Jul 22nd 2008 12:00PM by Tom Mantzouranis (author feed)
Filed under: Saints, NFC South

Last year in this space, I proclaimed Robert Meachem vs. Devery Henderson for the second starting receiver vacancy to be the Saints’ most intriguing battle. I’m an idiot. Meachem, slowed by injury at first and an inability to pick up the playbook second, became the only first-rounder to don street clothes every Sunday. Henderson regressed as a receiver and found his starting job taken by the more capable David Patten.

So Patten’s the incumbent, but Meachem is back in the picture. Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis have raved about the athletic freak’s progress and increased devotion, putting him very much in the mix for a lot of playing time in a spot that will have a lot of room to move with Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, and Reggie Bush occupying defenders.

Ironically, Meachem has found a mentor on the team to help him grow — Patten, the man he might very well replace.

But it’ll be easier said than done. Patten might not have Meachem’s considerable physical abilities, but he’s got one thing that matters in pass-heavy offense heavily reliant on timing — reliability. Drew Brees found a comfort with Patten last year, something the fastest 40 time or highest vertical can’t compete with.

If Brees and Payton can’t trust Meachem, draft status won’t matter — it’ll be Patten’s job again. If the question mark is finally ready to put his talents on display, however, it’s another dangerous piece to a dangerous offense.