Jammal Brown Was Never Discussed in Draft Day Trade Talks (Wink Wink)

Some of the last-minute rumor-mongering leading up to the first day of the draft had the Saints dangling All Pro left tackle Jammal Brown in trade talks with the Rams and Chiefs for their first-round picks, and the Eagles for Lito Sheppard. None happened, and Brown is still a Saint. Sean Payton insists it was never going to happen any other way.

"There is (so much) written leading up to the draft, and I bet it's about 50-percent accurate and 50-percent false," Payton said. "When it comes to a player like Jammal, I think it's a credit to him. ... but we're not interested in trading (him).

"I read a little bit of that, but you'll go crazy trying to pay attention to all of it. There was no interest on our part in trading him."

He may be telling the truth. I've got no knowledge of the situation (and very little knowledge in general). But I'm also not about to deem this an open and shut case. Simply, the team would never come out and say that it attempted to trade a player after failing, especially one as vital as Brown. That might create some acrimony, what scientists have dubbed the "Ocho Cinco Effect" (look it up in the next DSM).

But here's the truth -- Brown's knees have long-term uncertainty, he'll be looking for a big deal soon, and the team has stockpiled offensive tackles for what I believe are reasons that extend beyond the fact that it's good practice to build depth there. It might not be this year, but I don't think Brown is long for New Orleans.