Friday, April 5, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Saints sign OT Riley to replace Roaf

Chiefs unrestricted free-agent OT Victor Riley signed a two-year contract for $2.7 million with the Saints on Thursday, but the deal will void after the first year if Riley reaches certain performance levels in 2002. Riley is expected to be able to meet the predetermined levels of performance, which would likely make the contract a one-year deal worth about $1 million. Riley, who played at Auburn and was Kansas City’s first-round draft pick in 1998, broke his leg against Pittsburgh on Oct. 14. Riley has visited several teams during the past few weeks and declined a three-year offer from the Chiefs earlier this week. He has started 52-of-55 games in his four-year career with Kansas City.

Buchsbaum: The Saints may have made a great short-term pickup by signing OT Victor Riley from the Chiefs. Basically, Riley is signing a one-year contract, which means he is going to be playing (with the hope of earning) big money next year, but he will not be paid the big money this year. When Riley is in shape and playing hard, he is as good as any right offensive tackle in football and a Pro Bowl-caliber player. And I really suspect that this year, with so much at stake, he will be in shape and at his best, unlike last year when he showed up in camp a little out of shape, got hurt and never worked hard to get back into shape after he probably could have come back at the end of the year.

This move will allow the Saints to move ORT Kyle Turley to left tackle and make Spencer Folau their third tackle, really solidifying the offensive line around QB Aaron Brooks. Throw in the acquisition of TE David Sloan, and now the Saints are basically one wide receiver away from having the type of offensive package they want. This also lets them focus more on defense in the draft, where they have two first-round picks. Obviously, they have to retool the defensive line after losing DE Joe Johnson and DT La’Roi Glover. And they also need a true shut-down corner.

Falcons add depth to secondary with CB Weary

The Falcons have strengthened their defense through free agency for the third time in 10 days, reaching an agreement with Saints unrestricted free-agent CB Fred Weary. The four-year veteran is expected to fill the No. 3 CB position behind starters Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchanan and will likely be the Falcons’ nickel defender. Weary signed a three-year contract that will default to a one-year, $750,000 deal if Weary participates in 20 percent of the team’s defensive snaps this season. Weary joins DE John Thierry and ILB John Holecek as free agents who have joined the club in the last two weeks.

Buchsbaum: With CB Fred Weary going to Atlanta, it makes the Saints’ need for a cornerback all the more important. Weary is basically a good third corner and a stopgap second. He’s feisty, pretty aggressive and while he doesn’t have great pure speed, he does have enough quickness and speed to break on the ball. He should help the Falcons as a third defensive back, and it appears as if Atlanta coach Dan Reeves is going all out to win this year. The problem could come down the road when the Falcons will be responsible for all of the contracts he is signing these players to, which will probably extend beyond their useful period. That is one way that teams get in salary-cap hell.

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