Tag: Report

Report: Mike Nolan ‘one to watch’ for Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys staff

New Orleans Saints linebackers coach Mike Nolan is reportedly under consideration to join Mike McCarthy’s newly-formed Dallas Cowboys staff.

The Dallas Cowboys have hired their new head coach, teaming up with longtime Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy. And he’s moving quickly to build a staff. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that New Orleans Saints linebackers coach Mike Nolan is someone being considered for a role in McCarthy’s organization.

And this story has legs. Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reported that Nolan’s connections to the Cowboys run deep — his father Dick Nolan worked with legendary Cowboys coaches Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson, and the Nolan family still has roots in Dallas to this day.

Still, Gehlken added that nothing has happened yet. Nolan is busy conducting exit interviews with his players on Monday, and won’t entertain offers or interview with other teams until that is all wrapped up. But it wouldn’t be a shock to see him leave for a larger role with a new staff.

The Saints only picked up Nolan in the first place after he took a year off of coaching to try his hand in the media, making on-air appearances with NFL Network back in 2016. Before that, he served as defensive coordinator for several different teams, and even has head coach experience (with the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 to 2008). He’s been a valuable addition to New Orleans, helping scout and develop talent at a position that was lacking it for all too long. The Saints do not have an assistant linebackers coach on staff right now, so it’s unclear who would replace Nolan if he left.

[vertical-gallery id=26470]

Al Riveron explains why there was no OPI foul in final play of Saints-Vikings

NFL officiating chief Al Riveron explained why Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph was not fouled for pass interference against the Saints.

The New Orleans Saints just wrapped up a game, so NFL officiating supervisor Al Riveron had to call in and explain what happened at the end. It seems the Saints can’t just play a game without some sort of officiating controversy clouding things.

In this case, questions surrounded a possible push-off by Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph against Saints cornerback P.J. Williams on the final play of the game, which could have constituted offensive pass interference and given the Saints defense another opportunity to get off the field. No penalty was called for it, however, and Riveron defended the decision.

“None of that contact rises to the level of a foul,” Riveron told The Athletic’s Larry Holder. As a scoring play, it was automatically reviewed by Riveron’s office in New York, and he expressed confidence in the different angles Fox provided them.

“Yes, FOX was great,” Riveron said. “They gave us every angle that they had pertaining to the play. So, we’re very comfortable with what we saw. Nothing came through afterward that we had not seen prior to making the ruling.”

It’s ridiculous that these debates about officiating keep trailing the Saints. Human errors are going to happen in every game — it’s part of the argument in favor not automating more of the officiating process — but it’s outrageous that they keep happening to the Saints in the highest-leverage moments. Wouldn’t it be great if they could just have a game and win or lose without any question of to what degree the referees got involved?

[vertical-gallery id=26470]

Sean Payton: ‘I probably wasn’t telling the truth’ when denying Antonio Brown interest

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton spoke at length about his team’s interest in working out and maybe signing wide receiver Antonio Brown.

[jwplayer bxIdhpR7-ThvAeFxT]

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton spoke with the media following the team’s Friday practice session, as well as an earlier workout with six free agent wide receivers including four-time All-Pro Antonio Brown.

When asked why the Saints were hosting Brown on a visit now after having denied any interest in the player back in September. His response speaks for itself.

“Well, I probably wasn’t telling you the truth a few months ago,” Payton admitted. “We’ve done this at other positions (than wide receiver). We’re looking closely all the time at ‘Who are the players available, and how can they help us?’ Especially as we’re getting ready for the postseason.”

Payton added that the Saints don’t plan on signing Brown at this time, and they’re waiting on more information from the NFL office in New York as to whether the wide receiver would be subject to a league suspension due to recent allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. Beyond any legal issues, Brown’s troubling social media activity is also something on the Saints’ radar.

“All of it, all of that goes into a decision like that,” Payton answered when asked whether the team actually monitors what players like Brown are doing, saying, recording, or posting online. “It’s part of the process of bringing a player in.” He noted that he had never had a conversation with Brown before, so Friday’s visit was a big part of their fact-finding mission.

While the Saints haven’t signed Brown yet, the possibility of it happening can’t be ruled out. Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, spoke highly of his meeting with the Saints to ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “Antonio had a very good visit today and we will continue our discussions with the Saints.” This story won’t be going away any time soon.

[lawrence-related id=25733,25722,25653,25645]

[vertical-gallery id=25612]

Saints working out free agent WR Antonio Brown

The New Orleans Saints worked out WR Antonio Brown, the All-Pro who got himself traded by the Steelers and cut by the Raiders and Patriots.

[jwplayer bxIdhpR7-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints are working out free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown on Friday, the four-time former All-Pro announced from his official Instagram account. His visit was confirmed by reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who characterized the meeting as the Saints “doing their due diligence” on the talented but troubled free agent.

Brown wasn’t in New Orleans beyond sundown before he involved the Saints in his always-going social media firestorm, sharing a photo of the text from a confidential free agent waiver form he signed to work out with the team. He later deleted it from his account, though he still confirmed the tryout in another post.

There’s no doubting Brown’s skills on the football field. He’s set records that Michael Thomas has broken this year, and was coveted by all three of the teams he signed with already this year — the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, and New England Patriots. But Brown’s numerous legal troubles range from unpaid speeding tickets to alleged sexual assault, which the NFL is still investigating. Not to mention the headaches he’s causing on social media.

Because Brown has not been signed with a team since the Patriots cut him, he is not qualified for the Commissioner’s Exempt List. The NFL said earlier this year that, “If he is signed by a club, such placement may become appropriate at any time depending on the status of the investigation.” In other words, Brown is likely to be suspended before the ink dries on any contract he signs, with the Saints or anyone else. Still, this is a situation to monitor as the Saints move forwards without consistent production opposite Thomas at wide receiver.

[vertical-gallery id=25612]

Colts’ T.Y. Hilton a game-time decision vs. Saints, but ‘trending in the right direction’

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to play star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton against the New Orleans Saints, but it’s far from certain.

[jwplayer Nnkc85uA-ThvAeFxT]

The Indianapolis Colts offense could get a huge boost on Monday night for their game with the New Orleans Saints. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that veteran Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is expected to be a game-time decision to play against New Orleans, with team medical staff wanting to see how his injured calf responds during pregame warmups.

Hilton returned to Colts practice on a limited basis last week after missing Indianapolis’ last two games; the speedster is averaging a career-low 10.8 yards per reception in 2019, but he remains the focal point of their offense when healthy. His 5.0 receptions per game and 54.0 receiving yards per game set the pace for the rest of the team, and his 5 touchdown catches ties number-two receiver Zach Pascal for the lead (despite having played just 7 games this year). If his injured calf responds well on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome turf, he’ll be a big threat for the Saints defense to counter.

How would the Saints defend Hilton if he plays? The easy answer would be to assign number-one cornerback Marshon Lattimore to him, with Eli Apple covering Pascal from the other spot. But things could be shaken up with the loss of starting safety Vonn Bell, which pushes rookie defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson into the lineup in Bell’s place. Gardner-Johnson has shared time with P.J. Williams in slot coverage duties throughout the season, and the Colts make a point of rotating various receiving options (including tight ends and running backs) into that alignment to create defensive mismatches.

And as Rapoport said, Hilton will not be playing at full health if he does suit up. There’s a chance the Saints don’t assign any specific coverage to him if he is able to go, given his condition, but that runs the danger of underestimating the impact he can have. There’s absolutely a scenario where he’s able to catch a Saints cornerback at unawares and get behind them for a big gain. New Orleans has to be ready for anything with Hilton and the Colts backed up against a wall, with their season on the line.

[vertical-gallery id=24630]

Report: Sean Payton leveraged Cowboys’ interest to get new Saints contract

The Dallas Cowboys gauged Sean Payton’s interest in joining them during the offseason, which he used to re-up with the New Orleans Saints.

[jwplayer kdfVKC7b-ThvAeFxT]

The news of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton’s five-year contract extension was forgotten in the wake of a serious hand injury to quarterback Drew Brees on that same day, but it’s important to remember as we inch towards the offseason.

Specifically, the Dallas Cowboys-centric news cycle that’s sure to dominate the spring and summer. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is poised to finally move on from lame duck coach Jason Garrett, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported this week that Payton will not be an option — because of that same contract extension. Ironically, Rapoport added that previous interest from the Cowboys played a part in Payton signing on long-term with New Orleans.

“Last year after the season, through back channels, nothing official,” Rapoport said, “the Cowboys made it known that they would be interested in Sean Payton if he was interested in them. And obviously a lot of things would have to happen. Payton considered it, he helped use that leverage to land a new contract that was actually agreed to last winter, not earlier this season.”

While Payton’s friendship with the Jones family is strong (he famously came up in their organization as an assistant to legendary coach Bill Parcells), it’s clear that after considering what Dallas has to offer, he’d like to remain friends rather than employer-and-employee. And that’s perfectly understandable. It’s just too good that Payton not only turned the Cowboys down, but used their interest to expedite negotiations with the Saints and tie him to the team even stronger than before.

The next chapter of Saints football is going to be as fascinating to watch as all the previous entries, because Payton will be there to manage it. He’ll continue to make bold in-game decisions and keep the offseason lively with gambling free agent signings and draft pick valuations. By locking himself to the Saints through 2026, he’s ensured that he’ll continue to make the rules and call the shots in New Orleans — even after Drew Brees has hung up his cleats.

Whether the next Saints quarterback is already on the roster, waiting on another NFL team, or finishing up his college career before entering the draft, fans can rest easy knowing Payton’s will be here to work with them. He’s guided the franchise through a golden age of football, delivered New Orleans its first Super Bowl, and is hard at work to go in its second Lombardi Trophy. All fans can do is enjoy the ride.

[vertical-gallery id=24630]

Sheldon Rankins has options, but likely to end 2019 with ankle injury

The New Orleans Saints are still holding out hope but defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is likely to end the 2019 season with an ankle injury

[jwplayer ZnzdqH8F-ThvAeFxT]

Bad news comes in pairs for the New Orleans Saints these days. Just hours after starting defensive end Marcus Davenport’s season was reported to be over with a foot injury, reports flooded in saying that defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is likely to close out the year with an ankle issue. While Rankins is considering every possible, options, there doesn’t appear to be a path for him to return to play this year. Both defensive linemen were injured in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The first report of Rankins’ murky status came from John Hendrix of Sports Illustrated; NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed it to be a significant injury. The easy excuse to point to in this latest lower-leg injury for Rankins would be his quick return from last year’s ruptured Achilles, but Nola.com’s Luke Johnson clarified that Rankins injured his right ankle, while that Achilles injury occurred in his left leg. They aren’t related problems.

These are a series of blows to New Orleans’ deepest position, which is the only silver lining to the situation. The Saints have run so deep along the defensive line that Taylor Stallworth, a player who logged 365 snaps a year ago including the playoffs, was demoted to the practice squad. He’s likely to get called up should Rankins go on injured reserve, as is expected.

Still, there’s no other way to spin this: it’s a big setback for Rankins, who has battled hard to help his team and stay on the field after injuries limited his first few years in the NFL. His rookie season was abbreviated after he broke his leg in training camp, and the Achilles tear obviously ended his 2018 campaign. Now, he’ll be finishing 2019 with more time in the trainers’ room. It has to be frustrating for him, but he’s proven he can bounce back before. It’s not for nothing that his teammates chose him for the 2019 Ed Block Courage Award. Here’s to a speedy recovery.

[vertical-gallery id=24148]

Report: Marcus Davenport’s year is over with foot injury

The New Orleans Saints lost defensive end Marcus Davenport to a foot injury against the San Francisco 49ers, and it will end his season.

Disaster struck the New Orleans Saints defense on Tuesday, with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reporting that starting defensive end Marcus Davenport is expected to go under the knife to repair a ‘significant’ foot injury that will end his season. Davenport suffered the injury in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. An earlier report from The Athletic’s Nick Underhill confirmed Davenport was dealing with a foot injury, but the severity was unclear at the time.

It’s a huge loss for the Saints, who invested two first-round draft picks in Davenport last season. He was really coming along in his second year with the team and currently ranks second-best in both sacks (6) and quarterback hits (16), with three sacks in his last three games. He had played 534 snaps on defense and made 76 appearances on special teams in 2019.

Foot issues have been a problem for Davenport early in his NFL career. He suffered a grade three turf toe injury last year, which cost him three games and required corrective surgery after the season ended. The nature and exact significance of his current injury is unknown, and it could be a day or two before the Saints release any new information. Saints coach Sean Payton is notoriously tight-lipped with player medical details.

So who will the Saints play opposite Cameron Jordan without him? Expect hybrid defensive end/tackle Mario Edwards Jr. to see increased snap counts in base looks while backup pass rusher Trey Hendrickson continues to play often in obvious passing situations. However, Hendrickson was also banged up with a knee injury against the 49ers. Undrafted rookie Carl Granderson has been a healthy inactive for much of this season, but he’ll probably get more opportunities moving forward.

The Saints are thinner at the position than they’d like to be; their only practice squad pass-rusher is Mitchell Loewen, who has converted to tight end and now wears No. 88 this season. New Orleans hosted veteran free agents Noah Spence, Shane Ray, and Chris Smith for a group workout on Tuesday, so they’re obviously considering all options. Don’t be shocked if one of them ends up signing with the Saints to see them through the rest of the year.

Report: Marcus Davenport managing foot injury after 49ers game

New Orleans Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport suffered a foot injury on a non-contact play against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was quieted late in the fourth quarter during Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. Second-year Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport pulled up after stepping into his rush and fell to the ground clutching at his left leg. He was able to walk off the field under his own power but didn’t return to the game after logging just 21 snaps on defense.

According to a report from The Athletic’s Nick Underhill, Davenport is managing a foot injury. We probably won’t know any specifics or the severity until the Saints publish their first injury report later this week, and even then the team is notoriously private about medical issues.

Still, a foot issue is better than, say, a knee injury. Maybe only marginally so, but it is better in the sense that fewer season-threatening ailments strike players in the feet than in their knees, where important ligaments like the ACL and MCL are located. It’s worth remembering that a serious grade-three turf toe injury slowed Davenport down in his rookie year and required surgery once it wrapped up. Here’s hoping his latest problem isn’t so serious.

[lawrence-related id=24267]

Report: Kiko Alonso ‘day-to-day’ with injury, status in doubt vs. 49ers

New Orleans Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso is reportedly managing a thigh injury on a day-to-day basis, requiring the signing of Manti Te’o.

The New Orleans Saints re-signed linebacker Manti Te’o on Tuesday, following injuries to starters Kiko Alonso and A.J. Klein. Te’o started most of the 2017 season for the Saints before improved health in the linebacker corps (and the addition of Demario Davis) sidelined him in 2018, and he’s been a free agent since then.

According to a report from Katherine Terrell of The Athletic, Alonso’s status with a thigh injury isn’t considered a long-term concern. Terrell reported that Alonso is day-to-day at this point and the team isn’t sure whether he will be cleared to play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. That could change in the next three days after team trainers get the opportunity to administer treatment and reevaluate Alonso’s condition, but in the meantime Te’o gives the Saints an experienced option to add to the depth chart.

Special teamers Craig Robertson and Stephone Anthony were each forced into last week’s game with the Atlanta Falcons after Alonso and Klein went out with injuries; it took a combined 11 snaps from them for the Saints to decide Te’o was needed. Whether Te’o plays on Sunday after being signed on the previous Tuesday is unlikely, but it can’t be ruled out if Alonso misses this 49ers game. Klein’s condition is less clear, and no information is coming out of New Orleans just yet on what’s ailing him. We should learn something when the week’s first injury report is published Wednesday afternoon.

[lawrence-related id=23784]

[vertical-gallery id=23720]