Tag: news

Michael Thomas named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas was named Offensive Player of the Month for November, along with Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson.

Big-time production warrants big-time recognition, and that’s what New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas earned after setting the league on fire in November. The NFL named Thomas as the NFC Offensive Player of the Month after posting up 37 receptions (on targets) and 415 receiving yards in the Saints’ four games, catching an otherworldly 86% of his 43 targets from quarterback Drew Brees. On the year so far, he leads the entire NFL in both receptions (11) and receiving yards (1,290).

He’s in rare company. The AFC Offensive Player of the Month is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, a sensational playmaker who’s hounding defenses through the air as well as on the ground. And Thomas will play against his NFC Defensive Player of the Month counterpart on Sunday in San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.

Here’s the total listing of November’s Players of the Month, by position group:

  • NFC Offense: WR Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
  • NFC Defense: LB Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
  • NFC Special Teams: KR Cordarrelle Patterson, Chicago Bears
  • AFC Offense: QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
  • D: LB T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • AFC Special Teams: K Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs

Thomas joins teammate Thomas Morstead as two Saints players to be recognized here this season; the Saints’ veteran punter was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, the first such award of his long NFL career. The leadership and effectiveness of players like Thomas and Morstead have been a huge part of the Saints’ success this season, and they’ll continue to be foundational pieces for the rest of the team to build upon as they work to reach and win Super Bowl LIV.

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Saints waive TE Dan Arnold among several roster moves

The New Orlenas Saints waived tight end Dan Arnold to make room on the 53-man roster, re-signing linebacker Manti Te’o among roster moves.

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The New Orleans Saints announced a series of roster moves on the official NFL transactions wire for Wednesday, Dec. 4. Among those moves was the release of third-year tight end Dan Arnold from the 53-man active roster, creating room for free agent linebacker Manti Te’o. Arnold had been a frequent gameday inactive since being called up from the Saints practice squad earlier this year, logging just two catches for 25 yards. He’s subject to waivers but is eligible to return to the practice squad should he clear them on Thursday.

Another pair of corresponding moves also shook up the Saints practice squad, with fullback Ricky Ortiz waived to open a slot for second-year left tackle Nate Wozniak. Wozniak originally signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota, and he returns to the team as a developmental candidate while starting left tackle Terron Armstead works his way back from a high-ankle sprain.

Additionally, second-year wide receiver Keith Kirkwood will revert to the injured reserve list after the Saints designated him to return back on Nov. 13. Kirkwood was the only eligible candidate to return from injured reserve, having started the year on the active roster before going down in-season, with linebackers Alex Anzalone (shoulder) and Kaden Elliss (knee) each already ruled out for the year. So New Orleans will not be receiving any reinforcements from injured reserve after Kirkwood’s unsuccessful attempt at bouncing back from his early-season hamstring injury.

It raises questions about what the Saints can still do to get some production out of their thin wide receiver corps. Michael Thomas is playing like the best receiver in the game, but it’s tumbleweeds after him — veteran Ted Ginn Jr. and second-year draft pick Tre’Quan Smith have combined for just 8 catches on 21 targets in the four games since New Orleans’ bye week. Expect more trick plays for do-it-all quarterback Taysom Hill to make up the deficiency, if the Saints can’t get tight end Jared Cook and running back Alvin Kamara going consistently.

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Saints re-sign practice squad OL/TE convert Nate Wozniak

The New Orleans Saints re-signed Nate Wozniak, a collegiate tight end they converted to left tackle, to their practice squad on Wednesday.

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The New Orleans Saints offensive line received some added depth on Wednesday, with Amie Just of Nola.com reporting that the team re-signed offensive lineman Nate Wozniak. Wozniak, the former 6-foot-9 Minnesota Golden Gophers tight end, learned to play left tackle while with the Saints from May 2018 to August 2019. He spent the intervening months with stints on the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons practice squads, as well as trying out for a handful of teams.

Wozniak clearly has the size and length to play in the NFL, but rehearsed technique has eluded him so far. He never progressed beyond lining up at left tackle with the third-string offensive line while in New Orleans through two offseasons, and probably still needs a lot of work before he’ll be game-ready. The good news is that stepping into a game against NFL pass rushers shouldn’t happen for a while, with several players between him and the starting unit.

Here’s a projection of what the Saints depth chart looks like right now at offensive tackle:

  1. LT Terron Armstead (injured)
  2. RT Ryan Ramczyk
  3. LG/LT Andrus Peat (injured)
  4. LG/LT Patrick Omameh
  5. LT Ethan Greenidge
  6. OL John Leglue (practice squad)
  7. RT Derrick Kelly (practice squad
  8. LT Nate Wozniak

We’re still waiting on news of who left the Saints practice squad to create room for Wozniak, who would be the third offensive lineman on the unit along with Leglue and Kelly, both rookies. So stay tuned for the official NFL transactions wire to update with that information.

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Keith Kirkwood won’t be activated off of Saints injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints will not receive reinforcements at wide receiver with injured second-year pro Keith Kirkwood still on injured reserve

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The New Orleans Saints designated wide receiver Keith Kirkwood to return from injured reserve three weeks ago, but their window to activate him will close without Kirkwood being cleared to play. Nola.com’s Amie Just reported Wednesday that Kirkwood will not be able to suit up again in 2019 after a Week 2 hamstring injury ended his season, despite optimism from Saints coach Sean Payton that the second-year pro would be able to help his team down the stretch.

“He’s doing well,” Payton said in mid-November. “He’s been moving well and running well, so we’ll keep paying attention to that and keep working with him and getting him to where he’s able to play.”

Obviously Kirkwood suffered some sort of setback in his recovery, having first hurt himself in the season-opener against the Houston Texans. He was pulled from that game after coming up lame after a hit, and aggravated his injured hamstring during pregame warmups a week later. It’s disappointing that the Saints won’t be getting any assistance from him as they push towards the playoffs.

Kirkwood clearly has some ability when healthy. He appeared in nine games as a rookie including the playoffs, going 15-of-23 for 217 yards (an average of 14.5 yards per catch), converting 12 first downs and scoring three touchdowns. It’s a shame that injuries have limited his availability early in his career, as he also missed last year’s NFC championship game with a calf problem.

The good news is that next year’s draft class looks terrific at wide receiver, and Kirkwood will have ample time to heal up between now and next summer. Fingers should be crossed in hopes that Michael Thomas can continue balancing the Saints’ world on his shoulders.

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Report: Kiko Alonso ‘day-to-day’ with injury, status in doubt vs. 49ers

New Orleans Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso is reportedly managing a thigh injury on a day-to-day basis, requiring the signing of Manti Te’o.

The New Orleans Saints re-signed linebacker Manti Te’o on Tuesday, following injuries to starters Kiko Alonso and A.J. Klein. Te’o started most of the 2017 season for the Saints before improved health in the linebacker corps (and the addition of Demario Davis) sidelined him in 2018, and he’s been a free agent since then.

According to a report from Katherine Terrell of The Athletic, Alonso’s status with a thigh injury isn’t considered a long-term concern. Terrell reported that Alonso is day-to-day at this point and the team isn’t sure whether he will be cleared to play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. That could change in the next three days after team trainers get the opportunity to administer treatment and reevaluate Alonso’s condition, but in the meantime Te’o gives the Saints an experienced option to add to the depth chart.

Special teamers Craig Robertson and Stephone Anthony were each forced into last week’s game with the Atlanta Falcons after Alonso and Klein went out with injuries; it took a combined 11 snaps from them for the Saints to decide Te’o was needed. Whether Te’o plays on Sunday after being signed on the previous Tuesday is unlikely, but it can’t be ruled out if Alonso misses this 49ers game. Klein’s condition is less clear, and no information is coming out of New Orleans just yet on what’s ailing him. We should learn something when the week’s first injury report is published Wednesday afternoon.

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Saints re-sign veteran linebacker Manti Te’o to free agent contract

The New Orleans Saints brought back veteran linebacker Manti Te’o on Tuesday, who had been a free agent since his contract expired in March.

The New Orleans Saints have re-signed former starting linebacker Manti Te’o on Tuesday, as first reported by Rob DeMello of KHON 2-Honolulu and confirmed by Sean Fazende of FOX 8-New Orleans. Te’o has been a free agent since his Saints contract expired earlier this year, receiving little interest on the open market. He met with the Oakland Raiders back in March but did not sign with the team, instead returning to Hawaii where he continued training in hopes of an NFL return while dabbling in real estate.

So what prompted the Saints to bring Te’o back in early December? Starting linebackers A.J. Klein and Kiko Alonso exited last Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons with separate injuries, forcing special teamers Craig Robertson and Stephone Anthony into the lineup. We won’t have anything concrete on Klein or Alonso’s status until Wednesday’s injury report, but Te’o’s addition gives the Saints an experienced player who knows the defensive scheme inside and out.

Te’o led the Saints defense with 15 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage back in 2017, though he was frequently inactive for much of the 2018 season while New Orleans enjoyed a streak of good health at the position. It’s impossible to guess right now how much Te’o will play moving forward (if at all), but his past success in the same situation has to be reassuring to the Saints and their fans. Expect a corresponding move to Te’o’s re-signing to be reported on the official league transactions wire on Wednesday.

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Buccaneers crack top 20 in latest USA TODAY Power Rankings

After a convincing win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13, the Buccaneers have jumped six spots in the latest power rankings.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hitting their stride (finally), having won their last two games, both on the road. It’s the Bucs’ first winning-streak of the season, and, at 5-7, they have a chance to avoid their third-straight 5-11 season with four games left to play.

Tampa Bay’ victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 was the Devin White coming out party, as the prized rookie out of LSU made franchise history with his big first quarter.

With the team playing solid on both sides of the ball right now, it’s no surprise to see them crack the top 20 in USA TODAY’s latest NFL Power Rankings.

Tampa Bay jumped six spots from 23 to 17, with the stellar play of White as a big reason.

“Tough year for defense but nice to see rookie Devin White assert himself with monster game (TD, INT, fumble recovery) at Jacksonville.”

The Bucs will look to make it three-straight Sunday when they host the 6-6 Indianapolis Colts.

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49ers stay in Florida to prepare for Saints in second leg of cross-country road trip

The NFL does stand for the National Football League, and there are few better reminders of that than the struggles West Coast teams experience when traveling coast-to-coast. The San Francisco 49ers are acutely aware of the difficulties that come …

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The NFL does stand for the National Football League, and there are few better reminders of that than the struggles West Coast teams experience when traveling coast-to-coast. The San Francisco 49ers are acutely aware of the difficulties that come with a shortened schedule and rude, early awakening — a noon kickoff at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome comes up two hours earlier than they’re used too at home — so they had to adjust to back-to-back road games with the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints.

To help manage that, the 49ers are lodging and practicing in Bradenton, Fla. this week, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. They’ll be working out of the IMG Academy, a local prep school focused on developing professional athletes in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and other sports. Former Saints linebacker Manti Te’o is one of many clients who has used their facilities, having worked out there during his training for the 2013 NFL Draft.

After losing to the Ravens on Sunday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and his crew need all the help they can get to rebound. They opened the season by staying at Youngstown State’s campus in Youngstown, Ohio between road games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals, winning both games. It’s a move Shanahan is comfortable calling for when the situation demands it.

The Saints benefited from an extended stay on the West Coast between Week 2 (losing to the Los Angeles Rams) and Week 3 (rebounding to beat the Seattle Seahawks), so the strategy clearly has some merit. Whether it will make a difference next Sunday remains to be seen. At least Shanahan’s players won’t be sleepy.

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New Orleans Saints narrowly favored over 49ers in Week 14 odds

The New Orleans Saints are narrowly favored over the San Francisco 49ers for their Week 14 game inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

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The New Orleans Saints are a week away from hosting the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 14 kickoff from inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and the opening line slightly favors the home team. According to the latest odds from BetMGM, the Saints are 3.5-point favorites to win, with an over/under of 45.5. That suggests a final score in the neighborhood of Saints 25, 49ers 21 — hardly a decisive outcome. New Orleans’ recent streak of victories and home-field advantage could be giving them an edge in the oddsmakers’ eyes.

New Orleans is fresh off the heels of a dominant (if at times sloppy) win over the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving, in which their defense sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan nine times. Six of those sacks came from starting defensive ends Cameron Jordan (four) and Marcus Davenport (two).

Things aren’t nearly so positive for the 49ers. They took the Baltimore Ravens down to the wire on a muddy field but couldn’t close the deal. Inexperienced quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo conducted the offense well, but the 49ers run defense was kept on their heels by Ravens phenom Lamar Jackson. Expect the Saints to target that same vulnerability with Taysom Hill, who has seen his involvement (and effectiveness) rise as the season has wore on.

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Teddy Bridgewater buys dinner for his Miami high school football team

New Orleans Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater showed his appreciation for Miami Northwestern High School by buying dinner for the football team.

The New Orleans Saints were given a rare weekend off after their Thursday night win over the Atlanta Falcons, so backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater took the opportunity to return to one of his favorite places in the world: Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where he bought the football team dinner after their big win over Jesuit High School in the state semifinals. And he made sure to bring ribs.

According to posts on social media, Bridgewater contracted several Miami-area food trucks to service the players, coaches, and auxiliary staff free of charge, doing his part to show gratitude to the school and program where his football career started. Bridgewater started three years at Miami Northwestern, where they went 32-8 and made several deep playoff pushes in one of the nation’s toughest high school circuits.

A Miami native, Bridgewater has often visited his hometown when the opportunity arose, including a guest appearance with his high school’s dance team during a game earlier this season. Last summer, he organized a giveaway for the kids in his old neighborhood, handing out school supplies, toys, bicycles and water guns to everyone who stopped by. It’s clear that Bridgewater remembers where he’s come from, and his gracious nature has done a lot to ingratiate him to his new Saints teammates and their fans.

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