Tag: response

Darren Rizzi thinks new kickoff rule will make the play more dangerous

Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi believes NFL’s new kickoff rule will make the play more dangerous, via @southexclusives:

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The kickoff is one of the most exciting plays in football. The NFL has added rules to try to make that play safer over the years. As exciting as it is, it can also be one of the most violent plays as well, including some of the most frequent high speed collisions in the sport. There have been changes to blocking schemes, and we’ve seen spring football leagues try their own variations to make the play safe while keeping kickoffs exciting. The newest rule change might be detrimental to the excitement and the safety.

This latest rule change is the ball is spotted at the 25-yard line on fair catches in kickoffs. The hope is to see more fair catches as a result. More fair catches means less returns which obviously takes the excitement away from the play. That’s an easy reason to see why fans might not like the new rule. New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi also stands against the rule, but for a much different reason. He’s worked on an advisory committee with other special teams coaches around the league since 2018, aiming to make the game’s third phase safer.

But not only does Rizzi not expect teams to actually fair catch kickoffs more often, he objects to this rule because he thinks it will only lead to more chaos and danger. He directly called out the notion of number of returns impacting the reaction to the rule. Rizzi is solely focused on the health of players, telling NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett: “There was this false narrative being thrown around that the coaches didn’t want it because it was gonna be less returns. … The last thing any coach wants is to lose a player to injury.”

He foresees teams attempting to cancel out fair catches with squib kicks. This would lead to even more high speed collisions, clearly counter productive to what the league is trying to accomplish. Rizzi doesn’t believe the league considered the other side of the coin.

Rizzi even went as far to say, “I don’t think there’s a special teams coach in the league – in fact, I know there’s not a special teams coach in the league right now that likes the rule.” He sees other, more effective, ways to make the game safer, such as more penalties for lowering the head. This would put the power in coaches and officials to make the game safer. The extra 15 yards would definitely make keeping your head a point of emphasis. Coaches can teach that part out of the game with an extra motivation of penalties being called.

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Former Raiders exec Amy Trask shares perceptive take on Saints-Jon Gruden visit

Former Raiders executive Amy Trask shared a perceptive take to news of the Saints hosting Jon Gruden for a consultant visit at their facility:

Well that’s interesting. Former Oakland Raiders chief executive officer Amy Trask had a low opinion of the New Orleans Saints’ decision to hire her old coworker Dennis Allen as head coach last year, and she doesn’t appear to be reconsidering her stance in the wake of Allen’s decision to bring in disgraced ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden to visit the facility.

“Res Ipsa Loquitor (learned that in law school),” Trask wrote from her official Twitter account, “and before anyone replies ‘but, but, but,’ remember this: I worked with both men.”

It’s safe to say that Trask knows both Allen and Gruden well from their time together in the Raiders organization, or she at least believes she knows the content of their character. The Latin phrase she’s referencing means “the thing speaks for itself” and is a legal principle that says negligence may be inferred from the very nature of an accident in the absence of direct evidence.

So what did she mean by this? Trask disagreed with the Saints’ decision to promote Allen to head coach, and it appears she isn’t a fan of Allen’s decision to fly Gruden in for a consultation visit. But she wasn’t necessarily surprised Allen thought it would be a good idea: the act speaks for itself.

Allen has already defended his decision by saying he believed Gruden’s input could be valuable to the team, given his experience coaching Derek Carr before, and he isn’t worried about the pall that might be cast by linking the team to such a controversial figure. Gruden resigned after emails surfaced displaying flagrantly bigoted behavior. But if Gruden’s input can help the Saints win games, it’s a price Allen is willing to pay.

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Peter Schrager backtracks, says Sean Payton did not address the Saints

Peter Schrager backtracks and apologizes after Alvin Kamara callout, says Sean Payton did not address the Saints before their win vs. Raiders

There’s some much-needed clarification: NFL Network’s Peter Schrager backtracked on his previous report that former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton gave the team a “pep talk” before their win over the Las Vegas Raiders a few weeks ago, offering his apology from his official Twitter account.

“Misinterpreted this one,” Schrager wrote, “Payton was in town that week; didn’t address the team. I’ll own this one and eat it.”

What prompted this reversal? Alvin Kamara publicly asked Schrager who was feeding him misinformation about a supposed team meeting with Payton. If anyone would know about that happening, it would be Kamara, the team captain and face of the franchise. Schrager responded quickly, saying that he “Made a mistake on this,” and pledging to own up to it:

So that lines up with what’s been previously reported by local media, who said Payton was meeting with friends at the Saints facility while in town on other business (he was also spotted sitting courtside at a New Orleans Pelicans game). Still, someone misinformed Schrager about the whole affair. What’s more concerning is that the Saints are 3-7 on the year so far and these are the kind of rumors whirling around them. They’ve got to start winning games and quiet the noise.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson says goodbye to Saints fans, introduces himself to Philly

C.J. Gardner-Johnson says goodbye to Saints fans after Eagles trade, introduces himself to Philly’s faithful:

It’s never easy to say goodbye, especially to a player as talented and entertaining as C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The former New Orleans Saints defensive back was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this week and took time on Twitter to address the situation, releasing a statement that bid farewell to the Saints fans who spent three years cheering him on — and introducing himself to the Eagles faithful who will get to know him in the weeks and months ahead.

Gardner-Johnson said that playing pro football was “the opportunity of a lifetime,” and expressed his appreciation for the Who Dat Nation that supported him and the Saints organization that put him in position to make a name for himself. He also shared some words to his former teammates in New Orleans and the bonds they built together.

Seeing Gardner-Johnson in a different uniform will be unsettling, especially when the Saints visit Philadelphia in Week 17 late this season. If we’ve learned anything about Gardner-Johnson throughout his Saints career, it’s a safe bet to say he’ll have that date circled on his calendar.

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Twitter reactions to Saints promoting Dennis Allen to head coach

Twitter reactions to Saints promoting Dennis Allen to head coach

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The New Orleans Saints drew mixed responses on social media after promoting defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to head coach. While Allen’s former players and coworkers were quick to congratulate him, the reaction from Saints fans and other observers was more divisive.

Some were happy to see Allen get this opportunity, and acknowledged how he’s earned his shot after rebuilding the Saints defense from its worst-ever ranking into an elite unit. Others took issue with what looked like New Orleans settling for an in-house candidate after passing on more exciting outsiders. Here is what they’re saying about the next Saints head coach:

Drew Brees shares emotional response to Sean Payton stepping away from coaching

Drew Brees shares emotional response to Sean Payton stepping away from coaching

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It’s tough to think of anyone with a closer relationship to outgoing New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton than his longtime quarterback Drew Brees. The pair arrived together in 2006 and assembled strong resumes for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and they both ended up stepping away from the team within a year of each other.

Brees responded to news of Payton’s retirement on his official Instagram account, writing an emotional message reflecting on their time together in New Orleans and how Payton helped him play his best football. But maybe the most telling line came at the end, when Brees thanked Payton for taking a chance on him after a couple of other teams gave up following a career-threatening injury.

“Spent every day of my Saints career trying to prove him right,” Brees finished. With so many awards and accolades and wins over his rivals to his credit, it’s fair to say Brees made good on that ambition. Now he and Payton can catch up on the golf course.

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Alvin Kamara says he’s ‘not 100% committed’ to his dinner plans after Sean Payton report

Alvin Kamara says he’s ‘not 100% committed’ to his dinner plans after Sean Payton report

Let’s count Alvin Kamara in the camp not sweating Sean Payton’s commitment to working with the New Orleans Saints this year. After a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Payton had not verbally, 100% committed to returning to New Orleans for the 2022 season, Kamara issued his own statement making light of the whole situation on Twitter.

“I’m not 100% committed to putting ketchup on my fries tonight,” Kamara wrote, advising fans to turn to WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel for details on his dinner plans later that evening.

Maybe there’s more smoke to this fire than the reactions of Kamara and Saints owner Gayle Benson would suggest, but it sure doesn’t sound like either of them are worried Payton might be about to ride off into the sunset. Obviously it’s a developing situation, so be sure to watch this space for movement in the days ahead.

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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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Sean Payton takes another shot at insistent Michael Thomas trade speculation

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton took aim at Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio after continued Michael Thomas trade speculation.

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Will the New Orleans Saints trade wide receiver Michael Thomas? That’s the question NBC Sports insider Mike Florio continues to ask over at Pro Football Talk, and Saints coach Sean Payton is unamused.

Payton responded to another post from Florio claiming that while a trade deadline move for Thomas is unlikely, he believes there was an effort from Thomas’s agent to goal New Orleans into unloading one of their best players. That’s different from PFT’s initial spin, which suggested the Saints were actively shopping Thomas around.

So the social media-savvy coach went with a short video clip of someone reversing their bicycle — literally backpedaling on the story.

It’s just the latest rebuttal from Payton towards this sort of speculation. The Saints are not going to trade Thomas after giving him a $20 million signing bonus last year. They wouldn’t even consider moving him unless the situation seriously deteriorates, and not until the offseason when the financial aspect can be worked out.

This is a non-story, and Payton is right to slap it down.

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Game 1 Postgame Reactions: It’s great to be a Florida Gator!

The duet of Kyles made sweet music for UF on the afternoon, connecting eight times out of nine attempts for 170 yards and four touchdowns.

The Florida Gators rose from the field at Oxford, Miss., on Saturday with the victory against the Ole Miss Rebels in an offensive affair that saw both teams put up huge numbers — including a school record for yards in a Southeastern Conference matchup for Florida, who put up 642 total yards with 446 coming through the air and 196 on the ground.

The game ended with a score of 51-35, though Ole Miss almost made it closer in the final minute with a touchdown followed by an onside kick and a drive down to UF’s 10-yard line that died as the clock expired. The duet of Kyles made sweet music for the Gators on the afternoon, as Kyle Trask connected with Kyle Pitts eight times out of nine attempts for 170 yards and four touchdowns.

Here is a look at some of the responses from around the Gator Nation found on social media Saturday afternoon after the end of the game, including the school’s official account as well as UF great and NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith.

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