Category: 2020 Pro Bowl

2020 Pro Bowl: Russell Wilson steps aside, gives Drew Brees the starting nod

Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson stepped aside to give New Orleans Saints veteran Drew Brees the start for the NFC in the 2020 Pro Bowl.

The 2020 Pro Bowl started with an impressive hat tip from Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to his backup on the NFC team, Drew Brees. Wilson chose to let Brees start in his place, showing deference to the respected veteran who he’s said opened doors for him as a shorter passer who may have not gotten such opportunities if Brees hadn’t been so successful.

And it didn’t take Brees long to get to work. He gave the NFC an early lead, following up a 59-yard pass to Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay with a touchdown strike to his favorite target, Michael Thomas. With two drives behind him, Brees trotted off the field having gone 4-for-7 to gain 95 passing yards. Not bad for an older quarterback.

Wilson’s motivation in giving Brees the start is curious. It’s likely he was just paying respects to someone whose career meant a lot to him personally, doing what he could to salute his role model. Hopefully this doesn’t suggest anything about Brees’ future as a player who may or may not return to play another year, or potentially switch careers and get into broadcasting. It’s selfish, but we aren’t ready to accept this Pro Bowl exhibition appearance as his last game in a black and gold helmet.

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2020 Pro Bowl: How to tune in, and which Saints are playing

New Orleans Saints players like Alvin Kamara and Drew Brees will get to reunite with Mark Ingram at the 2020 Pro Bowl. Here’s how to watch.

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There’s no telling what will happen at the 2020 Pro Bowl. Last year, New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara got on the field with the defense, and nearly sacked Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. This year, Kamara is surrounded by teammates, including quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver Michael Thomas, and three of the five Saints’ starting offensive linemen (Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, and Larry Warford). Tight end Jared Cook, kick returner Deonte Harris, kicker Wil Lutz, and defensive end Cameron Jordan round out the pack.

It’s going to be a fun game, which is probably what the Saints are hoping for after another disappointing playoffs loss. The week of festivities, events, and hours spent at Disney World have to be a welcome reprieve for the players and their families.

Back to the Pro Bowl: the Saints will be playing on the NFC Team, led by Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his staff. The AFC Team is marshaled by Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, with league MVP favorite Lamar Jackson starting at quarterback and a familiar face next to him at running back: Mark Ingram. It won’t take long for Kamara and the Saints to reunite with their former teammate.

Here’s everything you need to know so that you can tune in for the Pro Bowl:

Game Information

NFC Team (Seattle Seahawks) vs. AFC Team (Baltimore Ravens)

3:00 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 26

Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.

Television

ESPN, ABC

Streaming

fuboTV (try it for free)

And here’s the full list of Saints participating in this year’s all-star game:

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Watch: Cam Jordan mercilessly dusts a few kids in a Pro Bowl foot race

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan accepted the challenge to race some kids at the 2020 Pro Bowl, but he didn’t hold back.

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There’s things you don’t do, like choosing to tug Superman’s cape, or pull the mask off the Lone Ranger. You also don’t challenge New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan to a race.

That’s what a few children and young teens discovered at an event ahead of the 2020 Pro Bowl, when they lined up for a sprint against the 6-foot-4, 287-pound sack artist. Some NFL stars would take the opportunity to let the kids enjoy the spotlight for a moment by throwing the race. But Jordan treated it like a competition.

At least he gave them a second’s head start. But by the time Jordan burst out of his stance, it was no contest, leaving all three of his challengers in the dust.

Later, Jordan justified that decision by explaining it as a motivational tactic: he wanted to help these young athletes to “strive and stride to get faster,” leaving a lasting memory of what it’s like to compete against one of the best football players on the planet. Time will tell if the lesson sticks, but for now we’ve got one entertaining video from the charismatic defensive end.

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2020 Pro Bowl: Saints struggle to fit everyone in a photo before practice

The New Orleans Saints sent 10 players to the 2020 Pro Bowl, and struggled to fit all of them together for a photo before NFC team practice.

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The New Orleans Saints sent a huge delegation to the 2020 Pro Bowl, even with star cornerback Marshon Lattimore declining an invitation due to injury. They’re represented with ten players from all three units: offense, defense, and special teams. It’s given the NFC team practices the look of a Saints group workout, due as much to the number of players from New Orleans as this year’s white-and-gold uniforms. Here’s the full list of participants:

  • #13 WR Michael Thomas (starter)
  • #94 DE Cameron Jordan (starter)
  • #11 KR Deonte Harris (starter)
  • #3 K Wil Lutz (starter)
  • #9 QB Drew Brees (backup)
  • #72 LT Terron Armstead (backup)
  • #87 TE Jared Cook (alternate)
  • #75 LG Andrus Peat (alternate)
  • #67 RG Larry Warford (alternate)
  • #41 RB Alvin Kamara (alternate)

Unfortunately, the downside to having that much star talent in one place is that it can be difficult to get a photo of everyone gathered together. But the Saints made their best effort, putting undrafted rookie phenom Deonte Harris front-and-center with taller teammates Armstead, Cook, and Peat in the background. They’ll get an “A” for effort:

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Another one: Alvin Kamara added to NFC Pro Bowl roster

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was chosen as an alternate for the 2020 Pro Bowl, joining ten teammates on the NFC roster.

The New Orleans Saints have again raised their total number of players on the 2020 NFC Pro Bowl roster, this time with running back Alvin Kamara. Kamara’s addition raises the small herd of Saints participating in the all-star game to eleven, which is again a new franchise record. It breaks previous high-water marks of nine and ten selections, each set this year with new alternates called up.

It’s not immediately clear who Kamara is filling in for — Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey, and Ezekiel Elliott were each initially voted in, but none of them have yet publicly backed out. But it’ll be the third career Pro Bowl appearance in as many years for Kamara, who was selected outright in 2017 and chosen as an alternate in 2018. It’s anyone’s guess on what he’ll get into in Orlando; in last year’s game, Kamara convinced the NFC coaching staff to let him line up in a pass-rush package on defense, and very nearly sacked Deshaun Watson.

The full list of Saints participating in this year’s Pro Bowl stands as such, for now:

  • WR Michael Thomas (starter)
  • DE Cameron Jordan (starter)
  • CB Marshon Lattimore (starter)
  • KR Deonte Harris (starter)
  • K Wil Lutz (starter)
  • QB Drew Brees (backup)
  • LT Terron Armstead (backup)
  • TE Jared Cook (alternate)
  • LG Andrus Peat (alternate)
  • RG Larry Warford (alternate)
  • RB Alvin Kamara (alternate)

Larry Warford called up to Pro Bowl, makes 10 Saints in total

The New Orleans Saints now have 10 players listed on the 2020 Pro Bowl roster, with right guard Larry Warford called up as an alternate.

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The New Orleans Saints have broken their own team record for the most players selected to the Pro Bowl in a single year, with right guard Larry Warford raising the total to ten. He’s the third Saints player called up for the NFL’s all-star game as an alternate, joining left guard Andrus Peat and tight end Jared Cook, who were both promoted last Saturday.

Five Saints players were named starters on the NFC roster, a group that includes wide receiver Michael Thomas, defensive end Cameron Jordan, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, kick returner Deonte Harris, and kicker Wil Lutz. Additionally, quarterback Drew Brees and left tackle Terron Armstead are listed as backups. Peat, Cook, and Warford will also likely participate as backups.

It’s impressive to see so many Saints players get this kind of recognition; it wasn’t too long ago when only one or two of their number would get to join in. What’s really remarkable is that seven of the ten players started their NFL careers with the Saints, while just three (Warford, Cook, and Brees) were added as free agent signings. This is what homegrown talent looks like it.

Now, that’s not to downplay what the team has accomplished in free agency. Warford was a solid but unspectacular starter with the Detroit Lions; since signing with the Saints in 2017, he’s been selected for the Pro Bowl in all three years that followed. Talk about a home-run hit.

This year’s Pro Bowl will kick off from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 26 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Tickets are already up for sale, and fans can also tune in on ESPN or ABC. With so many Saints players taking part, this won’t be one to miss.

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Saints upgrade the secondary, land potential franchise QB in three-round mock draft

It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints to upgrade in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they’ve beaten worse odds before. They have just two picks in the draft’s first 100 selections ( at Nos. 24 and 88), which is more than they had last year. New …

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It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints to upgrade in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they’ve beaten worse odds before. They have just two picks in the draft’s first 100 selections (at Nos. 24 and 88), which is more than they had last year. New Orleans still found a way to land a starting center in Erik McCoy and a dynamic defensive back in C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

Their next draft class could be just as big. In the latest three-round mock draft from Luke Easterling over at Draft Wire, the Saints ended up with Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs in the first round and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the third round.

Right now, the Saints are projected to start Marshon Lattimore on one side at cornerback, Janoris Jenkins on the other end of the field, and put Gardner-Johnson in the slot. That could change depending on what happens with Jenkins’ contract (he’s currently counting $11.5 million against the salary cap), but for now Diggs wouldn’t be projected to start.

That may not be a bad thing. He’s a big corner (listed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds) who converted to the position after being recruited as a wide receiver, and didn’t start consistently until his senior year, which saw him create five takeaways with three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. He deflected eight passes in total. The size and playmaking ability is there; maybe he’d put it all together after some hard work in Saints training camp.

As for Hurts: he’s one of the best quarterbacks in this draft class, and it would be surprising if he’s available so late in the process. His play greatly improved under Lincoln Riley’s tutelage at Oklahoma. He could duplicate much of what Taysom Hill has accomplished in New Orleans, but offers the upside of gifted passing ability on top of all-world athleticism. With the future of the quarterback position far from certain for the Saints, it’s easy to like this pick.

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Jared Cook, Andrus Peat promoted to Pro Bowl as alternates

New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook and left guard Andrus Peat were promoted to the NFC roster for the 2020 Pro Bowl, making nine Saints

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The New Orleans Saints announced Friday that two more of their players were selected for the 2020 Pro Bowl, with tight end Jared Cook and left guard Andrus Peat called up to participate in the all-star game as alternates. It’s the second career Pro Bowl appearance for both of them.

Their addition makes for a total of nine players representing New Orleans on the NFC roster, which would be the most in team history if it holds. Some players could choose to sit out of the game; wide receiver Michael Thomas was uncertain about his involvement when asked after the Saints’ playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

For now, the nine Saints players in the Pro Bowl include:

  • QB Drew Brees
  • WR Michael Thomas
  • OT Terron Armstead
  • DE Cameron Jordan
  • CB Marshon Lattimore
  • K Wil Lutz
  • PR Deonte Harris
  • OG Andrus Peat
  • TE Jared Cook

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Michael Thomas noncommittal on playing in 2020 Pro Bowl

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, a first-team All-Pro, was noncommittal when asked whether he will play in the 2020 Pro Bowl

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Sunday’s defeat to the Minnesota Vikings was tough for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas to take in. That sort of anticlimactic finish to a regular season that saw his team win so many games — and one in which he rose to league prominence by shattering so many longstanding records — can be distracting, even if he and his teammates had bigger goals in mind.

When asked whether he would participate in the 2020 Pro Bowl, it took Thomas a moment to even remember that he was voted into the all-star game.

“I never even thought about it,” Thomas told ESPN’s Dianna Russini, noting that he expected to be preparing for Super Bowl LIV instead.

Thomas followed the lead of his quarterback and backed out of last year’s Pro Bowl, stepping aside with Drew Brees after the disastrous NFC championship game. The first-team All-Pro wide receiver was voted into his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, making the NFC roster alongside division rivals like Julio Jones, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans.

This year’s Pro Bowl exhibition game will be hosted at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. CT. Multiple Saints players including sensational rookie punt returner Deonte Harris have been selected, but it’ll be curious to see who wants to continue playing after the disappointing way their season ended.

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Steelers LB Devin Bush’s mom announces he’s Pro Bowl alternate

Devin Bush might be heading to the Pro Bowl.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold move in the 2019 NFL draft to go up and get linebacker Devin Bush. It wasn’t a difficult choice considering how badly the Steelers needed to replace Ryan Shazier and how dynamic Bush was on film.

And despite a dip in snaps over several games this season, Bush is still second on the team in tackles with 92 and has flashed what is going to be a very long successful career. This is something the NFL recognized as well. According to Bush’s mom, he was selected as an alternate to the Pro Bowl.

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