Tag: news

Former Saints players Delvin Breaux, Adam Bighill competing for CFL Grey Cup

Former Saints Delvin Breaux and Adam Bighill will compete in the 2019 CFL Grey Cup between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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The Canadian Football League is set to kick off its 2019 Grey Cup championship game, and two former New Orleans Saints players are set to compete for it — on opposing sidelines. Former Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux is leading the Hamilton Tiger-Cats while ex-Saints linebacker Adam Bighill is running the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defense.

While it’s a fascinating lens to view the game through, it’s great to see both players having success after their time with the Saints came to an end. A series of injuries forced Breaux, a New Orleans native, to return to the CFL. He’s since signed a three-year contract extension with Hamilton after joining Bighill on the 2018 CFL West All-Stars team. He’s still an ardent Saints fan to this day, and has recorded 26 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble in 10 games.

As for Bighill: he went back to the CFL unsatisfied with his Saints experience, having spent extended time on the practice squad before getting a handful of snaps with the special teams units in his first year with New Orleans. His performance in 2018 earned the award for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, as well as a three-year contract extension that made him the CFL’s highest-paid player on defense. Bighill has appeared in 15 games this year, racking up 61 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Saints fans interested in watching Saturday’s Grey Cup finale between Breaux’s Ticats and Bighill’s Bombers can tune into ESPN2 at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT. It’s a shame that neither Breaux nor Bighill had enduring, productive careers with New Orleans, but it’s terrific to see them still scuceeding.

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Saints shuffle roster posts, lose Austin Carr to injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints sent WR Austin Carr to injured reserve and called up practice squad TE Jason Vander Laan, adding RB Ricky Ortiz.

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The New Orleans Saints shuffled the bottom of their depth chart on Friday in a series of roster moves. Third-year wide receiver Austin Carr was sent to the injured reserve list after missing practice with an ankle injury; in his place, the Saints called up practice squad tight end Jason Vander Laan. The open spot on the practice squad was filled by Ricky Ortiz, who the official NFL transactions wire listed as a running back.

Ortiz’s (6-foot-0, 233 pounds) exact position is a little unclear, though it doesn’t mean much in the bigger picture (teammate Taquan Mizzell, also on the practice squad, is listed as a wide receiver but wears No. 44, a number restricted to running backs and fullbacks). Oritz’s previous NFL experience came as a fullback with the Atlanta Falcons, where he was listed as a fullback and appeared in a dozen games last season, totaling 139 snaps on offense and 89 snaps on special teams.

Vander Laan (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) has been on the Saints practice squad since Oct. 23. His NFL experience has been limited to appearances with the Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and New England Patriots practice squads. Before that, he played quarterback at Ferris State, where he set the NCAA all-division record for rushing yards (5,953).

With starting fullback Zach Line sidelined by a knee injury and backup tight end Josh Hill returning from a mild concussion, opportunities are there for fresh faces like Vander Laan and Ortiz to make an impression right away. Carr’s loss on offense is minimal; he’s proven to be a capable blocker out of the slot, but struggles to get open or catch the ball when it’s thrown to him. The Saints are working with second-year wideout Keith Kirkwood in his return from injured reserve in the next few weeks. Hopefully he’ll be able to create a spark where Carr couldn’t once he’s back.

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Saints injury report: Marshon Lattimore questionable vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints injury report ruled out WR Deonte Harris, but CB Marshon Lattimore is questionable against the Carolina Panthers.

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The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers released their final injury report ahead of Week 12’s kickoff, including game status expectations for several recently-injured players. The Saints will again be without key contributors like wide receiver Deonte Harris, who is battling a hamstring injury.

However, cornerback Marshon Lattimore is questionable to play, having practiced Friday on a limited basis. Hamstring issues can linger and only really improve with rest, so sitting each of them makes sense with New Orleans scheduled to play two games in five days (Sunday with the Panthers, the following Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons). Fullback Zach Line is also ruled out for Sunday after resting during practice all week with a knee injury, but tight end Josh Hill is expected to play after suffering a mild concussion a week ago.

Here’s what we learned on Friday’s injury report:

From the Saints

  • OL Andrus Peat (forearm), Did not participate, Out
  • CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), Did not participate, Questionable
  • WR Deonte Harris (hamstring), Did not participate, Out
  • FB Zach Line (knee), Did not participate, Out
  • TE Josh Hill (concussion), Full
  • OL Larry Warford (thigh), Full
  • WR Austin Carr (ankle), Did not participate
  • OL Ryan Ramczyk (knee), Full

From the Panthers

  • CB Ross Cockrell (quad), Limited, Questionable
  • DT Gerald McCoy (knee), Full
  • OL Dennis Daley (groin), Full, Questionable
  • S Eric Reid (knee), Full
  • LB Shaq Thompson (ankle), Full
  • LB Brian Burns (wrist), Full, Questionable
  • OL Greg Little (knee), Full

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Saints announce uniform combination for Week 12 vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints will wear their black home jerseys and matching black pants in their Week 12 game against the Carolina Panthers.

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The New Orleans Saints will be wearing black jerseys with matching black pants during their Week 12 game with the Carolina Panthers, the team revealed in a post from their official Twitter account. The Saints announced this week’s uniform combination with a video clip from Madden NFL 20 featuring wide receiver Michael Thomas, quarterback Drew Brees, and defensive end Cameron Jordan.

This black-on-black look has steadily increased in popularity for the Saints in recent years, so much so that it’s become their most-popular look since the 2017 season and earned a 14-5 record (going back to 2006, New Orleans’ record in this combination is 36-26).

For the curious and superstitious, here’s the win/loss record for each of the different uniform combinations the Saints have worn since Sean Payton was hired to coach the team in 2006. In the interest of full accountability, it’s worth noting that the Saints also wore hideous alternate gold jerseys during a 2002 game with the Minnesota Vikings, which they lost 32-31. Those jerseys haven’t been seen since, and were presumably burned.

  • 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)
  • 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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Updated Week 12 Saints-Panthers injury report

The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers published their updated injury reports ahead of their Week 12 game, but it didn’t clarify much.

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The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers published their second injury report ahead of their Week 12 clash, the result of which could put the Saints one game away from their third straight NFC South title (with a little help from the Panthers’ next opponent). Here’s a refresher on the division standings:

  1. New Orleans Saints (8-2)
  2. Carolina Panthers (5-5)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (3-7)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-7)

As for the Saints injury report: cornerback Marshon Lattimore and wide receiver Deonte Harris are both battling hamstring injuries, and did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough. That does not bode well for their status to play on Sunday. Tight end Josh Hill’s status will be worth following throughout the remainder of the week. Hill’s concussion was described as ‘mild’ and the tight end was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

The injury reports published by the Saints and the Panthers on Thursday is the second report for the week. A second, updated report will be released on Thursday. 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

  • OL Andrus Peat (forearm), Did not participate
  • CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), Did not participate
  • WR Deonte Harris (hamstring), Did not participate
  • FB Zach Line (knee), Did not participate
  • TE Josh Hill (concussion), Limited
  • OL Larry Warford (thigh), Full
  • WR Austin Carr (ankle), Limited
  • OL Ryan Ramczyk (knee), Full

From the Panthers

  • CB Ross Cockrell (quad), Did not participate
  • DT Gerald McCoy (knee), Limited
  • OL Dennis Daley (groin), Limited
  • S Eric Reid (knee), Limited
  • LB Shaq Thompson (ankle), Limited
  • LB Brian Burns (wrist), Full
  • OL Greg Little (knee), Full

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Report: Josh Hill suffered ‘mild’ concussion vs. Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints lost backup tight end Josh Hill with a concussion, which one report described as a mild injury rather than serious.

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The New Orleans Saints lost a big part of their offense on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when backup tight end Josh Hill was ruled out from returning to the game with a concussion. Hill isn’t the pass-catching threat many would expect a valued Saints tight end to perform as, but he fills a critical role in the offense as one of their best blockers. Saints coach Sean Payton described his loss as like losing the front door to a house, requiring a quick scramble to adjust his playsheet.

Fortunately, Hill appears to have escaped a serious brain injury. Per Larry Holder of The Athletic, Hill’s concussion was described as mild, though the team still took all precautions to protect his health. Hill was a limited participant in practice on the Wednesday Saints injury report, which is encouraging. It’s worth noting that he was limited in practice throughout the week before the Buccaneers game with a calf issue, though it didn’t slow him down in the game.

Hill has averaged nearly 39 snaps per game this season, often outplaying big free agent signing Jared Cook. Still, it isn’t really fair to compare the two of them given their vastly different skills sets; Hill is a blocker first and a receiver second, while the Saints spent the summer suggesting Cook’s arrival would allow them to open up a part of the playbook once designed for Jimmy Graham. If Cook continues to catch touchdowns like his high-flying grab against Tampa Bay, he might end up earning that adulation.

Even if this latest concussion is only a minor hurdle, fans should remember that it’s the third brain injury in as many years for Hill. He exited last year’s NFC championship game with a concussion and dealt with another one early in the 2017 season. Here’s hoping this isn’t the beginning of a trend like the series of concussions that ended Coby Fleener’s Saints career.

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UT News: November 20, 2019

UT News: November 20, 2019

College basketball is currently in high gear, and both the men’s and women’s teams have been rolling along nicely to start the season. The Lady Vols extended their winning streak to five games with their victory last night over the Stetson Hatters, while the men face the Alabama State Hornets tonight looking to move to 4-0. There are also a couple of former Vols making the news in the professional ranks worth mentioning. But first, a bit about tonight’s basketball match.

Vols basketball host Alabama State

No. 20-ranked Tennessee Volunteers welcome the Alabama State Hornets to Thompson-Boling Arena tonight in a match between an unbeaten and a winless team.

The Vols return home after an impressive performance in Toronto, Ontario, defeating the then-No. 20-ranked Washington Huskies. The Hornets are unlikely to be as big of a challenge, though one can never sleep on their laurels when it comes to NCAA basketball. A win, however, would be Tennessee’s 29th-straight at the friendly confines — a mark that currently leads Division I.

This is only the second meeting between the two schools, with the Vols defeating the Hornets 71-45 in their lone matchup back in 2005. Head coach Rick Barnes is also undefeated against foes from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, currently sporting a 10-0 record. Barnes also faced ASU once prior, leading Providence to victory back in 1991.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and can be watched on SEC Network+, as well as heard on the Vol Network.

NEXT: Former Vol hoists MLB championship trophy

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UT News: November 18, 2019

UT News: November 18, 2019

Welcome back from a football bye weekend for the Tennessee Volunteers. It was not all quiet the past few days, as the men’s basketball team triumphed over Washington on Saturday night, keeping their record perfect at 3-0. As for other news, the women’s volleyball team has announced some signings and the Lady Vols track and field team scored their best regional finish in a decade.

Lady Vols volleyball signs three

Women’s volleyball coach Eve Rackham announced the signing of three recruits for the 2020 class on Friday.

The trio of prospects — Jasmine Brooks, Allie Holland and Kya Moore — are all top-150 players, according to PrepVolleyball.com. Coach Rackham had the following to say about the newest members of the Vols family.

“We are excited about our newest additions to the Lady Vol Volleyball family. Each of these young women are talented in their position and will add great depth to our 2020 roster. Not only are they outstanding athletes, but they are also high-level students, active in their communities and will represent our program with class. I am particularly excited about the work ethic and positivity they will bring to our culture.”

The three prospects promise to bolster the volleyball program and will very likely debut in 2020.

NEXT: Lady Vols track and field record best finish in a decade

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Sean Payton can’t undersell the importance of backup tight end Josh Hill

The New Orleans Saints lost backup tight end Josh Hill with a concussion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, forcing coach Sean Payton’s hand.

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The New Orleans Saints offense took a big hit in Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when backup tight end Josh Hill exited with a concussion. There probably aren’t many coaches around the league who have to retool their playsheet with the loss of a backup tight end, but Saints coach Sean Payton puts immense value on Hill’s abilities to help his team.

It isn’t that Hill is some elite pass-catcher; his knowledge of the offense and effectiveness as a blocker from any alignment creates opportunities for everyone else. He’s averaged 39 snaps per game this season and logged 32 against the Buccaneers before being ruled out with this injury. His absence forced Payton to huddle up with his players and assistants, and make a lot of adjustments mid-game.

“We lost Josh Hill, and Josh is one of those guys that may be somewhat under the radar, but losing him was like losing your front door,” Payton said during his postgame media availability. “All of a sudden there are 58 plays on the call sheet and he was involved in a lot of them, so we spent a lot of time trying to re-personnel group some of our plays — which ones we still want to run and which ones can we not run.”

Payton was spotted sitting on the bench next to running back Alvin Kamara and reserve quarterback Taysom Hill, reviewing his playsheet and going over adjustments with them. It’s rare to see him leave his spot on the sideline for any length of time, but Hill’s loss necessitated it: “So, there was the better part of a quarter going back through all of our offense that was maybe plays that were Josh Hill friendly. Now, can we still run those plays with someone else or not? That is something that took a bit of time.”

This hopefully won’t be a lingering issue for Hill, but concussions are tricky. These brain injuries can sideline players for weeks and leave damage that lasts past their playing days. He was concussed early in last year’s NFC championship game, and missed time back in 2017 with another concussion, making this instance his third reported brain injury. One of his former Saints teammates, Coby Fleener, ended his playing career after a series of concussions, so Hill is well aware of the danger these injuries pose. Here’s hoping it isn’t that serious.

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