Tag: Mardi Gras

Jameis Winston says he ‘would love to stay in NOLA forever’ ahead of free agency

Jameis Winston says he ‘would love to stay in NOLA forever’ ahead of free agency. The Saints quarterback has found a lot of love in New Orleans:

There aren’t many New Orleans Saints players who have enjoyed Carnival season better than Jameis Winston. The quarterback has been a common site on Mardi Gras parade routes with his young son and family, shaking hands and taking photos with fans in-between plates of smothered turkey necks and red beans. He’s embraced the city’s culture and sense of community and, he hopes, he’ll continue to do so for a long time.

“I would love to stay in NOLA forever. But whatever the Lord has planned for me, I’m going to go and do my best, wherever that is. Hopefully it’s here, because I love this, I love the energy, and I love this city,” Winston laughed during an interview with WDSU meteorologist Margaret Orr, this year’s honorary Muse of the Krewe of Muses.

Will Winston return for 2024? By all accounts he’s been nothing but a good teammate, accepting his demotion to the backup role after Dennis Allen brought in Derek Carr and okaying the offense’s decision to score a late-game touchdown for Jamaal Williams to close out the season. But the Saints reworked his contract before the 2023 season ended so that they can release him in March with a more-manageable salary cap hit. All signs point to his time in New Orleans running out.

If that’s the case, this experience is something Winston will cherish. Even if he ends up joining a rival team like the dirty birds.

“I just love the people. When I go out and meet individuals, they’re so authentic,” Winston continued, comparing the sense of community he’s found to the Southern hospitality he experienced growing up in Alabama. “New Orleans, there’s not another place in the world that’s like New Orleans. It’s the culture, and just the love that’s here. I admire it.”

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Derek Carr had the perfect response to Mardi Gras float call-out

Derek Carr had the perfect response to a satirical call-out from the Knights of Chaos Mardi Gras parade, joining the laughter and pointing to his much-needed improvement:

Shouts out to Derek Carr for taking it on the chin: the New Orleans Saints quarterback was the subject of satire at the Knights of Chaos Mardi Gras parade during Carnival season, which featured a float depicting a reanimated Carr as a “Red Zone Zombie” to big reactions from the crowd.

“Can’t lie,” Carr wrote in response on social media, “this depicts exactly what I felt like the first half of the season so I understand.”

That’s exactly how Carr needed to approach this situation — joining the laughter, sharing with some self-deprecation, and pointing to the work he put in to improve. His arrival to New Orleans last year was a tough sell. With a big contract restructure in the works keeping him in town for at least the next two years, it’s vital that he win over the fanbase and build those connections with the community.

And Carr is right to point out that his struggles in the red zone were an early-season problem. The Saints doubled their practice reps in that phase and he ended the year as one of the league’s best quarterbacks in scoring position. Through their first 11 games, Carr went 21-of-47 (44.7%) inside the 20-yard line and scored 8 touchdown passes with an interception, posting a quarterback rating of 84. The Saints offense ended just 15 of their 40 drives with touchdowns (37.5%).

In their final six games Carr went 14-of-21 (66.7%) and threw 9 touchdown passes without turning the ball over, posting a passer rating at 114.1. The Saints scored 15 touchdowns on just 20 drives inside the red zone (75.0%). How’s that for a “Red Zone Zombie?” After seeing that reversal of fortune, Carr’s teammate Demario Davis called him the hottest red zone quarterback in the league.

It’s critical that Carr and the Saints carry that success over into 2024. With a new play caller and new coaching staff on the way, they can’t afford to start slow and make big changes at midseason again in the fall. If Carr can do that and continue doing a better job connecting with fans and teammates, maybe the city will warm up to him after all.

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New Orleans’ Knights of Chaos parade takes aim at Saints QB Derek Carr

New Orleans’ satirical Knights of Chaos parade took aim at Saints quarterback Derek Carr, the “Red Zone Zombie” rising from the grave of the 2023 season

Derek Carr has some work to do winning over the New Orleans Saints fanbase. His poor play and bad attitude to start the 2023 season left a rough impression, despite his strong finish to the year — and that’s reflected during Carnival season. With parades picking up in anticipation of Mardi Gras, Carr found himself in the crosshairs of the Knights of Chaos.

A heavily satirical and often controversial krewe known for skewering politicians, celebrities, and other public figures, the Knights of Chaos rolled out one float featuring Carr as the “Red Zone Zombie” rising from the grave of the 2023 season.

“4th down, 90 million to go,” read one sign plastered next to Carr’s gaunt, bone-thin facsimile. A chorus of ghosts swarmed around Carr’s image as he dropped back to pass (missing an arm), pointedly booing him. Spectators in attendance reported that revelers took their cue, which was also the case at the Caesars Superdome at times this year.

But like it or not, Carr is here to stay. The Saints are expected to restructure his contract this offseason to help mange their salary cap situation and guarantee he’ll be on the roster through the 2024 and 2025 seasons. They’re hoping the addition of a new offensive staff headed by experienced play caller Klint Kubiak can get more out of Carr.

Playing at a higher level is just part of the equation. If Carr is going to win over the fanbase, he’ll have to put in the work and get out in the community, and maybe make an appearance at a parade or two. As Drew Brees has told other pro athletes coming to New Orleans, if they love the city, it’ll love them back.

In the meantime: disgruntled Saints fans are going to take out their frustrations as creatively as they can. Here are some photos and videos from the Knights of Chaos parade on Thursday night:

Saints sent Thomas Morstead a king cake before Falcons game

The Saints sent Thomas Morstead a king cake before facing him in Week 18’s Falcons game:

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Now that’s sweet. The New Orleans Saints embraced Carnival season by gifting their former punter Thomas Morstead a king cake — from Manny Randazzo’s, no less — just before their Week 18 game with Morstead’s unfortunate Atlanta Falcons. The longtime Saints standout has caught some flak from fans in New Orleans after going turncoat and signing with their most hated rival, but the team wants it known that there’s no hard feelings.

Morstead shared the delivery of his king cake from the Falcons training facility, along with a note calling him an “Old Friend” with hopes that he’ll set a new personal best for the most punts in a single game on Sunday (for the curious, his career-high has been 10 punts in a 2015 Saints win over the Indianapolis Colts, 27-21). The Saints are visiting Atlanta and badly need a win to remain in playoff contention. Frustrating the Falcons offense and getting Morstead on the field early and often to punt the ball away would do a lot to help.

But they had better be careful about what they’re asking for. Morstead just won recognition as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his efforts, regularly pinning opponents deep inside their own territory. New Orleans doesn’t exactly have the firepower to cross the field too often. Maybe Morstead can take it easy on them?

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NFL mulls moving Super Bowl in 2024 out of New Orleans

The 2024 Super Bowl might be moved from New Orleans due to a schedule conflict with Mardi Gras.

A bigger NFL season could create an audible for the league when it comes to Super Bowl LVIII in New Orleans in 2024.

“As part of the bid process in 2018, we contemplated the possibility of a 17-game schedule as part of a new CBA,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. “We are exploring options with the Saints and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation for the city to remain the host of the Super Bowl in 2024 or in a future year that would be suitable for both New Orleans and the NFL.”

The extra week — the 17-game season recently approved in the new CBA — would push the championship game into the midst of Mardi Gras. Originally, it would have been Feb 4. Now, with the added game, the Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 11 in 2024. Mardi Gras would land two days later, Feb. 13.

New Orleans already is overflowing with crowds during that period, so the Super Bowl would be a difficult proposition if it were to be held at the same time of year.

“The New Orleans Host Committee, led by the New Orleans Saints and Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, has remained in close communication with league officials about the change to a 17-game regular season, as it relates to the city hosting Super Bowl LVIII in 2024,” Saints vice president of communications Greg Bensel said in a statement.

“During the bid process in 2018, it was contemplated and discussed of the possibility of an extended schedule based on a new CBA. The Bid Committee, the New Orleans Saints and NFL worked together to build in contingencies if a potential conflict with Mardi Gras should affect the Super Bowl date.

Mutually agreed-upon terms during the bid process granted assurances that the NFL and Host Committee would explore all options for still hosting the game in 2024, or, agreeing to host the Super Bowl in a future year when the citywide calendar permits.”

The 17-game schedule, per terms of the new CBA, will be installed sometime between 2021-23. The NFL has yet to award the 2025 Super Bowl. The other upcoming host cities are Tampa, Fla. (2020 season), Inglewood, Calif. (2021) and Glendale, Ariz (2022).

Saints, NFL considering delay for New Orleans’ hosting next Super Bowl

The New Orleans Saints and the NFL are discussing whether to host the Super Bowl in 2025 instead due to a Mardi Gras scheduling conflict.

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The NFL’s decision to expand its regular season to 17 games has resulted in larger changes for its schedule, and one of those could be hitting Saints fans close to home. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reported Thursday that the NFL has been in discussions with the Saints and the city of New Orleans about a scheduling conflict between the 2024 Super Bowl and that year’s Mardi Gras festivities.

That combination of mass events may be too much for the city’s infrastructure to support, so it’s possible that New Orleans could end up hosting the 2025 Super Bowl instead. The Saints won the bid to host the 2024 title game back in 2018, making it the eleventh Super Bowl to be played in New Orleans, more than any other American city.

There are a few upsides to postponing the year in which the Saints will host another Super Bowl. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome began extensive renovation work earlier this offseason as part of a yearslong effort to modernize the facility. Delaying its next Super Bowl appearance would do a lot to take pressure off the construction timeline. But the league and the city have not yet ruled out whether to keep the New Orleans-hosted 2024 Super Bowl in place as scheduled, and it’s unclear which city would host instead.

For the curious, here are the locations of the remaining Super Bowls that have been awarded:

  • 2021, Super Bowl LV: Tampa, Fla.
  • 2022, Super Bowl LVI: Los Angeles, Cal.
  • 2023, Super Bowl LVII: Glendale, Ari.
  • 2024, Super Bowl LVIII: New Orleans, La.

Saints vice president of communications Greg Bensel later issued a statement to the media:

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Peyton Manning attended Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans

Peyton Manning was hiding in plain sight at a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

Football fans in New Orleans might have recognized a familiar face in the crowd during Saturday’s Mardi Gras parade. Peyton Manning, a five-time NFL MVP, attended the event and seemingly blended into the crowd.

The Saints’ social media team captured a video of Manning and shared it on their Twitter page:

Manning, 43, was born in New Orleans and his dad, Archie, played quarterback for the Saints from 1971-1982.

Archie’s three sons — Cooper, Peyton and Eli — all played high school football at Isidore Newman in New Orleans. Cooper’s football career was cut short by spinal stenosis but Peyton and Eli both went on to win Super Bowls as quarterbacks in the NFL.

Cooper’s son, Arch, is now a freshman at Isidore Newman and he looks like he could become the next great Manning quarterback. Last fall, Arch threw 34 touchdown passes and led the varsity football team to a 9-2 record. He has already drawn interest from Mississippi (Eli’s alma mater), Tennessee (Peyton’s alma mater), LSU and Duke.

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