Tag: Superdome

Saints announce plans for Jahri Evans to go into their Ring of Honor

The Saints announced plans for Jahri Evans to go into their Ring of Honor during this week’s game. It’s another boost to his Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy:

New Orleans Saints fans attending this week’s game with the Cleveland  Browns are in for a treat. The Saints will induct Super Bowl XLIV champion Jahri Evans into their Ring of Honor on Sunday, Nov. 17, during a halftime ceremony at the Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is set for Noon CT/1 p.m. ET.

Additionally, many of Evans’ former teammates  are  expected to be in  attendance as part of the Saints’ yearly  “Legends Weekend” event. Evans started at right guard during the most successful period in team history, and he currently works for the Saints as an assistant offensive line coach. He shared a passionate message to his players when he got the news during training camp, and was quoted with a longer statement in an official release from the team.

“It is exciting to have been selected to be part of such an elite group,” Evans told NewOrleansSaints.com. “I am grateful to Mrs. Benson, Mickey Loomis for selecting me for this honor. I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates for the role they played in my development and success, as well as our fans that gave us such great energy on gameday and inspired us to reach the heights of winning the Super Bowl.”

Evans will be just the eighth member of the team’s Ring of Honor, joining owner Tom Benson, quarterback Archie Manning, and defensive end Will Smith as well as several Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees: offensive tackle Willie Roaf, kicker Morten Andersen, linebackers Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills. This recognition is another boost to Evans’ own Hall of Fame candidacy after he reached the finalist stage last year. Maybe this time he gets over that last hurdle.

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Wil Lutz responds to boos from the Caesars Superdome crowd

Wil Lutz did not exactly receive the warmest welcome in an emotional night at the Caesars Superdome, but he isn’t convinced all that booing was directed at him:

Wil Lutz did not exactly receive the warmest welcome in a night filled with all of the pageantry and about as much embarrassment as the New Orleans Saints could have suffered in their 33-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday.

And there’s good reason for that.

Lutz himself scored 12 of the Broncos’ points by his own accord with four field goals attempted and made in the victory. That is more than the Saints managed to put together as an entire team in the game.

If it were not for the garbage time touchdown made by pass-catcher Cedrick Wilson Jr. on a pass from quarterback Jake Haener in the final two minutes of the action, the Saints would have had just one field goal to show for TNF at all.

Lutz heard the boos from the New Orleans crowd and responded to a post on social media from fans pointing out that they thought the disdain being expressed was directed at him.

That’s very possible, but the responses to Lutz’s quote post of the comment seem to take a shot at the Saints themselves. After all, it was a plenty boo-worthy performance from a team that seems to lack direction and control now on a five-game skid that they will hope doesn’t turn to six games as they face the Los Angeles Chargers on the road next on the schedule.

“Ehh, I think we know who was getting booed out the building,” Lutz wrote. “All love WhoDatNation.”

Lutz had previously praised the Saints environment earlier in the week and said that he still had a lot of love for those associated with the team, so it seems he’s just having a little fun with this one.

“A lot of love for people in that building,’’ he said in an interview with 9News. “Made a lot of big kicks there. Spent more than half my career there, so excited to get back there but excited to be on the other end of things as well. I think it will be fun for a lot of guys on the team.”

It was fun for Lutz and many of the ex-Saints on Denver’s squad. As for the Saints themselves and their fans? That’s another story.

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Alvin Kamara says he can’t blame Saints fans for being ‘fed up’

Saints fans aren’t happy with the product being put out on the field by their team, and Alvin Kamara won’t blame them: ‘I would leave, too’

Saints fans aren’t happy with the product being put out on the field by their team, and it’s hard to cast much blame to them with New Orleans now on a dismal five-game losing streak. Boos and calls for head coach Dennis Allen’s job rained down before the Caesars Superdome stands began to clear out, leaving an orange swath of Denver Broncos fans in the lower bowl on Thursday night.

That’s something star running back Alvin Kamara made clear he understands well following the team’s 33-10 loss.

“I’ve been here eight years and I’ve never seen the Dome clear out like that,” Kamara said. “And I can’t blame them. They’re fed up. … I get it. I would leave, too.”

The way the Saints have performed since opening the season with two consecutive wins and what looked like could be a genuinely dangerous offense with a lot of firepower behind it with 91 points scored over that same time span.

Kamara has served as one of the team’s only bright spots looking at either side of the football, totaling 428 rushing yards on 104 carries with six touchdowns. As the popular example for what’s expected of NFL running backs in the modern era, Kamara has also been a factor out of the backfield in the receiving game. He has tallied 28 receptions on 36 targets so far this season with one score through the air.

He can’t do it all alone, though. The Saints will have their next opportunity to get back to the right side of the win column next Sunday when they go up against the Los Angeles Chargers on the road. And if fans make their voices and disapproval heard again? He gets it.

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The Saints have now lost 6 consecutive prime-time home games

The New Orleans Saints haven’t won a prime-time game inside the Superdome since Drew Brees was the quarterback, and Caesars wasn’t yet on the building:

The New Orleans Saints fall to the Denver Broncos 33-10. The Sean Payton revenge game goes to the Saints former head coach. New Orleans was reportedly ready for the return of Payton. They surely didn’t look like it. The Broncos were the better team on both sides of the ball, and they of course had the better coach between Payton and Dennis Allen. Both teams had their ugly moments, but things never got better for the Saints.

New Orleans fell to 2-5 on the season after a 2-0 start. This is their fifth consecutive loss this season and their sixth consecutive loss inside the Caesars Superdome in prime- time over the last four years:

  • 2024: Loss to Denver Broncos, 33-10
  • 2023: Loss to Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-24
  • 2022: Loss to Baltimore Ravens,  27-13
  • 2021: Loss to Miami Dolphins, 20-3
  • 2021: Loss to Dallas Cowboys: 27-17
  • 2021: Loss to Buffalo Bills, 31-6

The same issues that were shown in previous games continued to show their ugly heads on Thursday Night. The defensive line provided no pass rush and couldn’t stop the run. Their offensive line couldn’t protect the quarterback or block for the run.

They haven’t won a prime-time  home game since Drew Brees was their quarterback. The last time it happened, it was still called the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints haven’t been good on prime time at all recently, but the struggles at home are especially disappointing. Something has to give if they’re going to get different results.

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Sean Payton doesn’t expect a warm welcome back to New Orleans

Sean Payton doesn’t expect a warm welcome back to New Orleans. He understands Saints fans won’t have ‘a lot of flowers and fuzzies for yours truly’

Sean Payton is no stranger to rivalry games. The longtime New Orleans Saints head coach endeared himself to the Who Dat Nation by embracing the pettiness and vitriol and egging on opposing fans, and sometimes running up the score. But he’s their former coach now. It’s a Denver Broncos blue and orange visor sitting on his head these days, not black and gold, after Payton decided he needed a year off from coaching and a change of scenery.

When Payton returns the Caesars Superdome on Thursday he’ll be checking into the visitors locker room for the first time. It’ll be the opposite sideline from which he’s patrolling and barking at referees, too, and he doesn’t expect many words of support to be thrown at his back from the stands.

“It will be unique,” Payton said Monday, via the Athletic’s Nick Kosmider. “Those around us know how challenging a short week is compared to a full week. Certainly, there will be emotions going back there, but that comes up quite a bit in our league with players.”

The Saints are struggling right now after slipping into a four-game losing streak, but Payton has his own problems to deal with. His Broncos missed the playoffs last year and currently sit at 3-3. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns (5). Denver’s offense has the second-worst conversion rate on third downs (25%) in pro football despite trying the sixth-most attempts (80).

And the Saints are encouraging a festive, if  not hostile, atmosphere. They’re packing the house by celebrating Drew Brees’ enshrinement at the team Hall of Fame. They’ve declared a blackout and will give away rally towels. They want it to be loud and chaotic when Nix is trying to relay Payton’s long play calls and  read the field as he drops back to pass.

“I understand it,” Payton continued, “I don’t think there will be a lot of flowers and fuzzies for yours truly, and I get it.”

We’ll see if it makes a difference. There probably aren’t two opposing coaches who know each other’s playbook more thoroughly than Payton and Dennis Allen, having practiced against each other for years in New Orleans. Allen’s back is against the wall after another 2-4 start and Payton’s vision for the Broncos has come under fire after failing to meet expectations.

Both sides are going to be desperate for a win in prime time, if for no other reason than to prove they don’t need each other. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CT on Thursday, Oct. 17. The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.

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WATCH: Demario Davis delivers his Week 1 pregame speech

WATCH: Demario Davis delivers his Week 1 pregame speech to his New Orleans Saints teammates before kickoff with the Carolina Panthers

https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1832821197156847784

It’s the first New Orleans Saints game of the 2024 regular season, which means it’s time to check the first Demario Davis pregame speech, which you can watch here.

The team’s charismatic leader picked up where Drew Brees left off and maintained this tradition of fiery speeches and group chants to get his teammates fired up,  and it’s always worth watching as the first highlight of game day.

Davis’ message for Week 1? We’re about to jump out of the airplane and skydive, so strap in and trust the guys around you. It’s time to go to work.

The Saints are kicking off the 2024 season where it will end as the home of Super Bowl LIX. Let’s see if the black and gold can get back to the playoffs and make their bid to chase another championship.

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Kendrick Lamar announces he’ll perform the Super Bowl LIX halftime show

Kendrick Lamar announced he’ll perform at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. The 17-time Grammy winner is this year’s headliner in New Orleans:

Kendrick Lamar announced he’ll perform at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, meaning the 17-time Grammy winner is this year’s headliner at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The West Coast rapper has risen to greater prominence this year amid a high-profile feud with Drake, the former teen drama actor and Canadian musician, leading to unprecedented dominance in the streaming era.

Talk about reading the room. Lamar has repeatedly shattered records on Spotify and his Amazon Music live-streamed “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert at the Kia Forum in June became ubiquitous on social media. His hit single “Not Like Us” earned its place as the song of the summer. Now he’s taking an even bigger stage.

This year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans will be broadcast on FOX, with Apple Music sponsoring the halftime show. The performance is often filled with special guests and cameos by other famous musicians so keep an eye out for news on who may be joining Lamar under the bright lights.

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Saints share must-see drone tour video of renovated Caesars Superdome

The New Orleans Saints shared a must-see drone tour video of the renovated Caesars Superdome. The home of Super Bowl LIX looks sharp:

https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1831064237051199681

This is too cool. A ton of time and money have been invested in renovating the Caesars Superdome ahead of the 2024 season and Super Bowl LIX, and you can tell. The New Orleans Saints shared an impressive drone camera video highlighting all of the new changes, and it’s well worth a watch. You can find it here.

You get a good look at the upgraded concourses, improved stadium seating, and open-air atriums as well as areas that aren’t public-facing like the locker room, media conference room, and other spaces behind the scenes. Using an aerial drone to cover almost every inch of the arena was a great choice.

And this overhaul was intended to extend the longevity of the venue; time will tell if that approach works out, but it’s easy to walk away from this tour feeling impressed. The Saints have played home games at the Superdome since 1975, with New Orleans hosting ten Super Bowls — soon tying the Miami’s record with eleven. While the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills each have plans in the works for new stadiums, the Saints will trail only the Kansas City Chiefs (at Arrowhead Stadium since 1972) and Green Bay Packers (at Lambeu Field since 1957) as playing at the most-venerable homefields around the NFL in the near future.

With big events on the horizon including nine Saints home games, the Super Bowl, college football bowl games and major musician tours, we should expect the Caesars Superdome to continue to play host to high-profile events for years to come.

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Foster Moreau signs a fan’s oyster shell at open practice

Only in New Orleans. Foster Moreau signed a Saints fan’s oyster shell after Tuesday night’s open practice:

You aren’t getting these kind of interactions California. New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau fulfilled an unusual request after Tuesday night’s open practice at Yulman Stadium. A Saints fan approached the local product when he was signing autographs and asked Moreau to sign his oyster shell.

“That’s sick,” Moreau laughed, happy to oblige, palming the bivalve. What message he penned is between him and the person who may or may not have shucked it.

It’s a fun moment. And it’s something that’s been badly missing since the Saints relocated their training camp from the team practice facility in Metairie to Irvine for the last month-plus. The Saints will host local fans for a second open practice at the Caesars Superdome on Friday, and free tickets are still available for the taking. Act fast and maybe Moreau will sign your oyster shell, too.

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Free tickets still available for Saints practice at Yulman Stadium

Free tickets are still available for the New Orleans Saints’ open practice at Yulman Stadium on Tuesday night, but act fast to claim yours:

Have you been wanting to see your New Orleans Saints in action? The Saints are returning home from their monthlong training camp in Irvine, Calif., and they’ll be hosting two open practices this week for locals to come out and see the team. This will be your first opportunity of the offseason.

First up is an open practice at the 30,000-seat Yulman Stadium on Tulane’s campus. It’s free to attend, but tickets must be claimed in advance. The open practice is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. CT so act quickly.

There are also some tickets available  for their second open practice at the Caesars Superdome on Friday, Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. CT. Just like the Yulman Stadium practice, this event is free and open to the public, but fans must claim their tickets ahead of time.

It’s been a long time since locals had the opportunity to see their team in person. The Saints moved training camp to sunny Southern California to accommodate large-scale renovations to their training facility in Metairie, so it’ll be good to have them back in the area. They have spent the entirety of their preseason on the West Coast. Even their preseason games were in Arizona and California. During their practices in Irvine, the Saints didn’t open any practices to the public.

Everything leads up to their final preseason  game with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Aug. 25 before roster cuts on Aug. 27 and the regular season  kickoff game against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 8. It’ll be here before we know it.

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