Tag: deonte harris

Former Saints All-Pro Deonte Harty signs with Ravens

Deonte Harty has found a new team. The former Saints All-Pro return man is signing with his hometown Ravens:

Deonte Harty has found a new team. The former New Orleans Saints All-Pro return specialist has signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, returning to his hometown.

Harty spent his first four seasons in the league with the Saints, primarily working as a returner for them. In 2019, Harty led the entire league with 338 punt return yards to go along with a return touchdown. These numbers ultimately led to Harty receiving All-Pro recognition in his very first season.

In 2021, Harty earned an increased role as a receiver in the New Orleans offense, specifically as a deep threat option for Jameis Winston. Harty hit career-high numbers that season with 36 catches for 570 yards and three touchdowns.

However, an injury-plagued season in 2022 led to a parting of ways, but Harty was able to rebound when signing with the Buffalo Bills. Harty was active in 16 games for the Bills last year, providing a spark to their special teams unit, but he was let go as a salary cap casualty this offseason. With the Ravens’ departure of receiver/returner Devin Duvernay, Harty should be able to find himself literally right at home in Baltimore.

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Bills expected to sign former Saints WR Deonte Harty

A new receiver for the #Bills:

The Buffalo Bills have dipped their first toe into the playmaker pool this offseason and have come out with Deonte Harty.

The former New Orleans Saints receiver is expected to sign with the Bills when free agency officially opens at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s reportedly a two-year deal worth up to $13.5 million through various bonuses and incentives.

Harty, a speedy wideout, has played a versatile role in his career. He has lined up in the slot, on the outside, and in the backfield. Harty also has returned kicks in his career–Harty was named an All-Pro returner as a rookie.

Harty’s addition put the futures of Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder into doubt. Both are pending free agents.

The 25-year-old was held to only four games last season due to a toe injury. However, his production was way down prior to that injury.

Harty’s best season came in 2021. Despite missing three games due to a suspension and COVID concerns, he was the Saints’ second-leading receiver that year with 36 catches for 570 yards and three touchdowns.

Worth noting: Harty changed his name on Christmas Day in 2021 from Harris to Harty. It was a gesture to his step father.

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What a multiyear Deonte Harty extension could look like with the Saints

Deonte Harty was issued a restricted free agent tender, but he can still sign an extension with the Saints. What it could look like, via @RossJacksonNOLA:

As many expected, the New Orleans Saints have not yet taken any big swings as players and teams begin to agree to terms on contracts. Instead the New Orleans Saints, who have been engaged in talks elsewhere, focused in-house by placing a second-round tender on restricted free agent (RFA) wide receiver Deonte Harty.

Now that the Saints have tendered Harty, while he can still receive offers from other interested teams, New Orleans would have the right of first refusal. With that, the team could choose to match the competing offer sheet or could allow Harty to be signed in return for a second round selection in this year’s draft.

However, what seems more likely, is that the Saints and Harty will instead work on finalizing a long-term deal that will keep the 2019 All-Pro return specialist in New Orleans for multiple years. New Orleans needs help at wide receiver, and Harty’s expanded role on offense would be an early step forward in the position’s progress. For the Saints, keeping that progression beyond a one-year tender should be of high priority.

What would a multiyear deal for Harty look like? Likely backloaded as most contracts are at this point with the Saints. Spotrac has Harty’s yearly contract value estimated at $9.8 million, well above the $3.9 million tender he was given on Monday.

If the Saints were to go that far, a possible multiyear deal could look like a two-year, $19.6 million deal or a three-year, $29.4 million deal. Because New Orleans has some leverage in this situation with the RFA tender, they could look to aim a little lower in average per-year salary. A two-year or three-year deal bringing in $6 to $8 million per year like Cedric Wilson’s reported agreement with the Dolphins, but with loftier guarantees could be the way to go.

Back in 2020, the Saints tendered Taysom Hill’s RFA contact, and worked out a two-year, $21 million deal that included $16 million in guarantees. New Orleans could look to load up a high-percentage guarantee for Harty as well. During this free agency period, wide receiver contracts have been hefty so far, and New Orleans having some leverage in this situation should help them out.

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NFL won’t recognize Deonte Harris’ name change until after 2021 season

NFL won’t recognize Deonte Harris’ name change until after 2021 season

Well that’s frustrating. All-Pro New Orleans Saints returns specialist Deonte Harris changed his legal name to Deonte Harty in respect to his stepfather on Christmas Day last week, but that won’t be reflected on his jersey — NFL rules stipulate that a player’s name and number are fixed after the season starts. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported the news. He’s still identified as Deonte Harris on the Saints’ official online roster, and the wide receiver continues to use his old name on Twitter and Instagram. We’ll still be using it here at Saints Wire, too, to avoid confusion.

It’s a disappointing move by the NFL, if not unexpected. The No Fun League’s officiating crews aren’t any good at managing games as it is, so allowing players to complete a beautiful gesture to their family near season’s end would just overcomplicate things for the referees. How could they be expected to keep up if the name, not the number, changed on a player’s jersey in the season’s closing weeks?

All jokes aside, this does track with the NFL’s anti-individualist stance in limiting how players may represent themselves and their families during games. There are restrictions on everything from personalized eye black tape to embroidered towels and messages written on undershirts. Players even get fined for not wearing their socks high enough. The NFL puts a lot of value in how players dress and look when the cameras are on them, and the league office is unfortunately eager to punish anyone who steps out of line — or tries to change his name plate at the wrong time.

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Deonte Harris ends suspension, but remains on the COVID list

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris finished serving his three-game NFL suspension, but remains on the COVID-19 reserve list:

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris finished serving his three-game NFL suspension, but remains on the COVID-19 reserve list after being placed there on Dec. 26. He’ll be eligible to return, if asymptomatic, on Dec. 31. He’s got a good chance at playing in Week 17’s game with the Carolina Panthers.

It would be huge to get Harris back in the lineup (one quick note: Harris legally changed his name to Deonte Harty in respect to his stepfather, which we’ll begin using here on Saints Wire once it’s reflected on the team’s official roster online). He’s averaged the highest receiving yards per game (47.5) of everyone on the team and would be a great shot in the arm for their last two games.

Hopefully he’s able to clear protocol and get back in the lineup. There’s a lot on the line for the Saints these last two weeks, and they’ll need every playmaker they can get to help them go the distance.

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Saints lose Kwon Alexander, several practice squad players to COVID protocol

The Saints are up to 21 players on the COVID-19 reserve list, with Kwon Alexander the sixth starter out for Monday night’s Dolphins game:

Positive COVID-19 tests haven’t slowed down for the New Orleans Saints over the holiday weekend, with five more players sidelined ahead of Monday night’s kickoff with the Miami Dolphins. And the list now includes another starter: linebacker Kwon Alexander, along with three teammates on the practice squad and wide receiver Deonte Harris (who is serving the final week of his NFL suspension and recently changed his name to Deonte Harty).

The Times-Picayune|Advocate’s Jeff Duncan first reported that Alexander tested positive and will enter COVID protocol, knocking him out of the Dolphins game. These losses take the Saints down to just 36 players on the 53-man roster and 13 on the 16-strong practice squad, with three others questionable to play due to injuries (left tackle Terron Armstead, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith).

That means they may have to call up everyone on the practice squad just to dress a 48-man gameday roster. It’s not impossible that some players could be activated in time for the Dolphins game, but it’s very unlikely.

Here is the full list of all 21 Saints players currently on the COVID list, and when they were added to it:

Deonte Harris changes his legal name to honor his stepfather

All-Pro Saints return man Deonte Harris changes his legal name to honor his stepfather

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CX6hl-WFdVe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

New Orleans Saints All-Pro returns specialist Deonte Harris gave his stepfather a great Christmas gift on Saturday, announcing from his official Instagram account that he has legally changed his name to Deonte Harty. A sergeant in the Baltimore Police Department, Marlon Harty has been in Deonte’s life since he was 7 years old. Now he’s making a permanent move to honor someone who’s had a profound impact on him.

It’s really cool to see Harty sharing this special moment with his family. He’s had a difficult year, struggling with deaths in the family and his battle with depression, and bottoming out in an offseason DUI charge. He’s serving the final week of an NFL suspension for that arrest now and will rejoin the Saints for their final two regular season games.

And Harty is determined to come out the other side of this stronger. Changing his surname to tighten those familial bonds and illustrate a new direction to take his life is commendable. Saints fans should keep an eye out for No. 11 in next week’s home game with the Carolina Panthers — and be sure to call him Harty from now on, not Harris.

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Saints waive Kenny Stills, sign Kevin White to practice squad

Saints waive Kenny Stills, sign Kevin White to practice squad

It was obvious changes needed to happen in the New Orleans Saints receiving corps, and the first big move was the departure of Kenny Stills. The Saints waived the veteran wideout on Tuesday after a series of bad games; if this is for Stills in 2022, he’ll end up with 5 catches on 22 targets, having struggled to establish a connection with any of the three different quarterbacks to target him at various points this season.

Additionally, the Saints brought back Kevin White to their practice squad. White was previously waived after experiencing similar issues, and he’s totaled 1 reception on 5 targets this season. There’s little reason to think he’ll improve on Stills’ performance, but the Saints are almost out of options.

With Deonte Harris (the team’s leading receiver) out for the next three games following an NFL suspension, it’s going to fall to Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Ty Montgomery, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey to carry the load. White is also joined on the practice squad by Kawaan Baker, Easop Winston Jr., and Malcolm Perry.

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Deonte Harris loses appeal, receives 3-game suspension for offseason DUI arrest

Deonte Harris loses appeal, receives 3-game suspension for offseason DUI arrest

This news was expected, but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Deonte Harris lost his appeal against a three-game suspension from the NFL office and will be sidelined for the rest of December. He can return for Week 17’s home game with the Carolina Panthers and the Week 18 regular season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

So that means the Saints will be without their leading receiver for upcoming contests versus the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (on the road) as well as a prime-time matchup with the visiting Miami Dolphins. Harris has paced the team with 523 receiving yards in 11 games; the next-closest player is wideout Marquez Callaway (with 409). Alvin Kamara (310), Tre’Quan Smith (251), and Adam Trautman (241) are the only other pass-catchers with more than 200 receiving yards on the season, and Trautman is on injured reserve while Kamara has missed a month with a knee injury.

While Harris hasn’t been a consistent nuisance to opposing defenses, averaging just 2.8 receptions per game, he has has been the Saints’ best big-play threat with 21 first down conversions and five catches of 20-plus yards (both top numbers on the team). It’ll be tough to replace his speed on offense as well as his aggressive return skills on special teams. But everyone knew this was coming, and the Saints must have a plan for replacing Harris during this three-game absence.

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Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 13 vs. Cowboys

Best and worst Saints PFF player grades from Week 13 vs. Cowboys

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The New Orleans Saints kept it close with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night thanks to big performances from Kwon Alexander and Marshon Lattimore, who were both rated highly in the postgame grading from Pro Football Focus. Here are the best and worst game grades from PFF: