Salary cap causing valuable assets to be cast off

On the way out the door, former Saints wide receiver Lance Moore got the gold standard in respect from the New Orleans Saints.

Owner Tom Benson, who doesn’t often appear in news releases announcing players transactions, gave a tip of the cap to Moore.

“Lance’s performance earned the respect of our entire organization and fans, and we thank him for everything,” Benson said.

But, Moore was still out the door, a salary-cap casualty as the Saints rebuild their offense. That’s right – rebuild on offense.

The numbers say the Saints’ offensive numbers are still very good. But they have slipped nonetheless.

In 2011, the Saints averaged 467.1 yards per game and converted first downs at a good clip of 57 percent. Two years later, the Saints were averaging 399.4 yards per game and converting first downs at a 44 percent rate.

In 2011, the Saints scored 547 points. In 2013, the Saints scored 414 points.

The reasons are many. The loss of three Super Bowl XVLI starters on the offensive line has been a contributor. Pressed for cap dollars, the club simply could not afford left guard Carl Nicks and left tackle Jermon Bushrod. Less production up front took its toll on the Saints’ numbers.

Moore slipped from eight touchdown receptions in 2011 to six in 2012 to two in 2013.

Fellow cap casualty Darren Sproles had 14 touchdown receptions combined in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Last season, Sproles had two TD catches. Sproles averaged a sterling 6.9 yards per carry on 87 rushes in 2011. In the past two seasons, he carried the football a combined 101 times.

Marques Colston’s numbers also dipped. In 2013, Colston tied a career low with five touchdown receptions and had a career low of 62.9 receiving yards per game.

The Saints’ offense, while still very good, isn’t what it used to be. And no one knows that better than Sean Payton.

He will bargain hunt in free agency and shop for a potential No. 1 receiver in the draft. A big target with speed would do wonders against teams who are more prone than ever to double-team tight end Jimmy Graham.

And the Saints still need help on the offensive line. Last season, Drew Brees was sacked 37 times, 17 times more than the Super Bowl season. But in 2013, Brees performed at a very high level. Brees raised his completion percentage from 63 to 68.6 percent. Brees lowered his interception total from 19 to 12.

He also engineered three fourth-quarter comebacks and three game-winning drives.

Offense is Payton’s baby, and the movie he saw in 2013 wasn’t to his liking. Payton decided the cast of characters must change.

Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].