Posted August 6th, 2008 by Sports Blog Net
NFL CAREER – Rugged veteran has been a mainstay on the defensive front since being signed by the Saints as an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2004, starting all 47 games he has appeared in. Young’s consistency has been a hallmark of his career in New Orleans, as each year he has ranked among the defensive line’s top tacklers. In 2006, he started all 16 games and ranked third on the club with 5.5 sacks, his highest total since 2001. Young also posted 57 tackles and a fumble recovery – the eighth of his career. He has paid dividends since joining the club by being one of the defense’s most consistent and hard-working performers. For his career – including his stint with the St. Louis Rams from 2000-03 – Young has played in 107 games, with 78 starts, and recorded 484 tackles, 18.5 sacks, an interception and a pair of forced fumbles.
COLLEGE – All-America third-team, All-Western Athletic Conference first-team selection and Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Texas-El Paso…Played defensive end final season, and had 121 tackles and eight sacks…All-WAC selection as junior with 104 tackles and 3.5 sacks…As sophomore was All-WAC second-team with 76 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles…Redshirted between freshman and sophomore seasons…Graduated with degree in criminal justice
PERSONAL – Lettered in football and track at Andress (El Paso, Texas) HS…A regular presence at community events covering a wide range of causes, including working with child cancer patients…Married (Noelle)…Young’s wife sang the National Anthem prior to Carolina contest in Baton Rouge in 2005…Full name: James Brian Young…Born July 8, 1977 in Lawton, Okla.
Posted August 6th, 2008 by Sports Blog Net
Pierre Thomas joined the Saints in 2007 as an undrafted rookie free agent.
He quickly established himself, as a special teams player, and had a record breaking performance in his only start against the Bears in 2007.
COLLEGE CAREER – Played 40 games and ranks sixth in school’s history with 2,545 rushing yards…Averaged 5.6 yards per carry over his career and ran for 20 TDs…Also caught 57 passes for 411 yards and three TDs…Led team in rushing in each of the final three seasons, and had eight 100-yard games… Had a school-record 1,495 career kickoff return yards…Averaged 24.1 yards as a kick returner for his career including a 99-yard return for a touchdown…Second in school history with 4,451 all-purpose yards.
PERSONAL – Majored in sports management…Prepped at Thornton Fractional (Lansing, Ill.) HS…Native of Lynwood, Ill…Full name: Charles Pierre Thomas, Jr…Born Dec. 18, 1984 in Chicago.
Posted August 4th, 2008 by Sports Blog Net
Scott has been the most successful defensive player the Saints have had since 2006. In 2007 he posted 95 tackles, and emerged as the leader on the Saints defense.
NFL CAREER – The first defensive free agent the Saints signed in 2006 when the new coaching staff was in place was Fujita, and the club immediately found the versatile, consistent performer it sought to lead the unit. His arrival also provided the playmaker the unit needed to build around. Fujita immediately gave the linebacker corps a defender who could range from sideline to sideline, with the size to fill holes against the run and the speed to cover running backs and tight ends in the passing game. He responded with a banner first season in New Orleans, rarely leaving the field and pacing the club with 119 tackles. But it was his all-around contributions during the season that stood out by the end of the year: 3.5 sacks for 16 yards in losses, two interceptions, eight passes knocked down and a pair of forced fumbles. Fujita started all 16 games in 2006 – pushing his NFL career totals to 80 games played with 65 starts. He also opened both postseason contests. The former fifth-round pick by Kansas City was with the Chiefs from 2002-04 before being traded to Dallas just days before the kickoff of the 2005 regular season and starting the Cowboys’ last eight games
COLLEGE – Originally a walk-on safety at California before finishing on scholarship after making the transition from safety to linebacker as a redshirt freshman…Played in 39 games with 24 starts for the Golden Bears and recorded 124 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery…Started all 11 games at weakside linebacker as a senior and was named All-Pac 10 honorable mention and Academic All-Pac 10 after registering 60 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles…As a junior, he earned All-Pac 10 honorable mention, starting 11 games and notching 41 tackles and four sacks…Played in 10 games with two starts as a sophomore…Saw time in seven games as a redshirt freshman playing mainly on special teams after making the move from safety to linebacker.
PERSONAL – A two-sport standout at Rio Mesa, Calif., HS in football and basketball…At safety and linebacker collected 118 tackles, four sacks and five interceptions and 15 catches for 350 yards and six scores as a tight end…Graduated with a degree in political science and added a masters in education from California…Recruited by several Ivy League schools…Full name: Scott Anthony Fujita (pronounced Foo-GEE-ta)…Married, wife Jaclyn.
Posted August 4th, 2008 by Sports Blog Net
Jonathan will be replacing Jeff Faine as the Saints starting center, in 2007 Goodwin got serious playing time when Faine went down to injury, and also mixed it in at the Guard position.
NFL CAREER – Goodwin brings experience and versatility to the offensive front. He is the top reserve at center, and he can also play both guard spots. While with the New York Jets from 2002-05, Goodwin started 13 of 74 games. He was a standout at the University of Michigan, opening 20 of 29 career games while playing every position on the offensive line other than left tackle.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by the Saints to a three-year contract (UFA-NYJ), 3/27/06; Signed to one-year contract by New York Jets (RFA), 4/5/05; Signed to three-year contract by New York, 7/24/02; Selected by New York in fifth round (154th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE – Began career at Ohio University before transferring to Michigan in 1998…Started 20 of 29 career games…Played four positions (center, right guard, left guard and right tackle) for the Wolverines…All-Big 10 as a senior…Sat out 1998 under NCAA transfer rules…Started every game at right guard as a freshman at Ohio.
PERSONAL – Brother, Harold (1995-96) played at guard at Michigan… Sports Management and Communications major…“Top 100” choice as a senior at Lower Richland (S.C.) as a senior…Born Dec. 2, 1978 in Columbia, S.C.
