Tag: Demario Davis

2019 Saints Season in Review: Linebacker A.J. Klein

We continue our season reviews at Saints Wire with New Orleans Saints linebacker and pending unrestricted free agent, A.J. Klein.

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We continue our season reviews at Saints Wire with New Orleans Saints linebacker and pending unrestricted free agent, A.J. Klein. 2019 was a defining season for the linebacker. Significant injuries to the linebacker corps allowed Klein to see a higher than usual snap count throughout the season.

Klein quickly became a piece of the foundation for the defense in a season that saw the unit become the one heavily relied upon.

Level of play in 2019

Klein played in 15 games in 2019, with the Week 14 contest against the San Francisco 49ers as the only game he did not compete in due to injury (thigh). During his 15 appearances, the linebacker recorded 49 solo tackles, and tacked on an interception that was returned for a touchdown in Week 17. Furthermore, Klein was great with pressure as he had six tackles for a loss, along with 2.5 sacks.

Pro Football Focus gave Klein a 48.4 grade on the season, which is below average for the linebacker position. However, Klein performed admirably when called upon, especially when fellow linebackers Alex Anzalone and Kiko Alonso had injury issues that saw them miss significant time in 2019.

What to expect in 2020

Klein is an unrestricted agent heading into the offseason. This status allows him to negotiate with any team in the NFL for his services. It is possible that New Orleans decides to bring back the linebacker, who has been incredibly durable. Klein signed a three-year, $15-million contract in 2017, and since then he has started in at least 12 games per season.

At just 28 years old, Klein has quite a bit left in the tank, and it seems the Saints will make a push to keep him on the team come 2020 and beyond. With Anzalone expected back in 2020, and Demario Davis coming off of a career season, Klein could see a slight reduction in his role.

Klein has proven he can help hold the linebacker unit together despite facing adversity early on. It would probably take another three-year deal with significantly more guaranteed money to keep the veteran linebacker around.

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Demario Davis using his offseason to advocate for Mississippi prison reform

New Orleans Saints LB Demario Davis traveled to Parchman, Miss. to advocate for criminal justice reform following violent prison riots.

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New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis is a leader on and off of the field; it’s not for nothing that he’s been voted a team captain in each of his first two years with the team. He was also recognized as a first-ream All-Pro linebacker this year, but was snubbed by the Pro Bowl selections process. Left with some free time, Davis turned his attentions to a cause much more important than football: prison reform.

Davis, a Brandon, Miss. native, returned to his home state for a rally near the State Penitentiary at Parchman, which has been the site of weeks of violence and drawn national attention over poor living conditions for inmates. He’s been very vocal in the past about the fight for inequality in America and abroad, delivering supplies to immigrant children separated from their families while helping post bail to release a jailed immigration activist. He’s also spoken about the need to help families broken by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement raids in Morton, Miss. and at the Mexican border.

Davis shared his thoughts on the developing crisis at Parchman in an interview from the rally, saying, “Well I think the problem is, specifically here in Mississippi, is that it’s part of a larger issue. We have a problem in our country which is mass incarceration. We have all moved past where we were trying to take care of people, and now we’re using people to make a profit.”

He took aim at several issues in his explanation, including for-profit prisons, oversentencing for non-violent offenders, and the need to rehabilitate people with drug-addictions rather than punish them. Davis, a devout born-again Christian, often cites his faith as his motivation to remain compassionate and help others, stressing the need to match his words with his actions.

“We’ve got too many people with not enough beds,” Davis said. “And so in these situations, what happens is, under-resourced facilities. Here in Parchman is a great example. People are underfed, they lack healthcare, they’re subject to living in inhumane situations. It ends up happening where human beings are treated worse than animals.”

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Demario Davis named a finalist for NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was named one of five finalists for the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award, along with Bobby Wagner

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New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was named a first-team All-Pro, and now he could add another honor to his trophy case. Davis was named one of five finalists for the NFL Players Association’s Alan Page Community Award for his efforts off the field, embracing the New Orleans community and working to enact positive change with his neighbors. The award’s winner will receive a $100,000 donation to a charity of their choosing.

Davis rose to prominence in the wake of a controversial NFL uniform violation fine. The league initially fined him for wearing a headband labeled “Man of God” during an early-season game, which he overturned in appeals. Davis then sold similar headbands in a fund-raiser for a Mississippi hospital, reporting more than $120,000 in donations. He also met with students and faculty at a New Orleans-area elementary school who had supported him during the appeals process.

The winner of this NFLPA award will be named during Super Bowl LIV. Here all five finalists:

  • Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Brandon Carr, Baltimore Ravens
  • Brandon Copeland, New York Jets
  • Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
  • Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks

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Important dates in the 2020 Saints offseason calendar

The New Orleans Saints have a busy 2020 offseason calendar featuring the NFL Draft, free agency legal tampering and signing period, and more

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The New Orleans Saints started their offseason rather early this year, to much surprise. Now the team must look ahead to 2020 and how it plans to reshape itself in order to again be a Super Bowl contender.

This offseason must answer many questions about the Saints’ long-term future: Will quarterback Drew Brees return, and what does that mean for the quarterback situation? How will the Saints approach free agency and the draft, and will their strategy defer from past philosophy? These are the types of questions the fans are yearning to have answered, and issues that the front office will need to address.

Here are some important dates for the 2020 Saints offseason, where these questions will be addressed:

January 25: Reese’s Senior Bowl

New Orleans will be looking for several key additions through this year’s draft, despite owning just five selections. Wide receiver, offensive line, and additions in the defensive secondary should rank atop the list for their biggest needs.

This all-star game in Mobile, Ala. figures heavily into the Saints’ draft strategy. It’s a first introduction for the coaching staff to many top prospects, and they’ve drafted many previous Senior Bowl alums — including Erik McCoy and Marcus Davenport, their first picks in the last two years.

February 24: NFL Scouting Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis will give the Saints more information in order to better assess who could be available with their given picks. Aside from the actual NFL Draft, this is the biggest event for football fans during the offseason.

While teams can meet with players and see them practice at all-star events like the Senior Bowl, this is where they get to spend more time interviewing prospects and seeing how they measure up athletically. “The underwear Olympics” provide crucial data that does a lot to back up observations in film study, or sometimes raise questions about previously-unnoticed concerns.

March 10: Franchise and transition tag deadline

The Saints do not really have any candidates to issue the franchise tag to, though Teddy Bridgewater could be a long-shot possibility. Transition tags are not heavily utilized in the NFL, and the Saints hardly utilize them, if ever. However, if they do break that trend, the Saints will have until 3 p.m. CT to make a decision.

March 16: Legal tampering period begins

While no agreements can be signed, this is the real beginning of free agency. Teams can contact free agents to negotiate new deals, and they can also call each other to facilitate trades. Any deals can only be formalized in verbal agreements, and it’s possible for parties to back out if they so choose. This is where the Saints lost Mark Ingram and picked up Latavius Murray last season, even if pens weren’t put to paper until a few days later.

March 16: First day of 2020 league year

Beginning at 3 p.m. CT, all teams can start signing free agents and issuing new contracts to players. Recently, New Orleans has brought in players like linebacker Demario Davis and nose tackle Malcom Brown, who helped reshape the landscape of the defense. Additional help being brought in could be a real possibility this offseason, but the Saints could just as soon lose some of their homegrown talent like safety Vonn Bell or defensive tackle David Onyemata. This also opens the door for 2017 draft picks like Alvin Kamara to negotiate contract extensions, even if they have a year left on their current deals.

April 23-25: NFL Draft in Las Vegas

New Orleans currently holds pick No. 24 in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. It is anyone’s guess as to what the team will do with it. Drafting a wide receiver, offensive lineman, or even a quarterback have all been thrown out there, but the Saints usually like to address their needs in free agency. It gives them more flexibility on draft day.

The Saints do not have a second-round pick this year, having traded it to the Miami Dolphins. That pick was part of a package that turned into McCoy and breakout defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. After the second round, the Saints own picks in rounds three through six, while their seventh-round pick was included in the Eli Apple trade with the New York Giants.

May 4: Fifth-year options for players drafted in 2017

New Orleans will have to decide if they want to exercise the fifth-year options for players such as offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk and cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Neither of those decisions should go down to the wire — Ramczyk and Lattimore are two of the best players at their positions, and picking up their options will keep them under team contract control through 2021.

Late July: NFL training camp begins

The NFL hasn’t announced official start dates just yet, but we know teams will open up training camp late in teh summer. In 2019, New Orleans began their training camp on July 26 at their Metairie, La. practice facility. For many fans, this will be their first live look at their 2020 Saints team.

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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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Demario Davis keeps perspective after difficult loss to Vikings

Demario Davis is keeping himself and his New Orleans Saints team grounded after their wild-card round playoffs loss to the Minnesota Vikings

How many more years can the New Orleans Saints keep feeding off the idea that they’ve left “unfinished business” in the playoffs? That’s been the narrative the Saints have chased ever since their exit in the 2017 postseason, and it stayed alive after their 2018 finale, too. Now, with the 2019 playoffs behind them, where do they go next?

Fortunately, that’s a question experienced leaders like linebacker Demario Davis can answer. And his message to his teammates is one cautioning patience.

“You have to realize it’s the end of a chapter and not a book,” Davis told ESPN’s Mike Triplett. That doesn’t mean the journey is painless. He continued, “Not all losses feel the same. But all losses hurt the same.”

It makes sense that Davis would take such a measured approach. He toiled thanklessly for years with the rudderless New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, watching playoff games from his couch or a treadmill at the gym. He’s acutely aware of how difficult it is to even reach the postseason, much less win games there.

And like he pointed out, this isn’t the end of things. Sean Payton and Drew Brees are still running the show in New Orleans. Davis is still the captain of the defense. The team is on a great trajectory to get right back into the thick of things next year, and with this kind of experience behind them, they should be better-prepared than ever. But that’s not going to do much to dull the pain of an early playoffs exit, and it’s a natural reaction. Like Davis said, it’s important to remember that this is the end of a chapter, not the last page in the book.

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Watch: Demario Davis, Drew Brees fire up the Saints before kickoff vs. Vikings

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Drew Brees addressed the team before their wild-card round game with the Vikings

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The New Orleans Saints always hold a team huddle following pregame warmups, with team leaders Drew Brees and Demario Davis addressing the team to set the tone in the final minutes before kickoff. They kept that tradition running on Sunday, just ahead of their wild-card round game with the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s hard to not get pumped up listening to Brees and Davis fire up their teammates. They’ve found a great balance between the iconic “win again” cadence Brees introduced a decade ago in the run up to Super Bowl XLIV, and the “prowl, kill, eat” mantra Davis has made his signature. With leadership in place like this — respected voices who turn their words into actions, and lead by example — there’s no doubt that the Saints will follow them anywhere.

You can see this week’s pregame huddle where it’s embedded below, or by following this link:

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Michael Thomas one of two unanimous selections for first-team All-Pro

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas and New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore were the only unanimous NFL All-Pros.

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The Associated Press announced its NFL All-Pro teams on Friday, and the New Orleans Saints had six players represented on the two lists. Wide receiver Michael Thomas, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, linebacker Demario Davis, and returns specialist Deonte Harris were each selected as first-team All-Pros. Edge rusher Cameron Jordan and special teams ace J.T. Gray made the All-Pro second-team.

Interestingly, Thomas was one of just two players to be unanimously selected by the 50-strong panel of voters. He was joined by New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who tied the NFL lead for interceptions (6) on the league’s leading defense for total interceptions (25). That’s rare company for Thomas to join, but as the NFL’s king in both receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) there’s no doubting his qualifications. Depending on how the playoffs turn out, there’s a good chance Thomas and Gilmore may line up against each other in Super Bowl LIV.

The full list of Saints players who received All-Pro votes go as follows:

  • Wide receiver Michael Thomas, 50
  • Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, 30
  • Punt returner Deonte Harris, 29 (plus 2 votes at kick returner, and 1 at special teamer)
  • Linebacker Demario Davis, 18
  • Edge rusher Cameron Jordan, 12
  • Special teamer J.T. Gray, 3
  • Kicker Wil Lutz, 3
  • Left tackle Terron Armstead, 2
  • Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, 1 (plus 1 vote at defensive back)

So this highlights a few issues with the Associated Press ballot. The biggest problem is that there are inconsistencies between position designations used by different voters, meaning Harris received nominations at punt returner (where he’s done most of his damage), kick returner, and special teamer. Similarly, Lattimore earned votes at both cornerback and defensive back. Until the Associated Press buckles down and makes it more clear which players are qualified for which positions, there are going to be more incongruities. At least Pro Bowl snubs like Davis and Ramczyk got their due.

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Demario Davis among four Saints on AP All-Pro first-team

Four New Orleans Saints were recognized on the AP All-Pro first-team, including linebacker Demario Davis and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

The New Orleans Saints were well-represented on the Associated Press All-Pro Team, with four players named to the first-team. Wide receiver Michael Thomas was the only unanimous selection, but he was joined by teammates including right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, linebacker Demario Davis, and rookie returns specialist Deonte Harris. Only two Saints players were selected for the second-team: edge rusher Cameron Jordan and special teams ace J.T. Gray. Of the six total Saints to appear on the All-Pro teams, five started their careers in New Orleans, and four were acquired in the last three years.

Thomas is the only player of the group who was a first-team All-Pro in 2018; Ramczyk was named to that year’s second-team, along with other Saints players including Jordan, quarterback Drew Brees, and left tackle Terron Armstead. Davis and Harris are each making their first time appearance.

Brees and Armstead being left off the second-team feels like a pair of serious oversights. While they did each miss time with injuries in 2019, there’s no questioning their level of performance. It’s tough to justify both of them missing the cut. On the other hand, it’s great to see Pro Bowl snubs like Davis and Ramczyk get the recognition they so badly deserve.

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6 Saints players who need to step up vs. Vikings

New Orleans Saints players like Janoris Jenkins and Tre’Quan Smith must step up against Kirk Cousins and the wild-card Minnesota Vikings.

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The New Orleans Saints are set to host the Minnesota Vikings at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday in the wild-card round. Despite the Saints being a 7.5-point home favorite, they will need several key players to step up and have their best game of the season in order to beat the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings. Some names are obvious, while others may be flying a little more under the radar. It’ll take a team effort to advance deeper into the playoffs.

Here are the six Saints players that will need to step up their game on Sunday:

Janoris Jenkins, cornerback

New Orleans acquired Jenkins in Week 15, and he saw his first action as a Saint during the Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans when he played 44% of defensive snaps. In Week 17, Jenkins broke out and recorded five tackles and a game-sealing interception against the Carolina Panthers while playing 100% of snaps. With Eli Apple expected to miss more time with an ankle injury, “Jackrabbit” must step up and help solidify the secondary against talented Vikings receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.

Tre’Quan Smith, wide receiver

A usually hot-and-cold Smith will need to find that extra gear on Sunday, and play to a similar level of production to that of his Week 17 performance. Against the Panthers, Smith caught all five of his targets to gain 56 yards and a touchdown catch at the goal-line. With no receiver yet emerged as a true, consistent threat opposite of Michael Thomas, Smith must prove he can be a difference-maker when it counts the most.

Alvin Kamara, running back

After missing significant time with injury earlier in the season, the running back returned looking like a shell of himself. Over the last two weeks of the season, Kamara has once again began to show why he can be one of the best backs in the league. With Super Bowl aspirations on the line, Kamara will need to return to his 2017-2018 form in order for New Orleans to make a deep playoff run.

A.J. Klein, linebacker

Klein has been a consistent force, along with Demario Davis, in the linebacker corps this season. In Week 17, he recorded his first interception of the season to go along with five tackles. With some depth issues at the position for New Orleans, and a strong rushing attack in Minnesota with Dalvin Cook, Klein will have to step up. A good performance from Klein could be all the difference.

Trey Hendrickson, defensive end

With the defensive line banged up, Hendrickson has seen increased snap counts in the later part of the season starting in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons. Hendrickson will need to play one of his best games in order to beat a very good Vikings offensive line and get pressure on Cousins. Cam Jordan cannot do everything on his own, and Hendrickson will be relied upon to get the job done on Sunday.

Michael Thomas, wide receiver

This one may seem odd. How can someone include Thomas in a list of players that need to step up? Thomas will need to get back on track after a lackluster Week 17 where he only caught four of his nine targets. The entire New Orleans offense runs through Thomas, and now that the playoffs arrived, Thomas will need to play his best brand of football for the Saints to make reality out of their Super Bowl dreams.

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