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Let me start with this: I enjoy watching Taysom Hill in certain scenarios.
It’s fun to see him line up all over the field and do damage as a tight end, receiver or running back, or even as a running QB. Players like that are awesome and rare.
But!
The Saints have done some weird stuff with his contract in the past … and then gave him $21.5 million guaranteed with a deal that could be worth up to $95 million if he becomes the team’s starting quarterback.
So what happens in his first start of 2021 under center? He throws four interceptions against the Dallas Cowboys. in a 27-17 loss on Thursday night.
Oh, sure. He ran for 101 yards on 11 carries and tossed a pair of touchdowns. Great for fantasy teams! But for a real team that’s paying him a large sum with the possibility that it could be larger if he could be their future starting QB? Nope. Not great.
We’ve seen flashes of this when he started a few games last year. He ran a ton, he threw a touchdown pass here and there … but is he really a possible starting QB for this team in the post-Drew Brees era, especially at age 31? I’m going to say no.
And that means the Saints could end up drafting someone else or signing another QB (bringing back Jameis Winston again??). If that happens, then even paying Hill $21.5 million guaranteed is too much for a player who plays sparingly, despite his ability to line up everywhere. In the NFL, if you spend too much money somewhere, you’re going to struggle elsewhere.
That’s what we saw on Thursday. Maybe Hill could have started making a case to be the starting QB with a huge performance. But the turnovers were too much and a reminder that Hill may not be more than a gadget guy.
Not great for a franchise looking for answers at quarterback.
Quick hits: What a loss for the Thunder … What’s up with Brian Kelly’s accent? … Nice job, Bills Mafia … and more.
— The Thunder lost a game to the Grizzlies by 73 POINTS! The stats from that contest are bonkers.
— Brian Kelly sure sounded like he adopted a southern accent while speaking at an LSU hoops game.
— Bills fans did an awesome thing for Tre’Davious White after he tore his ACL.
— NHL fans ripped the Predators for their terrible Stadium Series jerseys.
— The Bucs’ shameless response to Antonio Brown’s suspension is another embarrassment, writes our Andrew Joseph.