Tag: reaction

Michael Thomas reacts to news of Saints being on Russell Wilson’s shortlist

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson reportedly named the New Orleans Saints as a trade destination, putting WR Michael Thomas on notice.

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Count Michael Thomas in the lobby that would love to see Russell Wilson wearing black and gold. The New Orleans Saints wide receiver shared a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter listing the Saints among a small group of teams the Seattle Seahawks quarterback would waive his no-trade clause to join on his official Instagram account, quickly followed by a photo of Thomas and Wilson together at the Pro Bowl.

That’s about as strong of an endorsement as anyone can make right now. Wilson has not requested a trade from Seattle, but it’s unusual he did give the Seahawks a shortlist of teams he’d approve a trade to. And no deals can become official until the start of the new league year on March 17, so Thomas really isn’t in position to say anything of greater substance.

But you have to like the fit of Wilson in New Orleans. Thomas certainly appears to be eager for a team-up. Injuries kept him sidelined too often in 2020, but it’s worth remembering that followed his record-breaking 2019 campaign that won NFL Offensive Player of the Year recognition. Pairing Thomas with a quarterback who is capable of making more throws than anyone else Thomas has played with — Taysom Hill, Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston, and Drew Brees, too — sure would be enticing.

On the other hand — the Seahawks would have to explore including Thomas in a possible trade for Wilson, right? He’s arguably New Orleans’ biggest trade chip considering their lacking draft capital right now. At any rate, the 2021 offseason is shaping up to be the most exciting in recent memory for Saints fans. It’s sure to be the least predictable.

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Drew Brees comments on the death of Marty Schottenheimer

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees shared his reaction to the death of his former Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer on Instagram.

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The NFL lost an icon with the passing of Marty Schottenheimer at 77, after battling Alzheimer’s since 2014. Schottenheimer finished his 21-year NFL coaching career with the eighth-most wins in league history (totaling a 200-126-1 record) and was named 2004 Coach of the Year for his efforts with the then-San Diego Chargers.

And his quarterback that year? New Orleans Saints passer Drew Brees, who earned his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2004 under Schottenheimer’s guidance. Brees reacted to news of his former coach’s death on social media.

“The lessons and wisdom of Marty Schottenheimer will forever ring in my ears,” Brees wrote from his official Instagram account. “He loved his players and he loved his family. I am so grateful and honored to have played for him. Rest In Peace Coach Marty!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFHcemhHhh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Twitter reaction from WR Danny Davis’ decision to return next season

Wide receiver Danny Davis announced his decision to return to the Badgers next season, safety Madison Cone entered the transfer portal

We had a news-filled night Monday. Wide receiver Danny Davis announced his decision to return to the Badgers next season. Safety Madison Cone entered the transfer portal, and a report surfaced that offensive lineman Jon Dietzen is pursuing a shot at the NFL.

The most significant of the three is Davis, who started for the Badgers last season but only played in two games due to injury.

Related: Wisconsin football seniors 2021 roster decision tracker

He is in line to start again next season across from Kendric Pryor, both seniors who decided to return for a final season. To say the rest of the team understands the weight of his decision is an understatement, as even incoming recruits took to Twitter to announce their excitement.

Here is all of the best Twitter reaction to Davis’ announcement:

OT Tyler Beach:

Incoming freshman WR Markus Allen:

Senior WR Kendric Pryor:

Incoming freshman WR Skyler Bell:

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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Michael Thomas reacts to Jaguars hiring Urban Meyer

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas is a proud Ohio State Buckeyes alum, so he was intrigued to see the Jaguars hire coach Urban Meyer.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars shook up the football world on Thursday when they named Urban Meyer their new head coach, and some of his former players took notice. New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas was a standout on Meyer’s Ohio State Buckeyes teams, and the wideout took time to congratulate his old coach on Twitter after the Jaguars announced their new hire.

Many former Buckeyes have started their NFL careers with the Saints in recent years, all of whom were recruited by and connected to Meyer at some point. The list includes Thomas and cornerback Marshon Lattimore, though safety Malcolm Jenkins graduated from Ohio State before Meyer was hired back in 2012.

While it’s possible they could cross paths again soon, at a preseason game or league event, the Saints and Jaguars won’t play each other in the regular season until at least 2023. New Orleans is scheduled to face the AFC East in 2021 before drawing the AFC North in 2022, with their next matchup with the entire AFC South the following year.

While Meyer brings an impressive resume to Jacksonville — his Buckeyes run finished with an 83-9 record, and he won national championship titles with both Ohio State and the Florida Gators — he’s also brought along some baggage, like the controversy surrounding his defense of former assistant coach Zach Smith amid domestic abuse allegations and a streak of dozens of arrests among his players at Florida.

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LOOK: Former Badger F Sam Dekker reacts to Wisconsin landing three-star PF Markus Ilver

The Wisconsin Badgers landed a class of 2021 commitment yesterday from three-star power forward Markus Ilver. Former Badger Sam Dekker

The Wisconsin Badgers landed a semi-surprise class of 2021 commitment yesterday from three-star power forward Markus Ilver, the No. 42-ranked power forward in the class and the No. 6 player from the state of Ohio.

Ilver, an Estonia native, plays his high school basketball at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio and now joins PG Chucky Hepburn and forwards Matthew Mors and Chris Hodges in Wisconsin basketball’s class of 2021.

Related: Everything Wisconsin HC Greg Gard said after yesterday’s blowout loss at Michigan

After his commitment moved the class to No. 32 in the nation and No. 4 in the Big Ten, former Wisconsin star forward Sam Dekker took to Twitter to congratulate Ilver and explain what kind of player Wisconsin is getting.

Site editor Asher Low ran through a brief scouting report of the Badgers’ new member of the class of 2021 yesterday.

“Standing at 6-foot-8, he is known for his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting, but has the ability to attack the closeout with high-level athleticism. His lightning fast release will immediately translate at the next level.”

Here is a look at Ilver’s shooting from this past year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjOG84eOgTk&feature=emb_title

Falcons have great Twitter response after Saints come up short of the perfect score

The Atlanta Falcons were anxious about the prospects of a 28-3 win for the New Orleans Saints, but the Chicago Bears helped avoid that.

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We were so close to greatness. When Drew Brees leapt over the top on fourth-and-goal for a would-be touchdown, the New Orleans Saints were a film confirmation and extra-point try away from beating the Chicago Bears by a score of 28-3.

Instead, the official review ruled Brees short, and the Bears raced downfield to put up some points in garbage time, losing instead by 21-9. And the Atlanta Falcons shared a very opportune reaction video on Twitter to breathe a sigh of relief, meaning no more fodder for jokes from Saints fans, their hated rivals.

The Falcons, of course, were up 28-3 over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, signaling an all-but-certain championship title for Atlanta — which would have been the franchise’s first. Instead, they choked in a big spot, and the Patriots went on to earn their glory.

And Saints fans have enjoyed the reference ever since, wearing the 28-3 scoreboard on hats and shirts, waving it from rooftops on banners and handmade signs at festivals around New Orleans and even during Saints games. It would have been sweet to add more fuel to that fire, but we’ll take the playoff victory instead.

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Alvin Kamara had the best reaction to possible Christmas Day uniform violations fine

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara is expecting a uniform violations fine from the NFL office for his festive Christmas Day cleats.

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Alvin Kamara reminded the football world that he’s one of the best players in the NFL by dashing for 155 rushing yards and six touchdown carries on Christmas day against the Minnesota Vikings. The New Orleans Saints star was the first person to achieve that many scoring runs since the NFL-AFL merger, joining an exclusive group of athletes to do so in pro football’s history.

So the Pro Football Hall of Fame is expected to ring Kamara soon, likely to put his festive red-and-green cleats on display in Canton, Ohio. But Kamara is expected the NFL’s strict uniform policy to hit him with a fine for violating the approved footwear rules first.

“Oh, they’re probably going to fine me,” Kamara shrugged during his postgame media availability. “If they fine me, whatever it is, I’ll just match it and donate it to charity. You know that the Grinch always tries to steal Christmas.”

Meanwhile, his teammate Cameron Jordan offered another suggestion after the record-setting performance: “Well, when the Hall of Fame calls to come get the cleats, now he’s just got to charge them,” Jordan smirked, “So he can break even.”

First-offense fines for violating the league uniform policy clock in at $5,000; subsequent violations total $10,000. Fines paid out for these violations are collected into foundations that benefit former players, so they’ll go to good to use. And as Kamara said, he plans to match any potential fine with his own charitable donation. After signing a $75 million contract extension earlier this year (which arguably still leaves him underpaid relative to his performance), Kamara can afford it.

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Social media reaction to the Lions hiring Chris Spielman is overwhelmingly positive

Hiring Spielman has been a very popular move for the Lions

The news spread like wildfire across social media. So did the enthusiasm for the Detroit Lions and their decision to hire franchise legend Chris Spielman to lead the search for the new GM and head coach of the team.

It was genuinely hard to find anyone in the professional media ranks or the Lions fans base who doesn’t applaud the move by new Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and team president Rod Wood, who will work with Spielman.

The fans seem to love it too:

And from my friend Neal, my son’s old 8th grade football coach,

Demario Davis reacts to Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis thanked the team for his Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nomination during a difficult year.

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Demario Davis was nominated for the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award this week, and the New Orleans Saints linebacker took time to thank the team for that recognition from his official Twitter account.

Between his efforts on the field — which earned him an All-Pro nod and a three-year contract extension this offseason — and his leadership in advocating for civil rights and criminal justice reform off of it, Davis has had a busy year and proven how much he means to his community.

The award’s winner will be announced in January; here’s how you can support Davis in the weeks ahead.

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Terron Armstead confirms positive COVID-19 test, says ‘Everyone stay safe’

New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead confirmed his positive COVID-19 test result, which will sideline him for Week 12 vs. Broncos.

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Multiple reports on Saturday named New Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead as the player who tested positive for COVID-19, which Armstead himself confirmed from his official Twitter account. He’s as bummed as anyone to miss this week’s game with the Denver Broncos, but he understands the bigger issue of everyone doing their best to stay safe.

Armstead said that he is not experiencing symptoms of an infection, which suggests he could be on track to return sooner rather than later. If he continues to not exhibit symptoms and can test negative twice, with a window of 24 hours between tests, he can be cleared to join his teammates for next week’s game with the Atlanta Falcons.

Still, the Saints will be feeling his loss in the short-term, even if it ends up being just one game. Armstead has played like one of the best left tackles in the NFL this season. Here’s hoping backup left tackle James Hurst can hold it down in his absence, however long it ends up lasting.

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