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Don’t go looking for hard feelings between Janoris Jenkins and the New Orleans Saints. The veteran cornerback was released on the eve of free agency while the Saints navigated an unexpected COVID-19 salary cap crunch, but “Jackrabbit” looks back on his year-plus in black and gold fondly.
Jenkins reflected on his time in New Orleans during a guest spot with his former Rams teammate Daren Bates on the “Raw Room” show (the video does contain coarse language). When asked about an earlier comment in which he said the Saints were the best organization he’d played for, Jenkins was quick to double down.
“Hands down,” Jenkins said. “Because they understand football, and they understand players. They don’t look to kill their guys, beat their guys down, have their guys prove a point, like around camp time. Now they work, don’t get me wrong. They know how to take care of their players.”
The feeling is mutual; Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said as much in a recent WWL radio spot, singling Jenkins out as one of the players they would have retained had the salary cap not taken a pandemic-fueled nosedive.
“They’re gonna show you respect, from the top to the training staff,” Jenkins added. He also praised the Saints coaching staff for its punctuality and attention to detail in all phases: training camp, walkthrough practice sessions, and the film room.
It’s a strong endorsement for New Orleans, who have cultivated a solid reputation among former players around the league under Sean Payton’s stewardship, and it’s doubly impressive considering Jenkins spent four years with the Giants — one of the NFL’s historically best-run franchises, which clashes with the Saints’ reputation as loveable losers. Things have changed in a big way for both franchises. Emmanuel Sanders is another veteran who became a salary cap casualty this summer, but he’s spoken often about enjoying his experience working with Payton and the team.
Still, don’t expect Jenkins to take it easy on the Saints when he and his new Titans teammates host New Orleans on Nov. 14. Jenkins is one of many former Saints players scheduled to face their old team; other familiar faces include Sanders, Sheldon Rankins, and Justin Hardee. He’ll provide another tough hurdle to overcome in the 2021 season, but at least he isn’t carrying a vendetta.
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