I'm just here to confirm we have an agreement in principle with Drew to become a New Orleans Saint. We're real excited about that. |
I'm speechless that we found him, |
I've always been of the mode that any and all options are available until the time that you turn that card in. We've traded up. We've traded down. We haven't ruled out any options. |
If we can uplift anyone, obviously that's worthwhile to us. We're representatives of the people of Louisiana and the people of New Orleans. |
It doesn't seem like we'll be able to return to New Orleans in the near future. We've got (players and staff) that have kids that need to go to school and a lot of other issues with families. We think it's fair to them that we establish a base here. |
It's been a tough season for everyone. We haven't made the playoffs in the last five years, and we haven't had a winning record since 2002. It's a cumulative effect. Certainly, the situation we had this year made it tough for Jim, the coaches and players, and everyone in the entire organization. |
It's looking that way. You'd like to leave it open-ended, and continue to look at the alternatives, but we're dealing with people's lives here. Families have decisions to make and you can't delay that forever. And it's obvious we can't go back to New Orleans [to practice]. |
Now, maybe we just have a little different sense of purpose, which is good. |
Obviously, we needed to get this resolved, |
Our doctors are convinced that everything went as well as it could, both with the surgery and with the rehab. Drew is weeks ahead in the rehab process. We believe he is going to be just fine. |
Our facility has been commandeered, which is fine, it's a good spot for them. We'll bring back what we can. |
Sean was the best fit for us. I thought we had a good connection and I liked his strengths as an assistant coach. |
Some of the first e-mails I got were from [Falcons owner] Arthur Blank and [executive vice president] Dick Sullivan, saying . . . if there was any way they could help they'd be more than pleased and honored to do so. I know Arthur has given a lot of money. |
The relief efforts take priority right now and, if they need the Saints' complex, it's there for them, ... our eyes, our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. |
There?s always excitement about a No. 1 pick, but this is a little different. People chanting spontaneously ... it was a little overwhelming how excited people were. |