Buck cautious as Saints make

Saints quarterback Mike Buck got to know Bobby Hebert pretty well after spending the past three NFL seasons as an understudy to New Orleans’ starting QB.

In Buck’s estimation, Wade Wilson, who the Saints signed to a free agent contract Monday, is no Bobby Hebert.

“Bobby knows the system,” said the former University of Maine quarterback, who backed up Hebert last season, beating out third-string QB Steve Walsh. “I know the system. Steve knows the system… Wade doesn’t know the system.”

Buck said Monday he is remaining cautious in his evaluation of what the apparent departure of Hebert via free agency, and the arrival of a 34-year-old backup with Atlanta last season, means to his chances of becoming the starter for the Saints this season.

“I don’t know yet,” said Buck, 25, who is himself a restricted free agent under the NFL’s new basic agreement. “If Bobby is really gone, it’s excellent for me. If Bobby winds up back here somehow, it will just be another thing I have to overcome.”

According to Saints General Manager Jim Finks, Hebert is definitely gone. And the competition to replace him is wide-open.

“This will give us an opportunity to see what our young quarterbacks can do,” Finks told the Associated Press.

Finks also said one of the reasons New Orleans signed Wilson to a three-year contract at $2 million a year – $1 million less per year than Hebert was offered – is because Wilson was used to being a backup and probably wouldn’t be upset if that situation transpired again.

Buck said although his future may look brighter in New Orleans with Monday’s development, he has had no contract offer from the Saints to date. There are 12 days remaining until the deadline passes for other teams to offer Buck a pact as a restricted free agent.

“I’m not really worried about it,” said Buck, noting his agent, Bob Woolf, has had discussions with Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay about signing him. “I just want a fair deal, whatever it is.”

Buck, who earned a reported $100,000 from the Saints last year, said the continued failure of top free agent QB Steve Beuerlein to sign has hurt his offers.

“It all depends on what Beuerlein does. I can’t do anything until he does something,” said Buck, noting he believes he is No. 2 on the list of several teams.

If the April 24 deadline passes without a firm offer being made to him by another team, Buck will remain the property of the Saints, albeit without a contract.

“They can offer me whatever they want if that happens. I either have to take it or sit out a year,” said Mike Buck, keeping his options open.