http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/02/new_orleans_saints_tackle_jamm.html
New Orleans Saints tackle Jammal Brown can't wait to return to playing field
Published: Saturday, February 27, 2010, 11:34 PM
Updated: Monday, March 01, 2010, 8:33 PM
Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
Jammal Brown, the Saints' starting left tackle until he was sidelined by injury this season, is eager to return to action.
While most of the Saints are still reveling in their Super Bowl championship, at least one player is thrilled that the 2010 season is finally here.
Left tackle Jammal Brown has been stuck on the sideline since he had surgeries to repair a sports hernia and a torn labrum in his left hip last August and September.
The two-time Pro Bowler is so eager to get back to work that he plans to leave today for Southern California, where he'll spend the next month and a half working out at the Elite Athletics training center run by Saints teammate Billy Miller.
"I didn't play last year, so while other people are taking some time off, I'm going to pick it up, " said Brown, who said he has mostly been focused on stretching and flexibility so far, and now he wants to concentrate on getting his strength back.
"I feel real good. I've been doing good for a while, " Brown said. "I want to show that I've been working and I'm ready to get back."
The Saints will report for the start of their official offseason conditioning program in mid-April, about two weeks later than usual because of their extra-long season.
The Saints might consider trade offers for Brown or replacement starter Jermon Bushrod, both of whom are restricted free agents this year.
But if both players come back for another season, it could make for the most compelling position battle on the roster.
"I just look at it as a business. I know what I can do. They know what I can do, " said Brown, who was the Saints' first-round draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2005. "They understand my capabilities, and the last year I played I had a Pro Bowl year. And the same with Bushrod, he played well (in 2009).
"However it goes, I'm just going to work hard and keep the faith that things will work out. I'm going to go out here and work and see where it goes from there."
Brown, who turns 29 next month, has the more impressive resume, having started for four years at a high level. But he also has a more concerning injury history.
In addition to his most recent injuries, he has battled a string of knee injuries dating back to college, though he hasn't had any major knee surgeries in his NFL career.
"I've never really had any major serious problems (with the knee), just a couple of scopes (arthroscopic surgeries). That's never been a big factor, " said Brown, who also pointed out that he suffered his hip injury during Week 3 of the 2008 season and played the entire season through the pain of what was originally diagnosed as a "hip flexor."
"I just kept playing through it. You know, football's a tough sport, " said Brown.
He said the full extent of the injury was discovered after he was having groin and hip pain this past preseason and went in for the sports hernia surgery.
Bushrod, meanwhile, filled in admirably after Brown went on injured reserve and showed promise in the role. Although the 25-year-old had one particularly bad night against Dallas' elite pass rusher DeMarcus Ware in Week 15, he bounced back with an outstanding playoff run.
Coach Sean Payton said it's too early to handicap that potential battle, saying nobody's name will be written on top of the depth chart, at least until the team gets a good feel for Brown's health.
"That's a good problem to have, " Payton said of the depth at tackle, which also includes starting right tackle Jon Stinchcomb and proven backup Zach Strief, who is also a restricted free agent. "You still have some flexibility, but right now that would be a good problem to have."
The Saints made one-year qualifying offers to all three of their restricted free agent tackles -- Brown, Bushrod and Strief -- though it's possible that other teams who aren't as well-equipped at one of the game's most important positions will make a run at one or more of them in free agency.
The Saints' offer to Brown was the highest, a $3.619 million contract, which includes the highest possible compensation level of both first- and third-round draft picks if he signs with another team and the Saints decline to match the offer.
But Brown's offer was required to be that high because he had a base salary of $3.29 million last season, and qualifying offers to restricted free agents must include a 10 percent raise.
Bushrod and Strief were both tendered at second-round compensation levels, at salaries of $1.684 million and $1.759 million, based on their years of service. Bushrod was a fourth-round pick out of Towson in 2007. Strief was a seventh-round pick out of Northwestern in 2006.
Obviously that lower compensation level might make Bushrod more attractive to other teams. But if teams express interest in one or more of the Saints' tackles, they could try to work out a trade for any of them at a lesser price.
"Honestly, I don't even know how that all works, " Brown admitted, echoing a sentiment shared by many team officials, agents, players and fans in this new free agency landscape.
Does he plan to shop around in free agency and look for potential deals from other teams? "I haven't even thought about it, to be honest with you, " Brown said.
"The only thing I've thought about is going back in April and trying to be part of a dynasty."
I resent your preemptive strike on my cynicism Om!So ... why is he here? Figured we'd better get ahead of that before the really cynical among us assume it's simply because the Saints don't think he can play any more.
Sort of freaky to us long-time fans...not quite sure how to react to such competence!Who the hell ARE these Redskins? Sensible moves to acquire proven players at need positions for reasonable prices?
Why are they messing with us so?
Sort of freaky to us long-time fans...not quite sure how to react to such competence!
Well, they turned 4 pics this year into 6, so who knows how many they'll turn 6 into next year!
You haven't joined any rooms.