NFC South Morning Jog: New Orleans Saints Unlikely to Move Up in 2012 NFL Draft

Each morning, I like to start the day off with a workout—usually a morning jog. I can clear my head, plan my day and think about what's going on around the NFC South. 

New Orleans Saints

In their 46-year history, the New Orleans Saints won't pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday, according to Sheldon Mickles of The Advocate. Mickles went on to talk about this weekend's waiting game and said that general manager Mickey Loomis said there was "virtually no chance" of moving up in the draft.

Last week when the Saints got together for voluntary workouts a few players stepped up into leadership roles that quarterback Drew Brees usually filled. Jahri Evans and Zach Strief took up some of the slack with the team and especially in their position group, according to Brian de laPuente.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons will not open up the doors to their Flowery Branch facility to HBO for the offseason Hard Knocks documentary, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

I've watched Daniel Cox sit in the Falcons media room and study, dissertation style, the media guide to find nuggets of information for Falcons fans. I imagine he did the same for this piece on the 2012 Atlanta Falcons schedule.

Carolina Panthers

Panthers general manager Marty Hurley said that the team will either pick at No. 9 Thursday in the NFL draft or trade down. The Panthers will not trade up. 

"We'll know going into draft day who we would stick (at No. 9) for and when we could trade back. We feel like we're going to get a good player either way."

"Ace Pudding, AKA the Dinosaur, AKA Super Cam" wants your vote for the Madden '13 cover. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Roy Cummings, of the Tampa Tribune, looks at Alabama running back Trent Richardson in a piece for the upcoming draft. Will Richardson be around when the Bucs pick at No. 5? 

Stephen Holder, of the Tampa Bay Times, talks about Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik's willingness to trade down in the upcoming draft.