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HOT TOPIC
Even though he was the sixth overall pick in the 2003 draft, defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan had to know his days with the Saints were numbered when Sean Payton took over as head coach on Jan. 18.
Sullivan cost the Saints two first-round draft picks, but he never lived up to those high expectations under former coach Jim Haslett -- who envisioned the former University of Georgia standout clogging up the middle of a defense that couldn't stop the run.
It took Sullivan less than a year to land in Haslett's doghouse and his inglorious three-year stay with the Saints came to an end on June 5 when he was dealt to the New England Patriots for wide receiver/kick returner Bethel Johnson -- another underachiever from the 2003 draft.
Instead of turning into a perennial Pro Bowler, Sullivan will be remembered as one of the Saints' biggest draft busts. They traded the 17th and 18th picks and a second-round selection to the Arizona Cardinals for first-, second- and fourth-round picks.
But the celebrated trade soon turned sour when Sullivan, who was listed at 6-feet-3 and 315 pounds, showed up for the 2004 offseason program weighing in excess of 350 pounds. In addition to struggling with his weight, Saints coaches often being criticized for his lack of desire and effort.
While he showed some improvement last season, he was still viewed as a disappointment considering where he was drafted. Sullivan, who started only 17 of 36 games he played in, had 42 total tackles while playing as a reserve in 15 games a year ago. He had 102 tackles with 1.5 sacks, four passes deflected and one forced fumble in his brief career with the Saints.
At last week's mini-camp Sullivan said he weighed 328 pounds, but he had not participated fully in the team's strength and conditioning drills. His lack of conditioning was evident when he had fatigue problems during the three-day mini-camp.
That led to the trade the next day as Payton has continually talked about wanting players with high character, desire and work ethic on his team.
Sullivan will cost more than $5 million against the Saints' salary cap during the next two seasons, stemming from his original signing bonus. He was scheduled to receive a base salary of $689,083 this season.
PLAYER NOTES
--Quarterback Drew Brees was under the microscope when the Saints held their final three-day mini-camp last week.
Brees, who underwent surgery on his right shoulder in January, threw balls in public for the first time since signing with the Saints in mid-March. After resuming light throwing in April, Brees did not throw with full velocity and did not throw during full-speed team drills. But that was by design so he wouldn't become overzealous.
"That's when you stop thinking about everything else physical and you just go and play and react," he said. "I'm afraid that I would get out there and try to hose one in there when I'm not supposed to. It's not like it would hurt me, but it probably wouldn't be the smartest thing.
"I feel great. Obviously, I'm not throwing very hard. I'm just kind of flicking it, throwing it firm, but not overdoing it -- a lot of the short and intermediate routes, just to get a sense of the timing with those guys and anticipation."
--Also drawing lots of attention at the mini-camp were first-round draft choice Reggie Bush, who worked all weekend after missing parts of a rookie mini-camp in mid-May with a strained hamstring, and running back Deuce McAllister, who's returning from a torn ACL.
Both worked with no problems. Bush, in fact, was back to full speed. The hamstring that was so tender it required Bush almost shutting down during the rookie camp no longer is a problem and he worked with the offense and on special teams.
"He's fine," said coach Sean Payton. "At the end of last week, he started going full speed."
--During the mini-camp, the Saints signed three NFL veterans in linebackers Jay Foreman and Tommy Polley and tight end Billy Miller to add depth and competition at those positions.
Foreman, the son of former Vikings running back Chuck Foreman, is a seven-year veteran who has played with three teams. He played in one game with the New York Giants in 2005.
Polley, a second-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2001, has played five seasons. He spent the 2005 season with the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he recorded four sacks.
Miller is entering his seventh NFL season after playing for the Cleveland Browns last year, the Houston Texans (2002-04) and the Denver Broncos (1999-2000). He has started 22 of 73 career games and has 114 catches for 1,212 yards and seven touchdowns.
--Wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who was held out of mini-camp practices on June 3 because he was late for work, was sidelined for parts of the last of five practices.
Stallworth, who had minor off-season shoulder surgery, at times stood around flexing his left shoulder. But coach Sean Payton wouldn't say if Stallworth, the subject of trade talks this spring, was being singled out.
"There are certain things that we expect," Payton said.
"He (Payton) made his message clear when he first got here," Stallworth said, "and he doesn't want things like that to occur."
--Right tackle Jon Stinchcomb, a four-year veteran, is still recovering from the ruptured right patellar tendon that ended his season last year early in training camp.
Stinchcomb, who's alternating with Jamar Nesbit on the first team, appeared to be favoring the knee when he's running. But he was happy to take part in the mini-camp workouts.
"It's been a long time since I've played some football," said Stinchcomb, a second-round draft pick in 2003. "I'm just trying to knock some rust off. It's good to be back out there. But I still have a ways to go. Just to be playing football, it's quite a blessing."
--With their mini-camps behind them, the Saints have only four more days of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) scheduled for this week before they take a six-week break prior to the start of training camp in late July.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--WR Az-Zahir Hakim (not tendered June 1).
--TE Lamont Hall (not tendered June 1).
--LB Ronald McKinnon (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--LB James Allen: UFA; terms unknown.
--TE Zach Hilton: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--OG Montrae Holland: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $721,600.
--WR/KR Michael Lewis: UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--RB Fred McAfee: UFA; terms unknown.
--LB Terrence Melton: ERFA; terms unknown.
--DT Willie Whitehead: UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--DT Cedric Woodard: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--RB Michael Bennett: UFA Vikings; $5M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--QB Drew Brees: UFA Chargers; $60/6 yrs, $8M SB/$12M OB '07.
--TE Mark Campbell: FA Bills; terms unknown.
--TE Tim Euhus: Trade Bills.
--C Jeff Faine: Trade Browns.
--LB Jay Foreman: UFA Giants; terms unknown.
--LB Scott Fujita: UFA Cowboys; terms unknown.
--OG Jonathan Goodwin: UFA Jets; terms unknown.
--WR Chris Horn: Not tendered as RFA by Chiefs; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Bethel Johnson: Trade Patriots.
--C Dwayne Ledford: Not tendered as ERFA by Browns; terms unknown.
--QB Jamie Martin: UFA Rams; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--TE Billy Miller: FA; terms unknown.
--LB Tommy Polley: UFA Ravens; terms unknown.
--S Bryan Scott: Trade Falcons.
--LB Anthony Simmons: FA; $1.5M/1 yr.
--S Omar Stoutmire: UFA Redskins; terms unknown.
--DT Hollis Thomas: Trade Eagles.
--WR Derrius Thompson: FA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--C LeCharles Bentley: UFA Browns; $36M/6 yrs, SB unknown.
--QB Aaron Brooks (released).
--CB Fakhir Brown: UFA Rams; $12M/5 yrs, $2.5M SB.
--OT Wayne Gandy: Traded Falcons.
--LB Sedrick Hodge: UFA Dolphins; $2M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--DE Darren Howard: UFA Eagles; $30M/6 yrs, $9.5M SB.
--OG Kendyl Jacox (released/failed physical).
--TE Shad Meier (released/failed physical).
--S Mel Mitchell: UFA Patriots; $1.5M/2 yrs, $250,000 SB.
--LB T.J. Slaughter: UFA 49ers; $545,000/1 yr.
--RB Antowain Smith: UFA Texans; terms unknown.
--DT Johnathan Sullivan: Traded Patriots.
--RB Anthony Thomas: UFA Bills; terms unknown.
--LB Courtney Watson: Traded Bills.
--TE Boo Williams (released).
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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