Tag: reaction

Sean Payton saw a lot to like of ‘Florida Tom Brady’ in disastrous golf outing

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton had to laugh at Tom Brady’s poor play in a celebrity golf match with Peyton Manning and Tiger Woods.

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Many viewers turned into Sunday’s high-profile celebrity golf match featuring Peyton Manning (and Tiger Woods) against Tom Brady (with Phil Mickelson) expecting a clash of the titans, with the pros setting the pace for two accomplished amateurs.

Instead, the Manning-Woods duo won the day with a runaway lead, with Mickelson doing his best to carry Brady as he struggled with the elements at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. And of course Manning was quick on the trigger with trash talk as Brady floundered.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton also got in on the ribbing. Watching from home, Payton saw Brady’s slow start as an opportunity to joke about the Florida version of Brady, which moved with far less poise than the established New England model.

Even Brady’s highlights came with a fall from grace. After making the shot of the day on the seventh hole, scoring birdie from maybe 150 yards out, he immediately followed up splitting his pants when retrieving the ball.

Thankfully, one enterprising Saints fan was quick to offer a patch for the six-time Super Bowl winner:

We’ll see soon if Brady’s difficulties adjusting to life in Florida carry over to the football field. But if nothing else, it’s great to see that the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is mortal.

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Larry Warford says his goodbyes to the Saints

New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford said goodbye to his teammates and fans after being released on Friday afternoon.

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The New Orleans Saints released right guard Larry Warford on Friday, parting ways with the three-time Pro Bowler to open a spot in the starting lineup for first-round draft pick Cesar Ruiz — though it’ll take a training camp competition to determine whether Ruiz or Erik McCoy (who played center last year) will directly replace the veteran.

Warford’s release also clears the Saints of about $7.75 million in spending room beneath the 2020 salary cap and opens a spot on the 90-man roster. The Saints will likely look to add another veteran player to fill that vacancy, so stay tuned for a follow-up move.

It’s a disappointing end to Warford’s tenure with the Saints. He reached the Pro Bowl in each of his three years in New Orleans after coming over from the Detroit Lions as a free agent contract. But poor performance last season and a bloated contract spelled the end of his Saints career after the team drafted Ruiz.

Warford took time to thank Saints fans for their support in a post from his official Twitter account:

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Taysom Hill’s new Saints contract earns fiery Twitter reactions from NFL fans

The New Orleans Saints signed Taysom Hill to a two-year contract extension, prompting NFL Twitter to explode in an outpouring of reactions.

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Nothing brings avid football fans together like Taysom Hill. Whether he’s dropping back to pass or catching a throw himself, the damage he does to their fantasy football teams and carefully curated data spreadsheets is sure to get Twitter riled up.

On Sunday, Hill committed an even greater sin by signing a two-year, $21 million contract extension with the Saints that includes $16 million in guarantees. It puts him in prime position to take over for Drew Brees in 2021 as the Saints starting quarterback, while also putting football writers across the country in a fit as they try to rationalize how the Saints could spend so irresponsibly.

See the reactions for yourself:

 

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Watch: Drew Brees, Zion Williamson welcome Cesar Ruiz to New Orleans

New Orleans Saints first-round draft pick Cesar Ruiz received messages from two of the city’s sports icons: Drew Brees and Zion Williamson.

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The New Orleans Saints selected Michigan center Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and it didn’t take long for several big names in the local sports scene to reach out and welcome the rookie to the city.

One of Ruiz’s first teammates to contact him was someone he’ll become very well acquainted with once the Saints gather for training camp: quarterback Drew Brees. Brees interrupted a videoconference call between Ruiz and NFL Network’s Jane Slater, who shared the quarterback’s message on Twitter.

Sporting what appears to be a “quarantine beard,” Brees strolled into camera and excitedly greeted Ruiz, emphasizing how eager he is to get to work. See it for yourself:

If you’re wondering why Brees awkwardly staggered into view at the start of the clip, well, it’s him pulling a dad move. Brees was mimicking the dance moves Ruiz showed off on Thursday night when he learned that the Saints were picking him, which Saints coach Sean Payton joked, “This is what sealed it!”

But Brees wasn’t the only New Orleans sports icon to reach out to Ruiz, though. New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson, the face of the franchise, also shared a message to Ruiz — “from one first-round pick to another.”

Interestingly, Williamson echoed the same advice that Brees shared with him after the Pelicans drafted him last summer: if you show New Orleans love, it’ll love you back.

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Cameron Jordan throws shade at Bucs after Tristan Wirfs trade

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan took aim at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after their 2020 NFL Draft trade for Tristan Wirfs.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t waste any time in getting some help for Tom Brady, trading up one spot in the 2020 NFL Draft to select Iowa Hawkeyes left tackle Tristan Wirfs.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan wasn’t impressed, asking for someone to clarify something for him — whether or not the Buccaneers paid their offensive tackles last season or not. They did pay out a three-year extension for Donovan Smith, the incumbent left tackle, and picked up the 2019 contract option on right tackle Demar Dotson (who has not re-signed for 2020).

Of course, he knew that answer. What Jordan really wanted to know was what happened after those contracts were handed out. That answer would be two losses by Tampa Bay to the Saints, in which Jordan’s defense racked up a combined eight sacks. Jordan accounted for 2.5 of those.

It’s going to be a challenge for Wirfs to do much better. Jordan is an annual Pro Bowler, one of the game’s All-Pro caliber talents, and he’s beaten linemen who are more experienced and more athletic than the rookie. He’s certainly looking forward to testing his new division rival.

This sort of draft-day trash talk isn’t new to Jordan. He also took aim at the Atlanta Falcons last year, laughing off their reinforcements along the offensive line. On Thanksgiving, he backed up those barbs with four sacks in prime time, a new career-high. He’s not afraid to chirp at his competition. But unlike many tall-talkers, Jordan is ready to back it up.

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Michael Thomas congratulates Joe Burrow on being picked first overall

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas is a big fan of LSU QB Joe Burrow, picked first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft

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LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow was picked first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he has a big fan in New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas.

Thomas congratulated Burrow on his accomplishment and his arrival to the NFL, acknowledging the struggles Burrow experienced at the college level before his breakout 2019 season. Burrow once played for Thomas’s alma mater with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but transferred to LSU after losing the starting quarterback battle with Dwayne Haskins.

It’s a great gesture by Thomas, who has dealt with his own adversity before a meteoric rise into NFL history. Maybe Burrow will experience a similar surge in Cincinnati, a town that’s been hurting for someone to rally around.

However, Burrow already played a part in making NFL history — immediately after he was selected first overall, the subsequent picks were Buckeyes teammates Chase Young (to the Washington Redskins) and Jeff Okudah (to the Detroit Lions). It’s the first time in the draft’s history that three teammates made up the first three picks. And that’s something Thomas, a proud Buckeye himself, took note of:

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How would Alvin Kamara feel about re-signing with the Saints?

Saints RB Alvin Kamara has found a new home in New Orleans, and hopes to find a contract extension much like Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey

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The NFL world was rocked on Monday by the news of a huge four-year, $64 million contract extension between running back Christian McCaffrey and the Carolina Panthers. Beyond the deal’s immediate impact on the Panthers as a franchise, it shook up the landscape of running back contracts around the league.

For New Orleans Saints fans tuned into Alvin Kamara’s Twitch stream with Bleacher Report, they earned a live reaction from one of the game’s most popular players — whose own contract is set to expire after the 2020 season. Kamara was thoughtful when asked how he’d feel about signing his own multiyear extension with the Saints.

“Man, that’s,” Kamara started, pausing to gather his thoughts. “New Orleans was a place I hadn’t been to. I’d never been to New Orleans until I got drafted to New Orleans. Just to be able to get to New Orleans, and have that city embrace me, just take me in, basically adopt me, man it’s amazing. There’s so much love there. It’s a dope city even outside of the football. It’s beautiful people, it’s lit, it’s a vibe.”

Kamara has spoken often about his appreciation for the city’s culture and the support of its fanbase; he often walks to and from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on game days from his downtown apartment, pausing for photographs along the way. But the sense of brotherhood he’s felt in the Saints locker room is just as important.

“If we’re talking about the football,” Kamara said, “I’ve never been around a group of guys like in New Orleans who just want to win, who just want to be there for each other, and be around each other.”

The Saints are headed for uncharted territory, with franchise quarterback Drew Brees drawing up his retirement plans and a host of big-money contract extensions on the horizon. Kamara is one of several young stars whose cheap rookie deals will run out soon, along with right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, and free safety Marcus Williams. That’s not to mention decorated veterans like linebacker Demario Davis and tight end Jared Cook.

Even if the Saints are able to transition from Brees to a younger, low-cost quarterback (whether it’s Taysom Hill or someone else) it’s not realistic to expect the Saints to keep everyone. Recent losses including safety Vonn Bell and running back Mark Ingram speak to that. Everyone is rightfully going to want their money, and the Saints won’t be able to compromise with all of them. Hopefully they can hammer out an agreement with Kamara before it’s too late; it’s obvious his heart is in it.

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Watch: Alvin Kamara reacts to Christian McCaffrey’s new contract extension

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara reacted live on camera to Christian McCaffrey’s contract extension with the Carolina Panthers.

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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara was kicked back and shirtless, enjoying a casual afternoon of “Call of Duty” with some friends and writers from Bleacher Report when a notification flashed across his vision.

“Ooh wait pause, pause, pause” Kamara said, reading from his phone live on Twitch, the popular video game streaming platform. “Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey signed a four-year extension, $16 million a year.”

The report came from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, detailing a blockbuster contract extension between the Panthers and the new face of their franchise. The Panthers showed former first-overall draft pick Cam Newton the door earlier this offseason, prompting Kamara’s teammate Cameron Jordan to try and talk his longtime rival into jumping on board.

When asked to share his thoughts on what McCaffrey’s big payday meant for him, all Kamara had to offer were smiles.

“Hey man, look, I don’t even,” Kamara grinned, “I just play football. I’m just a football guy. I don’t worry with all these contracts and all these things, all this money.”

Still, Kamara took time to offer a shoutout to McCaffrey, thanking his peer for raising the bar and appreciating his talents. The two talented running backs have drawn plenty of comparisons over the years, having entered the NFL in the same 2017 draft class and going on to make mincemeat out of the same NFC South defenses every other week. They also both each excel at making plays on the ground as easily as through the air.

But McCaffrey has proven able to shoulder a heavier workload than Kamara, who has done his best work when paired with a complimentary weapon like Mark Ingram or Latavius Murray. The exact ramifications from this deal on Kamara’s future are hard to pin down, but there will be some sort of aftershock. And while he’s playing coy publicly, that’s certainly going to weigh on Kamara’s mind if the Saints make him an offer ahead of the 2020 season, the final year on his rookie deal.

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Sean Payton gets in a crafty dig at the Falcons on Twitter

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton had some spare time, so he got on Twitter and joked about the Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl collapse:

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The rivalry between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons is one of the NFL’s most underrated competitions, representing the closest thing the pro level has to the generations-long bouts you’ll see in college football. And not even Saints coach Sean Payton is above indulging in the fun every now and then.

Approached by a Falcons fan on Twitter who joked that Payton should, “Get back in your bag and provide us some show reviews,” during the lengthy stay-at-home orders many Americans are respecting in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Payton obliged — but was careful to take a jab at the Falcons’ expense.

We’ve embedded the exchange below; read it once for some legitimate recommendations from a few prominent streaming services, then look a little deeper.

The first letter in each line of Payton’s response spells out, “28 to 3, Houston we have a problem,” referencing the Falcons’ historic collapse in Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots (at the Houston Texans’ NRG Stadium, no less. Good on Coach for doing his homework).

That game of course saw the Falcons surrender a 25-point lead late in the third quarter, setting the franchise back years and denying Falcons faithful the Super Bowl win they’ve spent so many years chasing. Honestly, you love to see it.

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Ex-Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks is the NFL’s hot potato

Brandin Cooks has been traded again, joining the Houston Texans after the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams.

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Former New Orleans Saints first-round draft pick Brandin Cooks found himself on the move again, when the Los Angeles Rams agreed to trade him to the Houston Texans. The Rams themselves acquired Cooks in a trade with the New England Patriots a few years back, meaning the talented wideout will have played with four different NFL teams before his 27th birthday.

Reactions to the news featured mixed reviews, to put it charitably. The Texans swapped a second-round pick (No. 57 in this year’s draft) for Cooks and a fourth-round pick in 2022, effectively negating the draft capital they gained by shipping out a much better wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins just weeks ago. Texans coach and de facto general manager Bill O’Brien essentially traded Hopkins for Cooks, injury-prone running back David Johnson, and a mid-round pick two years from now.

But let’s not lose sight of the Saints’ role in this. They were the first team to trade Cooks, exchanging him for a first-round pick in the 2017 draft (that eventually became all-world right tackle Ryan Ramczyk), following an offseason in which he bellyached to the media about his sometimes-limited role in the offense.

If Cooks had been more of a team player, it’s possible he and Michael Thomas would have grown into the NFL’s most devastating one-two punch at wide receiver. Instead, he’ll be jostling for targets with Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills (another ex-Saints draft pick), and a handful of other wideouts. Maybe he’ll stick better with the Texans after washing out from other programs.

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