Saints sign two RB's and put Stecker on IR (1 Viewer)

[Breesisdaman]

http://blog.nola.com/saintsbeat/2008/11/ne...lace_runni.html

The Saints placed tailback Aaron Stecker on injured reserve Tuesday after he aggravated his lingering hamsting injury in Sunday's 30-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. They replaced him with free agent tailback Mike Bell, a 6-foot, 225-pounder who spent the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos.

They also signed free agent fullback Darian Barnes (6-2, 240), a seventh-year veteran who was with Detroit and Buffalo earlier in the year.

Stecker's injury was expected to need four to six weeks to heal, according to his agent Ronald Slavin. With only six weeks remaining in the season, the Saints needed the roster spot.

Stecker, 33, is a free agent after this season after he signed a one-year deal to remain in New Orleans this past spring. The valuable utility man has been with the Saints for five years after spending his first four seasons in Tampa Bay.

Bell, 25, had a breakout rookie season with the Broncos in 2006 after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona. But he played only sparingly last year and did not catch on with a team this season after a brief cameo with the Houston Texans in training camp. Bell ran for 677 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie and just three yards on six attempts last year. His agent Steven Feldman confirmed the signing.

Barnes, 28, has bounced around with eight different NFL teams since he originally signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent out of Hampton in 2002. His most extensive playing time came in Dallas in 2004, when he scored his only career touchdown.

The other player released from the Saints' active roster has not yet been announced.

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

 

[packersfan]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

 

[Jerry Lawler]

Last I heard from Mike Bell was that he was signed to provide depth for the Texans, then cut a week later due to being too out of shape to participate in training camp. Mike Bell is worth watching because of Deuce's likely suspension and Bush's knee injury, but I don't think Pierre Thomas is in any danger of slipping down the depth chart.

 

[Grid71]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

 

[the spanker]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

I agree with you. Going to try and pick him up NOW.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/11/18/...-running-backs/

with the saints and vikings players meeting with goodell this week, thsounds like suspensions are going to be handed out next week. (according to NFL total access)

So If Bush doesnt come back this week I could see Pierre getting the load with Deuce in short yardage.

 

[Breesisdaman]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

In redraft for this season-yes. Going forward I still have my doubts after this season. I still think they wil address the position in the offseason when Deuce departs.

 

[packersfan]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

In redraft for this season-yes. Going forward I still have my doubts after this season. I still think they wil address the position in the offseason when Deuce departs.

All Thomas has ever done is produce when given a chance to play. I'm not sure he's a big-time starting RB but he's been pretty darn good in this offense. At some point when a guy produces every chance he gets it becomes more than a coincidence.

 

[packersfan]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

I agree with you. Going to try and pick him up NOW.

My league has a WW order so all I can do is put in a claim but I'm hoping like hell I get him. No Deuce and no Stecker could = Huge Thomas starting real soon.

 

[Breesisdaman]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

In redraft for this season-yes. Going forward I still have my doubts after this season. I still think they wil address the position in the offseason when Deuce departs.

All Thomas has ever done is produce when given a chance to play. I'm not sure he's a big-time starting RB but he's been pretty darn good in this offense. At some point when a guy produces every chance he gets it becomes more than a coincidence.

He has been productive but to say all he has done is produce when given a chance is a bit of a stretch. Thomas has had trouble this season in short yardage situations and all 3 times were game on the line critical situations because in both the Denver and Washington losses he could not move the ball 1 yard to win the game. Is this why they signed a big pounder in Mike Bell? Perhaps. As a whole though I agree that Pierre Thomas does gain value and especially this week on a Monday night against Green Bay he will be a nice sleeper.

 

[Breesisdaman]

Where do you guys see PT stacking up in my waiver order

Right now i have

Dunn

Hillis

PT

Morris (Pats)

Fred Jackson

is that too high? I am having to drop Graham

 

[packersfan]

Where do you guys see PT stacking up in my waiver orderRight now i have DunnHillisPTMorris (Pats)Fred Jacksonis that too high? I am having to drop Graham

All of those guys except Hillis are available in my league (PPR) and they are all on my WW list for this week. I have them rankedunnMorrisThomasI'd rank Jackson a distant fourth on this list. I think Thomas has a very good chance to rank second and possibly even first in a PPR league since he could be a better bet than Dunn to score TDs. But as of today with Deuce still not suspended I think Morris deserves to be ranked higher since I believe he will be the starter again. Thomas is the upside guy because he's been productive and is on the most explosive offense but I think Dunn and Morris are safer RBs right now.

 

[Da Guru]

I vowed never to have a RB named Bell on my team again.

 

[the spanker]

Perhaps this spells bad news for Deuce. Is Mike Bell the Power back that can step in?

In Week 12? I'd bet against it. I do think it's a possible sign the Saints expect Deuce to be suspended. I'm guessing it will be the Bush and Thomas show starting in Week 13 and maybe even Monday night against the Packers.Pierre Thomas' value is rising in my opinion.

I agree with you. Going to try and pick him up NOW.

My league has a WW order so all I can do is put in a claim but I'm hoping like hell I get him. No Deuce and no Stecker could = Huge Thomas starting real soon.

Same here. My league has a WW order. Meant going to put a claim in for him. Waivers process tomorrow. Now I don't know who I want as my number 1 choice between Thomas and Dunn. I agree with you that Thomas has more upside but Dunn is safer in PPR.