Tag: reaction

Bill Belichick nonplussed by Antonio Brown’s Saints tryout

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick kept his thoughts on Antonio Brown’s tryout with the New Orleans Saints characteristically muted.

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The New Orleans Saints put free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown through a free agent tryout on Friday, sending a ripple effect throughout the NFL. That news eventually reached one of Brown’s former bosses — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who cut Brown after two accusations of sexual assault were leveled against him back in September. Brown responded with a lengthy, explicit social media tirade.

As for Belichick: when asked whether he had a reaction to news of Brown’s workout with the Saints, his first contact with an NFL team since the Patriots released him, the Patriots head coach kept his comments characteristically brief.

“Focused on Miami. Doesn’t really have anything to do with us,” Belichick told NESN’s Doug Kyed.

Brown only played in one game this year with New England, catching 4 of his 7 targets for 56 yards and a touchdown. He also logged one rushing attempt for five yards. The 7.0 yards per target Brown averaged so far in 2019 is the lowest mark of his career, which is probably due to playing with a washed-up quarterback in Tom Brady (who ranks 26th in yards per pass attempt). There’s no doubt Drew Brees (tied for 10th-best) would be an improvement, if the Saints do indeed sign him.

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Steve Gleason taunts the Falcons after early gaffe: ‘Never punt’

New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason didn’t pass up the opportunity to taunt the NFC South-rival Atlanta Falcons after a botched punt.

No one was happier to see the New Orleans Saints block an Atlanta Falcons punt early in their game on Thanksgiving night than Steve Gleason, the living legend whose own block against the Falcons is immortalized with a bronze statue outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Even though his playing days are long behind him, the Saints’ retired playmaker remains an avid fan of his old team and made sure to tune in for their game with his family After Saints quarterback Taysom Hill cut through the Atlanta line to deflect the punt away, giving his team the ball, Gleason took to his official Twitter account to taunt the Falcons:

Gleason has been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since 2011, a neurodegenerative disease that has confined him to a wheelchair and taken away his ability to speak. He now relies on cutting-edge software to type on an electric keyboard with his eyes, using a text-to-speech program  to communicate.

But he and his family haven’t let that condition prevent him from living his life to the fullest. The Gleasons continue to travel often, and they welcomed their second child to their family last year. He remains a common sight on the sidelines at Saints games and is actively involved in his Team Gleason Foundation.

So here’s to Steve Gleason, one of the greatest alumni of Saints coach Sean Payton’s management of the team. Despite all the adversity he’s experienced, he still has his sense of humor, and is eager to use it to dunk on the Falcons.

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