Saints Nation's Top 15 Plays of the 2009 Season: #3 Garrett Hartley's Game Winning Overtime Field Goal vs. Vikings

This is the kick that sent the Saints to the SuperBowl. This play is good for the #3 best of the 2009 Saints season. Enjoy! I still get chills every time I watch this.

Saints Nation: Charles Grant, Jamar Nesbit and Mark Simoneau released

Charles Grant's (pictured) career as a Saint has mercifully come to an end. My prediction that he had played his last game as a Saint earlier this season turned out to be true. Grant received a huge contract (7 years, $63 million) back in 2007 and has never lived up to those gaudy numbers with his performance. Since signing the deal, he's mustered career low outputs and repeated injuries. Grant has been a Saint since 2002, when he was drafted during the Jim Haslett era. Thanks to Charles for his contributions to the Saints.

Grant took the time to post the following on his twitter account today: "too all my fans thank u for you're support all these years i love u" and "no longer a saints too my fans love u". I know he didn't learn that kind of grammar during his Georgia education! His departure is hardly a surprise given his massive cap status and his mediocre production, but it leaves a spot to fill on the defensive line. This further strengthens my belief that the Saints will target a pass rushing defensive threat early in the draft.

Jamar Nesbit and Mark Simoneau, though lower profile, are also long time veteran Saints that the team has decided to let go. They both carried big contracts, so it's not inconceivable that the Saints wouldn't try to bring either player back at lower rates. The chances of Grant coming back, though, seem null. Simoneau spent the last four seasons with the Saints, but was sidelined for the entirety of the last two due to injury. It's not clear whether he'll retire or attempt to make a comeback at 33 years of age. Nesbit was involved in the StarCaps situation, which cost him his starting position. Nesbit relinquished his starting role to Carl Nicks during his 4 game suspension and would never get it back. Nesbit is also 33 and was with the Saints since 2004.

Best of luck to all these players, they were some good ones!

Saints Nation's Top 15 Plays of the 2009 Season: #4 Tracy Porter's Interception vs. Vikings

This play is good for #4 on the top 15 Saints' plays of the 2009 season. Simply put, Tracy Porter doesn't make this interception and the Saints may not make it to the SuperBowl

Saints Nation's Top 15 Plays of the 2009 Season: #5 Deuce McAllister's Return

So maybe this isn't a true "play", but I'm still giving it my 5th best play of the season. The return of Deuce, emotionally, was one of the top moments in Saints history for me. What great energy and crowd enthusiasm during his introduction. This season just wouldn't have been the same without the brief return of one of the best all time Saints.

Saints Nation: Jahri Evans Offered Contract

There was never much doubt about this happening, but the Saints tendered Evans at the highest possible level yesterday. This means the Saints again will have the right to match any contract offer made to Evans, and an opposing team will have to give up 1st and 3rd round draft choices to get him. The offer is good for $3.168 million. My guess is the Saints will still attempt to agree to terms on a long term deal with Evans before the 2010 season starts.

With this tender, the only remaining restricted free agents who have yet to see an offer are Jeff Charleston, Leigh Torrence and Kyle Eckel.

Saints Nation's Top 15 Plays of the 2009 Season: #6 Reggie Bush's Touchdown Run vs. Cardinals

This is good for #6 best play of the season. One word: SICK!

Saints Nation: Mike Bell tendered

THIS STORY was posted today on Nola.com with the news that the Saints offered Mike Bell a contract. It's apparently for the lowest possible compensation, which means they have a right to match any contract he signs with someone else but will not receive a draft pick if they lose him. While he's far from guaranteed of joining the Saints for 2010, things are looking better than they were prior to this news.