They are called the Saints, but they ended up being the centerpiece of The Offseason From Hell in the NFL.
No wonder the start of training camps this week seems more inviting than usual.
New Orleans’ BountyGate scandal dominated pro football’s headlines from what felt like an hour after the Giants’ Super Bowl victory, producing a steady stream of allegations, investigations, suspensions and lawsuits that practically made last year’s lockout seem enjoyable by comparison.
Coupled with the Peyton Manning saga, Tim Tebow’s trade to the Jets, the recent flurry of player arrests and the ongoing blizzard of concussion lawsuits against the league by retired players, the past six months often felt like six years to football fans.
But with actual games now finally around the corner, the Post hands out his offseason grades:
NFC EAST
GIANTS
Key additions: TE Martellus Bennett,
WR Rueben Randle, LB Keith Rivers,
RB David Wilson.
Key losses: TE Jake Ballard,
RB Brandon Jacobs, WR Mario Manningham,
CB Aaron Ross, DE Dave Tollefson.
The skinny: Cap woes greased the exits of Manningham, Tollefson and Jacobs, all of which will be felt, and three areas of concern remain — linebacker, tight end and the offensive line.
Offseason grade: C
COWBOYS
Key additions: CB Brandon Carr,
CB Morris Claiborne, LB Dan Connor, G Nate Livings, QB Kyle Orton, FB Lawrence Vickers.
Key losses: TE Martellus Bennett,
LB Bradie James, WR Laurent Robinson.
The skinny: Jerry Jones mortgaged his draft for Claiborne and threw free-agent money at Carr, addressing Dallas’ biggest area of need.
Offseason grade: B
EAGLES
Key additions: OT Demetress Bell, DT Fletcher Cox, LB Mychal Kendricks, MLB DeMeco Ryans.
Key losses: OT Winston Justice, DE Juqua Parker, OT Jason Peters (injury), CB Asante Samuel.
The skinny: Adding the playmaker Ryans was huge, but will that be more than offset by the loss of Peters, Parker and Samuel?
Offseason grade: C
REDSKINS
Key additions: WR Pierre Garcon,
CB Cedric Griffin, QB Robert Griffin III,
S Brandon Meriweather, WR Josh Morgan,
K Neil Rackers, S Madieu Williams.
Key losses: S LaRon Landry.
The skinny: They got the quarterback they wanted in RG3 and (over)spent wildly on receivers without any significant departures. Looks good on the surface.
Offseason grade: A-
NFC NORTH
BEARS
Key additions: RB Michael Bush,
QB Jason Campbell, WR Alshon Jeffery,
WR Brandon Marshall, DE Shea McLellin.
Key losses: CB Corey Graham, DT Amobi Okoye.
The skinny: Chicago went on a skill-position frenzy, giving Jay Cutler plenty to work with. But the Bears ignored the offensive line, most likely to their peril.
Offseason grade: B-
LIONS
Key additions: WR Ryan Broyles,
CB Jacob Lacey, OT Riley Reiff.
Key losses: LB Bobby Carpenter, QB Drew Stanton.
The skinny: Detroit was so busy bailing out arrested players it couldn’t get Cliff Avril signed, and now he will skip camp. Train wreck of an offseason.
Offseason grade: F
PACKERS
Key additions: DE Anthony Hargrove,
DB Casey Hayward, DE Nick Perry,
C Jeff Saturday, DT Jerel Worthy.
Key losses: QB Matt Flynn, C Scott Wells.
The skinny: The rookies on defense are intriguing, and Saturday is an adequate replacement for Wells. Still no running game, though.
Offseason grade: C+
VIKINGS
Key additions: TE John Carlson, OT Matt Kalil, WR Jerome Simpson, S Harrison Smith.
Key losses: CB Cedric Griffin,
G Steve Hutchinson.
The skinny: Hutchinson’s exit will be felt, and none of the newcomers get pulses racing. And how is Adrian Peterson’s rehab coming along?
Offseason grade: D
NFC SOUTH
BUCCANEERS
Key additions: S Mark Barron, TE Dallas Clark, LB Lavonte David, WR Vincent Jackson,
RB Doug Martin, G Carl Nicks, DT Amobi Okoye, QB Dan Orlovsky, CB Eric Wright.
Key losses: S Tanard Jackson.
The skinny: New coach Greg Schiano was allowed to go wild, and Tampa Bay’s haul was impressive — especially Nicks and Jackson.
Offseason grade: A
FALCONS
Key additions: C Peter Konz, CB Asante Samuel.
Key losses: MLB Curtis Lofton, S James Sanders.
The skinny: Though most of the changes came in the coaching staff, Samuel should give Atlanta a much-needed playmaker in the secondary.
Offseason grade: C+
PANTHERS
Key additions: LB Luke Kuechly,
C Mike Pollak, OT Amini Silatolu, RB Mike Tolbert.
Key losses: LB Dan Connor, G Travelle Wharton.
The skinny: Carolina wasn’t very busy, but it’s not as if Cam Newton and a young, intriguing team needed a shakeup.
Offseason grade: B
SAINTS
Key additions: DT Brodrick Bunkley,
LB Chris Chamberlain, G Ben Grubbs,
MLB David Hawthorne, MLB Curtis Lofton.
Key losses: WR Robert Meachem,
G Carl Nicks, CB Tracey Porter,
MLB Jonathan Vilma (suspended).
The skinny: Bounties, suspensions, lawsuits … ugh. At least Team Drama got Drew Brees signed, and the moves on defense weren’t bad.
Offseason grade: C
NFC WEST
CARDINALS
Key additions: WR Michael Floyd,
CB William Gay, G Adam Snyder.
Key losses: CB Richard Marshall.
The skinny: Pretty much flat-lined after the failed pursuit of Peyton Manning. Tough to see how Arizona got any better.
Offseason grade: D-
49ERS
Key additions: RB Brandon Jacobs,
RB LaMichael James, WR A.J. Jenkins,
WR Mario Manningham.
Key losses: WR Josh Morgan,
S Reggie Smith, G Adam Snyder.
The skinny: It remains to be seen if the receiving corps is any better after all the offseason moves, but hey, that defense is intact. Advantage, Niners.
Offseason grade: A-
RAMS
Key additions: DT Michael Brockers,
CB Cortland Finnegan, CB Janoris Jenkins,
DE Kendall Langford, C WR Brian Quick,
C Scott Wells.
Key losses: DT Justin Bannan, G Jacob Bell,
LB Chris Chamberlain, P Donnie Jones,
WR Brandon Lloyd.
The skinny: Jeff Fisher brings stability,
and Finnegan adds instant attitude and playmaking on defense. But St. Louis still has
a long way to go.
Offseason grade: B
SEAHAWKS
Key additions: QB Matt Flynn, DE Bruce Irvin, DE Jason Jones, MLB Barrett Ruud,
LB Bobby Wagner.
Key losses: G Robert Gallery,
DE Anthony Hargrove, LB David Hawthorne.
The skinny: Seattle overpaid for the unproven Flynn and reached wildly on draft day for Irvin. The whole offseason looks like a big gamble.
Offseason grade: C
AFC EAST
JETS
Key additions: S Yeremiah Bell,
DE Quinton Coples, WR Stephen Hill,
S LaRon Landry, WR Chaz Schilens, QB Tim Tebow.
Key losses: LB Jamaal Westerman,
The skinny: The Tebow move was a cry for attention that could cause the whole season to implode, and where’s the depth? At least they upgraded at safety, and the high picks showed promise.
OFFSeason grade: C-
BILLS
Key additions: DE Mark Anderson,
CB Stephon Gilmore, OT Cordy Glenn,
DE Mario Williams.
Key loss: OT Demetress Bell.
The skinny: The Williams and Anderson signings instantly give Buffalo the best pass rush in the division. Definitely a team to watch.
Offseason grade: A
DOLPHINS
Key additions: LB Gary Guyton, OT Jonathan Martin, QB Ryan Tannehill, LB Jamaal Westerman.
Key losses: CB Will Allen, S Yeremiah Bell,
QB Chad Henne, DE Kendall Langford,
WR Brandon Marshall, DE Jason Taylor (retired).
The skinny: New coach, an unproven reach of a quarterback, invisible in free agency and by far the team’s best receiver was sent packing. Hey, at least they’ll have “Hard Knocks.”
Offseason grade: F
PATRIOTS
Key additions: RB Joseph Addai, DT Jonathan Fanene, OT Robert Gallery, S Steve Gregory,
LB Dont’a Hightower, DE Chandler Jones,
WR Brandon Lloyd, WR Donte’ Stallworth.
Key losses: DE Mark Anderson, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, LB Gary Guyton, OT Matt Light (retired), CB Antwaun Molden.
The skinny: Typical revolving-door offseason by Bill Belichick, who continues to add tight ends and throw draft picks at a defense that stubbornly refuses to improve.
Offseason grade: C
AFC NORTH
BENGALS
Key additions: CB Jason Allen, G Jacob Bell, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, DT Devon Still, G Travelle Wharton,
G Kevin Zeitler.
Key losses: WR Andre Caldwell, G Nate Livings, G Mike McGlynn, DE Frostee Rucker,
WR Jerome Simpson.
The skinny: Cincinnati didn’t exactly add big names, but its haul looks promising. A team on the rise, thanks to the suddenly competent Mike Brown.
Offseason grade: B
BROWNS
Key additions: WR Josh Gordon, DE Juqua Parker, RB Trent Richardson, DE Frostee Rucker, OT Mitchell Schwartz, QB Brandon Weeden.
Key losses: S Mike Adams, RB Peyton Hillis.
The skinny: Cleveland likely will have a rookie quarterback, rookie running back and rookie No. 1 receiver. Blueprint for a lot of growing pains in 2012.
Offseason grade: B
RAVENS
Key additions: OT Kelechi Osemele,
QB Curtis Painter, LB Courtney Upshaw.
Key losses: WR Lee Evans, G Ben Grubbs,
LB Jarret Johnson, DE Cory Redding.
The skinny: Kept their nucleus on offense together despite an awful cap situation,
but Ed Reed is unhappy and the defensive departures will be felt.
Offseason grade: B
STEELERS
Key additions: OT Mike Adams,
G David DeCastro, TE Leonard Pope.
Key losses: CB William Gay,
WR Hines Ward (retired).
The skinny: Mike Wallace stayed put, but this remained an old team with an offensive line still in transition and a new play-caller (Todd Haley) who makes purists nervous.
Offseason grade: C
AFC SOUTH
COLTS
Key additions: WR Donnie Avery, TE Coby Fleener, OT Winston Justice, G Mike McGlynn,
QB Andrew Luck, DE Cory Redding.
Key losses: TE Dallas Clark, WR Pierre Garcon, QB Peyton Manning, C Jeff Saturday,
LB Philip Wheeler.
The skinny: The decision to cut franchise icon Manning was a stunner, as was the subsequent total housecleaning. Luck had better live up to his billing.
Offseason grade: C
JAGUARS
Key additions: WR Justin Blackmon,
WR Lee Evans, QB Chad Henne,
WR Laurent Robinson, CB Aaron Ross.
Key losses: DT Leger Douzable.
The skinny: An underrated defense was kept mostly intact, and the receiving corps looks presentable for the first time since Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.
Offseason grade: B
TEXANS
Key additions: LB Bradie James,
P Donnie Jones, DE Whitney Mercilus.
Key losses: CB Jason Allen, G Mike Brisiel, TE Joel Dreesen, K Neil Rackers, MLB DeMeco Ryans, DE Mario Williams, OT Eric Winston.
The skinny: Houston paid for its cap sins in a big way, losing vital pieces Williams, Ryans and Winston. Painful follow-up to a memorable season.
Offseason grade: D
TITANS
Key additions: DE Leger Douzable,
G Steve Hutchinson, LB Kamerion Wimbley,
WR Kendall Wright.
Key losses: WR Donnie Avery, CB Cortland Finnegan, DE Jason Jones.
The skinny: Hutchinson and Wimbley should pay immediate dividends.
Offseason grade: B+
AFC WEST BRONCOS
Key additions: S Mike Adams,
DT Justin Bannan, TE Joel Dreessen, QB Peyton Manning, CB Tracey Porter, DT Derek Wolfe.
Key losses: DT Brodrick Bunkley,
S Brian Dawkins (retired), QB Tim Tebow,
WR Eddie Royal.
The skinny: Denver grabbed all the headlines with the Manning signing, but the doubts about No. 18’s health remain. And it’s not as if the receiving corps got any better.
Offseason grade: B-
CHARGERS
Key additions: S Atari Bigby,
DE Melvin Ingram, LB Jarret Johnson,
FB Le’Ron McClain, WR Robert Meachem.
Key losses: G Kris Dielman (retired),
WR Vincent Jackson, RB Mike Tolbert.
The skinny: Kooky GM A.J. Smith has made a career out of letting skill-position talent walk, and this year was no different.
Offseason grade: D
CHIEFS
Key additions: TE Kevin Boss, RB Peyton Hillis, DT Dontari Poe, QB Brady Quinn,
CB Stanford Routt, OT Eric Winston.
Key losses: CB Brandon Carr, FB Le’Ron McClain, QB Kyle Orton, TE Leonard Pope.
The skinny: Winston was a great pickup, but Poe looks like a big reach and the other additions are retreads. Spinning their wheels in KC?
Offseason grade: D+
RAIDERS
Key additions: G Mike Brisiel,
DE Dave Tollefson, LB Philip Wheeler
Key losses: TE Kevin Boss, RB Michael Bush, QB Jason Campbell, DT John Henderson (retired), C Samson Satele, LB Kamerion Wimbley.
The skinny: New coach Dennis Allen will feel the departures of Bush and Wimbley, but the post-Al Davis era in Oakland still looks promising.
Offseason grade: C