Tag: alternates

Demario Davis finally gets his first Pro Bowl nod, Tyrann Mathieu is an alternate

Demario Davis has been selected for his long-overdue first Pro Bowl appearance, making him the first Saints linebacker at the event since Jonathan Vilma in 2010:

Finally. The New Orleans Saints only had one player listed on the initial 2023 Pro Bowl roster representing the NFC, but it was a well-earned recognition for linebacker Demario Davis. The 11th-year pro has played the best football of his career after signing with the Saints in 2018, and though he’s earned All-Pro nods he’s never been named a Pro Bowler — until now.

Good for him. Davis was repeatedly snubbed for the Pro Bowl in recent years, so it’s great to see him get over the hump like this and strike that off his to-do list. He’s the first Saints linebacker selected for the Pro Bowl since Jonathan Vilma in 2010. This Pro Bowl selection also earned Davis a nice $500,000 bonus.

Will any of his Saints teammates join him at the all-star event? NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that several players were selected as alternates, so they could get in if their peers are unavailable:

  • Safety Tyrann Mathieu
  • Fullback Adam Prentice
  • Long snapper Zach Wood

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What was the winningest Saints uniform combo of the modern era?

What is the winningest Saints uniform combo of the modern era? Ranking each combination used since 2006 by winning percentage:

It should feel strange to turn the page on an era in New Orleans Saints history, but that’s something we’ve gotten used to. So many franchise cornerstones have hung it up in recent years: quarterback Drew Brees, defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, and even head coach Sean Payton. Payton’s tenure in particular saw great success for the Saints — he led them out of the NFL’s basement, built an offense that Brees used to become one of the best passers of all time, and put Jenkins in position to captain a defense that became the team’s strength.

More than all of those contributions, though, we’ve got to consider what the Saints were wearing. Everyone knows their sick jerseys and iconic uniform combos were what won all those games and set all those records. Right?

Jokes aside, it’s fun to keep up with arbitrary stats like this. And things are going to change with the advent of new black helmets to be used in select games this season. With the Dennis Allen era dawning before us, let’s look back at the record New Orleans achieved in each of their different uniform combos dating back to Payton’s hire in 2006; a milestone that helps mark the modern era of Saints football.

Leaguewide uniform changes should spur Saints to wear ‘Color Rush’ full-time

The New Orleans Saints should follow the lead from other NFL teams by promoting their gold-on-white “Color Rush” alternate uniforms.

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The NFL’s “Color Rush” initiative to drive interest in its lackluster Thursday night games may have fizzled out a couple of years ago, but the New Orleans Saints were one team that benefited from it in a big way. They picked up one of the league’s greatest alternate uniforms with a super-clean gold-on-white look that contrasts beautifully with the black-and-gold home jerseys.

Unfortunately, the NFL only allows its teams to wear alternates three times per season; the Saints found out the hard way when they petitioned the league office for permission to wear their “Color Rush” uniforms in last year’s playoff game with the Minnesota Vikings, but were denied. The Saints won all three of their “Color Rush” games in 2019 but lost that game; obviously it would’ve made a difference.

However, things could change. The Cleveland Browns paved the way last season when they promoted their own “Color Rush” alternates to primary status, wearing the fan-favorite uniforms in six games. While the Browns followed that up by announcing an altogether new kit in 2020, it’s still an approach the Saints could take given their popularity.

Uniform changes are all the rage in the NFL right now. The NFC South-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons each joined the Browns in announcing new jerseys this offseason, and the New England Patriots will reveal their own updated look next Monday.

While the Saints have a great thing going in their black home look and white road duds, there’s no comparison between the standard away gear and the “Color Rush” upgrades. Here’s hoping they can work something out.

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2020 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters: Which players made the AFC, NFC squads

A look at the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl rosters for both the AFC and NFC squads.

The NFL has officially announced the rosters for the 2020 Pro Bowl squads. Here are the players named to the AFC and NFC teams, with asterisks indicating starters.

AFC PRO BOWL ROSTER BY POSITION

OFFENSE

Wide receiver: DeAndre Hopkins*, Houston Texans; Keenan Allen*, Los Angeles Chargers; Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Tackle: Ronnie Stanley*, Baltimore Ravens; Laremy Tunsil*, Houston Texans; Trent Brown, Oakland Raiders

Guard: Marshal Yanda*, Baltimore Ravens; Quenton Nelson*, Indianapolis Colts; David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers

Center: Maurkice Pouncey*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders

Tight end: Travis Kelce*, Kansas City Chiefs; Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback: Lamar Jackson*, Baltimore Ravens; Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

Running back: Nick Chubb*, Cleveland Browns; Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans; Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens

Fullback: Patrick Ricard*, Baltimore Ravens

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