Bills cut former Saints All-Pro Deonte Harty, but don’t expect a reunion

The Bills released Deonte Harty, a former All-Pro returner with the Saints. But a reunion is ‘not currently in the works’ per NOF’s Nick Underhill:

Could the New Orleans Saints bring back Deonte Harty? Their former All-Pro returns specialist was a salary cap casualty with the Buffalo Bills earlier this week, and on Friday he shared on social media that he was visiting New Orleans, saying “Back like I never left.” Harty is an unrestricted free agent who will not count into the compensatory draft picks formula for 2025.

The Saints need to start adding wideouts at some point. With Chris Olave, A.T. Perry, and Rashid Shaheed under contract for 2024 while Michael Thomas heads out into free agency, they’ve filled just three of the 13 training camp roster spots they used last year on receivers. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is going to want his own players and that many vacancies gives him an opportunity to rebuild the depth chart.

But a reunion with Harty is “not currently in the works,” per NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. So maybe he was just in town visiting old friends. Shaheed has done everything Harty offered at a higher level both on offense and in the return game.

While there’s a chance the situation could change, don’t bet on it. The Saints have a plan for restocking the receiving corps and Harty might be an option if they can’t get other players they’re prioritizing more highly. If he’s still available this summer when they’re filling out the depth chart for training camp, maybe it makes sense to have him compete for a roster spot. At this time the Saints are looking for help elsewhere.

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Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert says it’s ‘mind-boggling’ he wasn’t an All-Pro

Mostert doesn’t understand how he wasn’t an All-Pro.

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert had the best season of his career in 2023.

The 31-year-old rushed for 1,012 yards and a franchise single-season record 18 touchdowns on 4.8 yards per carry. He also added another 175 yards and three scores on 25 receptions. Mostert’s 18 trips to the end zone on the ground this season led the league, and his 21 total touchdowns was tied for the most with San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.

Despite the incredible output, Mostert wasn’t named an All-Pro. McCaffrey was the First-team running back and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams was Second-team.

Mostert took to his podcast, “Relentlessly Motivated with Raheem Mostert,” to share his thoughts on the decision.

McCaffrey finished the season with over 2,000 total yards of offense, so it’s not surprising to see him take home the First-team honors, but Mostert probably should’ve been given Second-team over Williams.

The Rams running back finished with 1,350 total yards and 15 total scores. It’s impressive that he did it all in 12 games, but yards per game was the only statistic that he led the league in this year.

If Mostert feels slighted for not seeing his name on either list, he has a case.

Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace recognized for sensational rookie seasons

Jordan Addison and Ivan Pace were recognized for their outstanding rookie seasons by the PFWA Writers.

As we get farther into the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings continue to see accolades for the 2023 NFL season.

The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling reports that wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace have been selected to the PFWA Writer’s All-Rookie teams.

Addison made the team alongside the Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Pace alongside the Detroit Lions’ Jack Campbell and Rams’ Byron Young.

Addison’s 10 receiving touchdowns rank tied for the 10th-most all-time by a rookie receiver and are the most since Ja’Marr Chase in 2021. When Jefferson went down in week five, Addison was called upon to be the go-to receiver in the offense. Between weeks six and twelve, when Jefferson was out, Addison’s four touchdowns tied for eighth-most by any receiver in the NFL.

Ivan Pace’s 102 combined tackles and 63 solo tackles led all rookie linebackers. It also ranks as the fourth-most tackles in NFL history by an undrafted rookie in their first season, the most since the Atlanta Falcons’ Paul Worrilow in 2013.

Congratulations to both Addison and Pace on their remarkable seasons!

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Rashid Shaheed receives more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills

Rashid Shaheed received more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills, being named to the PFWA All-NFL Team:

Good for Rashid Shaheed: the New Orleans Saints wide receiver received more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills, being named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL and All-NFC Teams. Shaheed was previously selected for the Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro attention for his efforts in the return game.

Shaheed returned 25 punts during the 2023 season (tied for 10th-most) but finished with 339 return yards at an average of 13.6 yards per attempt (third-most in each category). He also scored a touchdown on a 76-yard return against the Green Bay Packers.

Shaheed has developed into a very impressive playmaker for the Saints. His 1,479 all-purpose yards ranked around the NFL, and he was the only player in the league with 700-plus yards from scrimmage as well as 300-plus return yards on both punts and kickoffs. Let’s see how much higher his star can rise.

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Chiefs DT Chris Jones reflects on 2023 AP First-Team All-Pro selection

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones reflected on his AP First-Team All-Pro selection in comments to the media on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs had three players earn AP First-Team All-Pro selections for 2023. One of their stars has become a perennial member of that team as he reflected on the prestigious honor.

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was named to his second consecutive First-Team All-Pro selection. He was named Second-Team All-Pro three times during his career in 2018, 2020, and 2021. He spoke about the latest accolade during his Wednesday press conference after practice.

“Give credit to my coaches, Joe Cullen, and Terry Bradden; the commitment those guys force out of me and the players in the room push me beyond measure,” Jones said. “I think a leader can’t be a leader without great teammates; it takes an army to be great, and those guys push the best out of me each and every day to get the best out of me. I don’t think I can accomplish something like that of that measure without having great teammates and guys who push the best out of me day in and day out.”

Jones, as a leader on the team, was appreciative of the support he received from coaches and his teammates. The reaction his teammates showed him following his tenth incentive-filled sack of the regular season was an example of the impact and unity the group has for one another.

Sauce Gardner earns second straight All Pro honors

Back to back All Pro appearances for Sauce Gardner.

Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner is now two for two in being named to the All Pro team after another incredible season that included 12 passes defended.

Gardner became the first cornerback since 1970 to be named First Team All Pro in each of his first two seasons. Last season, Gardner was the first rookie cornerback since Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott in 1981 to earn the honor.

Gardner finished as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 ranked cornerback this season.

Gardner could have potentially been joined by slot cornerback Michael Carter II, as the team included the position, but Trent McDuffie of the Chiefs and Taron Johnson of the Bills were named to the team ahead of Carter.

Another well deserved honor for Gardner. He was one of two Jets named to the team this season, joining linebacker Quincy Williams, a first-time selection.

Quincy Williams named First Team All-Pro

Quincy Williams gets a well-deserved honor of being named First Team All Pro.

Jets linebacker Quincy Williams’ excellent season was rewarded Friday. Williams was named First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career.

Williams did not make the Pro Bowl despite being the highest vote-getter among AFC linebackers. Being selected to the All Pro team by the Associated Press more than makes up for it.

Williams finished with 139 total tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, two sacks and ten passes defended, improving his play both against the run and the pass.

Good on the Associated Press for recognizing the incredible play of Williams this season and giving him this well-deserved honor.

Williams was one of two Jets to be named to the All Pro team, joining cornerback Sauce Gardner, who is now two for two in making the team.

Demario Davis defying expectations and Father Time

At 34, linebacker Demario Davis was named to his 5th consecutive All Pro team. He is a true ageless wonder.

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis is truly an ageless wonder. Davis turned 35 on Thursday and was named to his fifth consecutive All-Pro team on Friday. Since coming to New Orleans, he’s received more national acclaim for his play. The only year he hasn’t made an All-Pro team was his first year in New Orleans.

It’s really impressive when you consider his age. He played this entire year at 34 and was a second team All-Pro. Patrick Willis and Luke Kuechly are two of the most prominent linebackers of the generation. Both players retired before turning 30 years old, due to how grueling the position can be. Davis received his first All-Pro nod at 30 and has named to the All-Pro second team four consecutive years afterwards.

Davis has missed just one game since 2013. His mixture of durability and production makes his level of play so impressive. Over the last two years, Davis has been asked to blitz even more. He’s answered with 6.5 sacks each year, a career-high. Demario Davis’ five-year stretch has been impressive. When you realize he did it all in his 30’s as a linebacker, it truly becomes impressive.

Twitter reacts to Chiefs’ three All-Pro selections, L’Jarius Sneed snub

Users on Twitter shared their thoughts about the #Chiefs’ three All-Pro selections and L’Jarius Sneed’s inexplicable snub on Friday.

The Kansas City Chiefs saw three of their stars selected to the Associated Press 2023 All-Pro team on Friday ahead of the team’s playoff matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Joe Thuney, Chris Jones, and Trent McDuffie were named to the prestigious list of the league’s top players, accomplishments that are commensurate with the exceptional seasons they put together.

One of Kansas City’s top contributors, veteran cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, was inexplicably absent from the list of the league’s top players, though, and after being snubbed for the Pro Bowl and NFLPA All-Pro teams earlier in January, many fans were left shaking their heads when the awards were announced.

Social media platforms were buzzing after Friday’s AP All-Pro teams were announced, and users in Chiefs Kingdom didn’t hold back about their excitement for Thuney, Jones, and McDuffie, or their consternation about Sneed’s exclusion.

Check out some of the top reactions to the All-Pro selections and snubs from Twitter:

3 Chiefs players earn AP First-Team All-Pro selections for 2023

3 #Chiefs players were named First-Team All-Pro by The Associated Press, which is the NFL’s officially recognized All-Pro selection.

The Associated Press has made its annual All-Pro selections. This is the All-Pro award officially recognized by the National Football League and held with high acclaim for the history books.

Three members of the Kansas City Chiefs were named First-Team All-Pro selections. The San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, and the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill received unanimous first-team votes.

Below is a quick recap of the players selected and some information on their All-Pro history: