Tag: Jersey

What jersey number is Emmanuel Sanders going to wear with the Saints?

Each of the jersey numbers that wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders has worn in college and the NFL have been claimed by his Saints teammates.

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Forget everything else that will factor in to whether Emmanuel Sanders will succeed as a member of the New Orleans Saints. It doesn’t really matter that he’s upgrading from the likes of Joe Flacco and Case Keenum at quarterback to Drew Brees, the most-accurate passer of all time. It’s not like having Michael Thomas, Jared Cook, and Alvin Kamara on the field at the same time will create favorable looks in coverage. The fact of the matter is that Sanders must choose a great jersey number if he’s going to thrive with his new team. Everyone knows this.

Jokes aside: the two-time Pro Bowler figures to be a big part of the offense this year, and his charismatic persona should endear him to fans right away. We should see more than a few Sanders jerseys inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and around Champions Square this season. With the Saints front office quieting down a bit on the free agency front since agreeing to terms with Sanders on a two-year contract, we can take a few minutes to ponder which number he’ll be wearing in the fall.

Sanders has worn three numbers in the NFL: No. 10, No. 17 (which he also chose in college at SMU), and No. 88. Each of those numbers are currently designated for a player under contract for 2020, with wide receivers Tre’Quan Smith in No. 10 and Emmanuel Butler in No. 17; defensive lineman Mitchell Loewen converted to tight end last season and chose No. 88 (ironically because No. 89, his college number, belonged to tight end Josh Hill), though Loewen is still listed as No. 70 on the Saints website.

NFL rules stipulate that wide receivers may wear numbers between Nos. 10 and 19 as well as Nos. 80 through 89. Veteran players often work out deals with new teammates who own the number they wish to wear, but those agreements don’t always come to fruition. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Chris Godwin are figuring this out now, as luck would have it. But let’s assume none of those three Saints players agree to let Sanders have their number. What are his options?

Per the official Saints roster, Sanders is eligible for Nos. 12, 18, 19, 82, and 83. Of that bunch, No. 18 would make the most sense because it’s an amalgamation of two that he’s worn in the past (Nos. 10 and 88), and is close to his usual preference (No. 17). But he can certainly try to convince one of his new teammates to swap out.

As for other Saints free agent pickups:

  • Safety Malcolm Jenkins has not chosen a number yet, but he wore No. 27 in his first five years in New Orleans and it’s available after being last worn by running back Dwayne Washington (currently an unrestricted free agent).
  • Fullback Michael Burton wore No. 46 last summer with the Saints and immediately chose it again, which is a power move that you love to see.
  • Wide receiver Tommylee Lewis quietly returned to the Saints on a reserve/future contract earlier this offseason and will wear No. 15, with his previous choices of Nos. 11 and 87 taken by returns specialist Deonte Harris and tight end Jared Cook, respectively.

That about wraps it up. One storyline to keep an eye out for is whether free safety Marcus Williams will switch back to No. 20, which he wore in college. It was unavailable when the Saints drafted him (thanks to cornerback Ken Crawley) and is currently worn by cornerback Janoris Jenkins, but maybe “Jackrabbit” would be willing to cut a deal with his rising-star teammate. Both players are entering the final years of their contracts, for what it’s worth, and maybe use the extra boost to their mojo that comes with a switch.

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Saints announce Week 17 uniform combination vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints will pair white away jerseys with white pants again in the 2019 season, next in Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers

The New Orleans Saints will again pair white jerseys with white pants, the team announced on its official Twitter account. This is the fifth time the Saints have used this uniform combination this season, eschewing the gold pants that were used regularly in past years. Including their “Color Rush” alternate uniforms, the Saints will have worn black or white pants in every regular season game in 2019.

New Orleans recently broke out the all-white uniforms for their Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium, and they’ll be carried over for Week 17 with the Carolina Panthers. Like the other road venues the Saints have played at in these white pants, the Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium features a natural grass field (Voyager Bermuda grass, to be exact; it is the only NFL stadium to use that variety), which means nightmarish grass stains for the Saints equipment staff to deal with.

The Saints have held their own this year against a series of opponents including Tifway 419 Bermuda grass (Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium), Kentucky Bluegrass (Chicago Bears at Soldier Field), and TifSport Hybrid Bermudagrass (Titans at Nissan StadiuM), but keep the equipment staff in your thoughts in this difficult time.

Superstitious fans should be happy: though the Saints have only worn this combination four times previously since Sean Payton was hired to coach the team (all in 2019), they have yet to lose a game in white-on-white. We’ve ranked every uniform combination used by the Saints since 2006, ordered by winning percentage (don’t forget the alternate gold jerseys worn during a 2002 loss to the Minnesota Vikings):

  • White jerseys, white pants: 4-0 (1.000)
  • “Color Rush” alternates: 6-2 (.750)
  • Black and gold throwbacks: 2-1 (.667)
  • Black jerseys, gold pants: 23-13 (.639)
  • White jerseys, black pants: 38-25 (.603)
  • Black jerseys, black pants: 41-27 (.603)
  • White jerseys, gold pants: 31-24 (.564)

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LeBron James and NBA Twitter are demanding the league bring Christmas jerseys back

Do better, Nike.

The NBA on Christmas day is tradition in the sports world at this point. Part of that tradition, once upon a time, was the Christmas day jerseys players would wear — something the NBA started in 2012.

Since 2017, they’ve been gone. Once again, the NBA doesn’t have a special Christmas day jersey for the teams playing in their marquee matchups.

The Christmas jerseys were part of an initiative from Adidas when they were still the NBA’s official jersey retailer. The partnership between the two sides dissolved in 2017 and Nike took over. After that, Christmas day jerseys were done.

Now people want them back. Basketball Twitter went off today when they realized the league wasn’t trotting out new Christmas jerseys for the third year in a row.

And it’s not just the common folk of basketball Twitter that want these back. It’s also LeBron James — you know, just Nike’s most high profile athlete.

That’s….not a good look.

It’s not surprising that people are reacting this way. As corny as the jerseys were at times — and, trust me, they were — they still became a major part of the NBA’s Christmas day presentation.

They weren’t just simple jerseys. They were a signal that this was the NBA’s day.  Christmas has always been the day that America tunes in to watch basketball and basketball alone. The league’s job is to give them something to remember. A normal jersey doesn’t do that.

And it’s not like this is something Nike isn’t aware of. There’s really no excuse. They make enough jerseys between the league’s home, away and city edition gear.

If they can do all that, creating a Christmas day theme should theoretically be a breeze. The Christmas day jerseys weren’t always loved, but the effort was always appreciated — even when we made fun of them sometimes as a basketball viewing public.

People remember those sleeved, all-red Heat jerseys from 2013 or all the jerseys with the player’s first in 2014 for better or worse. Either way, they were part of a moment.

Giannis Antetokounmpo in a normal Bucks jersey is cool, or whatever, but it isn’t special. Hopefully, next year, they finally give us something that is.

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First look at new Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins in black and gold

Ex-New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins announced on Instagram that he is wearing No. 20 with his new team, the New Orleans Saints.

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The New Orleans Saints made a splash this week by claiming ex-New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins on waivers, bringing a big boost to their secondary. Jenkins is by far the most-experienced player in that group, though his gambling style of play brings as many highs (his four interceptions are more than all other Saints cornerbacks combined) as lows (his six penalties trail only Eli Apple, who has been flagged eight times).

Jenkins practiced for the first time with his new team on Wednesday, which is significant beyond the first photo he’s shared while wearing black and gold (he’s taken Ken Crawley’s old No. 20 jersey, which free safety Marcus Williams apparently opted not to switch back to after wearing it in college when given the chance). His Instagram post from the Saints locker room is embedded below.

What’s important here is that Jenkins was not listed on the Saints injury report for Wednesday’s walkthrough practice session, which means the ankle injury that ended his year with the Giants is behind him. New York would have designated him to the injured reserve had he cleared waivers; instead, the Saints picked him up, and he was evidently healthy enough to participate in practice. We’ll know more as daily updates to the injury report are released, but it sure seems as if he’s on track to compete for a starting job.

View this post on Instagram

Who Dat⚜️.. #AllBall

A post shared by Janoris Jenkins (@clampz2.0) on

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Broncos will wear Color Rush uniforms against Lions in Week 16

The Broncos will wear their all-orange Color Rush uniforms against the Lions this week.

The Denver Broncos (5-9) plan to wear alternate all-orange Color Rush uniforms when they host the Detroit Lions (3-10-1) at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 16 of the 2019 NFL season.

The league no longer has official Color Rush games — with both teams sporting bright colors — but teams are permitted to wear their Color Rush uniforms as alternates if they choose to. It’s unclear if Detroit plans to wear a Color Rush uniform or its standard away uniform on Sunday.

The Broncos previously wore alternate blue uniforms in a 16-0 win over the Tennessee Titans and in a 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this season. Denver has worn Color Rush uniforms once a season since 2016, posting a 2-1 record in those games.

The last time they wore Color Rush uniforms, the Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-17 during the 2018 season.

The Broncos will wear their standard orange jerseys with white pants when they host the Oakland Raiders to close out the season in Week 17.

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Saints announce uniform combination for Week 15 vs. Colts

The New Orleans Saints will wear black jerseys and black pants in their Week 15 game against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football

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The New Orleans Saints revealed the uniform combination they will wear during their Week 15 game on “Monday Night Football” against their Indianapolis Colts: black jerseys paired with black pants. The announcement was made in a post from the team’s official Twitter account, which included a brief video of running back Alvin Kamara celebrating a big play in EA Sports’ Madden NFL 20. You can find it where it’s embedded below, or by clicking this link.

It’s been a common look this season, with the Saints most recently using it in last week’s game with the San Francisco 49ers (and six times this season in total, going 4-2).

For curious fans: the black-on-Black combo look carries a solid win percentage in the modern era, going back in 2006. We’d be remiss to not mention the alternate gold jerseysused during a 2002 game against the Minnesota Vikings, which they lost 32-31. The gold jerseys haven’t been seen again.

Here is every uniform combination used by the Saints during the Sean Payton era, listed by winning percentage:

  • White jerseys, white pants: 3-0 (1.000)
  • “Color Rush” alternates: 6-2 (.750)
  • Black and gold throwbacks: 2-1 (.667)
  • Black jerseys, gold pants: 23-13 (.639)
  • White jerseys, black pants: 38-25 (.603)
  • Black jerseys, black pants: 40-27 (.597)
  • White jerseys, gold pants: 31-24 (.564)

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Drew Brees gifts signed jersey to rising pro tennis star Madison Keys

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees gifted a signed jersey to Women’s Tennis Association professional Madison Keys, a rising star in the sport.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is a month-and-some-change away from his 41st birthday, and the Hall of Fame-bound passer appears to have take an increased interest in what younger athletes are accomplishing, or about to — like the arrival of New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson, who received an autographed jersey as a housewarming gift from Brees. He’s offered his advice to Williamson as a mentor, and done the same for phenomenal Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

But Brees isn’t limiting his attention to basketball and football. Before committing himself to football, he famously competed against Andy Roddick when they were both in school together. The future men’s tennis world champion says that he initially won twice, but defeated Brees so soundly he hung up his racket and focused on football.

So it’s clear that Brees is still keeping up with the goings-on in a sport he once considered, and reached out to professional women’s tennis player Madison Keys. Keys recently won the 2019 Cincinnati Open in her first career Premier 5 title, putting her on the map as a potential heir to superstars Venus and Serena Williams in a few years.

Keys received a No. 1 jersey from the Saints that was signed by Brees, and she took the time to thank him in a video from the official Women’s Tennis Association Twitter account, expressing gratitude and excitement at displaying it in her home. Check it out in the video embedded below, or by following this link:

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Saints wearing Color Rush uniforms on Thanksgiving vs. Falcons

The New Orleans Saints will be wearing their Color Rush uniforms for their Thanksgiving night road game against the Atlanta Falcons.

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The NFL allows teams to wear alternate jerseys only three times per season, and the New Orleans Saints already used their Color Rush variants twice in Weeks 3 (on the road with the Seattle Seahawks) and 4 (at home against the Dallas Cowboys), winning both games. Now, they’ll be wearing the clean Color Rush duds for the third and final time of the 2019 season on Thanksgiving night versus the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced on social media.

It’s frustrating that New Orleans can’t use these stellar uniforms more often. Write the NFL’s New York office, your local members of Congress, or any other authority figures and petition them to promote the Color Rush specials to full-time use as the Saints’ away jersey-pants combination.

For their part, the Falcons are pairing their black throwback jerseys with white pants, which they announced earlier this year in their 2019 uniform schedule. Comparing that uniform against New Orleans’ Color Rush creates one seriously dynamic combination.

As for superstitious fans: here are the win/loss records for every uniform combination the Saints have used since Sean Payton was hired as head coach back in 2006. While this list is focused on that time frame, it’s worth remembering that the Saints also wore alternate gold jerseys during a 2002 game against the Minnesota Vikings, which they lost 32-31. Those jerseys haven’t been seen since.

  • White jerseys, white pants: 3-0 (1.000)
  • Color Rush alternates: 5-2 (.714)
  • Black and Gold throwbacks: 2-1 (.667)
  • Black jerseys, gold pants: 23-13 (.639)
  • Black jerseys, black pants: 40-26 (.606)
  • White jerseys, black pants: 38-25 (.603)
  • White jerseys, gold pants: 31-24 (.564)

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Saints reveal jersey-pants combination for Week 11 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints will pair white jerseys with white pants for the third time, in their Week 11 game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Send prayers and kind thoughts for the New Orleans Saints equipment staff, because the team is pairing their white away jerseys with matching white pants for the third time this season. They’ll square up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the turf at Raymond James Stadium in their all-white uniform combination, which is sure to be a nightmare for grass stains. Good luck to them.

It sure appears that the Saints are phasing out the “gold” pants (honestly the color is closer to khaki) they’ve often worn in the past, preferring black pants in most of their recent games. They haven’t worn the gold pants with their white road jerseys since the 2017 regular-season finale, which happened to also come against the Buccaneers in Tampa. These white pants are sharp, if a little bland. A simple stripe or maybe a small fleur-de-lis on the outer leg panel would do a lot to improve them.

The Saints are undefeated in the white-on-white combination this season, having defeated both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears while wearing it in consecutive road games earlier this year. Here’s the win/loss record for each of the different uniforms the Saints have used since Sean Payton was hired to coach the team back in 2006, including the playoffs:

  • White jerseys, white pants: 2-0 (1.000)
  • Color Rush alternates: 5-2 (.714)
  • Black and Gold throwbacks: 2-1 (.667)
  • Black jerseys, gold pants: 23-13 (.639)
  • White jerseys, black pants: 38-25 (.603)
  • Black jerseys, black pants: 39-26 (.600)
  • White jerseys, gold pants: 31-24 (.564)

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