Tag: news

Oddsmakers drop Saints to 2.5-point favorites over visiting 49ers

The New Orleans Saints are still favored to beat the San Francisco 49ers, but oddsmakers expect a razor-thin finish in a low-scoring game.

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All eyes from around the NFL world will be focused on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this Sunday, when the New Orleans Saints host the San Francisco 49ers for a game with tremendous implications for the NFC playoff picture.

With a Saints win, the road to Super Bowl LIV is all but guaranteed to run through New Orleans. But if the 49ers prevail, well, things get interesting in the NFC West. It’s a fair bet that they would compete with the Seattle Seahawks all the way down the stretch for the first seed, with the loser falling to the fifth seed — guaranteeing their playoff journey starts on the road. Incidentally, the 49ers will visit the Seahawks in the regular season finale in Week 17.

Per updated odds from BetMGM, the Saints are still favored to defeat the 49ers, but only by 2.5 points. With an over/under of just 44.5, that implies a final score somewhere in the neighborhood of Saints 24, 49ers 21. If this game were played on a neutral field, it would be even more of a toss-up. In other words: even the oddsmakers don’t know who might win this one.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NFL experts are divided, but most pick Saints to handle their business vs. 49ers

The New Orleans Saints are popular among NFL experts picks as a choice to defeat the visiting San Francisco 49ers, but opinions are split.

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The NFL’s Week 14 slate of Sunday games will lead off with the New Orleans Saints’ kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers, and how it turns out might be anyone’s guess. NFL experts are filing their picks from all around the league’s orbit, and there’s so firm consensus this week.

According to the dozens of expert picks surveyed by NFL Pickwatch, 65% of the football cognoscenti expects the Saints to prevail. A healthy 35% of votes are coming in for San Francisco.

That isn’t very encouraging given the result of Thursday Night Football, in which the Dallas Cowboys — picked by 73% of experts — were upset on the road against the Chicago Bears. It’s not often that one team leads its own division (as the Cowboys do, at 6-7) while having their lunch money stolen an opponent ranked third in their respective division (the 7-6 Bears trail both the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings).

Few games are currently being picked with any sense of certainty, with just the Packers (100%), Vikings (99%), Houston Texans (98%), Philadelphia Eagles (95%), and Cleveland Browns (91%) breaking the 90% threshold in each of their matchups. Considering their opponents are a combined 13-46-1, it makes sense that NFL experts might be feeling a little more confident in those games.

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Caroline Wozniacki shockingly announces her retirement from tennis at just 29

Caroline Wozniacki, the former world No. 1 who won a Grand Slam in 2018, is walking away from the game of tennis.

Caroline Wozniacki announced on Friday morning that she would be retiring from professional tennis following the Australian Open in January.

The move is a shocking one from the former world No. 1 in singles. She’s just 29 years old, and held the world No. 1 spot as recently as last year, when she won Australian Open, her first Grand Slam title.

The Danish tennis player cited her growing love for travel, and her commitment to growing her family with her husband, former Warriors star David Lee.

Wozniacki has also struggled with health issues. In 2018, she went public with the fact that she’d been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She played through it for much of the 2018 season, but in her retirement note, she noted that the decision had nothing to do with her health. She did say she wants to devote more time to speaking out about rheumatoid arthitis.

Wozniacki retired in a post made to her Instagram and Twitter.

View this post on Instagram

I’ve played professionally since I was 15 years old. In that time I’ve experienced an amazing first chapter of my life. With 30 WTA singles titles, a world #1 ranking for 71 weeks, a WTA Finals victory, 3 Olympics, including carrying the flag for my native Denmark, and winning the 2018 Australian Open Grand slam championship, I’ve accomplished everything I could ever dream of on the court. I’ve always told myself, when the time comes, that there are things away from tennis that I want to do more, then it’s time to be done. In recent months, I’ve realized that there is a lot more in life that I’d like to accomplish off the court. Getting married to David was one of those goals and starting a family with him while continuing to travel the world and helping raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis (project upcoming) are all passions of mine moving forward. So with that, today I am announcing that I will be retiring from professional tennis after the Australian Open in January. This has nothing to do with my health and this isn’t a goodbye, I look forward to sharing my exciting journey ahead with all of you! Finally, I want to thank with all my heart, the fans, my friends, my sponsors, my team, especially my father as my coach, my husband, and my family for decades of support! Without all of you I could have never have done this!

A post shared by Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki) on

The caption reads:

I’ve played professionally since I was 15 years old. In that time I’ve experienced an amazing first chapter of my life. With 30 WTA singles titles, a world #1 ranking for 71 weeks, a WTA Finals victory, 3 Olympics, including carrying the flag for my native Denmark, and winning the 2018 Australian Open Grand slam championship, I’ve accomplished everything I could ever dream of on the court.
I’ve always told myself, when the time comes, that there are things away from tennis that I want to do more, then it’s time to be done. In recent months, I’ve realized that there is a lot more in life that I’d like to accomplish off the court. Getting married to David was one of those goals and starting a family with him while continuing to travel the world and helping raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis (project upcoming) are all passions of mine moving forward.
So with that, today I am announcing that I will be retiring from professional tennis after the Australian Open in January. This has nothing to do with my health and this isn’t a goodbye, I look forward to sharing my exciting journey ahead with all of you!
Finally, I want to thank with all my heart, the fans, my friends, my sponsors, my team, especially my father as my coach, my husband, and my family for decades of support! Without all of you I could have never have done this!

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Saints down two starting linebackers on updated Week 14 Saints-49ers injury report

The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers updated the Week 14 injury report, with Saints linebackers Kiko Alonso and A.J. Klein resting

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The New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers published their second injury report of the week on Thursday ahead of their Week 14 clash. The result of the game could have playoff implications as far as seeding is concerned. Currently the Saints are the No. 1 seed in the NFC, while the 49ers sit in the top Wild Card position at No. 5.

A number of key players for New Orleans were designated as not practicing, or participating in a limited capacity on Wednesday’s initial report. Linebackers Kiko Alonso and A.J. Klein did not participate on Wednesday while offensive lineman Terron Armstead was limited. None of those statuses changed on Thursday’s injury report, but backup offensive lineman Will Clapp and tight end Jason Vander Laan each turned in a limited practice while managing their own injuries.

The final injury report with game status for certain players will be issued on Friday. Daily changes in practice participation are noted in bold text.

From the Saints

  • LB Kiko Alonso (Thigh) DNP
  • OL Andrus Peat (Forearm) DNP
  • LB A.J. Klein (Knee) DNP
  • OL Terron Armstead (Ankle) Limited
  • FB Zach Line (Knee) Limited
  • OL Will Clapp (Elbow) Limited
  • TE Jason Vander Laan (Head) Limited

From the 49ers

  • WR Dante Pettis (Knee) Limited
  • S Jaquiski Tartt (Ribs) DNP
  • DT Julian Taylor (Knee) DNP
  • DE Dee Ford (Quad/Hamstring) Limited
  • DT D.J. Jones (Ankle) Full
  • TE George Kittle (Knee/Ankle) Limited
  • CB Richard Sherman (Knee) Limited
  • T Joe Staley (Finger) Limited
  • RB Matt Breida (Ankle) Full
  • WR Deebo Samuel (Shoulder) Full
  • WR Emmanuel Sanders (Fibs) Full

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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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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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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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