2012 NFL Draft: New Orleans Saints Must Block Everything Out, Focus on Draft

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis needs to remember one thing as he sits down to participate in the 2012 NFL draft: Calm down.

It’s bad enough that the Saints traded away their first-round pick this year to New England in the deal that eventually brought running back Mark Ingram to New Orleans. But it gets worse.

Relax, Mickey.

Because of the bounty scandal that brought on a one-year suspension to head coach Sean Payton, an eight-game suspension to Loomis, and a six-game suspension to assistant coach Joe Vitt, the Saints had to forfeit their second-round pick as well.

Breathe, Mickey.

The earliest Loomis will get to write a name down to be called out, unless a trade which he’s already deemed “unlikely” happens, will be the third round at pick No. 89. But even when he gets to make that decision, Loomis still will be battling thoughts in the back of his mind about his latest issues; a potential run-in with the authorities and possibly the NFL about eavesdropping allegations at the Superdome.

Focus, Mickey.

Focus is a good word to use in regard to how the Saints–and Loomis in particular–must deal with the upcoming draft. The better Loomis is at blocking out all these distractions and picking winners from the third round on, the better chances the Saints have at coming out of this mess with little scarring.

In the past, Loomis has done a good job at mid- to late-round draft selection. Tight end Jimmy Graham was a third-round pick in 2010. Offensive guard Carl Nicks (recently signed with Tampa Bay) was a fifth-round pick in 2008. Offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod was a fourth-round pick in 2007.

The history of building a team through the middle to late rounds is there with Loomis. The Saints general manager just needs to put all his problems on hold for one weekend and find those solid picks that have helped him build a perennial Super Bowl contender year in and year out.

Did I forget to mention that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Tuesday that player suspensions from the league were coming down soon?

Someone get a paper bag. Breathe, Mickey.