O-line for the next 5-6 years LT Charles Brown (1st round pick) LG Carl Nicks (on his way to being a Pro-Bowler very soon) C Jonathan Goodwin/Matt Tennant (Tennant is going to be a good one) RG Jahri Evans (best interior lineman in the NFL) RT Jon Stinchcomb (Pro-Bowler who should continue his high level of play) Colston/Moore/Henderson/Meachem each have 5 good years left in them. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush each have 5-6 good years left in them. Jimmy Graham will be the beast Jeremy Shockey was when he first broke into the NFL Brees is at the height of his career and the next 6 seasons should be his very best of his career.
I don't think it's a change at all. The Saints haven't had a lineman as good as Evans since Roaf who at one time was also the highest paid at his position. We didn't have a QB paid like the best in the NFL until we had the best QB in the NFL. The Saints historically have been pretty spot on when paying their players their market value. Some didn't agree with that value, but in the end the Saints were overwhelmingly on target more often than not. Where they've been cheap are the facilities and the way they take care of employees and players. That's stuff that the general public doesn't see, but the players in the NFL do.
