Tag: Craig Robertson

Former Saints linebacker Craig Robertson announces his retirement

Former Saints linebacker Craig Robertson announces his retirement after nine years in the NFL:

Craig Robertson may have started his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns, but he’s making sure to retire with the New Orleans Saints. Robertson appeared in 78 games for New Orleans from 2016 to 2020, and on Friday he announced his retirement from playing professional football from the team facility accompanied by his family and Saints head coach Dennis Allen.

Allen was complimentary of Robertson’s influence on the team, saying that he, “was really part of the foundation of building the culture in the way that we wanted to operate defensively.”

Robertson lived and breathed Saints football, initially starting on defense during the 2016 and 2017 seasons before accepting a role focused on special teams in 2018. He spent the next couple of years covering punts and kickoffs and was known for his energetic presence on the sidelines.

Now, the 34-year-old father of four can shift gears again and focus his attention on the next phase in his life. He said that some teams struck by COVID-19 absences reached out during the 2021 season, when he was a free agent, but he preferred to wait for the right time to hang up his cleats as a Saint. Robertson added, “I’m a family man now.”

Good for Robertson on going out on his own terms. The Saints won so many games the last few years because of the work he and players like him put in despite being buried on the depth chart. His contributions are worth celebrating.

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WATCH: Alex Anzalone can’t hold onto would-be TD, sends Saints into halftime with a safety

The New Orleans Saints special teams unit nearly scored a touchdown off a Kansas City Chiefs fumble, but had to settle for a safety.

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Here’s something new for the highlight reel. The New Orleans Saints have a proud tradition of scoring touchdowns off of miscues in the punting game, and they nearly added a new chapter to that history in Sunday’s game with the Kansas City Chiefs. If only Alex Anzalone could have held onto the ball.

The fourth-year linebacker was in position to recover a fumbled punt from Chiefs receiver Demarcus Robinson, who was filling in for the banged-up Mecole Hardman. Special teams captain Craig Robertson ripped the ball from Robinson’s hands and it tumbled into the end zone where Anzalone dove to secure it, only to watch helplessly as it bounced through the back of the end zone.

It wasn’t a total loss, though; the play went down as a Kansas City safety, awarding the Saints a couple of points to help chase the Chiefs’ lead. A nice New Orleans return from Tommylee Lewis sent the teams into halftime, with the Saints receiving the opening kickoff of the third quarter.

While Anzalone will be kicking himself about this for a long time, it still played an important part in simply putting points on the board. You can’t ask for much more than that against an offense as high-powered as the Chiefs’.

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Craig Robertson impressed by Saints rookies Zack Baun, Joe Bachie

New Orleans Saints rookie linebackers Zack Baun and Joe Bachie have done everything right over the summer, according to Craig Robertson.

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There aren’t many players on the New Orleans Saints roster who have seen more in the NFL than Craig Robertson. He’s entering his ninth season, having spent the last four years with the Saints after a four-year stint with the Cleveland Browns to start his career; that experience spans 125 games, including the playoffs. Elected special teams captain in 2019, he’s proven to be a big voice in the locker room and on the field.

So his words carry some weight. Robertson talked up third-round draft pick Zack Baun in a recent media conference call, describing the rookie out of Wisconsin as “a real knowledgeable kid.”

The Saints are rolling with a first-year position coach at linebacker, having promoted longtime assistant Michael Hodges after Mike Nolan was hired away by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this summer. While their interactions have mostly been limited to virtual classroom discussions, Robertson has liked what he’s seen — and heard — out of Baun, noting that, so far, the rookie seems receptive to coaching.

“Our coach does a good job of asking everybody questions,” Robertson said. “So he’s not just steering questions towards certain people. He’ll go down the list and everybody’s answering the questions. Zack and Joe (Bachie) as well, our other rookie has been doing a great job answering questions. We have a lot of information in our playbook. So the faster that you can capture our playbook, the better off you’ll be. They’re doing a good job already just starting off.”

Baun and Bachie (who played across Lake Michigan, at Michigan State) bring plenty of collegiate experience with them into the NFL. Baun appeared in 34 games for the Badgers, though he rarely lined up off the line of scrimmage, so his transition may be more difficult than it first appears. Bachie was more of a traditional middle linebacker with the Spartans, logging 36 games, but he’ll have to outplay 2019 draft pick Kaden Elliss (out of Idaho) or his former college teammate Andrew Dowell for a roster spot. Dowell was on the Saints practice squad last season, and played with Bachie at Michigan State from 2016 to 2018.

So it’s at least encouraging that both rookies have started things off on the right foot, by making smart observations in meetings and remaining attentive as the veterans show them how it’s done. But all of that takes a backseat once they’re able to step on the practice field. With Robertson’s contract set to expire after the 2020 season, these youngsters might force the Saints to make some tough decisions next summer if everything breaks their way.

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Saints players react to Zion Williamson’s big Pelicans debut

New Orleans Saints players Taysom Hill, Craig Robertson, Thomas Morstead, and Michael Thomas were wowed by Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson.

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Zion Williamson finally made his rookie year debut for the New Orleans Pelicans, and a number of Saints players were watching and in attendance. While courtside mainstays like Cameron Jordan and Alvin Kamara were out of town getting ready for the 2020 Pro Bowl, teammates including Taysom Hill and Craig Robertson were tuning in for the game.

So they got a great look at the 6-foot-6, 284-pound 19-year-old’s first regular season game. And Williamson didn’t disappoint, ending his night with 22 points scored, seven rebounds, and three assists, including four difficult three-point shots down the stretch to give the Pelicans the lead. But he was playing on a minutes restriction in his first game back from preseason meniscus surgery, so he wasn’t able to see his team through to a win just yet.

Still, it was a terrific first impression, and should bode well for the future of Pelicans basketball in New Orleans. That’s great news for sports fans in and around the city as well as those Pelicans fans on the Saints roster. Expect to see plenty more crossover episodes as the NBA season — and Williamson’s young saga — marches forward.

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Kiko Alonso suffered torn ACL in wild-card round loss to Vikings

The New Orleans Saints lost starting linebacker Kiko Alonso to a torn ACL in their wild-card round defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.

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New Orleans Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso received tough news on Monday, learning that he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. It’s the third ACL tear for Alonso in his career, following previous injuries in 2014 and 2015. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported the injury news, which was confirmed by Nola.com’s Amie Just.

This is a big blow for Alonso, 29, who is projected to start at linebacker next season. It’s unclear who plays where — starting weakside linebacker Demario Davis is returning, as is versatile backup Craig Robertson. Alonso replaced former middle linebacker Alex Anzalone in the starting lineup when the Saints acquired him in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, and Anzalone will be entering a contract year coming off of season-ending shoulder surgery. Starting strongside linebacker A.J. Klein’s contract will expire in March. Rookie backup Kaden Elliss also ended his year with a torn ACL back in September.

In other words: Davis is the only healthy starting linebacker the Saints have slotted in for 2020. The good news is that the Saints run so deep at defensive back that they often play just two linebackers at a time, so these are hits they can absorb. The position shouldn’t be seen as a glaring need given deficiencies at other spots on the roster, but the Saints could look to add more-durable options in free agency or through the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s just disappointing to see Alonso go into the offseason like this after he played so well during his first year in New Orleans.

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Watch: Craig Robertson opens up the second half with tip-drill interception

New Orleans Saints LB Craig Robertson intercepted a tipped pass from San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo in the second half on Sunday.

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The New Orleans Saints were short-handed at linebacker during Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, with starters Kiko Alonso and A.J. Klein sidelined by injuries. The team re-signed former starter Manti Te’o earlier in the week but went with backups Craig Robertson and Stephone Anthony to start the game.

As luck would have it, Robertson ended up being in the right place at the right time to snag an interception early in the second half. 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo targeted wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders but the pass deflected off of Sanders’ hands and into Robertson’s waiting mitts, granting the Saints a lucky turnover.

It’s just a shame they weren’t able to make the most of it. Despite some protests from Saints quarterback Drew Brees, head coach Sean Payton trusted kicker Wil Lutz to make a 55-yard field goal and retake the lead. You can find Robertson’s big play in the video embedded in this post:

Unfortunately, the 49ers defense created its own turnover just a few minutes later. They forced and recovered a fumble out of Saints running back Alvin Kamara — the first fumble the Saints have committed all season — which set up a touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle. This game is still creating fireworks, and the Saints are still playing from behind in the third quarter, down 35-30 to San Francisco.

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