New rules, important dates to know for 2020 Saints training camp

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has radically changed the NFL offseason, and New Orleans Saints training camp will also have to adjust.

[jwplayer toWXDj4e-ThvAeFxT]

New Orleans Saints veterans reported to the team practice facility for COVID-19 testing on Tuesday, with rookie players having made the trip on Monday and now waiting on their results. The public health crisis has played havoc on the NFL’s offseason calendar, and it’ll continue to impact training camp as we approach the regular season.

Some players have chosen to opt out; one of them is Saints tight end Cole Wick, who returned from the 2019 practice squad but chose to pass on the 2020 season, citing asthma and heightened health risk. While none of his teammates have yet joined him in opting out, it’s very much a fluid situation.

The NFL and the NFL Players Associated hammered out a new training camp structure and many new rules for the remainder of the 2020 offseason, which we’ve detailed below:

Aug. 4: Players must submit written notice to their teams that they will be opting out of the 2020 season, either voluntarily or due to elevated risk to their personal health. The NFL and NFLPA are still finalizing this process, so players have until Aug. 4 to file with their teams.
Players who opt out because of heightened risk for infection can earn $350,000 instead of their non-guaranteed salary. Voluntary opt-outs will receive $150,000, though this does not extend to undrafted rookies.
Once training camp begins, the first phase will include a 20-day “ramp-up” period, starting with four days of COVID-19 testing and two additional days of conventional physicals. Players will not be allowed into the team practice facility until they have received two negative tests, and will not count against the roster limit while testing positive.
The second phase of the “ramp-up” period will feature a week of strength and conditioning drills, with players working in small groups of no more than 15 individuals. Teams may practice with helmets and shells, but no pads, during the final five days of this period.
Aug. 16: All teams must cut their rosters down to 80 players, the day before padded practices begin. With Wick opting out, the Saints currently have 89 players under contract, so some of them won’t have much of a shot at making an impression before things heat up on the practice field. We’ve highlighted ten names to watch for this first wave of roster cuts.
Aug. 17: Teams may begin holding padded practices, with no more than 14 sessions total before the start of the regular season. Padded practice sessions will last no more than 90 minutes at first, with 15-minute increments added onto each subsequent practice until they reach a total of 120 minutes. Players will be given one day off for seven days of work.
The 2020 preseason series has been canceled.
Sept. 4: Teams must cut their rosters down from 80 players to just 53, and file waivers claims in order to fill out their practice squads. The 2020 practice squad will expand to 16 players to accommodate expected absences due to COVID-19 infections.
The NFL’s 2020 salary cap will remain stable at $198.2 million, but the 2021 salary cap will fall no lower than $175 million due to expected revenue losses. It may rise depending to changes in leaguewide revenue, but any losses will be divided up through 2024.
If the NFL season is canceled after games are played, players that were on the 53-man roster will receive a $300,000 stipend. But if the season is canceled before final roster cuts, only those players who were on teams in 2019 will receive a stipend of $250,000.
The NFL and NFLPA agreed to start a fund to pay back benefits lost to declines in revenue, which will run through 2023.

[lawrence-related id=36399,36394,36381]

[vertical-gallery id=36023]

Saints announce dates, times for 2020 preseason schedule

The New Orleans Saints announced the times and dates for their 2020 preseason games against the Rams, Steelers, Texans, and Dolphins.

[jwplayer 1kGwt3gt-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints revealed the specific times and dates for their 2020 preseason schedule, which will see them fly out for away games at the brand-new LoFi Stadium (visiting the Los Angeles Rams) and the historic Heinz Field (for a nationally-broadcast game with the Pittsburgh Steelers). After that two-game road series, the Saints will return to New Orleans to host the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins in subsequent weeks.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2020 Saints preseason:

Week 1: at Los Angeles Rams, Friday, Aug. 14 at 9 p.m. CT

This year’s preseason opener won’t kick off until 9 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 14, so maybe keep a pot of coffee ready. While Drew Brees probably won’t take the field in this one — he waited until Week 3 to make his preseason debut last year — there will still be plenty to watch out for, primarily the progress made by backup quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston. And the Rams’ shining new stadium should certainly catch the eye.

Where to watch: Local FOX affiliates (check here for full listings)

Where to listen: WWL Radio (870 AM and 105.3 FM)

Week 2: at Steelers, Sunday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. CT

This prime-time game should be fun, even if we see little of Brees and Ben Roethlistberger. The Steelers have a nice set of weapons on offense that should test the Saints defense well, giving us a good idea of how far they’ve progressed over the summer. Keep an eye out for how often Marcus Davenport and C.J. Gardner-Johnson stay on the field; it’s a critical time for the third-year defensive end, while Gardner-Johnson’s diverse set of skills mean the Saints may try him out in several different roles in the closest thing to a controlled environment.

Where to watch: FOX national broadcast

Where to listen: WWL Radio (870 AM and 105.3 FM)

Week 3: vs. Texans, Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. CT

The Saints and Texans have been frequent preseason opponents in recent years, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the two teams schedule a few days of joint practices at the Saints’ facility in Metairie, as they’ve done in the past. This is the usual “dress rehearsal” game, and should be the first time we get a look at Brees in 2020. Maybe he’ll connect with new additions like Emmanuel Sanders, Ty Montgomery, or Adam Trautman in his brief time on the field against a live defense.

Where to watch: Local FOX affiliates (check here for full listings)

Where to listen: WWL Radio (870 AM and 105.3 FM)

Week 4: vs. Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. CT

The preseason finale is the last opportunity many players will get to audition for a spot on the Saints’ roster, and this year’s depth chart is one of the deepest we’ve ever seen. NFL veterans like Montgomery, Margus Hunt, Anthony Chickillo, and James Hurst (should he officially sign with New Orleans, which hasn’t happened yet) will have one more shot to compete before roster cuts. It’ll be fascinating to see which members of the undrafted rookie class will have played their way onto the opening-day depth chart; no one expected much of Shy Tuttle or Deonte Harris this time last year.

Where to watch: Local FOX affiliates (check here for full listings)

Where to listen: WWL Radio (870 AM and 105.3 FM)

[vertical-gallery id=35019]

2020 Saints schedule: New Orleans has five primetime games

The 2020 NFL schedule includes five primetime games for the New Orleans Saints, three of which will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

[jwplayer Seu61RXd-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints released their 2020 schedule on Thursday, and they rank among the NFL’s leaders in nationally-broadcast primetime games. The Saints will kick off under the sport’s brightest lights in road games with the Las Vegas Raiders (Week 2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 9), while playing host in night games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome against the Green Bay Packers (Week 3) and the Los Angeles Chargers (Week 5). New Orleans will also welcome the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day (Week 16), the only NFL game to be played that day.

Other highlights on this year’s Saints schedule include a Week 1 home opener against Tom Brady and the much-hyped Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as an early-year matchup with Teddy Bridgewater and the new-look Carolina Panthers (Week 7). And the Saints will see those same Panthers again in the regular season finale (Week 17) for the third year in a row.

Curiously, the Saints’ chief NFC South rival, the Atlanta Falcons, will play both of their games with New Orleans at noon this year — the lack of a brighter spotlight speaks to the sorry state of that franchise, and their low expectations. However, the Saints will play the Falcons twice in three weeks, so this obviously isn’t a game to overlook.

Here’s your cheat sheet to this year’s slate of Saints games:

Week 1: Saints vs. Buccaneers 3:25 p.m. CT
Week 2: Saints at Raiders 7:15 p.m. CT (Monday Night Football)
Week 3: Saints vs. Packers 7:20 p.m. CT (Sunday Night Football)
Week 4: Saints at Lions 12:00 p.m. CT
Week 5: Saints vs. Chargers 7:15 p.m. CT (Monday Night Football)
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: Saints vs. Panthers 12:00 p.m. CT
Week 8: Saints at Bears 3:25 p.m. CT
Week 9: Saints at Buccaneers 7:20 p.m. CT (Sunday Night Football)
Week 10: Saints vs. 49ers 3:25 p.m. CT
Week 11: Saints vs. Falcons 12:00 p.m. CT
Week 12: Saints at Broncos 3:05 p.m. CT
Week 13: Saints at Falcons 12:00 p.m. CT
Week 14: Saints at Eagles 3:25 p.m. CT
Week 15: Saints vs. Chiefs 3:25 p.m. CT
Week 16: Saints at Vikings 3:30 p.m. CT (Christmas Day)
Week 17: Saints at Panthers 12:00 p.m. CT

[lawrence-related id=33386,33367]

[vertical-gallery id=33239]

4 important deadlines and 3 important dates in the next two weeks

CBA deals, franchise and transition tags, legal tampering periods and free agency all start in the next two weeks.

Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

It’s offseason calendar watching time in the NFL and there are some important events set to happen over the next two weeks. We’ll know more about the labor situation and the makeup of teams by March 18th. Here are the dates where you should always be by a phone, computer, or television.

March 12th, CBA Vote Deadline

The deadline for players to vote arrives three days short of the ides of March. This one is pretty simple. Either the players vote to ratify the new CBA or they vote to decline the offer. Going with the second option puts them back at square one. There aren’t many negotiating points that the owners would be willing to give up on. Some people seem to be focusing on the revenue split. In the current offer, it sits at 48 percent. Even if the players fight for 50 percent they will have to figure out if the TV deal will be a lower dollar amount a year from now. It only takes simple math to figure out that 48 percent of 10 billion is more than 50 percent of nine billion.

This deal should be watched closely. It could set up the NFL for the next 10 years or it could lead to a lockout and a situation where we all miss football. The deal only passed 17-14 with team reps so it’s going to be a tight vote.

Pages: 1234