus to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Contract details: Schwartz
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:19:58 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed S Rocky Schwartz to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Contract details: Ostrander
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:19:27 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed QB T.C. Ostrander to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Contract details: Millington
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:19:07 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed OT Akim Millington to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Contract details: Senser
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:18:40 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed LS Ryan Senser to a three-year deal with a $5,000 signing bonus.

Saints | Team signs O. Sobomehin
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:39:59 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints signed undrafted rookie free-agent FB Olaniyi Sobomehin (Portland State). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs J. Boone
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:04:07 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed undrafted rookie free-agent OT Jason Boone (Utah). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs W. Prather
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:57:44 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed undrafted rookie free-agent P Waylon Prather (San Jose State). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs R. Senser
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:55:45 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed undrafted rookie free-agent LS Ryan Senser (Ohio). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs A. Millington
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:52:35 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed undrafted rookie free-agent OT Akim Millington (Illinois). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs N. McManus
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:49:20 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed undrafted rookie free-agent OG Nate McManus (Georgia Tech). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Team signs J. Geathers
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:50:06 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed undrafted rookie free-agent DL Jeremy Geathers (UNLV). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Saints | Schwartz signs with team
Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:01:02 -0700
Josh Buchanan, of NFLDraftBible.com, reports the New Orleans Saints have signed undrafted rookie free-agent LB Rocky Schwartz (University of Houston). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Well that wraps up a nice draft for the Saints. After selecting Wisconsin kicker Tyler Me.... Whaaaaa? The Saints traded back into the 7th round?

That's right, Bitches. The Saints traded back into the draft to snatch Michigan receiving prospect, Adrian Arrington.

Arrington isn't a burner by any means, but he possesses enough speed to gain separation and break away from defensive backs. He's a tall, lean guy and to say that he could use a few bowls of red beans and rice is an understatement. He is very raw like you expect a 7th round pick to be. He likes to round off his cuts, loses focus which results in too many dropped passes, is a poor downfield blocker and he takes a couple steps before he really gets going speed-wise. On the upside, he has made some extraordinary catches and has enough physical gifts to warrant losing a 6th round choice in 2009. In Sean Payton's offense, you can never have too many receivers and outside of his lean frame, there are a lot of similarities between Arrington and Marques Colston.

Don't get too damn excited because there will never be another Marques Colston, but Arring has a chance to stick around on the Practice Squad while learning on the fly from Colston and Patten what is expected of a Pro at this level.

Drafting a kicker is not usually a smart bet. They're disposable, cheap and come a dime a dozen. They only play a handful of snaps a game and will break your heart.

The only way I feel good about this guy is if he pushes Gramatica off the roster. He was one of the nation's more prolific kickers the last four years and has arguably the strongest leg of the draft. After kicking in Wisconsin for four years, New Orleans is going to be a dream come true for this kid.

So how does arguably the most physically gifted offensive lineman in the draft drop to the 164th pick?

No one is talking. There is the moving through three schools in his collegiate career. There is the arrest for failing to disperse at a party this past March. Then there is the being banned from Nebraska's Pro Day for said arrest. There were rumors of Nicks being a malcontent on the team as well. However, I just can't see any of that being the reason for such a talented and massive athlete dropping to borderline practice squad territory.

Regardless, Sean Payton is good friends with Carl's former coach, Bill Callahan and apparently after speaking with him and informing Carl what is expected in the Saints locker room, the Saints fears were sufficiently quelled as they selected the talented behemoth.

His size is his biggest asset. It will be a chore for defenders to simply get around him. Couple that with his athleticism and nasty demeanor and you have the makings for a fine road grader on the outside. His only starting season was at Left Tackle, but scouts feel that he lacks the agility to play the left side. I think that if he plays at a lighter weight he could be adequate, but his taloents are probably better suited for the right side. He has a fantastic punch and if he gets his hands on a defender first, the play is over. Technique-wise he is very raw and needs some serious fine-tuning. He's not going to get bull rushed, but expect him to have problems with those quick defenders that come right off the edge. His weight may become an issue if he does not stay motivated.

Barring mental breakdowns, I expect this guy to be a steal like Jahri Evans was. After Ellis, I am most excited about his selection.

The Saints get a steal in the 5th round thanks to a rash of injuries that beset him, starting with wrist injury to end th e2006 season. In Spring camp he suffered a turg toe injury. In summer camp he was stricken with a nasty elbow injury that resulted in three ligament tears. He played through the injury, but suffered a knee injury that was cleared up with arthroscopic surgery that allowed him to actually return to active duty. Once he returned, he twisted his ankle. Up to this rash os injuries, his career was pretty much injury-free. Were it not for these injuries, Pressley would have easily been a first day pick.

He was the top rated D-Linemen vcoming out of High School and possesses enough athleticism and power to play both inside and outside on the D-Line. This athleticsm is expected top carry over to the NFL as many teams project Pressley to play DE instead of DT.

Physically, DeMario possesses good upper body development with broad shoulders a long reach and large hands. Technique-wise, he has a strong hand punch and gets good extension to control blockers in one-on-one situations, using his hand punch and arm extension well to defeat reach blocks and shed. He can be disruptive at the point of attack when he keeps his pad level down and drives hard with his legs to generate good explosion off the ball. Pressley projects as a 3-tech guy in the mold of Glenn Dorsey and Darnell Dockett.