I have seen Robert Meachem play many times, and he is much better than Miles Austin and Sam Hurd right now. Let's be real. Plus, he is more dangerous than Crayton, and he doesn't run his mouth. He is a humble person. Furthermore, he will knock your block off while blocking. He has the short game to go along with stretching the field. If Payton was smart, he would start him.
Is Carpenter going to ever see the field in Dallas? If Burnett has a great year (and I think he will) , he just might get his new contract. Phillips pretty much said that he was pushing to be on the field on first and second down. Also, he said Burnett might have taken Akin's job last year, but he had the head injury in camp. Justin Rodgers could take Carpenter's spot, and another ILB could be drafted next year.
Would Carpenter or Meachem make a bigger impact in Dallas this year?
Anthony Henry probably is going to be gone by 2009. In fact, I would bet on it. Jenkins and Scandrick are loaded with talent. You can either play them, or they can sit on the bench forever. In my opinion, Jenkins will be the third corner this year, and Henry is headed to dime safety. Could Watkins take Henry's role in the dime while Brown takes the dime safety role? Better yet, could Roy Williams play some in there as well?
Miles Austin has been very inconsistent. He drops too many balls, and Meachem is better. Period. I could have replaced him with big mouth Crayton, and promoted Hurd to number 3.
A draft pick is cake at this point. Just throw it in to make them bite. Dallas has a multiple picks in certain rounds. Heck, Jerry will probably get it back before the draft anyway.
The Saints probably wouldn't do the deal anyway, but I would try. Carpenter's salary could be an issue, but if he plays great in the games, teams might bite on him.
Henry
Carpenter
Austin
Draft pick
One player on his way out, one player riding the pine, Meachem for Austin is a big win, and a draft pick that could be recouped...
Yeah, that is too much. O.K.
Owens
Meachem
Crayton
Barber
Felix
Witten
Bennett
That would be unstopable.
You get younger and better at CB and younger and better at WR. By the end of the year, you would be ready for your deep playoff run.