The Overpaid, Under-Achieving Charles Grant Put on IR

New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant was placed on injured reserve on Monday after a torn tendon in his triceps.  It is reported that Grant suffered the injury during last week's 37-32 victory over the San Diego Chargers.  He was replaced by newly healed defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who was released earlier in the season.

Ever since Grant signed that massive 7 year, $63 million deal a year ago, I have been stating that he is GROSSLY overpaid. He has done nothing to support that contract, nor done anything to warrant that large contract he signed since.

Grant was drafted in the first round out of Georgia in 2002. He played 3 stellar years to start his career, racking up a total of 27.5 sacks. But since the completion of the 2004 season, Grant has complied only 14 sacks in his last 4 seasons in New Orleans. 

Grant signed his contract after a 6 sack, 64 tackle campaign in 2006, even if it was after one of his worst seasons as a Saint (at the time), 2.5 sacks and 62 tackles. Since signing the contract, Grant has totaled 5.5 sacks and 81 tackles in one and a half seasons.

He has never been able to follow up his best season from 2004, when he had 10.5 sacks, 78 tackles, and an interception. Since then, Grant has not been able to compile more than his 2006 season total of 64 tackles and 6 sacks.

I have personally been out to mini-camp at the Saints facility to see Grant in person. He was one of the laziest players out on the field, not following the stretching drills and taking his time getting on and off the playing field. He always comes into camp overweight and seems to start the season slow every year.

This season, he has been a non-factor with his 2 sack game against San Francisco being his only shining moment of season.  He hasn't done much against the run, and his pass rush is so bad nowadays that the Saints signed defensive end Bobby McCray during the off-season.  McCray is a more athletic and seems more dedicated to the team.

I believe that the resigning of Thomas and with McCray being a full time starter, the Saints could actually bring more pressure on the opposing quarterback on a more regular basis than seen throughout the season thus far.  But don't get me wrong, the team does still need to sign another defensive end to help out on clear running situations.

Grant may be missed by teammates on the field, but Saints fans could use the break from the lazy and lackluster play of the team's second highest paid player in franchise history.