Category: Former Saints

Ex-Saints draft pick Vinnie Sunseri now working on Patriots staff

Former New Orleans Saints draft pick and Alabama graduate assistant Vinnie Sunseri was hired by the New England Patriots, per a report.

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A former member of the New Orleans Saints is on the move. AL.com’s Matt Zenitz reported that Vinnie Sunseri, a 2014 fifth-round draft pick by the Saints, was hired by the New England Patriots in a support staff role. Sunseri spent the 2019 season as a graduate assistant at Alabama, his alma mater. He’s now reunited with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who took a flyer on Sunseri after the Saints cut him in 2016.

Sunseri was known for his special teams aptitude in college, and primarily tried out there for New Orleans. But the same injury issues that dogged him at Alabama continued into the NFL, with each of his first two seasons ending on the injured reserve list. He competed at the 2016 training camp with the Patriots and made a cameo with the San Francisco 49ers late in that season, but hadn’t played a down since San Francisco waived him during 2017 roster cuts.

He’ll presumably take the Joe Judge path to his future as a head coach, helping out with Belichick’s storied special teams department and diligently climbing the ladder. Sunseri’s father is an accomplished assistant coach in his own right and currently works with linebackers at Alabama, so this side of the ball isn’t new to him. It’s just a shame things didn’t work out for him in New Orleans.

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Watch: Steve Gleason gets standing ovation at Congressional Gold Medal ceremony

New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason received a Congressional Gold Medal for his advocacy of ALS research, as well as a standing ovation.

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New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason made American history on Wednesday, being the first professional football player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his efforts in promoting awareness of ALS, a degenerative neural disease he’s fought since 2011.

Gleason, 42, earned his spot in Saints history with a game-changing blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, in the first game played inside the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. His continued rise in prominence after publicly advocating for research into ALS and raising funds to help others afflicted with it has only grown with time.

Now, he’s in rare company as the recipient of this Congressional Gold Medal. He received it during a ceremony in Statuary Hall at Capitol Hill surrounded by friends, family, and supporters, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his son Baylen as well as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Brees shared his remarks on the occasion following opening statements from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy.

And when Gleason received his award, it was followed up by a standing ovation:

Now that’s special. Afterwards, Brees shared his own thoughts on the ceremony and his relationship with Gleason in a video posted from the official Saints Twitter account:

And here’s what the medal, designed custom for Gleason, looks like:

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Steve Gleason to receive Congressional Gold Medal, Drew Brees to attend

New Orleans Saints living legend Steve Gleason will receive the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

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There aren’t many players in New Orleans Saints history more well-known and better-respected than Steve Gleason. The special teams ace earned an enduring spot in fans’ memories with his blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons, in the first game played in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city and the surrounding the Gulf Coast. It’s not for nothing that he’s the only Saints player immortalized with a bronze statue standing outside the team’s home stadium.

But Gleason has continued to be a big part of New Orleans lore after his playing days were over. He’s remained a common sight on the Saints sideline, is active in community fund-raisers and benefits, and maintains an active social media presence — all while fighting ALS, the neurodegenerative disease that has confined him to a wheelchair, only able to communicate through a cutting-edge text-to-speech computer program.

Despite those challenges and the fatal diagnosis Gleason received back in 2011, he’s continued to advocate for research into ALS and promote awareness of it, doing everything possible to help others afflicted with the disease. Now, he’ll be recognized at a ceremony on Capitol Hill after nearly a decade of those efforts, as the latest recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal. He offered input on the design of his unique medal, which can be seen here.

And he won’t be alone. Gleason’s former teammate and longtime friend Drew Brees will be in attendance (on his 41st birthday) to support him in the iconic Statuary Hall, surrounded by memorials to other figures in American history. It’s well-deserved recognition for Gleason, his family, and their friends, and we’re looking forward to viewing this latest chapter in his story.

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Reports: Ex-Saints assistant Joe Brady returning to the NFL, joining Panthers

First-year Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule reportedly recruited LSU Tigers coach Joe Brady, a former New Orleans Saints assistant.

It was reported last Saturday that LSU Tigers passing game coordinator Joe Brady was being considered for a position with the Carolina Panthers under first-year head coach Matt Rhule, which Brady sternly denied during a media day press conference ahead of Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers.

However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Brady plans to leave the college ranks and return to the NFL following LSU’s dominant win. He’ll reportedly be joining Rhule’s staff after all.

This is significant for two reasons, mainly that Brady was a member of the New Orleans Saints staff just a year ago as an offense assistant. It was his first major coaching gig as a 30-year-old who had previously worked at William & Mary, with a graduate assistant stop at Penn State in-between. The Athletic’s Jordan Rodrigue confirmed that Brady will work on Rhuse’s staff as offensive coordinator, making him the youngest coach at that level in the league.

The other significance to this move is that the Saints will play the Panthers twice a year as NFC South rivals. That means trouble if Brady is able to successfully import the crafty play designs and intelligent tendencies he installed at LSU. At least Payton and his staff know him well, and will be better-prepared than most to plan against him.

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Ex-Saints coach Mike Westhoff thinks Taysom Hill will succeed Drew Brees

Former New Orleans Saints special teams coach Mike Westhoff believes Taysom Hill could inherit the starting quarterback gig from Drew Brees.

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Mike Westhoff saw a lot during his long and storied NFL career, rising to prominence as a fiery assistant with the New York Jets before taking up Sean Payton’s offer to work as a consultant and de facto coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. He saw a lot of things and worked with many different athletes during his 32-year coaching career, but Taysom Hill offered something he hadn’t seen before: a quarterback with the athleticism and mindset to make a name for himself on special teams.

But even Westhoff didn’t anticipate Hill’s increased role in the Saints offense, but he liked what he saw in 2019. During an interview with The Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio, Westhoff shared his opinion that, yes, Hill has what it takes to succeed Drew Brees as the next starting quarterback for the Saints.

When asked whether he thinks Hill can continue to make strides and run a fully-formed NFL offense, Westhoff was enthusiastic in his support for that move: “I think he absolutely can be. I think he can be. Take a look at Baltimore. He’s the same kind of guy. Taysom Hill does those same things. I think he throws better (than Lamar Jackson). That’s the kind of football player he is. He was a very good quarterback at Brigham Young.”

The Saints made sweeping changes to their special teams coaching staff in 2019, parting ways with former coordinator Bradford Banta and his assistants. Westhoff wasn’t interested in working with the new coaches Payton brought in, instead contentedly resuming his retirement. But he knows enough about Payton to think the Saints are in good hands, and capable of retooling their offense similarly to how Ravens coach John Harbaugh operated after transitioning to Jackson after 11 years with Joe Flacco.

Westhoff continued: “I think he’ll be a heck of a quarterback, and I think you’ll see an offense that’s similar to Baltimore that can do a lot of different things. Sean Payton is an extremely qualified coach, and he’s very, very creative. Sean Payton is a good coach.”

The NFL is very much a copycat league, and it’s easy to envision a world where Payton expands Hill’s option-based package of plays to run with him as the full-time quarterback, taking inspiration from the diverse Ravens rushing attack. But it’s equally valid to wonder if Hill, who will turn 30 this year, can continue developing as a passer while the athleticism that’s won him so much acclaim inevitably begins to deteriorate. And the series of season-ending injuries he suffered at BYU can’t be overlooked, even if he’s responded well to a more-physical role than he dealt with in college.

So at the end of the day, this is just one former coach’s speculation. Westhoff made it very clear that he wasn’t relaying anything he’d heard from the Saints internally. He’s simply an experienced coach who has been pleasantly surprised by Hill’s abilities before, and wouldn’t rule out more surprises from the do-it-all quarterback in the future.

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Report: Ex-Saints assistant, LSU wunderkind Joe Brady up for Panthers OC job

Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule is reportedly considering former Saints assistant Joe Brady, now with LSU, as his offensive coordinator.

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It’s been a wild year for Joe Brady. In just twelve months, he left a position with Sean Payton’s staff as an offensive assistant to serve as the LSU Tigers passing-game coordinator, and now he’s reportedly being considered for the offensive coordinator position with the Carolina Panthers. In just a year, Brady would have gone from assembling playbooks in the copyroom to designing and installing them himself.

The Panthers hired former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule to overhaul their coaching staff; Rhule is reportedly angling to carry over some of his Baylor coaches to the NFL, but there’s room for Brady on his staff. Brady was innovative for LSU, bringing their offense into the modern era with a mix of refined passing concepts and inspired play out of Joe Burrow, the top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.

Brady taking over the reins in Carolina — in an offense centered around Christian McCaffrey, one of the NFL’s most dynamic weapons — would be troubling to say the least. However, his departure for the NFL is far from a certainty. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that while Brady is being considered for this role on Rhule’s staff, he has a contract extension in place with LSU, though he hasn’t signed it yet. Maybe the Tigers can bid against any NFL offers Brady receives.

For his part, Brady is keeping his cards close to his vest. When asked whether he’s been contacted about opportunities in the NFL, he denied any correspondence with NFL teams, and asserted that he’s more focused on winning Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship game with the Clemson Tigers than preparing for any future job interviews. Given these other reports, however, it’s possible his agent would answer differently. Keep an eye out on this developing stiuation.

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Tracy Porter officially retires, will be honored during Saints-Vikings game

Saints cornerback Tracy Porter’s interception of Brett Favre is the stuff of legends. So it’s fitting that he’ll retire against the Vikings.

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Here’s an added element to the energy surrounding Sunday’s wild-card round playoff game between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings. Former Saints cornerback Tracy Porter is officially announcing his retirement from professional football, and will be recognized for his contributions to Saints history during this week’s game day festivities. This is sure to sit well with any visiting Vikings fans.

Porter, of course, rose to prominence during the Saints’ first Super Bowl run, particularly the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Porter intercepted then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in the closing seconds of regulation to force the game into overtime, which the Saints won off of a legendary Garrett Hartley field goal. Porter also intercepted Peyton Manning to seal the win in Super Bowl XLIV, returning that turnover for a championship-clinching defensive touchdown. Those are some serious credentials to pad out your resume with.

Sure, Porter’s retirement now is more of a formality — he hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2016, which he spent with the Chicago Bears. But this is a perfect opportunity for fans remember his contributions and maybe rile up the Superdome crowd. And if it happens to tweak some salty Vikings faithful — well, take it up with Favre for throwing that awful interception across his body. He and Adrian Peterson were giving away fumbles and interceptions like they were going out of style (the Vikings committed eight turnovers as a team in that conference title game). It’s not the Saints’ fault for capitalizing on Minnesota’s mistakes. But by goodness are we going to celebrate it.

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Famed ‘Dome Patrol’ Saints LB Sam Mills named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist

Former New Orleans Saints Saints linebacker Sam Mills, of ‘Dome Patrol’ fame, was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Sam Mills was announced as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. This is huge news considering Mills has been named a semifinalist three times since becoming eligible to enter the Hall of Fame, most recently in Nov. 2019, but this is the first time his candidacy has advanced to the next stage of voting.

Mills spent nine years in New Orleans, starring in the famous “Dome Patrol” defense alongside linebackers Vaughan Johnson, Pat Swilling, and Rickey Jackson, who was voted into the Hall of Fame back in 2010. Mills finished his career with the expansion-team Carolina Panthers, joining their coaching staff after his playing days were over. He died in Charlotte in 2005 of intestinal cancer, and a bronze statue stands in his memory outside the Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium to this day.

Mills’ career stats and impact to both teams he played with speaks for itself. His five Pro Bowl appearances (four with the Saints) also help, as well as his past inductions to the Saints Hall of Fame in 1998 and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He’ll have his case heard before the Hall of Fame selection committee on Feb. 1, the day before Super Bowl LIV, as part of the 15-strong group of finalists. Only five will make the final cut, and his credentials are as strong as any.

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Ex-Saints practice squad QB J.T. Barrett signs with Steelers

Former New Orleans Saints and Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad in Week 17.

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Former New Orelans Saints quarterback J.T. Barrett has caught on with a new team after shuffling on and off of the Saints practice squad during his first two years in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Barrett to their own practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.

Barrett initially signed with the Saints out of Ohio State in May 2018, following a tryout during rookie minicamp; he went on to be released and re-signed in 28 transactions, most recently being waived on Oct. 22, 2019. That’s one shy of the dubious team record former Saints wide receiver Andy Tanner set from 2011 to 2015, having been signed, waived, or re-signed 29 times.

While it’s unlikely Barrett gets on the field at M&T Bank Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens, we can’t rule it out altogether. The Steelers are very short-handed at quarterback in the wake of year-ending injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph, with Devlin Hodges (nicknamed “Duck”) expected to close out the regular season. Paxton Lynch will back him up, rounding out this “who’s who” of NFL quarterbacks. Still, it looks like Barrett’s first real NFL action will continue to evade him.

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Dez Bryant lists Saints, Ravens among the teams he’d like to try out for

Ex-Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant named the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs among teams he’d like to play for.

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Last year’s Achilles injury sidelined Dez Bryant for longer than expected, and now the one-time New Orleans Saints wide receiver is looking towards next season. Bryant shared a cup of coffee with the Saints before going down in Nov. 2018, and before that he spent eight years with the Dallas Cowboys — appearing in 116 games (including the playoffs), catching 546 passes for 7,677 receiving yards and scoring 75 touchdowns along the way. It stands to reason that if he gets his body right, some receiver-needy team could take a shot on him at some point.

And he’d like to try out for the Saints again, if given the opportunity. When asked by a fan on Twitter whether he’d consider reuniting with the Cowboys, Bryant responded, “Yep for next year,” before listing squads he’d be interested in joining such as the Saints, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs. Naturally, all of those teams are positioned to compete for a Super Bowl title.

Bryant added that he could see himself helping a team as “deadly weapon in the red zone” after putting in the work to train for it. But he’s spent the last year rehabbing a surgically-repaired Achilles tendon, and at 31 years of age, it kind of feels like any interested teams would have brought him in already. But at least he’s remaining optimistic about his chances of starring in the NFL again.

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