The Neck Has Returned: Roman Harper Is Once Again A New Orleans Saint

Safety Roman Harper is re-signing with the #Saints, per agent @_SportsTrust. He played for them from 2006-2013

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 7, 2016

There's just not much to hate about this move. I suppose Roman Harper didn't leave the best lasting impression considering that Vernon Davis basically toasted him out of New Orleans on the final possession of a playoff game that the Saints let slip out of their hands. That said,  he's a Super Bowl champion coming off a season in which he contributed to 15-1 team. Simply put, the guy knows what it takes to win in the NFL. That's a valuable asset for any locker room, and especially a locker room as overwhelmingly young as the New Orleans Saints. Are you going to see Roman Harper flying off the edge as one of the best pass rushing safeties in the NFL? The safe bet would be no, because it is - in fact - no longer 2009.  However, I would say it's all but a guarantee that you'll see him mentoring the young members of the secondary, and providing a calming influence to a defense that's in desperate need of veteran savvy.  Not just because he did the same for the Carolina Panthers last year or because he is all to familiar with the culture in NOLA, but because he's had gray hair since he was about 22 years old. Don't tell me that's not a characteristic of a guy that's wise well beyond his years. Plus, it never hurts to have a player whose neck resembles the base of a redwood tree. At the very least that has to provide some intimidation, and that's something the Saints last line of defense hasn't been accused of possessing since the days of BountyGate...