Tag: Fans

“I know (the NBA is) gonna investigate, …

“I know (the NBA is) gonna investigate, and I’m gonna tell them the same thing,” Thomas said. “So, if you’re for the players, you’re gonna back me, because I didn’t do anything disrespectful. I just needed to look him in the eye and let him know, you’re never gonna disrespect me. I’m not stupid. I’m not gonna go in those stands and beat nobody up. I was raised better than that. That’s a word we don’t use where I come from.”

Michael Thomas, multiple Saints lead positions in Pro Bowl voting

New Orleans Saints star Michael Thomas was joined by Vonn Bell, Marcus Williams, Wil Lutz, and Deonte Harris in 2020 Pro Bowl fan voting.

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The NFL has closed fan voting for the 2020 Pro Bowl, and multiple New Orleans Saints players led their positions in votes earned in the NFC. They include:

  • Michael Thomas, wide receiver. 371,365 votes
  • Vonn Bell, strong safety. 98,449 votes
  • Marcus Williams, free safety. 93,593 votes
  • Wil Lutz, kicker. 106,747 votes.
  • Deonte Harris, returns specialist. 84,085 votes.

Thomas and Lutz are not shocking selections — if anything, it would be insulting to see them overlooked by fans. But it’s a bit of a surprise to see Bell and Williams make the cut, given the reputation the Saints defense still has as a leaky unit despite its recent successes (and Williams’ ugly errors under the spotlight). The inclusion of Harris, a rookie out of a small school who’s turned into a huge asset for the Saints, is terrific to see.

However, being featured on this list doesn’t guarantee a spot on the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Ballots from players and coaches are each being submitted, and they’ll count for two-thirds of the total tally against the fan vote. It’s likely many Saints players still make the cut, but it probably won’t be all five of the names ranked highly by fans. Other Saints could make it in as alternates, though everyone would rather they all be preparing for the Super Bowl instead.

The NFL will announce the official Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday, so keep an eye out for that reveal. Here’s the full position-by-position breakdown:

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Sean Payton reminds Saints fans to show out, get loud for early 49ers game

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton values his homefield advantage, and wants fans ready for an early kickoff with the San Francisco 49ers.

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New Orleans saints head coach Sean Payton appreciates the impact his home crowd can make inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and he’s doing all he can to inspire their support again this week. And it isn’t the first time he’s gone out of his way to compliment — and challenge — the rowdy Who Dat Nation; back in October, Payton suggested fans would wake up easier with help from a Bloody Mary cocktail on their way to a noon kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals. He’s driving that point home again ahead of Sunday’s game with the San Francisco 49ers.

“We think about a lot of things, we think about everything, is it going to be loud, can we be louder?” Payton said during his Thursday media availability before Saints practice. “It’s going to be a noon game. Does the crowd realize how much of an impact they can have. Do they truly realize that?”

However, the visiting team isn’t quite so mindful of the crowd. 49ers running back Raheem Mostert has been impressed by how well fans have traveled this season for road games with teams lacking homefield support, like the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams. He’s said he expects Sunday’s game in the Superdome to feel like a neutral site game.

We’ll see how that works out for him. If Payton gets his way and Saints fans turn out in droves even with a midday kickoff, there shouldn’t be any doubt by the time the final whistle calls.

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San Francisco’s Raheem Mostert expects 49ers fans to pack ‘the Voodoo Dome’

The New Orleans Saints won’t enjoy a homefield advantage when the San Francisco 49ers visit the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, one player insists.

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The New Orleans Saints will not enjoy a strong homefield advantage when the San Francisco 49ers visit the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for Sunday’s game, some players think. Or at least that’s what 49ers running back Raheem Mostert believes. He doesn’t expect his experience in New Orleans to go much differently from what he’s seen in other venues around the NFL this year.

“I have not played a game in the Voodoo Dome,” Mostert joked during an appearance on 97.9 The Game in San Francisco, “and I have heard multiple stories about how crazy the fans are in there, and the atmosphere, and all that. How I see it is it’s going to be a neutral site because I know our fans are going to show up because every game we’ve gone to, so far, has really felt like a home game, especially for these away games.”

In his defense, Mostert and the 49ers haven’t packed out stadiums that boast the NFL’s most fervent fanbases: they’ve played road games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, and Baltimore Ravens. Those aren’t franchises boasting years-long waiting lists for season tickets, and in some cases (like Cincinnati, Washington, and L.A.) are teams struggling to even lure out home fans due to various states of disappointment, instability, and indifference.

But Mostert doesn’t see much of a difference, though he is eager to see what all the fuss is about from his more-experienced teammates: “Even in Baltimore, we had a lot of fans cheering for us. We’re going to see how it goes this week when we play the Saints, but, like I said, it’s going to be a nice atmosphere, and I heard nothing but great, crazy things about it.”

Mostert is one part of the three-headed rushing attack coordinated by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, and he’s turned 92 carries into 539 rushing yards this season; teammates Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman have each been effective with 542 and 454 yards on the ground, respectively.

They’ll be the toughest test yet for a Saints run defense that has snuffed out every opponent they’ve faced the last few years, including then-MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey not too long ago. New Orleans has established the longest streak of games without allowing a 100-yard rusher in the NFL (38, including the playoffs). We’re about to find out what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

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This wasn’t apathetic Atlanta anymore. …

This wasn’t apathetic Atlanta anymore. These were the passionate plains. The Thunder fans were still reeling from Durant choosing to leave Oklahoma City in 2016 to sign with Golden State as a free agent. Eventually, Schröder made the decision to switch to the Kyrie Low 2 to start this season. “I had to switch something because you know … the KDs … people don’t want to see them in here,” Schröder said. “I was like ‘OK, let me go back to Kyries.’ “It’s better now. I don’t have to hear nothing from the crowd like ‘Why do you have these VIs on, the KDs,’ so I was like ‘OK, let me fix it.’”

“Even Russ was giving me shit sometimes …

“Even Russ was giving me shit sometimes like ‘Why you wearing these?’” Schröder said of Russell Westbrook, his former Thunder teammate. “I used to wear them growing up, so I felt comfortable playing in them. I had PGs on some and tried to switch them, but last year I had KDs on a lot. “People were like ‘Why you gotta wear KDs?’ I was like ‘Bro, it’s just a shoe.’”

2020 Pro Bowl fan voting: 5 Saints players lead the NFC at their positions

Five New Orleans Saints players lead the 2020 Pro Bowl in voting at their positions for the NFC, including longtime punter Thomas Morstead.

Voting for the 2020 Pro Bowl is in full swing, and the New Orleans Saints are proving to be a popular pick. The NFL announced Wednesday that only two teams have garnered more total votes (the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens), and five different Saints players lead their position in fan votes for the NFC. Here is who is paving the way for New Orleans:

  • Wide receiver Michael Thomas (206,882)
  • Free safety Marcus Williams (40,403)
  • Kicker Wil Lutz (43,425)
  • Punter Thomas Morstead (37,038)
  • Kick returner Deonte Harris (35,310)

On top of that, Thomas is leading the league at wide receiver in Pro Bowl votes earned, with a healthy lead on Houston Texans star DeAndre Hopkins (162,584). The days of Thomas being overlooked and underrated on the national stage are behind us: he’s being recognized as the all-world talent Saints fans have known him to be.

It’s impressive to see three Saints special teams aces being so highly considered, including both kicking specialists and Harris, the rookie returner. Morstead is playing the best football of his long Saints career, and he’s rightfully being praised by fans around the country. You love to see it.

Remember, the Pro Bowl has reverted back to its original format with team representing the AFC and the NFC; they’re no longer using the pick-em format to build teams in the days before the game. So, for now, at least five Saints players are on the NFC Pro Bowl roster — though players and coaches  have not yet cast their own ballots.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Saints players by accessing the official Pro Bowl ballot at this link.

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Terron Armstead frustrated by injury, but thankful for support

New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead is still in search of his first 16-game NFL season after suffering a high-ankle sprain.

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The New Orleans Saints are going to be without starting left tackle Terron Armstead the next few weeks, including Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Armstead suffered a high-ankle sprain early in Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers, and he expressed disappointment in his latest injury on social media. But he was just as quick to thank fans for their continued support, and assure them that he’s working to return as soon as possible.

“Thank you to everyone for the prayers and positivity,” Armstread wrote, “16 games was a goal of mine, so man it really hurts not being able to do that.” He made sure to note that this injury is not ending his 2019 season, and he expects to return sooner rather than later.

It continues a disappointing trend for Armstead, who has never played a full 16-game season in his seven-year tenure with the Saints. He peaked with 14 games back in the 2014 season, his first as a full-time starter, but complicated hip and quad muscle injuries kept him on and off the field and eventually sent him traveling internationally in search of treatment. He’s averaged 10.8 game appearances per season since being named a starter, a stretch that covers 25 of New Orleans’ last 36 games (including the playoffs).

Armstead has dealt with a string of issues throughout his career, ranging from lingering lower-leg ailments to last year’s torn pectoral muscle. His rare athleticism for the position is startlingly unique (his 4.71-second 40-yard dash at 306 pounds remains an NFL combine record) but that agility comes with a cost: the human body isn’t built to move at such speeds at that size, and can break under the stress of it. Hopefully he won’t suffer life-changing effects once his playing days are over.

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