JIMMY SMITH: That's a very thoughtful way to open this week's chatfest, Mike. During training camp last year, I told anyone who asked that I didn't think the Saints would be doing as well in 2007 as they did in 2006. My editors thought I'd finally gone bonkers. But you've got to realize that no two seasons are alike. For the Saints in 2006, everything fell right, every bounce went their way, the planets were properly aligned. If you believe in fate, then 2006 was for you. It was different, no doubt in 2007. Those bounces didn't go the Saints way; passes that were caught were dropped, passes that were broken up the year before went for touchdowns. The Saints fell into an 0-4 hole and just couldn't get their heads above water. What does 2008 hold? Who knows. We haven't seen any of these new players on the field yet, so it's impossible to really get a handle on what the talent level will be. Stay tuned. Minicamp, our first chance to see the players on the hoof, so to speak, is at the end of this month. We'll know more in a few weeks.

JIMMY   SMITH: Unfortunately, supernupe, we won't be able to see the players during the rookie minicamp this weekend because it's closed to the media. Therefore, we won't get an opportunity to make any value judgments until the end of May. Check back in June.

JIMMY SMITH: Chuck, you've got your eye in the defensive backfield. There are a couple of guys you won't see anymore, Fred Thomas and likely Jay Bellamy. Though you might not like it, you'll still see Jason David. We won't know how healthy Mike McKenzie will be until he gets on the field. Obviously Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn will get a chance to make an impact as will Tracy Porter. And dwayne, I see a bigger role for Kevin Kaesviharn this season. Whether he unseats Josh Bullocks remains to be seen. We'll know more in August.

JIMMY SMITH: Christa, we really don't know how Vilma and Morgan are progressing because we've yet to see the players on the field. If we're given access to view any of the OTA sessions, which we're supposed to under media access rules, we'll have a better handle on those guys before minicamp, which we'll definitely see. As far as Deuce and McKenzie, the same goes. Deuce apparently has gotten on the field for some light work, but he's being smart about how much he tests both of his knees. By the first week in June, after the minicamp concludes, we'll be able to tell you a great deal more.

JIMMY SMITH: That's an intriguing though, Robert F. Adam Archuletta had some interesting years in the league but he does have some age under his belt as well. Surely the Saints will do their due diligence to see if there's anything left in his tank. But your assessment that the team could use some more help at the position is sound. Someone in previous chats had offered the opinion that Mike McKenzie could make a move to safety. Perhaps the Saints have some in-house moves planned in that direction if they feel there's no one on the open market who could be of assistance.

JIMMY SMITH: GIve me a moment, JoeZeppi while I finish pondering which numbers to punch on tonight's Powerball drawing ticket . . . . .Obviously the Saints picked up the kicker because they liked him and figured, or heard, that another team was going to use a draft pick on him meaning he wasn't going to be available as an udrafted free agent. The kid has a strong leg and Payton hasn't been hesitant in the past to carry two kickers on the roster, one for field goals (John Carney) and one for kickoffs (Billy Cundiff). It wouldn't be a surprise, therefore, to see that happen again with Gramatica handling the routine field goals.

JIMMY SMITH: The Saints have to figure out a way, LG Esquire, to get the ball into Reggie Bush's hands. He has proven he can be  a playmaker. Having him return more punts is a viable option, depending upon how heavy a load he's carrying in the offense. If Deuce McAllister is back, or if the Saints are happy with another running back there, and feel as though Bush wouldn't be t aking too much of  a beating as a punt returner, then sure he could be put back there to return more kicks. He'd be a dangerous returner. As dangerous as Hester, we don't know. But it would be nice to find out.

JIMMY SMITH: Will Smith and Marquest Colston share the same agent, Buzz, Joel Segal, who has his hands full trying t get a big contract for another one of his clients, Glenn Dorsey. But now that the draft is over, and Segal is in his negotiating mode, I'm sure he'll be calling the Saints to  begin working on lucrative extensions for Smith and Colston. Haven't heard any rumblings about Evans' deal, though.