Tag: Thomas Morstead

Thomas Morstead named NFC Special Teams Player of Week 1

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead was named NFC Special Teams Player of Week 1 for his efforts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead earned recognition as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 1, his fifth career honor and the most of any player in Saints history. Morstead was called on to punt six times against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he dropped five of them inside the Tampa Bay 20-yard line; Tom Brady’s Buccaneers offense never took over beyond their own 15-yard line on those five possessions.

The other NFC Players of the Week are Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Washington Football Team pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan. In the AFC, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was joined by Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Casey Hayward and Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, who booted a career-best 54-yard field goal to help lift his team to a Week 1 win.

Last season, Morstead was twice named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (in Weeks 3 and 6), as well as NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. For his part, Thomas is more focused on making sure attention is put on the “team” aspect of these award. He took time to praise his teammates and stress how important it is for each of them to work together:

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Rookie Saints punter Blake Gillikin designated to injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints lost rookie punter Blake Gillikin to injured reserve but they still have Pro Bowl starter Thomas Morstead on the team

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Well, that’s a quick conclusion for the two punter experiment. The New Orleans Saints lost rookie punter Blake Gillikin to injured reserve on the Wednesday NFL transactions wire, having previously listed him as not participating in practice due to a back injury.

Gillikin, signed out of Penn State and guaranteed nothing but a $5,000 signing bonus, initially made the 53-man roster after punting well in training camp. He was the designated backup for Thomas Morstead, who has been with the Saints since 2009 and embraced his role as a mentor for the rookie.

The Saints could theoretically reactivate Gillikin after three weeks due to adjusted COVID-19 rules, but it’s tough to see a way for him to get back on the roster. The Saints only kept him around in the first place to protect him from being poached by another team on waivers, so his year is likely finished.

That said, it’ll be fascinating to see what happens next. Gillikin is signed through 2022 on a cheap rookie contract which would have him become a restricted free agent in 2023, making him far more affordable than Morstead. While the 34-year old Morstead is one of the best punters in the NFL today, his trade or release in 2021 would free up as much as $3.5 million against the salary cap, which is expected to plummet more than $23 million next year.

If the Saints really believe Gillikin could be the future of the position in New Orleans, this might be a move they’re forced to make. Salary cap constraints will limit opportunities for veteran players all around the league.

For now, though, Morstead is one of the longest-tenured and most-respected members of the Saints locker room. Hopefully he can help the team win another Super Bowl ring, just like they did in his own rookie season.

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Why do the Saints have an extra punter on their 53-man roster?

The New Orleans Saints kept two punters on their initial 53-man roster: Pro Bowler Thomas Morstead and Penn State rookie Blake Gillikin.

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Who expected Blake Gillikin to make the cut for the New Orleans Saints? And of those fans who put their bet on the undrafted rookie punter out of Penn State, how many expected veteran leg Thomas Morstead to stick around, too?

That’s the case now that the Saints have initialized their 53-man roster, with both punters still on board after a wave of players were waived and released Saturday. But the situation could change very soon: the Saints may be waiting a day or two to waive Gillikin and sneak him onto the practice squad, because any team that might poach him would have to let another player go.

And good punters are a hot commodity in the NFL. If it comes down to it, the Saints could probably find a trade partner — for either of their punters. While Morstead is one of the most experienced and respected members of the team, the Saints could also find $3.3 million in salary cap relief by trading him. It can’t be ruled out if they believe Gillikin has real potential.

The Saints saw that Gillikin can make NFL-quality punts through his work in training camp, but Morstead was effective as ever. That sort of competition was something Morstead took in stride. He’s been expecting someone to come for his job for quite a while.

“I made a commitment to myself a long time ago that, you know, at some point in my career, they’ll start bringing in young guys to come compete and push me,” Morstead said in his Sept. 2 media conference call. “And I made a commitment to myself that I would mentor them just like I had been mentored when I was a younger player, even while I’m competing with them. And so it’s been a joy.”

The more likely scenario is that the Saints are hoping to squeeze Gillikin onto the practice squad. In such an odd year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, having a solid backup plan at the ready should Morstead miss time can’t be understated. The Saints could also simply keep Gillikin on the 53-man roster all season to protect him from other teams; new NFL rules allow teams to promote two players from the practice squad on game days.

But Morstead himself isn’t taking anything for granted. He continued: “It’s definitely pushed me, Blake’s a very talented, talented young player. And he’s got a bright future. And I think and hope that he’s had a good experience, training alongside me and competing with me. I’ve tried to give him help and information and experiences that I’ve learned from. Because people did that for me when I was a young player.”

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Thomas Morstead on adjusting life in the NFL to COVID-19 challenges

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead is pleased with the adjustments to COVID-19 that the NFLPA won, but knows things will get tougher.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the NFL to get to work during a public health crisis, uniquely dangerous among professional sports due to football’s high-impact nature. And while he understands that not everyone is happy with the situation, New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead was glad to lend a hand during negotiations as the team’s NFL Players Association representative.

“Look, I’m personally thrilled with where we ended up,” Morstead said during a recent media conference call. “I know there are always going to be people that don’t agree with what the end result is. For players that want to opt out, they have that right. We’ve tried to provide the ability for someone to do that if they feel like that is the right decision for them and that family, but also at the same time, I think it is important that players don’t knock other players that decide they want to play, they want to take on the risk.”

So far, just two of Morstead’s Saints teammates have opted out of the 2020 season due to health concerns (backup tight ends Cole Wick and Jason Vander Laan). But with the NFL deadline to opt out rapidly approaching at 3 p.m. CT on Thursday, Aug. 6, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if more players decide it’s best to wait until 2021.

As for the changes to his daily grind: Morstead says he honestly hasn’t noticed much disruption to his routine, with most of the hassle put on those around him. And he’s careful to recognize the work others do to support him.

“I don’t know that there has been a tough adjustment (for me). I think the tough adjustment is in all the staff, it’s all of the trainers,” Morstead continued. “I think for us (players), it’s just wear the mask and socially distance yourself when you’re able to do that. I don’t sense my day has gotten more strenuous or tougher to do. I still can do everything I need to do. Be mindful of a few things, but it’s really, I’d say that the burden is on the staff and the people that are assisting us and so we’re really appreciative of that.”

When asked whether he’s confident the NFL can pull off the upcoming season as things currently stand, Morstead replied, “That’s above my paygrade. All I know is that we’ve done everything we can to provide as safe a working environment as possible. I don’t think anybody’s under the delusion that people aren’t going to get COVID. The idea with the testing is that we’re hopefully going to catch it before guys have a chance to spread it.”

That’s been the same line from Saints coach Sean Payton, who has stressed that the goal isn’t to prevent infections altogether — that’s inevitable in a contact sport where people are lined up, shoulder-to-shoulder and breathing on each other three or four hours. As Payton explained it, and to which Morstead agrees, all of their efforts are about mitigating risk as much as possible.

To help, the Saints bought out four floors of rooms at a French Quarter hotel, where they plan to house players, coaches, and other employees throughout training camp. Morstead plans to stay there as often as possible, but with a family of four school-aged children at home for his wife to contend with, he isn’t sure how often he can stay away from the house. Just like everyone else, he’s making the best that he can of a difficult situation.

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Thomas Morstead: NFL must adapt, ‘can’t bend the virus to football’

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead was critical of the NFL’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, showing concern for player safety.

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All-world New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead can be counted among the group of players who are anxious to see how the NFL adapts to the novel coronavirus pandemic before its 2020 season gets on the move. The public health crisis has already impacted the NFL’s offseason calendar by canceling organized team activities earlier in the summer as well as the first and final weeks of preseason games. Further changes are expected as the situation develops.

Morstead responded to a public letter from NFL Players Association President JC Tretter, in which Tretter expressed frustration at the NFL’s response to the pandemic. Morstead pointed out that, “You can’t bend the virus to football. You have to bend football to the virus.”

That’s an important point to remember in a full-contact sport like football, which requires rosters bigger than those found in other professional sports like basketball or baseball — both of which are already grappling with how to handle coronavirus infections before they can resume their own 2020 seasons. With NFL training camp just weeks away, the clock is ticking louder on the league and the NFLPA to find ways to get to business safely.

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Saints land 9 players on ESPN’s NFC South all-decade team

The New Orleans Saints landed players on ESPN’s NFC South all-decade team, best in the division, with coach Sean Payton headlining the list.

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The New Orleans Saints ran away from the pack in ESPN’s all-decade team for the NFC South, with nine players making the cut and coach Sean Payton recognized as the best among his peers — with quarterback Drew Brees named Saints player of the decade, too boot.

Sure, the Carolina Panthers made it close with eight of their own players named to the all-decade list. But the rest of the NFC South didn’t fare nearly as well, with the Atlanta Falcons (four players) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (three) barely making a blip on the radar. It’s been a two-team race in the division for quite some time now.

Intriguingly, three of the nine Saints players on ESPN’s all-NFC South team only entered the NFL in the second half of the decade: wide receiver Michael Thomas, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, and cornerback Marshon Lattimore. If the Saints can hammer out long-term extensions with each of them (Thomas signed on for the long haul last summer), that suggests the team will be well set up to succeed once Brees rides off into the sunset, joining other teammates on the list like right guard Jahri Evans and safety Roman Harper.

With decorated veterans such as left tackle Terron Armstead, defensive end Cameron Jordan, and punter Thomas Morstead at the helm, the Saints might have the best mix of young talent and experienced leadership you’ll find around the NFL.

Here’s the NFC South all-decade team from ESPN, as voted on by ESPN NFL Nation reporters. Saints players named are listed in bold text:

Offense

Defense

  • DE: Cameron Jordan, Saints, 2011-present
  • DE: Charles Johnson, Panthers, 2007-17
  • DT: Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers, 2010-18; Panthers 2019
  • DT: Kawann Short, Panthers, 2013-present
  • LB: Luke Kuechly, Panthers, 2012-19
  • LB: Thomas Davis, Panthers, 2005-18
  • LB: Lavonte David, Buccaneers, 2012-present
  • CB: Desmond Trufant, Falcons, 2013-19
  • CB: Marshon Lattimore, Saints, 2017-present
  • S: Roman Harper, Saints, 2006-13, 2016; Panthers, 2014-15
  • S: William Moore, Falcons 2009-15

Special teams

  • KR/PR: Devin Hester, Falcons, 2014-15
  • K: Matt Bryant, Falcons, 2009-19; Buccaneers 2005-08
  • P: Thomas Morstead, Saints, 2009-19

What do you think? Did the experts at ESPN get anything wrong?

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Thomas Morstead on the state of the Saints locker room

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead has the pulse on his locker room, and thinks Drew Brees has helped them stay on the right path.

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There aren’t many players on the New Orleans Saints roster with more respect on their name than Thomas Morstead. The experienced punter is entering his twelfth NFL season, having spent every year of his lengthy career in New Orleans. He’s one of a few who won a Super Bowl ring back in 2009 to still compete in the NFL, along with teammates Drew Brees and Malcolm Jenkins.

So Morstead has a good sense of the Saints locker room, to say the least. He addressed some recent turmoil during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. Teed up by Eisen to reflect on Brees’ conversation with his teammates after a very public disagreement over the quarterback’s stance on peaceful protests during the national anthem, Morstead now thinks the Saints are a tighter-knit group than ever before.

“Well look, I think it’s pretty evident over the past number of years to have had the type of seasons we’ve had, to lose in the playoffs the ways that we have and always bounce back, we have a tremendous amount of leadership in the locker room. And leadership sometimes deals with conflict among teammates,” Morstead said, pointing out that the team has leadership in spades. It’s not for nothing that he wears the same captain patch on his jersey as Brees, as do other teammates like Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis.

He continued, “I think this is going to be a blessing in disguise, not only for Drew, not only for our team, but for our nation. Drew is a man of conviction and he just had a change of perspective. We got together and a lot of guys let him know exactly how they felt, and maybe that hadn’t been said as clearly before to him.”

Brees later issued a public apology and commitment to working with his teammates to address the problems close to them, highlighting a need to work against social injustice. It earned him the praise and respect that he’d jeopardized from his teammates, while drawing criticism from public figures like President Donald Trump.

But Morstead was convinced that Brees’ heart is in the right place, saying, “And I know that Drew’s not going to apologize unless he means it, not because of the pressure or his brand. He’s gonna do the right thing. I just know that he’s gonna handle this the right way. And I’m really excited to see what type of moves our team makes collectively, not just in New Orleans but across the country. Somebody like Drew who moves the needle, if he gets passionate about something, and he’s already told us that his actions will speak louder than his moves.”

Morstead described the conversation on that team-wide conference call as, “vulnerable, difficult, emotional, and necessary,” noting that the air has been cleared and everyone knows where they stand on these issues.

He also reiterated that Brees is committed to working with his teammates in their efforts at addressing racial inequality and policing reform; Brees has taken one big first step by signing a letter to Congress alongside the Players Coalition (headed by Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins, linebacker Demario Davis, and retired tight end Benjamin Watson), calling on lawmakers to end the doctrine of qualified immunity. If Morstead’s comments are any indication, this is just the beginning.

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Could Blake Gillikin be more than a camp leg for the Saints?

The New Orleans Saints signed Blake Gillikin as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State, but he might have what it takes to win a job.

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One name instantly stood apart from the rest when the New Orleans Saints announced their list of undrafted free agent signings: Blake Gillikin, a rookie punter out of Penn State. With spots on the 90-man roster running at a premium this offseason, many Saints fans were left wondering why the team would choose to add a second specialist with longtime punter Thomas Morstead so well-entrenched.

It’s a valid question. The Saints haven’t carried multiple punters on the roster since 2015, when Morstead missed two games with a quadriceps injury (former Miami Dolphins punter Brandon Fields stood in during his absence). Before that, you have to dig all the way back to Morstead’s rookie training camp in 2009 to find another punter wearing black and gold — be sure to file away Glenn Pakulak’s name for trivia night. The journeyman punted for the Saints during the 2008 season, but Morstead won the starting job from him the following summer and has held onto it ever since.

But let’s circle back to the present. The Saints signing Gillikin reunites the rookie with Phil Galiano, the ex-Penn State special teams coordinator who the Saints hired as an assistant after the 2018 season. The Saints have linked Galiano with his former players before. Last year, they drafted Rutgers safety Saquan Hampton — who Galiano recruited and started on special teams as a freshman when he was coaching the Scarlet Knights.

Beyond that connection, Gillikin is a fine talent in his own right. He started four full seasons for the Nittany Lions, averaging 43.0 yards per punt in his collegiate career. As a senior, he pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line on 32 of 62 punts (51.6%). For perspective, Morstead had one of his most effective performances ever last year, dropping punts inside the 20 on 29 of 60 attempts (48.3%). The NFL’s most-efficient punter was Sam Koch, who forced the Baltimore Ravens’ opponents to start inside their own 20 on 21 of his 40 tries (52.5%).

Could Gillikin beat Morstead for a spot on the 53-man roster? The Saints have held vicious training camp battles at long snapper and kicker in recent years, but Morstead has weathered those storms for more than a decade. It’s almost impossible to imagine someone besides No. 6 handling punts for New Orleans.

Still, let’s look at it objectively: great as he’s been (and remains), Morstead turned 34 this year and carries a 2020 salary cap hit of $4.3 million, along with the NFL’s highest annual average salary among punters (north of $3.9 million). He’s under contract through 2023, but the Saints could release or trade him after June 1 and recoup $3.3 million. Those resources could be put to use retaining younger talents like Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore, or Ryan Ramczyk.

And it’s not like the Saints have been shy about moving on from special teamers before. Just last year they inked Chris Banjo to a three-year contract extension, only to cut him months later once (he ended up with the Arizona Cardinals, and re-signed with them this offseason).

Considering Gillikin is only 22 and will earn just $610,000 this season and, well, it’s not impossible to say a changing of the guard might be on its way. And it’s no knock on Morstead. He’s beaten every expectation for a fifth-round draft pick, starting and playing at a high level for a decade. He’s a leader in the locker room due as much to his reputation (he and Drew Brees are the last remaining holdovers from the Super Bowl XLIV-winning team) as his actions, taking an active interest in his family life and the well-being of his community. The roots he’s put down in New Orleans won’t be easily removed.

But time marches on. And Gillikin might have what it takes to displace such a respected veteran. I mean, the kid even has his own highlight reel:

Now, for the counter-argument: if something isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it. Morstead thrived during special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi’s first year on the job, and his status as a known quantity to Saints head coach Sean Payton can’t be understated. An offseason abbreviated by the coronavirus pandemic might mean the Saints can’t evaluate Gillikin, the rookie, to their satisfaction.

And it’s possible that this is all part of a plan to get Gillikin some NFL exposure in a friendly situation, working with coaches he knows. That’s how the Saints found Wil Lutz, their franchise kicker (who marvels at Morstead’s stardom when they’re out around town). Lutz worked with veteran Ravens kicker Justin Tucker and head coach John Harbaugh (whose background lies in special teams) during his own rookie training camp, using the opportunity to learn from the best and get some exposure.

When Harbaugh met Payton at a Saints-Ravens preseason game, he put in a good word for his rookie — prompting Payton to cut both of the kickers he was auditioning in training camp and debut Lutz in Week 1. And the rest is history.

Maybe that’s what the Saints are thinking to do with Gillikin, allowing an assistant coach to help him get a strong start in the NFL. Or maybe he’ll win the job outright and it’ll be Gillikin’s No. 4, not Morstead’s No. 6, punting for the Saints this year and for years to come.

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Retired Saints fullback, old SMU teammate Zach Line helped recruit Margus Hunt

The Saints added a veteran in Margus Hunt, who said his chat with retired Saints fullback and old SMU teammate Zach Line helped win him over

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The New Orleans Saints have been known for the pipeline that runs to Columbus, Ohio, funneling Ohio State Buckeyes star talents like Malcolm Jenkins, Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore, Vonn Bell, and Eli Apple down south, but the team has an even stronger connection running out west, into oil country — where the SMU Mustangs play in Dallas.

In fact, former Mustangs now outnumber the three Buckeyes in New Orleans (with Bell and Apple trying their luck in free agency). Punter Thomas Morstead, long snapper Zach Wood, and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders were recently joined by another familiar face in defensive lineman Margus Hunt.

While Morstead only played with Sanders in college, during the 2008 season, Hunt joined the squad during Sanders’ senior year in 2009. So did former Saints fullback Zach Line, who retired earlier this year. Line and Hunt were teammates for four years at SMU, and remained close enough all these years later for Hunt to ask for advice when the Saints expressed interest in him as a free agent.

“The first thing I did was reached out to Zach Line,” Hunt said during his introductory conference call with New Orleans media. “I have a great relationship with him and he told me so many positive things about the organization and the locker room and everything. He told me basically if this is serious, by all means take it because you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity.”

Hunt was drafted highly by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013, and had his best year as a pro with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. While he’s comfortable with his scheme fit in New Orleans as a versatile lineman who can play anywhere from nose tackle to defensive end, Line’s praise for the Saints team culture won him over.

He continued, “Well, for me right now too, with being married with two kids, he just said from that point of view it’s very family-oriented. They do a huge deal about family and kids and everything. That was one of the reasons.

“Another one was obviously the locker room. Great guys, all pros, they do the right things. They work hard, practice hard. They teach each other hard and they work every day to get to that title. That was one of the big things.”

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Saints working on four-year contract extension with long snapper Zach Wood

The New Orleans Saints are hard at work on a four-year contract extension with long snapper Zach Wood, their most important free agent.

The most important domino is set to tip over for the New Orleans Saints, who are working on a contract extension with long snapper Zach Wood. ESPN’s Field Yates first reported news of the expected deal, which NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill noted is being actively negotiated. Wood’s agent, Mike Abadir, confirmed that nothing is finalized just yet.

Wood is an important piece of the Saints special teams unit, and has already received the highest praise a long snapper can earn in that few fans know his name. He rarely makes mistakes and has a strong rapport with both kicker Wil Lutz and punter Thomas Morstead, each of whom are under contract through 2022. Keeping that trio together would be huge for sustained success in the game’s third stage.

More importantly, Wood is the reigning two-time champion of the home run derby during the annual Black and Gold Celebrity Softball Game. He’s a common sign at charity events off the field and around the facility and is the kind of player the Saints would be fortunate to keep in the building. Because he is a pending free agent for the Saints, he can sign a contract as soon as it’s on the table — players leaving other teams must wait until the new league year begins on Wednesday. So stay tuned for news of the deal’s completion.