New Orleans Saints take DT Akiem Hicks as their first pick of 2012 drafts - NFL News
The New Orleans Saints this year are reeling from the effects of the bounty scandal and the subsequent punishments they have to face because of the illegal program have significantly affected their draft.
The Saints did not have a first round pick in this year’s drafts since they had already traded their 2012 first round pick to the New England Patriots in the previous season as compensation for taking the Patriots first pick in the 2011 drafts.
New Orleans also had its second round draft picks taken away for two seasons by the National Football League (NFL) as part of the punishment for running the bounty program.
This left the franchise to pick their first talent in this year’s draft in the third round and the franchise made its move to bring in Regina University’s defensive tackle Akiem Hicks as the 89th overall pick in the drafts.
Interim head coach, Joe Vitt who will coach the Saints throughout the 2012-13 season as Sean Payton serves his one-year suspension from the NFL due to the bounty scandal, said that Hicks is the kind of player who the Saints need in defence.
Speaking to the media Vitt said.
"Height, weight, speed -- (Hicks is) the kind of guy that we're looking at in our defensive system,"
Adding further he said.
“We love his tenacity. We know he's raw. He's got to be coached, but that's the fun part. He fits the character of our football team. He's got good work habits. We love his resiliency."
New Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was happy with the arrival of Hicks into the roster said.
"When it was all said and done, Akiem stuck out. We're pretty glad we got him. All in all, when you watch him and see the things that he does, there's a great deal of potential there. He's a big physical football player."
This is going to be a tough season for New Orleans as they struggle with the impact of punishments for running the bounty program.
General manager, Mickey Loomis faces an eight-game suspension by the league for failing to stop the bounty program and is currently facing investigations from the Louisiana state Police for allegedly wiretapping opposition coaches during home games.
Vitt himself will miss the first six games of the season.
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