Category: Saints on Social Media

Look: Ty Montgomery debuts his signature No. 88 in black and gold

The New Orleans Saints signed Ty Montgomery, a versatile running back/wide receiver who has worn No. 88 with the Packers, Ravens, and Jets.

[jwplayer Yy4Q6WAG-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints made a surprising late-spring addition last week by signing free agent running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery, the former Green Bay Packers playmaker who most recently spent time with the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets.

While Montgomery’s schematic fit and path to making the roster — much less earning snaps during games — is fascinating, the real story here is which jersey number he’ll be wearing. Having initially played solely at wideout, Montgomery wore No. 88 with the Packers even after he began bulking up and handling carries between the tackles.

He held onto that number with each of his next two teams, and he’ll continue to throw off observers with it in New Orleans. Montgomery announced on his official Twitter account that he would use No. 88 now that he’s playing with the Saints, which was confirmed on the official team roster.

He included an edited photo to give fans of an idea of what he’ll look like in black and gold, which we’ve embedded below:

Jokes aside, there is a benefit to Montgomery going with such an unusual number for a running back (like his previous teams, the Saints will probably skirt around NFL jersey restrictions by designating him a “RB/WR” on filings with the league office). Defensive coordinators commonly tool their subpackages to counter opposing personnel groupings.

By letting Montgomery wear No. 88, the Saints are going to force teams to think a little harder about whether to field an extra linebacker or defensive back. That narrows the margin for error considering how quickly those decisions must be made during games. It’s a small edge, but those can’t be discounted in the hyper-competitive NFL.

[lawrence-related id=33623,33611].

[vertical-gallery id=33239]

Larry Warford says his goodbyes to the Saints

New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford said goodbye to his teammates and fans after being released on Friday afternoon.

[jwplayer AihxPLHO-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints released right guard Larry Warford on Friday, parting ways with the three-time Pro Bowler to open a spot in the starting lineup for first-round draft pick Cesar Ruiz — though it’ll take a training camp competition to determine whether Ruiz or Erik McCoy (who played center last year) will directly replace the veteran.

Warford’s release also clears the Saints of about $7.75 million in spending room beneath the 2020 salary cap and opens a spot on the 90-man roster. The Saints will likely look to add another veteran player to fill that vacancy, so stay tuned for a follow-up move.

It’s a disappointing end to Warford’s tenure with the Saints. He reached the Pro Bowl in each of his three years in New Orleans after coming over from the Detroit Lions as a free agent contract. But poor performance last season and a bloated contract spelled the end of his Saints career after the team drafted Ruiz.

Warford took time to thank Saints fans for their support in a post from his official Twitter account:

[vertical-gallery id=33239]

Watch: Saints tease 2020 schedule release with must-see hype video

The New Orleans Saints set the stage for their 2020 schedule release by helping fight the coronavirus pandemic in cities they’ll visit.

[jwplayer gml2SS98-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints are hours away from releasing their 2020 schedule, but first they’re taking time to hype up the fanbase with an impressive highlight video. You can watch it at this link, or where we’ve embedded it above.

While the video does initially focus on the Saints’ accomplishments on the road and within the warm atmosphere of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it also takes a turn towards something more important: the novel coronavirus pandemic. To maybe help ingratiate themselves to locals a little more, the Saints stepped up to purchase meals for front-line workers in several cities they’ll be visiting in 2020.

Working in partnership with local pizza restaurants in Detroit and Chicago, and a cheesesteak diner in Philadelphia, the Saints did their part to thank healthcare staff and local police departments. The Saints even cited “283 reasons” to show some affection for the Atlanta Falcons and their fans, buying lunch for essential workers that city, too. It’s the kind of content you love to see.

[vertical-gallery id=33229]

Ted Ginn Jr. says goodbye to his Saints teammates and the city of New Orleans

Former New Orleans Saints WR Ted Ginn Jr. took time to bid farewell to his fans and teammates after agreeing to terms with the Chicago Bears

[jwplayer 57qeFxPW-ThvAeFxT]

The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. on Thursday, making him the latest New Orleans Saints free agent to leave for a new home. Ginn had previously played with the Saints for three years, totaling 26 starts in 41 games. He caught 119 of 188 targets for 1,724 yards and scored 9 touchdowns, including the postseason.

Ginn took some time to thank Saints fans for their support, remarking that New Orleans is a city with soul. He also shouted out several of his close friends on the team including wide receiver Michael Thomas, running back Alvin Kamara, left tackle Terron Armstead, and quarterback Drew Brees.

He also paused to reminiscence with his old neighbors from Glenville, the Cleveland neighborhood and NFL powerhouse that has produced talents like cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Justin Hardee, and Ginn himself (and where his father, Ted Ginn Sr., coaches high school football).

It’s a very cool gesture, all in all. See it for yourself:

View this post on Instagram

Success is a journey, not a destination, and today my journey leads me to Chicago.  This journey has blessed me for 14 years, saying bye never gets easier.  Damn, NO ya’ll got soul – there is a reason it’s called #whodat nation. The game keeps me going, but the people make it worth it.  Thanks to the @saints organization and incredible coaching team – S/O @ronaldacurry.  @shonrp2 @Jhardee_19 and @cantguardmike – we came up from the dirt, but everyone likes a good underdog story.  Bless up to @alvinkamara @t_armstead72 and @drewbrees keep doing the hard work. To my fans… I’m over here dream chasin …so I’ll see ya’ll in Chicago.  We out. @chicagobears  #dabears🐻 #yr14🤘🏾

A post shared by Ted Ginn Jr. (@tedginnjr_19) on

[vertical-gallery id=32947]

Watch: Pat Swilling welcomes Saints draft pick Zack Baun to New Orleans

New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Zack Baun interviewed with Pat Swilling, a ‘Dome Patrol’ legend and one of the best to ever do it.

[jwplayer eY1qTYOG-ThvAeFxT]

It’s one thing to get drafted by an NFL team. It’s something else entirely to land with the New Orleans Saints, earning a call loaded with career advice from “Dome Patrol” defense legend Pat Swilling. That’s what Wisconsin Badgers alum Zack Baun learned when he joined Swilling for a chat after the team traded up acquire him in the third round of this year’s draft.

One of the most important lessons Swilling stressed to the rookie was the value in scouting his opponents ahead of time, and putting together a file on each team he’s scheduled to play. That way Baun can quickly refer back to each blocker’s strengths and weaknesses before putting together his plan of attack.

Swilling said, “When you don’t know what you’re doing, you play slow, but when you know what you’re doing, you play fast.”

Of course, Swilling and Baun talked about more than football. They touched on topics like must-see sights and traditions when Baun visits New Orleans for the first time, and something entirely foreign and highly critical to making the most of his new home: peeling crawfish.

Baun clearly took the suggestions to heart. Check out the interview where we’ve embedded it below, or at this link:

[lawrence-related id=24462,28013]

[vertical-gallery id=32968]

Wil Lutz is open to selling his jersey number to Jameis Winston

New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz is open to selling his jersey number to Jameis Winston, once the free agent ex-Buccaneers QB signs a deal

[jwplayer eY1qTYOG-ThvAeFxT]

Pens have not yet been put to paper on a deal between the New Orleans Saints and free agent quarterback Jameis Winston, but the contract is expected to be finalized soon now that the NFL’s compensatory draft pick cutoff date has passed by.

Whenever Winston does end up signing with the Saints, he’ll face a very important decision: which jersey number to wear. That’s the most important factor in deciding whether a player will thrive or fail in the NFL, and both of Winston’s likely preferences — Nos. 3 and 13 — are each currently occupied by Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz and All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas. He might be able to revert to his college number, having worn No. 5 at Florida State.

However, Winston does have one option: buying his new number from a teammate. And that’s a conversation Lutz is eager to entertaining, joking on Twitter that, “Every man has his price!”

Funny as Lutz’s response may be, it’s a sure bet that some superstitious Saints fans aren’t laughing. Beliefs in the supernatural don’t permeate football as strongly as, say, baseball, but it’s still there if you look for it. Everyone has a pregame ritual (Drew Brees, for example, insists on a plate of beefy mac for dinner the night before kickoffs) and Lutz switching things up with his jersey number could bring some unwelcome energy into the kicking game.

So we’ll be keeping an eye on this situation, taking care to knock on wood when appropriate. The last thing the Saints need in such a critical year is for their golden-booted kicker to lose his mojo.

[vertical-gallery id=32793]

Watch: Saints produce must-see Taysom Hill hype video

The New Orleans Saints celebrated their contract extension with Taysom Hill by producing a hype video featuring Dwight from “The Office.”

[jwplayer Vv1h2jbQ-ThvAeFxT]

What better way to celebrate Taysom Hill’s contract extension with the New Orleans Saints than an incredibly well-produced highlight reel? The Saints released just that after news broke on his new deal with the team, sharing the video from their official Twitter account.

Beyond the many explosive plays Hill created last season, it also features a cameo from “The Office” cult favorite Dwight and a series of viral video stars. It’s a lot of fun, which is also how you’d headline Hill’s scouting report. Check the video out where we’ve embedded it below, or by following this link:

[vertical-gallery id=32793]

Taysom Hill thanks Saints, announces new contract extension

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill thanked the team for the opportunity they’ve given him with his new two-year contract extension.

[jwplayer Vv1h2jbQ-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints reached an agreement with backup quarterback Taysom Hill on a two-year contract extension, and he was excited to sign the offer they put on the table.

Hill announced the new deal from his official Instagram account, thanking the team for the opportunity and the chance they took on him. Hill first joined the Saints as an older prospect out of college who had already washed out of one NFL team. Now he’s the projected starter once Drew Brees hangs up his cleats, possibly as soon as in 2021.

You can see Hill’s message where we’ve embedded it below:

[lawrence-related id=32841]

[vertical-gallery id=32793]

Taysom Hill’s new Saints contract earns fiery Twitter reactions from NFL fans

The New Orleans Saints signed Taysom Hill to a two-year contract extension, prompting NFL Twitter to explode in an outpouring of reactions.

[jwplayer Vv1h2jbQ-ThvAeFxT]

Nothing brings avid football fans together like Taysom Hill. Whether he’s dropping back to pass or catching a throw himself, the damage he does to their fantasy football teams and carefully curated data spreadsheets is sure to get Twitter riled up.

On Sunday, Hill committed an even greater sin by signing a two-year, $21 million contract extension with the Saints that includes $16 million in guarantees. It puts him in prime position to take over for Drew Brees in 2021 as the Saints starting quarterback, while also putting football writers across the country in a fit as they try to rationalize how the Saints could spend so irresponsibly.

See the reactions for yourself:

 

[vertical-gallery id=32793]

Saints hater Brandon Marshall buries the hatchet with Sean Payton

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton confronted Brandon Marshall on the Draft-A-Thon charity stream, addressing his ESPN rant on the team.

[jwplayer KrcAJiDO-ThvAeFxT]

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton made an appearance on the Draft-A-Thon broadcast, a separate video feed covering this year’s NFL draft dedicated to raising donations for coronavirus relief efforts.

However, his time on the show brought Payton into contact with Brandon Marshall; the one-time Saints wide receiver who ripped the team during an ESPN bit earlier this month.

“Alright, so I made some headlines recently,” Marshall said, referencing his heated comments about the imminent collapse of the Saints as a Super Bowl contender.

“I love you,” Payton interjected, grinning. “I love you.”

Taken aback, Marshall responded, “I love you too. Then you went on Twitter, and you called me out.”

Payton brushed off the incident as, “playing by Covid-19 rules,” in which jokes and hot takes are allowed in these strange times. But once things settle down, he’s expecting everyone to let up a little. See it for yourself:

Marshall’s main point in his ESPN rant was that the Saints wouldn’t be able to compete with Tom Brady, now that he’s landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s a challenge Payton is embracing.

“In all seriousness,” Payton said, “There’s only about ten or eleven relevant teams. You’re on a point where, not only Tom but also (Rob) Gronkowski, you know just the standard’s going to change. They’re really, really special players.”

One idea Payton had for addressing the looming matchup was to put it under the brightest spotlight. He asked NBC Sports sideline reporter Michele Tafoya to take his suggestion to the higher-ups at the network, and put both of the Saints’ games with the Buccaneers on “Sunday Night Football” in 2020. Wouldn’t that be something?

[vertical-gallery id=32630]