Bryan Bresee has already exceeded his sack total from his rookie season. What changed from Year 1 to Year 2? He credits his teammates:
Bryan Bresee has surpassed his sack total from his rookie year, and he has a chance to lead all defensive tackles in sacks this season. Dexter Lawrence leads the league with 9 sacks at the position but is on injured reserve. The New Orleans Saints won’t have to face him when they play the New York Giants this week.
When the New Orleans Saints drafted Bresee in the first round, explosiveness was one of his featured traits. That quickly translated to his ability to get after the quarterback in the NFL.
What has contributed to the bump from 4.5 sacks a year ago to 6.5 sacks with five games remaining this season?
Bresee said how sacks are a team stat: “I think a lot of people look at sacks as a single person stat, but at the same time you have to look at the defensive backs covering. You have to look at the other defensive linemen you’re running games with. There’s a lot that goes into sacks.”
On an individual level, the improvement came from a better grasp of the game. Bresee continued, “Being able to understand what I’m going against every week, who I’m going against, what I think is going to work on them and being able to develop plans.”
It wasn’t immediate, but Bresee has began to piece together what he needs to craft a more intentional pass rush plan. It’s resulted in a more productive sophomore season.
Which games caused Drew Brees to lose the most sleep? He says prime-time divisional rematches were his toughest challenges in the NFL:
Which games gave Drew Brees the most trouble in his storied NFL career? The former New Orleans Saints quarterback and future Pro Football Hall of Famer shared his take on the toughest challenges he and his teammates had to overcome during a Wednesday appearance on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd.
Brees said it was those divisional matchups on a short week, played under the bright lights in prime time, that lost him the most sleep. He emphasizes greatly with what players on both the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers are going through ahead of Thursday night’s kickoff.
“These games were more difficult,” Brees reflected. “These games were more difficult just because of the level of familiarity between divisional opponents. And especially when it’s divisional opponents that are the caliber that Green Bay and Detroit are, the caliber of quarterback, the caliber of team, the caliber of coach. Because there is so much familiarity that going into the game you were constantly thinking about, ‘Well man, they know us really well. They know all these tendencies. So they know that I know that we know that they know,’ you go through that whole exercise.”
Mind games were certainly part of it; in some cases Brees and the Saints played the same Atlanta Falcons team twice in three weeks, and that recency and familiarity made planning for a rematch a unique challenge. And in those situations, Brees said he and his teammates leaned on days of careful preparation to win the day.
Brees continued: “At the end of the day it comes down to, ‘We need to be so on point on our execution. This needs to be a flawless execution type of game.’ And that really became the emphasis in all these divisional games, especially the ones that were prime-time and the ones that have so much meaning given these guys’ status and fighting for a division title. So I found that these were the most difficult games given all the factors.”
Still, the results suggest Brees and his teammates rose to this challenge. Brees started in nine games against NFC South division rivals on Thursday nights with the Saints, winning six times. He went 5-2 against the Atlanta Falcons and 1-1 against the Carolina Panthers (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers never warranted a prime-time slot like this). You don’t achieve a Hall of Fame career without relishing a challenge, and there aren’t many tougher games in the NFL than those against familiar opponents on a short week.
Drew Brees says hiring a head coach from an offensive background isn’t necessary to cultivate a young quarterback, but the best passers have positive influences:
Drew Brees has seen a thing or two in his football life, and he shared his thoughts on what teams should look for when hiring a new head coach during a recent appearance on “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd. Specifically, the legendary former New Orleans Saints quarterback advocated for coaches with background working on the offensive side of the ball.
While Cowherd’s question focused on the Chicago Bears, who need a new coach to mentor and develop Caleb Williams, much of what Brees spoke about could soon apply to the Saints’ situation, too.
“Whether that’s an offensive head coach or that’s just someone who is really responsible for his growth and development, certainly you need that person,” Brees said. “And look that might be a veteran backup quarterback rather than relying on coach to be that person. At the end of the day what I think and every quarterback would tell you is that early in their career they needed someone to help them develop great habits, great discipline and great process.”
Derek Carr isn’t a youngster at quarterback, but he may not be long for New Orleans, either. The Saints haven’t drafted a quarterback in the first round since they picked Archie Manning way back in 1971, and that streak is going to end sooner or later. It might happen as soon as 2025 if their next head coach doesn’t plan on Carr running the offense.
And if that’s the case? It isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for the head coach to come from an offensive background in order for a rookie quarterback to develop quickly. Like Brees said, someone needs to be there as a positive influence, whether it’s an experienced backup or a talented position coach.
We don’t know who will be coaching the Saints or the Bears in 2025. But if Brees is onto something here, both teams should be taking a hard look at the environments they’re creating for their quarterbacks, especially if New Orleans turns the page in next April’s NFL draft.
Andy Reid, Donna Kelce, and more appear in Hallmark’s ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ | @EdEastonJr
This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to actors Hunter King and Tyler Hynes, stars of the new Hallmark movie ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.’
In their interview with Easton Jr., King and Hynes discussed filming with multiple current and former Chiefs players, Donna Kelce’s performance, and the movie’s potential superstitious impact on the Christmas Day matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“When we were shooting in the (Arrowhead) stadium, there was a moment where Clyde (Edwards-Helaire), George (Karlaftis), and Mecole (Hardman) were just running around, throwing the ball around, kind of doing what they do at a practice,“ Hynes explained. “I felt like a fanboy. I was watching it because that’s pretty cool. Yeah, I’m like ten feet away from this moment right now.”
Edwards-Helaire, Karlaftis, Hardman, and head coach Andy Reid were a few of the current Chiefs featured in the film, allowing the actors to try on their Super Bowl rings.
“Yeah, that was cool. Also, when they came with all their rings on, they would let us try on their rings,“ King responded. “They’re just huge, and you’re like, trying to close your fingers.“
“You can’t do anything with your hand when you have it (ring) on,“ Hynes joked. “It’s really impractical these rings.”
“They were all so lovely, kind, and professional. “said King. “They seemed excited to be there, and we were very excited to have them there.”
Another notable appearance in the film features Donna Kelce as a character who offers advice to the budding couple in the movie.
“Queen Kelce, yeah, she’s amazing,“ said King. “She plays such a great character, and she played her character spot on.”
“Everybody keeps going. I’m so surprised she did such a good job acting,“ Hynes said. “I was like, Are you surprised? She’s cool as a cucumber, traveling the world and doing so much. What she’s done in the last few years is more than I’ll probably do in my life.”
The Chiefs will be traveling on Christmas Day this season to play the Pittsburgh Steelers, looking to erase the bad taste last year’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders left. The movie’s two leads believe their film could serve as good luck for them moving forward.
“Yeah, it could be the Hail Mary,” said King playfully, referring to the famous football play and holiday season.
“It’s the sole reason why they’ll win. We’ll take full credit at Hallmark,“ said Hynes. “We take credit for the fact that they’ll win on they will win. And I will be wearing our lucky hat. They’ll have the Christmas Spirit in them.”
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story Premieres Saturday, November 30, 8/7c on the Hallmark Channel.
Stars of Hallmark’s ‘Holiday Touchdown: A #Chiefs Love Story’ reveal Kansas City’s influence on new movie w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to actors Hunter King and Tyler Hynes, who are the stars of a new Hallmark movie called ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.’
In their interview with Easton Jr., King and Hynes explained the romantic story that the movie tells and talked about the inspiration they gained from the franchise and Chiefs Kingdom while developing their on-screen characters.
“I play Alana, and her family—they are the biggest Chiefs fans,” King said of her character. “They’ve had season tickets for multiple generations. It’s how her whole family met and began in the first place, and she wants to help them win the Fan of the Year award. Derrick is the Director of Fan Engagement for the Chiefs, and he’s new to the Chiefs, a little new to football, but definitely new to the Chiefs, and they meet, and they butt heads a little bit because Alana is not happy that this man who is new to the Chiefs is in charge of picking the Chiefs Fan of the Year.”
Alana, played by King, values a particular item from her family that they believe affects the outcome of Chiefs games. The holiday accessory is her grandfather’s vintage Chiefs good-luck winter hat, which shockingly goes missing during the contest.
“So at first, they butt heads,” King explained, “and then with a little bit of a push and shove from her family, they help her recognize the spark that exists between the two of them that she’s been trying to ignore. They have a really sweet journey, and he helps her discover more things about herself, and she teaches him about the Chiefs and football and what it means to have tradition and superstition. We are excited for people to see it.”
Her co-star Hynes plays the aforementioned Derrick, who works in the Chiefs’ front office and is charged with judging the fan contest before meeting Alana and her family. The veteran actor described his process of researching the role and history with the Chiefs front office.
“The staff at the Chiefs, I had met a lot because I had done a promo with the Chiefs a year prior for the postseason, and that started my relationship with them,” Hynes said of his familiarity with the team. “So, I already knew some of the staff, and I had met more and were making the movie. I always tell them it’s a biopic about their story. Because this is a peek behind the curtain of their lives.
“We’re in a conference room in one of the scenes in the movie. In that same conference room where we shot, they decided to do both the promo and the movie, and they had all those meetings. We were in their world, and I was playing them in this movie. I’m sure they’ll all be disappointed.”
Assisting in her research for the role of Alana, King embraced the fans of Chiefs Kingdom, drawing inspiration to pour into her character’s dedication and love for the team.
“Everybody could not have been more welcoming to us when we came to Kansas City,” said King. “They welcomed us with open arms. Everybody was asking are you a Chiefs fan?What do you need to know about the Chiefs? Like very much they wore their Chiefs gear every day. I’ve never seen a city like Kansas City where it feels like a Hallmark movie when you step out of the airport and, like everyone at all times, are in Chiefs gear.
“It’s incredible. I love watching football; I have loved watching football since I was a kid. So, I definitely had respect for the Chiefs before filming this movie, and now, after filming this movie, I have a deep love and understanding of Chiefs Kingdom.”
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story Premieres Saturday, November 30, 8/7c on the Hallmark Channel.
Tyrann Mathieu is still playing good football, but he has had internal conversations on what he wants to do when he hangs it up:
Tyrann Mathieu has been the New Orleans Saints’ best veteran on defense this year. He is the leader in turnovers on the team. Despite playing at a high level, he’s still looking towards life after football.
This future is still some years away, but Mathieu admits he does think about coaching. Those internal conversations have gone as far as whether or not he would coach on the professional or collegiate level.
In the past, Mathieu has expressed the desire to coach at his alma mater, LSU. The safety’s leadership has been one of his most heralded attributes as a player, so a transition to coaching makes sense.
In his playing career, Mathieu feel he has “accomplished everything that I’ve individually set out to accomplish.” Now he’s taking it year by year and enjoying himself.
It feels like the ability to come in and play for the Saints is just the cherry on top of what has been a great career. He returned to his hometown in 2021, and that have been the last box for him to check.
Mathieu has relished in “coming back home, being able to be in the the community, being able to play high level football and be productive on the field.”
#Chiefs players didn’t seem overly enthusiastic about Kansas City’s Week 12 win over the Carolina #Panthers.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room celebration wasn’t particularly rousing after their narrow victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 12.
Local media traveled with the Chiefs to cover the game, and they got some interviews with players after the win that revealed the muted discontent about Kansas City’s three-point victory over the lowly Panthers.
The overall message from Chiefs players was that winning is always ideal, but that the team has multiple areas to improve in the coming weeks, and everyone feels that they need to play better.
Reporter Harold R. Kuntz of WDAF FOX 4 shared this footage of multiple player interviews from the Bank of America Stadium locker room on his Twitter account.
Listen to what they had to say after the game:
A sampling of the #Chiefs Locker Room after defeating the Panthers earlier today.
"We just keep finding ways to win and that's bringing us together." "It was a sloppy win, but a win is a win in this game." "We did good in the Red Zone, but we got to do better." pic.twitter.com/1S6yHiA4Sf
While Kansas City remains the dominant franchise in the AFC as the regular season approaches its final weeks, now is not the moment for the Chiefs to rest on their laurels and cheer for their wins.
Hopefully, the focused mood in the locker room Sunday night translates into a fiery performance when Kansas City takes on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13 on Black Friday.
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Steve Walsh shared his take on what he feels Taysom Hill brings to the table, and why Hill is ultimately one of a kind:
Taysom Hill has been on an absolute tear as of late, reaching multiple milestones as he’s been a pivotal part of the New Orleans Saints snapping a seven-game losing streak and replacing it with a two-game winning streak.
He’s a jack-of-all-trades that has never fully been able to be replicated, despite several NFL teams’ desperate efforts to do so. At the same time, it’s often said that a player like Hill is not to be invested in as a pure quarterback for the long-term.
That experiment has also been tried and failed as a part of a trend that ultimately faded away. Former Saints quarterback Steve Walsh is among those who shares that line of thinking.
“A guy like Taysom Hill is not going to last. You’re not going to invest 40 million dollars in a guy and let him run QB power, because those 10 million-dollar linebackers know how to hit you, and they know how to hurt you,” Walsh told me an interview for RG.org. “So you’re just not going to survive.”
A player like Hill is also, from a dollars and cents perspective, not going to be smart to go all in on for NFL teams.
“The economics don’t make sense in that type of quarterback. Now, is that somebody you like as your backup or your number three guy that can give you a change of pace?” Walsh continued. “Cam Newton played best when he was running QB power because that’s just how he played. But, he wasn’t going to be able to do that for an extended period of time; like a 15-year career.”
Quarterback or not, there is no denying the wave of success Hill has recently experienced.
Hill tallied 138 rushing yards on seven carries and 50 receiving yards from eight catches injury the Saints’ 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns.
That wasn’t all he did to earn him the title of FedEx Air and Ground player of the week, though, either.
He also threw a pass for 18 yards and got some special teams action with 42 yards on a kick return. Very few players can put together a three-way performance quite like that.
How he and the Saints continue to build upon the new era they seem to have begun will be something to keep an eye on in a season that could ultimately be much more interesting that it looked like it would be just weeks ago.
Robert Covington came into the league at the perfect time. The demand for the skillset of three-and-D players was at a premium and Covington quickly realized that and seized his opportunity. Having spent over a decade as a key rotation piece in most …
Robert Covington came into the league at the perfect time. The demand for the skillset of three-and-D players was at a premium and Covington quickly realized that and seized his opportunity.
Having spent over a decade as a key rotation piece in most of the teams he played on, Covington feels he still has plenty more in the tank to give to the game.
RoCo was selected to represent Team USA at the 2024 AmeriCup Qualifiers and helped notch USA their first win over Puerto Rico recently. After a recent practice on the team bus, he spoke to HoopsHype about his journey from an undrafted player to 1st Team All-Defense, his frustration with not being on a team roster, his time with the Clippers, and much more.
Sony Michel reflects on pressures of playing with Tom Brady during his Patriots tenure w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former New England Patriots running back Sony Michel, who played with the team from 2018 to 2020, winning a Super Bowl during his rookie season.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Michel—who recently teamed up with Kingsford to host the ‘Kingsford College Football Tailgate Tour’ at the recent Georgia vs. Tennessee SEC matchup in Athens, Georgia—explained the partnership and reflected on playing with Tom Brady while starting his career in New England.
“I haven’t used many other products, but Kingsford makes it so much easier. There is no other product that I would want to try because this is so simple; if it’s not broken, you don’t fix it,” said Michel. “It’s one of the terminologies we use. Kingsford seems to be my style, and I love it in the smooth; you talk about preparation, and it’s super simple. You get the grill started. It’s an easy way to start it up on the I use kind of the chimney smoker to get it going.”
Michel had the unique opportunity of playing immediately as a rookie alongside arguably the most accomplished quarterback in league history. He reflected on his time with Brady and adjusted to his playing style throughout the pressures of his final run in New England.
“100%. It’s definitely pressure; you’re playing with one of the best quarterbacks ever to play this game; you want to be on point,” Michel explained. “You want to be perfect. You want to be able to affect the game, if not just as much as he did. He brought that form of leadership that raised your level of play. So it was a little uncomfortable at first until I embraced it, and I think that’s when I was able to really catch my stride and really enjoy it.”
