Tag: bust

5 recent New Orleans Saints draft picks who need to step up

The Saints won’t get where they want to go with too much dead weight. 5 recent draft picks who need to step up, via @DillySanders:

The New Orleans Saints filled a lot of holes in the offseason, addressing a weak defensive line and bringing in some more offensive weapons. However, there are some spots on the roster that still need to see improvement from young guys that they couldn’t pull the trigger on replacing yet.

Some players just haven’t met expectations. The team’s early draft picks in the last couple of years have been heavily criticized, outside of Chris Olave who impressed immediately as a rookie in 2022. It has been a case of players not yet living up to the high potential that they were drafted for over players that would be a little bit safer of choices. The Saints have bet on their ability to help coach guys up and meet their potential, but too often fallen short of that goal.

This team won’t get where they want to go with too much dead weight. Here are five recent early-round draft picks from the Saints that really need to improve in 2023:

Bleacher Report picks Saints DE Payton Turner to shed ‘bust’ label in 2023

Bleacher Report picked New Orleans Saints defensive end Payton Turner as a candidate to shed the dreaded ‘bust’ label in 2023, via @DillySanders:

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The New Orleans Saints drafted Payton Turner out of Houston at the 28th overall spot in the 2021 NFL draft. Since then, he’s only played in 13 games and has just three sacks in his career. But, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report listed him as someone who has a chance to shed the bust tag this season:

He was picked ahead of Gregory Rousseau, Odafe Oweh and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in the first round. The Houston alum was drafted to carry on the Saints’ reputation for having productive defensive ends, eventually filling the role of Cameron Jordan.

It hasn’t panned out that way. Injuries have limited Turner’s development as he has played in just 13 games in his first two years in the league.

Turner was already going to have a hard time carving out a role on a team with Jordan, Marcus Davenport and Carl Granderson. Not being able to stay on the field has limited those opportunities even more.

Turner was drafted because of his size and athleticism, but was always viewed as a bit of a project coming out of college. That project has stalled a lot early in his career due to being unlucky with injuries, not yet playing in more than eight games in a single season.

He’s still young, entering his age-25 season, so now is as good a time of any to take make that crucial turn. The pressure is also slightly down now, with his own expectations lowered and eyes set on Isaiah Foskey for the future of the defensive end position. It also means Turner still doesn’t have any guaranteed snaps, so he’ll have to earn them in camp.

When Turner has played, he has looked promising. Right now it’s about just staying on the field. Having him turn it around this season would give the Saints a couple of promising young prospects between him and Foskey to lock down the future in a post-Cameron Jordan world.

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The 33rd Team names Russell Erxleben the Saints’ worst draft bust

The 33rd Team named former Texas Longhorns kicker Russell Erxleben the New Orleans Saints’ worst-ever NFL draft bust:

Look, the New Orleans Saints haven’t always been known as a team that drafts well. We’ve recapped the biggest misses under general manager Mickey Loomis, but their history of draft-day mistakes runs back decades. And it’s tough to argue with the case against Russell Erxleben.

A surprise pick at No. 11 overall way back in 1979, the former Texas Longhorns placekicker would have had to accomplish rare feats to avoid being called a bust in the first place. But his Saints career was miserable from the start. His very first game against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons ended in overtime with Erxleben mishandling a poorly-snapped ball, which he threw away and into the arms of a Falcons defender, who returned it for the game-winning touchdown.

Things didn’t improve. Initially drafted with the idea that he could fill in as both kicker and punter, Erxleben struggled to connect on field goals (completing just 4 of his 8 tries, with his longest score traveling just 38 yards), and he suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for much of his rookie season. He was off the team within five years, and out of football altogether for another four, before making a single-game comeback with the Detroit Lions in 1987.

So this draft pick was an abject disaster, and poor on-field performance doesn’t even get into the multiple prison sentences Erxleben has served in the decades sense for investment and securities fraud, totaling tens of millions of dollars in restitution. The Saints have made some bad choices on draft day. But if you’re looking for a worst-case scenario, it has to be Erxleben’s unfortunate career.

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Dennis Allen says ‘dependability, availability’ are key for third-year DE Payton Turner

Dennis Allen says ‘dependability, availability’ are key for Saints DE Payton Turner, hopes new position coach Todd Grantham can help with fundamentals and technique:

It’s been a rough couple of years for Payton Turner. Injuries have kept him out of the lineup for long stretches early in his career, and when he has been on the field he’s been outpaced by lesser-paid and lower-drafted teammates. Now entering the third year of his career, his head coach Dennis Allen is approaching him with a heightened sense of urgency.

“Well, I think the first thing is Payton, much like Marcus (Davenport) is about being available,” Allen bluntly told SI.com’s John Hendrix at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday. “Dependability, availability, those types of things are important things for him. We drafted him in the first round. He’s extremely talented, but he’s another player that hasn’t really had an offseason. He’s another player that we we haven’t really had a chance to work with him because of some of the injury issues.”

Turner has been limited to just 13 games through his first two years, ending the 2022 regular season as a healthy scratch. He’s only produced 3 sacks and 8 tackles for loss across that span while playing behind guys like Cameron Jordan, Marcus Davenport, and lately Carl Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon. Davenport is expected to at least test the market in free agency, possibly leading to more opportunities for Turner to climb the depth chart.

One person Allen hopes can be a positive influence on Turner: defensive line coach Todd Grantham. He saw the benefits of hiring a new position coach to work with struggling right guard Cesar Ruiz last summer, and now he’s hoping Grantham can help have a similar impact to offensive line coach Doug Marrone on the other side of the ball.

Allen said of Grantham’s hire: “I love his experience. I like the fact that he sees the game, not just from a defensive line perspective. He’s been a coordinator in our league, he’s been a coordinator in the SEC, in college. I like the fact that he can see the game from a coordinator’s perspective, but yet also he understands fundamentals and technique and things of that nature, in terms of playing the defensive line position.”

Time will tell if these changes are going to be enough to help Turner play his best football. Right now the buzzards are swirling and suggesting he’s already earned the dreaded “bust” label just a few years into his pro career. At the end of the day, it’s going to be on Turner to prove his critics wrong.

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Payton Turner is approaching ‘bust’ status in critical Year 3 with the Saints

Payton Turner risks dreaded ‘bust’ status in his critical Year 3 with the Saints. He needs to show fans something special to avoid that alarming label:

How many New Orleans Saints players have more on the line in 2023 than Payton Turner? The team’s 2021 first-round draft pick is rapidly approaching the dreaded “bust” label in his third year in the NFL, having appeared in just 13 games over his first two seasons. Some of that is due to injuries — he’s been sidelined by elbow, calf, shoulder, chest and ankle injuries — and there’s a bit of bad luck involved, with last year’s ankle injury being completely out of his control.

But at the end of the day, Turner hasn’t shown his coaches or his team’s fans enough to say he’s special. His rookie year began as a healthy scratch because he didn’t offer more than the veterans ahead of him. His second season ended, again, as a healthy inactive because other players could be trusted to do more on the field. He’s only produced three sacks and eight tackles for loss in those 13 games he’s played, without forcing a single turnover.

The Saints knew Turner would face a learning curve in the NFL, but this slow development can’t be what they expected. They picked him at the start of a run on pass rushers at No. 28 in the first round back in 2021, and all three of the players selected right after him have been more productive:

  • No. 30: Gregory Rousseau, Buffalo Bills (12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, with 2 fumbles in 30 games)
  • No. 31: Odafe Oweh, Penn State (8 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, with 4 fumbles in 32 games)
  • No. 32: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in  34 games)

So there’s quite a bit of ground for Turner to make up in 2023. This time next year the Saints will be debating whether to exercise his fifth-year option for 2025, which should be valued at more than $12 million. With Marcus Davenport and Tanoh Kpassagnon both set to test free agency and Cameron Jordan turning 34 this summer, Turner should have ample opportunities to carve out a role for himself in the rotation at defensive end. You just have to wonder if it ends up being too little, too late after a rough start to his pro career.

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Anglers fined thousands for ‘over bagging’ on trophy carp river

Three men were ordered to pay fines totaling more than $4,200 for glaring fishing violations that occurred this past weekend on the Connecticut River.

Three men were ordered to pay fines totaling more than $4,200 for glaring fishing violations that occurred this past weekend on the Connecticut River.

According to the Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police, an officer responding to a tip out of Cromwell found the men to be in possession of gross over limits.

Additionally, the men did not possess valid fishing licenses and exceeded the number of rods and reels allowed by law.

A photo released by the agency shows 32 carp laid out on a lawn. The Connecticut River is a designated “trophy carp body of water.” The daily creel limit is one carp per angler, measuring less than 26 inches.

In a news release issued Monday via social media, the CSECP stated that the officer was acting on a report of three males were “over bagging on carp.”

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“Upon arrival our Officer observed a large carp hanging out of a cooler in the area of the 3 men fishing,” the agency explained. “Upon further inspection another cooler was checked which was filled to capacity.”

The dead carp were donated to a nearby rehabilitation center for injured mammals and birds of prey.

Florida deer, alligator poaching case described as ‘shocking’

Wildlife officials in Florida have charged four people with multiple poaching-related violations after social media posts turned up “shocking” evidence against the suspects.

Wildlife officials in Florida have charged four people with multiple poaching-related violations after social media posts turned up “shocking” evidence against the suspects.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Thursday that its officers obtained warrants for the suspects’ social media accounts and discovered images and videos showing illegally harvested deer and alligators from Nov. 2020 through September 2021.

The evidence helped officers determine dates and locations of the suspected poaching activities. The suspects booked into the Dixie County Jail.

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“The scope of the illegal activity is shocking and shows complete disregard for our shared natural resources,” stated Maj. Scott Lee, commander of the FWC’s North Central Region. “I appreciate the dedication of our officers for their diligence with this case in bringing these individuals to justice.”

The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit.

The FWC listed the suspects’ names and the charges they face:

Jerrell Austin Clyatt Everett (DOB:08/07/2001) of Old Town, Florida:

–Five counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).
–Six counts possession of antlerless deer 379.404(3).
–Three counts of taking/possession of alligator 379.409(1).
–One count of taking deer by illegal method 68A-12.002(3)(b)2.

Kasen David Brown (DOB: 09/26/2002) of Cross City, Florida:

–Four counts of possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).
–Two counts of taking/possession of alligator 379.409(1).

Kayla Mckenzie Kline (DOB: 07/07/2003) of Old Town, Florida:

–Three counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).

Keaton Aaron Brown (DOB: 07/22/2002) of Old Town, Florida:

–Three counts possession of deer in closed season 379.404(1).

–Two counts possession of antlerless deer 379.404(3).

–One count of shooting deer from roadway/right of way 68A-4.008.

–One count take deer by illegal method 68A-12.002(3)(b)2.

–One count taking deer after hours 68A-12.002(2).

–Two counts discharging firearm from roadway/right of way 790.15(1).

–One count of discharging firearm from vehicle within 1,000 feet of another person 790.15(2).

Kevin White determined to chase NFL comeback ‘until they kick me out’

Newly-signed Saints WR Kevin White determined to chase NFL comeback ‘until they kick me out’

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Kevin White knows the challenge in front of him is daunting. And he’s vowed to pursue it anyway. White spoke about his attempt at a comeback with the New Orleans Saints after his first practice session in black and gold on Wednesday, reflecting on his injury-plagued career with the Chicago Bears.

“I’m going for it until they kick me out this league,” White said to NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. He admitted frustrations with unlucky injuries — a twice-broken leg in 2015 and 2016, and a fractured shoulder blade in 2017 — and few opportunities in the Mitchell Trubisky-led Bears offense, but he’s keeping the faith that he can turn his story around.

He’s got all the tools to succeed. He was the No. 7 overall draft pick for good reason, thanks to a strong senior year in West Virginia’s high-flying offense and elite athletic traits (having timed the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds and 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds). Even at 29, he’s got more raw talent to work with than many younger players entering the league.

We’ll see if he is able to put it to good use in New Orleans. White caught a few passes in team drills on Wednesday with a statement touchdown from rookie quarterback Ian Book. He’s acutely aware of the stakes involved. With two more preseason games on the schedule, maybe he shows the Saints coaches enough in practice this week to warrant a longer look.

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Seahawks sign free agent DT Robert Nkemdiche on draft day

The Seattle Seahawks rather quietly signed free-agent defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche on the morning of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Seattle Seahawks rather quietly signed defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche the morning of the first day of the 2021 NFL draft.

The Arizona Cardinals drafted Nkemdiche with the 29th overall pick in 2016 and he would play for them his first three seasons in the league before being released due to a failed physical.

He had a short-lived stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2019 before spending over a year as a free agent, and now he makes his return to the NFL with the Seahawks, the same team he did THIS to in 2017.

Widely considered to be a bust, Nkemdiche will get another chance with the blue and green in 2021.

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L.J. Collier out to prove he’s ‘one of the best’ after rookie season

Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman L.J. Collier knows fans wrote him off after a bad rookie year, but he’s ready to quiet the doubters.

Seattle Seahawks fans are understandably not thrilled with the team’s most recent first round selections. Rashaad Penny has had his moments, but the 2018 first rounder has yet to overtake Chris Carson as the team’s top running back, and now could miss the start of the 2019 season with an ACL injury.

Meanwhile, Seattle’s first pick in 2019, L.J. Collier, finished a disappointing rookie season that saw the big defensive lineman record three combined tackles in 11 games played.

A foot injury suffered in July cost him a ton of development time, and he was never able to make up for lost time, or fully recover, which led to the lost season.

Still, you won’t see Collier making excuses, and he’s more than ready to go out there and start showing the fans what he is capable of.

“I am chomping at the bit to get out there,” Collier told Seattle media in a Zoom call on Friday morning. “It’s one of those things where you didn’t have the year everyone wanted you to. They shift you off to the side as if you can’t play. It’s disrespectful, and I feel very disrespected. But, I’m the type of person where there’s no need for talking, just show them. If you run through a couple people; if you make noise, they’ll remember who you are very quickly.”

Collier should get ample opportunity to step up in 2020. The team has yet to sign Jadeveon Clowney, Everson Griffen or even an interior defensive tackle, leaving Collier as an option to play outside on early downs while shuffling to three-tech on third down situations as an interior pass rusher.

It’s a role similar to what Michael Bennett used to do for Seattle back in the day, and a role Collier is comfortable with, as long as it gets him out on the field.

“I’m going to be there, and I’m going to get every rep I can possibly get, whether it’s at 3-technique or whether it’s end,” Collier continued. “I just want to play, honestly.”

As for the premature bust label? Collier isn’t concerned about where he was drafted. He knows he can play, and he’s ready to show everyone else as well.

“I’m excited to get back out there and show people who I am,” Collier continued. “I don’t really care about the first-round pick stuff. I’m a football player at the end of the day, and I can play football at a high level. I’m out there to prove that I’m one of the best.”

A healthy training camp will go a long way toward helping Collier get caught up, and he could be primed for a big year in 2020 for the Seahawks.

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