Category: Saints on Social Media

Cameron Jordan, Matt Ryan team up for historically-great NFL stat

New Orleans Saints DE Cameron Jordan has sacked Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan more often than any defender-passer duo in NFL history.

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It’s one thing to know that New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan has sacked Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan more than any other passer, recording 18 takedowns against Ryan in his career. That’s impressive in its own right, but maybe not too surprising given how often the Saints and Falcons have squared off over the years.

What adds another element to this fact is the knowledge that Jordan’s 18 sacks against Ryan or more than any other defender-quarterback combination in NFL history, per Elias Sports Bureau. Jordan won that title by sacking Ryan four times on Thanksgiving Day last season, part of his personal-best 15.5 sacks in 2019.

That’s going down as one of our favorite stats, which is probably common among Saints faithful. But thanks to the wonders of social media, we now know that it’s one of Jordan’s favorite stats, too:

Maybe Jordan and Ryan can extend their lead together with two more sacks in 2020. It’s great to see even a division rival step up to help someone out, but we’ll have to wait and see whether Ryan’s been as eager to support Jordan’s cause as we’re assuming.

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One-time Saints workout warrior Antonio Brown says he’s retiring again

Former Steelers, Raiders, and Patriots wide receiver Antonio Brown announced his retirement months after a New Orleans Saints workout.

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Don’t look now, but Antonio Brown has suggested he’s hanging up his cleats again. The seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after issuing a similar notice back in Sept. 2019.

Brown spent the 2019 offseason with the then-Oakland Raiders after being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers, but ultimately suited up for just one game with the New England Patriots before he was released once a series of legal issues and sexual assault allegations came to light. He last retired over a disagreement in whether guaranteed money in his Raiders contract.

Brown hasn’t had a team since then, with NFL franchises waiting to see how  any potential suspensions would play out with the league as various court cases and investigations unfolded.

He last participated in a group workout with the New Orleans Saints just before the playoffs started, though every receiver at that tryout except for Brown and former Saints practice squad member Travin Dural since signed new contracts:

Brown went on to decry his appearance in New Orleans as a publicity stunt that benefited the Saints, and later produced an explicit music video targeting Saints coach Sean Payton. He’s citing an imbalance between the risk of suiting up for the 2020 season (maybe due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic) and the possible rewards of another NFL payday as his reasoning in stepping away from the game this time, but we’ll see if it sticks. Brown’s behavior has been unpredictable before.

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Drew Brees, Saints leadership call out NFL’s COVID-19 response

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees and teammates Malcolm Jenkins, Demario Davis, and Michael Thomas criticized the NFL’s handling of COVID-19.

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Drew Brees joined many of his New Orleans Saints teammates in putting the NFL on blast for its response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, lending their voices to a wide range of posts from members of the NFL Players Association.

According to NFLPA President JC Tretter, these messages are protesting the league’s lackluster response to expert recommendations in the interest of player health and safety. One example cited by Bleacher Report’s Master Tesfatsion is a lack of NFL policy should a team facility record multiple infections, or if a player or their family member becomes seriously ill. That’s in addition to possible impacts on the NFL salary cap in future years due to depressed revenue in the 2020 fiscal year, which could end up costing players jobs.

Another snag in negotiations was brought up by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero; a joint medical committee suggested the NFL institute a 21-day acclimation period before training camp so that everyone can adjust to new health and safety protocols, but league ownership wants to limit that to just 14 days. Additionally, the players union wants to eliminate preseason games altogether, while the NFL is set on shortening the exhibition series to just two weeks of games.

All of these points of contention and more were raised by Brees, Malcolm Jenkins, Michael Thomas, Demario Davis, and other big names in New Orleans and around the NFL. Regardless of their personal focuses, the central point remains the same from all of them: they want to play, but with the assurance that the NFL is doing everything it can and using all of its resources to protect people.

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Watch: Michael Thomas reacts to sky-high ‘Madden NFL 21’ grade

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas was pleased to join the 99 Club in “Madden NFL 21,” making him one of the best players in the game.

Reactions are usually mixed among NFL players when they learn their grade in the latest iteration of the “Madden” franchise from EA Sports. Oftentimes, they’re motivated to work even harder and earn more respect after a perceived slight from a rating lower than what they think they deserve.

Other times, though, they reach the limit of what’s possible within the popular video game series. That’s the case for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who was selected as the fifth member of the 99 Club in “Madden NFL 21” after his record-setting 2019 season.

And fans got a look at Thomas in real time as he learned that he’d be joining that exclusive group from a video shared by the official Saints Twitter account, with some help from Thomas’s barber. See it for yourself:

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Thomas Morstead: NFL must adapt, ‘can’t bend the virus to football’

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead was critical of the NFL’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, showing concern for player safety.

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All-world New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead can be counted among the group of players who are anxious to see how the NFL adapts to the novel coronavirus pandemic before its 2020 season gets on the move. The public health crisis has already impacted the NFL’s offseason calendar by canceling organized team activities earlier in the summer as well as the first and final weeks of preseason games. Further changes are expected as the situation develops.

Morstead responded to a public letter from NFL Players Association President JC Tretter, in which Tretter expressed frustration at the NFL’s response to the pandemic. Morstead pointed out that, “You can’t bend the virus to football. You have to bend football to the virus.”

That’s an important point to remember in a full-contact sport like football, which requires rosters bigger than those found in other professional sports like basketball or baseball — both of which are already grappling with how to handle coronavirus infections before they can resume their own 2020 seasons. With NFL training camp just weeks away, the clock is ticking louder on the league and the NFLPA to find ways to get to business safely.

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Michael Thomas laughs off reported NFL request to hold partial wages in escrow

The NFL suggested 35% of wages be held in escrow during the 2020 season, which New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas scoffed at.

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Talks are ongoing between the NFL and the NFL Players Association as both sides gear up for the 2020 season despite the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. One point of contention in recent conversations between labor and management is an NFL proposal to hold 35% of wages in escrow to help manage costs during the upcoming season.

Naturally, that wasn’t an appealing offer to the players’ union, which told ownership “to kick rocks” when the option was brought up. Superstar New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas took aim a little more directly at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the ownership group he represents, saying that, “Roger and those owners better use their billions and put it in escrow or plan accordingly.”

Thomas is likely more skeptical of whether a season can get off the ground while addressing players’ health concerns than he’s worried about whether it’ll be a profitable season. And he’s not alone in those concerns, with teammate Cameron Jordan laughing at the in-escrow suggestion as “an option on the table.”

NFL owners are clearly expecting some sort of loss in revenue from the 2020 season, probably due to decreased ticket sales and gameday concessions. But with new TV broadcasting contracts on the horizon and the collective wealth of league ownership (estimated at a combined net worth north of $72 billion among just the 10 richest team owners), owners are in a better position to take a financial hit this year than the players themselves.

Still, there will be ripple effects from a less-profitable 2020 season. The Saints stand to lose out on as much as $440 million if they aren’t able to bring fans into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this year, and a big reflection of those losses will come in the form of a decreased 2021 salary cap. But we’re a long ways off from those anxieties becoming reality.

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49ers troll the Saints, advise fans to ‘grab a face mask’ during pandemic

The San Francisco 49ers got in a dig at the New Orleans Saints on Twitter while reminding fans to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic

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The novel coronavirus pandemic has continued to spread throughout the United States, with hotbeds of infections growing in Texas, Arizona, and Florida. California has also been hit hard, prompting the San Francisco 49ers to send a message to their fans advocating for personal health and safety measures.

Unfortunately, the New Orleans Saints caught a stray. The 49ers shared a message on Twitter saying, “Be a saint. Grab a face mask,” complete with a brief video of one of the 2019 season’s lowest moments for Saints fans: free safety Marcus Williams’ desperate face mask penalty to save a would-be touchdown catch-and-run by 49ers tight end George Kittle near the end of that loss.

It’s a low blow; hopefully the Saints will get the opportunity to strike back in their 2020 rematch with San Francisco, scheduled for Nov. 15. But more Americans must follow that advice and mask up, preventing further coronavirus infections and potentially saving lives, if we’re going to get there.

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Alvin Kamara is a newly-minted fan of NASCAR, Bubba Wallace

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara tuned in for his first NASCAR race, cheering on Bubba Wallace at the Martinsville Speedway.

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Step aside, Avengers: Infinity War. The most ambitious crossover in recent memory might be the intersection of New Orleans Saints superstar Alvin Kamara and his brand-new fandom of NASCAR’s rising talent Bubba Wallace.

Intrigued by NASCAR’s decision to ban displays of the Confederate battle flag at its events and venues, Kamara tuned in for Wednesday night’s 500-lap race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia and live-tweeted his thoughts. Wallace has taken on a leading role in the sport as an advocate for social justice, and helped Kamara find the broadcast right in time for the opening ceremonies.

Initially starting back at 23rd, Wallace finished in 11th place of the 39 competitors — a personal-best at Martinsville. He drove the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports, a Chevrolet emblazoned with a Black Lives Matter paint scheme and slogans calling for racial equality. Wallace climbed as high as fifth-place in the first stage before an extended pit stop sidelined him.

The winning driver was Martin Truex Jr., who took a commanding lead in lap 370 with his No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, and held onto it down the stretch. And Kamara was quick to congratulate him on the victory.

This might not be the last we see of Kamara on the fast track, either. NOLA Motorsports general manager Dennis Lomonaco invited Kamara to swing by, asking that he bring one of his favorite Saints players — punter Thomas Morstead — along for a ride. And Kamara seemed receptive to the idea.

It was a fun night to keep track of from Kamara’s social media feeds. How’s that for broadening your horizons?

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Drew Brees joins Players Coalition in petitioning Congress to end qualified immunity

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees lent his signature to a letter from the Players Coalition petitioning Congress to end qualified immunity.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has backed up his words with actions, following up his changed perspective on peaceful protests by adding his voice to a list of over 1,400 professional athletes and coaches writing to the United States Congress in hope of new legislation ending qualified immunity.

The letter was issued by the Players Coalition, which you can read here. Brees was joined in signing the petition by many of his teammates, including Terron Armstead, Demario Davis, Ethan Greenidge, Deonte Harris, Malcolm Jenkins, Cameron Jordan, Alvin Kamara, Ty Montgomery, and Noah Spence. Former Saints players Delvin Breaux, Jermon Bushrod, Marques Colston, Jabari Greer, Deuce McAllister, Lance Moore, Scott Shanle, and Benjamin Watson also added their signatures.

And their focus is aimed at ending qualified immunity. As explained by our own Mark Schofield over at Touchdown Wire:

The doctrine of qualified immunity works as a shield to prevent courts from finding police officers and officials personally liable for constitutional violations, including excessive force claims. These officials cannot be held liable for monetary damages as long as the officers did not violate “clearly established law.”

Schofield included several examples of how the qualified immunity doctrine has been used to protect law enforcement officers from lawsuits accusing them of police brutality, which has been a central message of demonstrators at protests around the nation following the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd during an arrest.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that so many Saints players have taken an interest in this fight. Davis, Jenkins, and Watson are founding members of the Players Coalition, while Brees has stepped up as an ally after several days of intense conversations with his friends and teammates. Stay tuned to see how they use their platform to again advance the cause.

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Shannon Sharpe reflects on phone call with Drew Brees

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees reached out to FS1’s Shannon Sharpe after drawing criticism for speaking out against peaceful protests.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees went through a whirlwind of attention last week after speaking out against peaceful protests during the national anthem before NFL games, with retired Super Bowl champion and Fox Sports 1 host Shannon Sharpe among the loudest voices condemning Brees before he issued a public apology and backtracked on his stance.

Sharpe was an outspoken critic of Brees’ first remarks, using his platform on Fox Sports 1 to lambaste Brees for missing the point of protests during the national anthem while also, in a hotter take, calling for his retirement.

It left an impression on Brees, who reached out days later to speak with Sharpe over a phone call. The pair were able to talk things out in a lengthy conversation, which Sharpe described in another television spot.

“I said ‘Drew, for one second we didn’t want you to be Drew Brees, we wanted you to be one of us. We wanted you to ask yourself what if that was your brother [killed in police custody], your uncle, your father,'” Sharpe said during a Monday appearance on FS1. “What hurt the most is that it came from you. No white quarterback in the history of the NFL has had black support like you.”

Sharpe elaborated on his criticism of Brees’ initial stance, which you can find where we’ve embedded it below or by following this link. But the Saints’ face of the franchise changed his perspective after days of dialogue with his teammates, and has remained steadfast even when called out by President Donald Trump.

It’s been one of the more surprising storylines of the 2020 Saints offseason, but the capacity for growth Brees has shown — and the support his actions have earned from the rest of the locker room — speak volumes. These galvanizing moments could pay off when the Saints run into more adversity once the season starts.