Tag: A.J. Klein

Giants sign A.J. Klein to practice squad

The New York Giants have signed veteran linebacker and former Dave Gettleman pick, A.J. Klein, to their practice squad.

The New York Giants held workouts at team facilities in East Rutherford on Monday, which were highlighted by safety Landon Collins. However, it was a former Dave Gettleman draft pick that was ultimately signed.

The Giants have added linebacker A.J. Klein, who spent two seasons with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll in Buffalo, to their practice squad.

The 31-year-old Klein was a fifth-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2013 NFL draft. He spent four seasons with the team before joining the New Orleans Saints for two years and then spending two seasons with the Bills.

In 134 career games (80 starts), Klein has recorded 449 tackles (307 solo, 43 for a loss), 27 QB hits, 15.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, 20 passes defensed, four interceptions and one touchdown.

Klein earned a 53.3 Pro Football Focus grade in 2021. His best season came in 2015 when he earned a 79.8.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Klein may have been signed to the practice squad but is expected to find his way to the 53-man roster in the coming days/weeks.

With linebacker Jaylon Smith having been signed to the active roster last week, the Giants had an open spot on their practice squad.

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2020 Saints free agents: Midseason updates on key departures

The New Orleans Saints lost 2020 free agents like Teddy Bridgewater, Vonn Bell, A.J. Klein, and Eli Apple. How have they done at midseason?

The hard part of NFL free agency is that you can’t re-sign everyone. That’s something the New Orleans Saints experienced this offseason when veteran players like Teddy Bridgewater, A.J. Klein, and Vonn Bell left for fresh starts in other cities around the league.

But how have those departures performed at the midway point in 2020? Some of them have earned captain status with their new teams, while others are already on the job hunt again. Here’s a quick checkup on the biggest names that left New Orleans:

The NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 9

Every week, there are players whose performances don’t get the praise they deserve. Here are the NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 9.

Every NFL season features a certain number of players who come out of nowhere to surprise and entertain at a level we did not expect. Perhaps they’re veterans for whom everything finally clicks. Perhaps they’re rookies who show that the NFL curve can be navigated at a quicker pace by some more than others.

Whatever the circumstances, there were several players who either expanded their 2019 performances, or came into the NFL as first-year players in 2020 and showed that they didn’t need a preseason to ball out at a professional level.

Here are the NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 9.

What we learned from Bills’ Week 9 win over Seahawks

What We Learned, Buffalo Bills vs. Seattle Seahawks, NFL Week 9

For as many advancements as the Buffalo Bills have made since Sean McDermott took over in 2017, signature wins have been hard to come by. The Bills have been to the playoffs twice since McDermott took over, but have largely feasted on a schedule of lesser opponents. When facing some of the best teams in the NFL, the Bills have often struggled. In 2020, the Bills were defeated easily by Tennessee and Kansas City, two teams with a combined 14 wins.

Buffalo needed to prove it could win against one of the league’s best. They got the opportunity Sunday against a true Super Bowl contender – the 6-1 Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks came in with the perhaps the leading MVP candidate in quarterback Russell Wilson, who had a league-high 26 touchdown passes. The Bills had a monumental task ahead of them to slow down the league’s best passer and the explosive receiving duo of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

The Bills passed the test with flying colors and secured their long-awaited signature win.

In perhaps their most impressive win since McDermott arrived, the Bills were unstoppable in a 44-34 shootout victory over the Seahawks. The Bills needed a great performance from quarterback Josh Allen to have a chance in this game and got it and then some. Allen put up one of the best passing performances in team history as he threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns, and added a touchdown run as well.

Meanwhile, the much-maligned Buffalo defense rose up to neutralize the Seahawks in the first half and put the game away with two huge turnovers in the fourth quarter, part of four total turnovers forced by Buffalo. Even though they gave up 34 points, it might have been the most impressive performance of the season for the Bills defense.

For a Buffalo team entering the toughest portion of its schedule, it was as good a performance as you could have hoped for. The win vaults the Bills to 7-2 and keeps them 2.5 games ahead of the 5-3 Miami Dolphins for first place in the AFC East. It was also much needed as the Bills saw all the teams around them in the AFC standings win on Sunday.

Still, with this win, the Bills put a little legitimacy around their 2020 resume as they have now beaten one of the league’s best. It makes it easier to take the Bills seriously as a contender in the AFC knowing they can go toe to toe with one of the league’s best.

Here are four things we learned from an impressive Bills’ win on a beautiful afternoon in Orchard Park:

Josh Allen Back To Premier Level

Heading into Sunday, the quarterback discussion mostly centered around Wilson, who headlines the list of MVP candidates. He was the center of attention for this game. And while he turned in another impressive performance with 390 passing yards and two touchdowns, as well as a rushing touchdown, it was the other QB in this game that stole the show.

Allen turned in one of the best games of his career, which, in turn, makes it one of the best passing performances in Bills history. Allen was the best player on the field and was in total control of this game from the start. Allen moved the Bills offense up and down the field and was on point. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll designed the game plan around Allen and let him cook, so to speak, having attempt 28 passes in the first half as the Bills called just two designed run plays in the first 30 minutes.

For Allen, it was a return to the form from the first four games of the season, when Allen was routinely throwing for over 300 yards. That high level of play had mostly disappeared since that 4-0 start. There was some question whether Allen would get back to that elite level of play, or if that hot start was just an anomaly.

Allen left nothing to doubt on Sunday. He was on fire right from the get go, leading the Bills to scores on each of their first four drives. By halftime, Allen had completed 24 of 28 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Those are great numbers for an entire game; for one half, it’s sensational. At one point late in the first half, he had more touchdown passes than incompletions in the game.

What made this performance even more amazing was that Allen did it despite playing with a heavy heart. Sean McDermott revealed in his post-game press conference that Allen’s grandmother died on Saturday and that he talked with his quarterback about whether or not he wanted to play. Allen went ahead and played and delivered a masterpiece.

If you were wondering whether or not Allen could play at the high level he displayed back in September, you learned that he certainly can. You also learned that he can be counted on to carry this team in a big game. Allen and the Bills have left plenty to be desired in games against some of the league’s best over the past couple of years. That was not the case today as Allen looked like an MVP candidate against Wilson and the Seahawks.

This is one of those performances that eliminates any doubt about whether or not Allen is the Bills’ man going forward. Allen put the team on his back and kept them an arm’s length away from the Seahawks at all times. He outdueled the consensus league MVP head to head from start to finish. We will find out how often Allen can play like this going forward and what his level of consistency will be from here on out, but this type of performance cements Josh as the unquestioned franchise quarterback in Buffalo.

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Former Saints LB A.J. Klein has ‘the game of his life’ as Bills upset Seahawks 44-34

Former New Orleans Saints linebacker A.J. Klein was instrumental in helping the Buffalo Bills upset the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 44-34

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Have a day, A.J. Klein: the former New Orleans Saints linebacker was instrumental in the Buffalo Bills’ 44-34 upset of the visiting Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, playing so well that teammate Micah Hyde shouted him out afterwards, saying: “A.J. Klein had the game of his life.”

Klein was credited with five tackles, all solo and one for a loss of yards, plus two sacks and four quarterback hits. He also forced a fumble out of Seahawks MVP candidate Russell Wilson, which he recovered to help put the game away late in the fourth quarter.

It’s disappointing that the Saints weren’t able to retain Klein as a free agent earlier this year, but even their salary cap maneuvering doesn’t allow for everyone to be re-signed when their contract is up. And Klein earned a nice three-year, $18 million offer from Buffalo to reunite with Sean McDermott, his former defensive coordinator when they were both with the Carolina Panthers.

Klein played often for the Saints during his three-year stint in New Orleans, frequently lining up as the middle linebacker next to Demario Davis in nickel personnel and shifting to the strong side whenever the Saints played base. But the decision to let him leave in free agency was fueled by the belief that Klein wasn’t as talented an athlete as Alex Anzalone, without as much upside.

We’ll see if it pays off in the long run. The Saints tried to replace Klein by drafting Zack Baun out of Wisconsin and making him change positions from his hand-in-the-dirt pass rushing role, and again by trading for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander. Even if Klein was never the flashiest player in New Orleans, it’s tough to buy into the idea that it was the right move given how poorly the defense has played in his absence, and with the Saints continuing to try and find a replacement.

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2021 NFL Draft: Updated future Saints picks after trade deadline

For now, the New Orleans Saints are projected to own a pick in each round of the 2021 NFL Draft after trading for Niners LB Kwon Alexander.

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Well that was a dud. The 2020 NFL trade deadline passed by so quietly that it was hardly noticed, if you weren’t paying attention. Like most of the league, the New Orleans Saints filed their moves with the NFL office well ahead of the cutoff date, having worked out a trade for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Kwon Alexander.

So now we know exactly what sort of draft resources New Orleans will carry into 2021. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Saints included a conditional fifth-round draft pick in their trade package for Alexander (along with backup linebacker Kiko Alonso, returning from a 2019 season-ending injury).

And the conditions for that pick are interesting: if Alexander meets enough play-time incentives, the Saints will send their 2021 fifth rounder to San Francisco. But if Alexander does not get on the field often enough, either due to his recent high-ankle sprain, simply taking longer to pick up the system, or some other factor, then the 49ers will have to wait until 2022 to receive New Orleans’ fifth-round pick.

It’s a little more complicated than your standard pick-swap conditions, but not ridiculously so. Certainly not as contrived as what the New Orleans Pelicans will be receiving from the Los Angeles Lakers over the next half-decade.

Anyway: here are all of the 2021 draft picks the Saints are scheduled to make after the Alexander trade, as well as their draft-day maneuvering in 2020 and with projected compensatory selections:

  • Round 1 (own)
  • Round 2 (own)
  • Round 3 (compensatory for losing Teddy Bridgewater)
  • Round 4 (own)
  • Round 5 (conditional, could revert to 2022)
  • Round 6 (compensatory for losing A.J. Klein)
  • Round 7 (own)

To recap on a few of the picks traded earlier this year, the Saints swapped out their own third- and sixth-rounders in 2021 so they could move up the board in the 2020 draft. The rookies acquired in those moves were linebacker Zack Baun and quarterback-turned-tight end Tommy Stevens.

Additionally, the compensatory picks projected to New Orleans after Bridgewater and Klein signed with new teams in free agency are just that: projections. We won’t know for certain whether the NFL is awarding those selections until they are announced in the spring, so don’t get too attached to the idea of the Saints owning a selection in each round for once.

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What We Learned From Bills’ Week 6 Loss to Chiefs

What We Learned, Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Week Six

It was just two weeks ago that the Buffalo Bills were 4-0 and the talk of the NFL. Their quarterback was a legitimate MVP candidate and the offense was piling up points at a 30 per-game pace. Now, after back-to-back games against two of the best teams in the AFC, this Bills season is starting to take on water. The good feelings of September have given way to frustration and concern in October.

The Bills fell to 4-2 on Monday as the Kansas City Chiefs handed them their second consecutive defeat, 26-17, at Bills Stadium. It was another lackluster performance from the Buffalo defense, which was gashed for 245 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, quarterback Josh Allen struggled for the second game in a row and has fallen off considerably from the high-flying pace he was on in the first four weeks. Allen completed 14 of 27 passes for just 122 yards. He did toss two more touchdowns to bring his season total to 16, but also threw an interception on his final throw of the night.

Buffalo is now searching for answers after two humbling defeats. They can’t seem to get a stop on defense and the quarterback that bailed them out so often in September is no longer saving them. It’s safe to wonder whether or not the Bills can compete with the best teams in the AFC and if the Bills are truly better than they were a year ago.

Here are four things we learned from Monday night’s loss in the rain to Kansas City:

The Bills Do Not Stack Up With the Best Teams in the AFC

The Bills have had two tests so far this season against the higher ups of the AFC. They have not come close to winning either. Though the Bills were within a score of the Chiefs in the fourth quarter, the score of the game didn’t really reflect how Kansas City really dominated.

This continues a pattern of poor performances by the Bills in recent years when they face a step up in weight class. Buffalo has won 14 games dating back to the start of last season, but they have very few impressive wins against good teams among those 14. The Bills largely feasted on teams that missed the playoffs a year ago. They won late-season games at Dallas and Pittsburgh that looked impressive at the time, but both teams ended up missing the playoffs.

When the Bills were matched up against division champions Baltimore, Philadelphia, New England, and Houston in 2019, they went 0-5. The Bills did score an impressive win in Week 3 this season against a Rams team that appears to be playoff bound, but in order to stake their claim among the AFC’s best teams, they need to show well in those games against AFC powerhouses. The Bills have blown two chances to do so already and have not looked good in either game.

Any talk of the Bills claiming the AFC’s top seed is probably dead or at least on life support after now. And fortunately for them, they don’t have many more games on the schedule against the best teams in the conference. The Bills host the currently undefeated Steelers in December, which will likely be there next test against one of the AFC’s best. They do have to prove though that they can beat the Patriots finally. The Bills will see the Patriots once in November and once in December.

Monday’s game was also another example of the Bills struggling against one of the better quarterbacks in the league. Patrick Mahomes did not exactly light it up (he didn’t have to) but he still threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The Bills defense has done well over the last two years when they have faced lesser quarterbacks, but the league’s best have had their way.

In order to be taken seriously as a title contender, the Bills under Sean McDermott at some point have to show up and beat an actual good team. The Bills don’t have nearly enough wins against good teams under McDermott’s belt. In fact, their best win was probably against Kansas City, back in McDermott’s first season in 2017. It’s been too long since the Bills have notched a win against one of the NFL’s superior teams, especially a team in their own conference.

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A.J. Klein bids farewell to Saints fans in Instagram post

The New Orleans Saints lost free agent linebacker A.J. Klein to the Buffalo Bills, but the veteran took time to thank the city and its fans.

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The New Orleans Saints lost linebacker A.J. Klein in the early hours of free agency, with the veteran quickly accepting an offer from the Buffalo Bills and his old coach Sean McDermott. And it didn’t take long for Klein to voice his appreciation for the city he’s called home the last three years.

Klein wrote a post from his official Instagram account thanking the Saints for the opportunity and fans for their support during his stop in New Orleans, where he started 42 of the 43 regular season games he’s played since 2017. Except for a four-game absence in his first year due to injury, Klein rarely missed a snap as the co-starter next to Demario Davis in most sets.

But his time in New Orleans meant more to him than football. It’s the city where he met his wife, and where their daughter was born. He’s obviously excited for the next chapter in his life, but Klein made sure to spell out just how significant his experience in New Orleans has been.

“Having to say farewell to New Orleans has been a bittersweet notion for my wife and I to realize,” Klein wrote. “This city has built our family and we will forever carry it close to our hearts.”

View this post on Instagram

Having to say farewell to New Orleans has been a bittersweet notion for my wife and I to realize. This city has built our family and we will forever carry it close to our hearts. We are so grateful to the entire @Saints organization for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this incredible family for the past 3 years. To the training staff, equipment staff, and coaches – thank you for all your hard work and dedication day in and day out. It’s been an absolute joy to show up and go to work with all of you everyday. To my teammates – It has been a pleasure and an honor. I will cherish the memories of our time together both on and off the field. Thank you for making me a better football player and man. To the Who Dats – Thank you for welcoming me and my family with so much love and supporting us along the way! YOU are the heartbeat of the @saints and the soul of this city! We love you!

A post shared by AJ Klein (@ajklein47) on

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2020 Saints free agency tracker: Instant analysis on every roster move

The New Orleans Saints are already active in free agency during the NFL negotiating window. Bookmark this link for instant analysis.

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The New Orleans Saints have been active in working to retain their own pending free agents during the legal tampering window, but it’s only a matter of time before they elbow their way into the open market. Check this space often for updates and instant analysis on every move the Saints make in free agency.

Players re-signed

  • 3/16. Defensive tackle David Onyemata: three years, $27 million. Onyemata was expected to earn more than $10 million per year in free agency, and many of his peers surpassed that bar. So the Saints being able to retain him at a below-market value was huge. Onyemata is a rising talent at an important position, and keeping him around makes the team better.

Players lost

  • 3/16. Linebacker A.J. Klein: three years, $18 million. Klein gets a pay raise to join his old coach, now with the Buffalo Bills. It would have been nice for the Saints to re-sign him but not at this price. Klein’s departure would recoup a sixth-round selection in 2021 if the Saints qualify for any compensatory picks in next year’s draft. New Orleans must look for linebacker depth elsewhere with two projected starters (Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso) returning from season-ending injuries.

Players gained

  • TBD

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Saints free agent A.J. Klein agrees to terms on three-year contract with Bills

The Buffalo Bills agreed to terms on a three-year free agent contract with New Orleans Saints starting strong side linebacker A.J. Klein.

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The New Orleans Saints lost starting linebacker A.J. Klein to the Buffalo Bills, who agreed to a contract offer worth $18 million over the next three years (carrying $9.7 million in guarantees), per Sirius XM NFL Radio’s Adam Caplan. Klein had mainly played on the strong side for the Saints, but started most of the 2019 season next to Demario Davis in nickel sets, which the Saints typically use more often than their base 4-3 defense.

It’s a nice payday for Klein, who first joined the Saints three years as a free agent pickup from the NFC South-rival Carolina Panthers. Now he’s reunited with his former defensive coordinator in Bills coach Sean McDermott, and will get to play next to a talented young linebacker in Tremaine Edmunds.

This is also something of a big loss for the Saints, having earlier whiffed on recruiting New England Patriots free agent Jamie Collins (who agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions). Now, the Saints must wait and see whether Alex Anzalone or Kiko Alonso can remain healthy for 16 games next to Davis, or else pursue another veteran free agent.

It’s worth noting that Klein leaves as an unrestricted free agent before the Saints have signed any new additions of their own. This means that they will now qualify for a compensatory pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, valued approximately as a sixth-round selection. Of course, the Saints are always more aggressive in free agency than expected, so this should change soon.

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