CB Usama Young

Two Picks Signed: In an uncharacteristic early pair of signings for the Saints, both 2007 third round picks signed three-year contracts today.

CB Usama Young and G Andy Alleman will qualify for restricted free agency in 2010 after their rookie deals expire.

The Saints released FB Keith Greer and TE Robert Johnson to make room for the rookies on the offseason roster.

In the past under Mickey Loomis, the Saints do not begin signing their rookie draft picks to contracts until days, if not hours, before training camp. Now with two first day picks under contract the Saints are well ahead of their normal pace.

GM Mickey Loomis is actually out of town at his daughter's graduation. Russ Ball, the Saints' excellent contract guru, lead the team that nailed down the two contracts.

ESPN is reporting that Alleman's contract is for $1.604 million of base salaries with $489,000 in signing bonus. That is a 2% increase from the signing bonus given to Carolina LB James Anderson, the 88th overall pick last year.

Voodoo Cursed: How many games ending in final-play, final yard heroics can the Voodoo lose? You must adore them for determination and fortitude against a ridiculous string of misfortune. Even after Wendell Williams' remarkable play at the end of this past weekend's game against the AFL's best, the Dallas Desperados, the Voodoo went for the win and came up short, led by young ascendant Steve Bellisari.

NFL Europe: Only two Saint allocations were active in NFL Europa action this past weekend. Cologne DT McKinley Boykin, who had just worked his way into the starting lineup, missed the game with an ankle injury. Strong safety Chris Reis, a starter all season, collecting four tackles and also serving his regular duties as long snapper on punt teams. On the other side of the stomping, which Cologne won 31-13 to keep their World Cup hopes alive, the final Saint allocation Willie Evans came off the bench to collect two tackles, an assist and half a sack, although he was on the field for the starting drive. Evans has been fighting for the starting job all season.

Notes: Peter Mayer's Winning is an Attitude campaign for the Saints headline's the team's 2006 Marketer of Year award, given out by the local American Marketing Association chapter... Former Saint WR Chase Lyman will play in the New Era Bowl, an exhibition game with other former Cal football players in Japan, against a team of former University of Hawaii players... QB Drew Brees spoke about his career's highs and lows to 124 inmates at the Beaver County correctional facility in Beaver, Utah. The rural visit was sparked by a personal request through a network of friends connecting to one of the county sergeants. The media was notified of Brees' visit only after he had left town.