Category: Former Saints

WATCH: Reggie Bush, Drew Brees reminisce on their early days as Saints teammates

WATCH: Reggie Bush, Drew Brees reminisce on their early days as Saints teammates and break down Bush’s biggest hit in the NFL

Reggie Bush has put together a nice career for himself in television on the FOX Sports college football pregame show each week, and on Thursday night he was on the scene in West Lafayeete, Ind. for a season-opening tilt between the Purdue Boilermakers and the visiting Penn State Nittany Lions. And who would be in front of cameras with him if not one of Purdue’s most famous NFL alums: Bush’s old New Orleans Saints teammate Drew Brees?

The pair chopped it up in previewing the game and reminiscing on their time together in New Orleans, with Bush getting a dig in at Brees’ expense for one of the most infamous moments in his NFL career. That was when he was  absolutely bulldozed by a Philadelphia Eagles defender in their 2006 divisional round playoff game, resulting in an incomplete pass on the Saints’ opening drive and a very painful collision for the then-rookie running back.

And Brees owned up to it, crediting Bush for bouncing back from such a tough hit to not only stay in the game, but later give as good as he got with some highlights, scoring a critical touchdown run in the tight 27-24 contest. He was all smiles in looking back on how the defense, for once, got the better of him.

Brees broke down the play, gushing about its design and execution — and taking the blame for not responding as he should have, saying, “Alright Sheldon Brown (on the hit), right? Great corner. (Then-Eagles defensive coordinator) Jim Johnson, they brought zone pressure but they rolled the cloud corner behind it. So I didn’t see that. Our hot answer was the wide route.”

He watched Bush get leveled by the tackle again on replay and grinned, “Boy, you took it like a champ, look at you.” Then he and Bush shifted gears to bring up another play later in the game when Philadelphia went back to that same pressure look — but this time Brees burned them, going vertical instead of horizontal to pick up a first down. Bush added that the drive ended in a score, and the two former pros exchanged a dynamite high-five in recapping their playoff victory.

Honestly it’s everything we wanted to see out of Brees in his brief stint with NBC Sports last year. He was energized, insightful, and comfortable sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with his old teammate. Maybe, like their former coach Sean Payton, he’s best suited to work in a more casual setting like this than the buttoned-up NBC studios. It’s certainly an interesting contrast from the at-times hesitant Brees we saw providing color commentary in games a year ago. His next career move remains unclear (he was reported to be in talks with Amazon’s NFL coverage team earlier in the summer), but bright moments like this should continue to keep No. 9 on broadcasters’ radar.

Eagles claim former Saints QB Ian Book off of waivers

The Eagles claimed former Saints backup quarterback Ian Book off of waivers. Every other player waived by New Orleans cleared the process:

Well that’s interesting. The Philadelphia Eagles claimed former New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Ian Book from waivers on Wednesday, meaning he’ll back up Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew on their 53-man roster. Book, 24, was a fourth-round draft pick by New Orleans last year out of Notre Dame but was let go after struggling to improve over a tough rookie performance. Every other player waived by New Orleans cleared and is eligible to sign with the practice squad.

So that chapter is closed. Book will compete for the opportunity to hang on with Philadelphia, while the Saints keep focus on Jameis Winston as their starter. Veteran backup Andy Dalton has looked confident and comfortable in the No. 2 spot behind him over the summer. Taysom Hill is an option as an emergency QB, but look for the team to add another passer to their practice squad. They could bring back K.J. Costello, who joined them late in training camp, or former reserve Blake Bortles who has yet to find a new team upon being granted his release early this year.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson following Malcolm Jenkins’ footsteps to Philadelphia

C.J. Gardner-Johnson following in Malcolm Jenkins’ footsteps to Philadelphia with Saints-Eagles trade:

Don’t look now, but C.J. Gardner-Johnson is following Malcolm Jenkins in Tuesday’s stunning Saints-Eagles trade. Jenkins, of course, started his career as a highly-touted slot corner and won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints. When things soured after he struggled in a new role as the team’s starting free safety, the Saints opted to part ways with him. He went to the Philadelphia Eagles and won another Super Bowl, earning a lot of love from the fans in Philly, too.

Gardner-Johnson’s story so far kind of looks like what Jenkins may have experienced on Earth-2 or some other alternate universe. He landed in New Orleans as a mid-round pick, loved by draftniks but overlooked by most teams, and it took some time before he elbowed his way into the lineup and took Jenkins’ old spot covering the slot. He came awful close to winning a title or two with the Saints, too, but his biggest win was ascending to household name status among the fanbase.

Now he’s been traded to the same team that once signed Jenkins, where he’ll likely play the same role as a starting safety in the Eagles defense. Whether or not Gardner-Johnson finds as much success remains to be seen. It’s also unclear whether he’ll someday return to New Orleans. That feels unlikely given everything involved, both the money Gardner-Johnson is seeking that the Saints aren’t willing to pay as well as the emotions that go into these decisions, but you never know. Mark Ingram found his way back to the Saints after moving on to a couple of different teams.

So did Jenkins. The next time fans see Gardner-Johnson he’ll be wearing an Eagles uniform. But it’s far too soon to say that it’ll be the last they seen of him. In any case, it’s a cool parallel between two one-time teammates who shared so much in common while seeing such different experiences.

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Proof of Saints’ upgraded WR corps can be seen on other teams

Proof of the upgraded Saints WR corps can be seen on other teams. The Patriots like Ty Montgomery and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, while Easop Winston Jr. was just picked up by the Browns:

Don’t look now, but some familiar names are making noise around the NFL. A couple of former New Orleans Saints wide receivers have endeared themselves to New England Patriots fans after traveling up north in free agency, with receiver-running hybrid Ty Montgomery earning rare praise from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

Belichick spoke highly of Montgomery at practice this week, telling Patriots.com’s Mike Dussault that, “Ty’s been a wonderful kid to have around. He’s a very smart, multi-skilled, multi-talented player. Looking forward to working with him throughout the course of the year on the team in multiple roles. I think there’s a lot of different things he can do, we’ll have to figure out how to combine him with other players on the field. It’s nice to be able to work with him.”

Montgomery played the most snaps on special teams in his career to hang on with New Orleans last season (totaling 180 reps in the kicking game), eventually working his way into the largest workload he’d seen on offense since the 2017 season (playing 300 snaps as a runner and receiver). Putting all of his skills on tape helped him secure a free agent contract with the New England Patriots, where he’s established a quick rapport with second-year quarterback Mac Jones while elbowing his way into New England’s running backs rotation.

But Montgomery isn’t the only former Saints receiver showing out in New England. His former teammate Lil’Jordan Humphrey also signed with the Patriots over the summer and made the most of his opportunity in their first preseason game, bagging 6 receptions (off of 8 targets) to gain 62 yards with a 20-yard touchdown catch to his credit. He’s got more work to do before securing a roster spot, but that’s as good a start as anyone could hope for.

And like Montgomery, Humphrey was a big part of the Saints’ depth at receiver. They kept him on the practice squad for several years and dressed him for 10 games last season. But after adding so much talent to the top of the roster, they’ve positioned themselves to look elsewhere for backups while these guys try their hand with new teams.

It’s still happening. Easop Winston Jr. was a surprise release during the first wave of roster cuts this week, and he immediately landed with the Cleveland Browns as a waiver wire pickup. Like Humphrey, Winston spent time on the Saints practice squad in recent years, and like Montgomery he had been playing on special teams to help his case for a roster spot. And just like them, the numbers game pushed him out of the picture, but he’s landed on his feet. He’ll have a chance to impress the Browns through their next two preseason games.

So look for this trend to keep up in the weeks ahead, with more roster cuts deadlines and exhibition games to navigate. The Saints won’t be able to keep everyone. It’s a safe bet that Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave, and Deonte Harty are each locks to make the Week 1 squad, but things look dicey even for established receivers like Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway after that — to say nothing of players on the roster bubble like Kirk Merritt, Kevin White, Kawaan Baker, and undrafted rookies Dai’Jean Dixon (Nicholls) and Rashid Shaheed (Weber State). After a few years in the wilderness, the Saints are finally running so deep at receiver that other teams envy them.

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49ers announce they’ve signed former Saints cornerback Ken Crawley

The San Francisco 49ers announced that they have signed former New Orleans Saints cornerback Ken Crawley:

He’s back: former New Orleans Saints cornerback Ken Crawley signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, the team announced, as a corresponding move with safety Leon O’Neal Jr. going to injured reserve. San Francisco needs more defensive backs ahead of the preseason, and Crawley ended up signing with them after trying out for the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week.

Crawley has appeared sporadically in New Orleans’ lineup since his debut in the 2016 season, having signed with them as an undrafted rookie out of Colorado, averaging 507 defensive snaps through his first three years with the team as a part-time starter. He’s only totaled 98 snaps on special teams against just 27 reps with the defense over the last three years with the Saints improving their depth in the secondary, steadily pushing him further down the depth chart. Good for him on earning this opportunity to continue his NFL career.

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Watch: Sam Mills’ bronze bust presented at Hall of Fame ceremony

Watch: Sam Mills’ bronze bust presented at Hall of Fame ceremony, Jim Mora Sr. presents the legendary Saints linebacker

This is really cool: the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted legendary New Orleans Saints linebacker Sam Mills on Saturday, with longtime broadcaster Chris Berman introducing the iconic “Field Mouse” and his old coach Jim Mora Sr. leading the presentation. Mills, who died of cancer in 2005, was represented by his wife Melanie and their family at the enshrinement ceremony.

It was a terrific moment for all involved, remembering Mills’ legacy as a fan-favorite standout on the Saints’ “Dome Patrol” defenses who later ended his playing career with the Carolina Panthers, where he started his coaching career. Both franchises pay him tribute and are represented in his commemorative locker at the Hall of Fame.

But maybe the most touching dedication came from Mills’ son Marcus, who shared a letter written to his late father on behalf of their friends and family, embodying the legacy that Mills has left behind. See it for yourself:

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Former Saints QB J.T. Barrett joins Lions coaching staff

ICYMI: Dan Campbell’s Lions coaching staff added former Saints practice squad QB J.T. Barrett as an offensive assistant:

This is really cool: J.T. Barrett is back in the NFL, having exchanged his helmet for a headset. The Detroit Lions announced that Barrett has joined Dan Campbell’s coaching staff as an offensive assistant, adding another former member of the New Orleans Saints to the mix. After accomplishing a record-setting career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Barrett spent most of his pro career on the Saints practice squad from 2018 to 2019 (where he was signed, waived, and re-signed a bizarre 28 times) before he moved on to try his luck in brief stops with the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now he has a new opportunity to stay in the game, albeit in a very different role from what he’s used to. Barrett’s coaching career is beginning at the ground level and it’ll be up to him to build it up from here. But props to Campbell for giving him a shot. Detroit has loaded up with former Saints coaches (including defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who made a strong run at the open Saints head coaching job early this year) and players like tight end Garrett Griffin, who Campbell worked with as his position coach in New Orleans. Let’s see how it works out.

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Ex-Saints DC Gregg Williams hired for XFL assistant coaching job

We don’t know how many NFL head coach jobs he’ll claim he turned down this time, but ex-Saints DC Gregg Williams has been hired as an XFL assistant coach:

Hey, look who’s back: Gregg Williams has been hired as a defensive coordinator with the still-rebooting XFL ahead of the spring league’s 2023 season, having been assigned to work with head coach Reggie Barlow (the startup league has not yet clarified which coaches will be working with which franchises), the XFL announced on Thursday. Two other former New Orleans Saints coaches, Jim Haslett and Wade Phillips, are heading teams of their own.

Williams, of course, helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV but ended his three-year run as Sean Payton’s defensive coordinator in disrepute, allowing Alex Smith and Vernon Davis to march downfield uncontested in the final minutes of the team’s Jan. 2012 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Months later, the NFL’s Bountygate investigation resulted in suspensions for Payton, Williams, other assistant coaches and team executives all stemming from allegations that Williams installed a pay-for-injury scheme.

For his part, Williams threw New Orleans under the bus in testifying against his former players and coworkers to support the NFL’s narrative. The relationship between Williams and his old team and its fanbase has been, let’s say, acrimonious ever since.

Known for talking a big game but coaching scared, Williams returned after a one-year ban from the NFL to work with the Tennessee Titans, complete with a bizarre witness protection-style goatee. He had a couple of other brief and unsuccessful stints with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets after that — at one point bizarrely claiming that he’d turned down 11 interviews for head coaching jobs around the NFL to instead become Cleveland’s defensive coordinator.

Between poorly-timed all-out blitzes and a louche attention to detail, Williams’ defenses have struggled to compete in the NFL while yielding too big plays too often, whiffing on too many tackles, and committing a lot of penalties. Maybe he’ll find more success against a lower level of competition in the XFL.

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Former Saint Trey Hendrickson listed among NFL’s most underrated defenders

Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is listed among the NFL’s most underrated defenders. Did the Saints make a mistake in letting him go?

Ouch. Well, hey, good for Trey Hendrickson: the former New Orleans Saints defensive end made the cut for Doug Farrar’s list of the most underrated defenders in the NFL over at Touchdown Wire, and for great reason. Hendrickson led the Cincinnati Bengals in sacks (14) and overall quarterback pressures (87, per Pro Football Focus charting) after leaving New Orleans in free agency last offseason. So it’s safe to say he’s doing well for himself.

Hendrickson is one of three edge defenders to make Farrar’s list, along with John Franklin-Myers (New York Jets) and Rashan Gary (Green Bay Packers). Here’s what Farrar had to say of Hendrickson after his big year with Cincinnati:

“There are times as an analyst where you do your best, you think you have it right, and in the end, you have to take the L. Hopefully, you learn from it, and you move on. When the Bengals signed former Saints edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $60 million contract in March, 2021, I panned the deal, giving it a B- because Hendrickson didn’t offer a lot of gap versatility. I thought that Hendrickson might be limited in a Bengals defense that wasn’t as versatile upfront.

Uh… whoops. I would hereby like to apologize to Mr. Hendrickson, and anybody else I may have offended. Hendrickson wasn’t very gap-versatile in 2021 for the AFC champs — he played 835 snaps outside the tackles and 56 inside — but if you have a fastball with enough velocity and movement… sometimes that’s all you need. In the 2021 season, only Maxx Crosby and Nick Bosa had more total pressures than Hendrickson’s 87, tying with the aforementioned Rashan Gary for third-best in the league.”

There was some though at the time of Hendrickson’s signing that he was just a one-year wonder. He’d doubled his career sacks total in 2020 after spending the first three seasons as an afterthought in the Saints’ rotation, having missed a lot of time with injuries. But credit to him for putting it all together and maximizing his value to earn a nice payday from the Bengals and some well-deserved acknowledgement.

I’d hesitate to say the Saints made a mistake in letting Hendrickson walk, though. With the salary cap crunch in effect amid the COVID-19 pandemic, New Orleans had to make some tough choices, and ended up letting players like Hendrickson, Sheldon Rankins, and Jackrabbit Jenkins walk away so they could retain others and issue the franchise tag to Marcus Williams. It’s disappointing that they couldn’t sign Williams to a long-term deal after that, and he did ultimately leave in free agency, but we should be looking at both situations separately. When you draft and develop talented players as often as the Saints have, inevitably some of them will move on.

Still, it’s going to be impossible not to ask whether the team would be better off with Hendrickson still around on a high salary as opposed to, say, still-unproven first round picks like Marcus Davenport or Payton Turner. Hendrickson is just 27 years old and may have been a nice succession plan for Cameron Jordan (who turns 33 in July).

Let’s save the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” talk for another day and just hope Hendrickson doesn’t have too big of a game when he and his Bengals teammates (including other ex-Saints like Vonn Bell and Eli Apple) visit New Orleans on Oct. 16. Ryan Ramczyk, Trevor Penning, and the rest of the Saints offensive line are going to have their hands full.

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Sean Payton expects his first media job will be as a TV studio analyst

Sean Payton expects his first media job will be as a TV studio analyst:

So this is interesting. Sean Payton is taking a turn to the media after stepping down as New Orleans Saints head coach earlier this year, and after initial speculation that he’d be taking an in-game commentator role he’s now clarifying that he expects to work in-studio, likely on a panel with other former coaches and players.

Payton shared the news after participating in the Zurich Classic celebrity shootout event this week, telling the Athletic’s Katherine Terrell of whether he’s landed a media job: “I think so, I just don’t want to be the one that puts my foot in my mouth before the company does. But it is. Soon. Probably a studio job.”

That makes sense; Payton’s first blush with working on the other side was on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown pregame show a couple years ago, working on a studio panel with his peers. He’s run a gauntlet of radio and podcast appearances over recent months to get more comfortable in media. He doesn’t have much experience calling games or sharing live commentary, so this could be his best path forwards.

And while there has been even more speculation about Payton’s coaching future (specifically when he’ll return to the NFL, and which team will trade the Saints a king’s ransom for his contract rights), it’s very possible he likes this job well enough to stick with it. That’s what happened with Bill Cowher. The legendary Pittsburgh Steelers coach stepped down after a 15-year run featuring a 161-99-1 record (including the playoffs), a Super Bowl XL ring, and before his fiftieth birthday. He’s remained a fixture at CBS ever since.

Compare that to Payton, who resigned after turning 58 with a 161-97 record and a Super Bowl XLIV title to his credit. Obviously these are two different people with different perspectives and goals, but they have each accomplished similar resumes. We’ll just have to wait and see which network brings Payton into the fold and whether they can keep him there.

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