Saints expect big things from David
METAIRIE, La. – Jason David readily acknowledges money had a lot to do with why he left Indianapolis rather than help the Colts defend their Super Bowl title.
Yet, there were other factors that brought the young former Washington State cornerback to the New Orleans Saints, David insists, such as pride, a new challenge, warmer weather and the chance to be part of another winning team with a story that goes beyond football.
“They always play that highlight of the Saints coming out in the Superdome when it reopened. That’s kind of something that stuck in everybody’s mind regardless of whether you watch football or not, just seeing them be able to come home and the fans so happy to see them,” said David. “I just feel like being here is an awesome opportunity to help out in the community and be part of such a great story.”
At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, David has made a career out of keeping passes from receivers who in some cases tower over him. After starting on the Colts’ championship squad in 2006, he hoped he had allayed enough concern about his small stature to earn more than the $850,000, one-year tender Indianapolis offered him as a restricted free agent.
The Saints validated David’s stance when they offered him a four-year contract worth $15.6 million. David accepted, and the Colts, who could have matched it, decided to let him head south.
“You always want to be somewhere where you’re wanted,” David said. “I just felt like (the Saints) really showed a lot of interest in me and that really made me feel good as a player and a person.”
David is expected to join Mike McKenzie as a starting cornerback, filling what appeared to be a weakness late last season when veteran Fred Thomas gave up several long touchdown passes, including one in each of the Saints’ two playoff games.
Yet David didn’t have to be in New Orleans long before it became clear to him that fans thought of him as the key upgrade on a team that was one victory shy of its first Super Bowl last season.
“I’ve heard that around the city a little bit, just being the missing link, and of course, with me going to the Super Bowl the year before, everybody’s looking at it as: ‘This guy was a star on a Super Bowl team, he must be a great player,’ ” David said. “No doubt I’m a great player, but at the same time, I’m going to just come here to do what I can to help the team succeed.”