Now that the Saints have officially lost (won?) the Trent Green sweepstakes, it's time to look in another direction for Drew Brees' backup. But they're not looking to get any younger than the 38-year-old Jamie Martin, who held the spot last year, as the interest in Green would indicate. Especially now that Mark Brunell is coming to town.The team is meeting with Brunell today, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him signed by tomorrow. He can step in adequately if needed (although no Saints fan embraces that possibility), but his value lies mainly in his being another set of discerning eyes, almost as if he's another coach.
That player/coach role will have its greatest impact on Tyler Palko, the young guy being groomed for the future. Between Brees, Payton, highly-regarded quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael Jr., and possibly Brunell, Palko has an excellent group to learn from, and he should be ready to step into the backup spot in another year. Palko is also, like Brunell, left-handed, adding another potential learning benefit. Brunell might not have much in the tank, but he's still got a lot to offer the Saints, and he's a much better option in my mind than Green.
