Michael Ola

Saints To Waive CB DeShawn Shead

By Sam Robinson | at December 28, 2019 4:32 pm

DeShawn Shead‘s Saints tenure may not end up including a game. Four days after signing Shead, the Saints waived him, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic tweets.

The Saints also cut offensive lineman Michael Ola and promoted wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey from their practice squad. Humphrey has played in four games as a rookie with New Orleans this season.

Prior to his agreement with the Saints, Shead trekked to several auditions this season. He did not catch on anywhere else, however, and has not played since the 2018 campaign. The Lions deployed the cornerback in 12 games last year, but Shead’s career has never truly recovered from the ACL tear he suffered in a January 2017 playoff game. He’d previously operated as a full-time Seahawks starter during the 2016 season. The 30-year-old defender has started one game since.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/6/19

By Zachary Links | at December 6, 2019 7:30 pm

Today’s minor moves:

New Orleans Saints

Signed: OL Michael Ola
Placed on IR: TE Jason Vander Laan

Seattle Seahawks

Placed on IR: CB Neiko Thorpe

3 comments New Orleans Saints Seattle Seahawks Transactions Jason Vander Laan Michael Ola Neiko Thorpe

NFL Workout Updates: 11/26/19

By Ben Levine | at November 26, 2019 8:42 pm

Got a whole lot of workout updates to pass along:

Carolina Panthers

DL Woodrow Hamilton, DL Stacy McGee, DL Jay-Tee Tiuli

Green Bay Packers

OL Cody Conway, LB Joe Dineen, OT Antonio Garcia, OL Tyler Jones, OL Marquez Tucker

Jacksonville Jaguars

S Kentrell Brice, S Godwin Igwebuike

Los Angeles Chargers

CB KeiVarae Russell

New Orleans Saints

C Josh LeRibeus, OT Michael Ola, OL Bryan Witzmann

New York Jets

LB Garret Dooley, LB Nicholas Grigsby, LB Gimel President

Seattle Seahawks

TE Keenen Brown, TE C.J. Conrad, DB Jayson Stanley

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

S Deiondre’ Hall

2 comments Carolina Panthers Green Bay Packers Jacksonville Jaguars Los Angeles Chargers New Orleans Saints New York Jets Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Antonio Garcia Bryan Witzmann C.J. Conrad Cody Conway Deiondre' Hall Garret Dooley Gimel President Godwin Igwebuike Jay-Tee Tiuli Jayson Stanley Joe Dineen Josh LeRibeus Keenen Brown KeiVarae Russell Kentrell Brice Marquez Tucker Michael Ola Nicholas Grigsby Stacy McGee Tyler Jones Woodrow Hamilton

Saints Reach 53-Man Max

By Zachary Links | at August 31, 2019 3:36 pm

Good news for Saints fans, and fans of lists in general. The Saints have reached the 53-man max – here’s the full rundown.

Released:

Chris Banjo, S
Michael Burton, FB
Michael Ola, OT

Waived:

Dan Arnold, TE
Emmanuel Butler, WR
T.J. Green, DB
Porter Gustin, LB
Marcus Henry, C
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR
Derrick Kelly, OL
Alize Mack, TE
Devine Ozigbo, DL
Terrell Williams Jr., DB

Placed on IR:

Marshall Newhouse, OL
Marcus Sherels, CB
Cameron Tom, C/G

3 comments New Orleans Saints Transactions Alize Mack Cameron Tom Chris Banjo Dan Arnold Derrick Kelly Devine Ozigbo Emmanuel Butler Marcus Henry Marcus Sherels Marshall Newhouse Michael Burton Michael Ola Porter Gustin T.J. Green

Saints Re-Sign OL Michael Ola

By Zachary Links | at February 19, 2019 2:58 pm

Michael Ola is set to return for another season with the Saints. On Tuesday, New Orleans agreed to re-sign the offensive lineman on a one-year deal, according to SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link).

Ola, 31 in April, appeared in seven games for the Saints last year, including one start. Signed in October to add depth behind injured left tackle Terron Armstead and left guard Andrus Peat, Ola suffered a season-ending ankle injury of his own in December and had to be placed on IR.

Terms of Ola’s deal are not yet known, but it’s likely an inexpensive deal of the low/no guarantee variety. If he sticks on the final roster, he’ll avoid putting on the fifth jersey of his NFL career. Previously, Ola suited up for the Chargers, Bills, Lions, and Bears. He’s also had camp/taxi squad deals with the the Dolphins, Seahawks, and Giants.

1 comment New Orleans Saints Transactions Michael Ola

Saints Sign T Derek Newton

By Sam Robinson | at December 11, 2018 4:32 pm

Michael Ola‘s ankle injury will result in the Saints sending the offensive lineman to IR, and it represents an interesting chapter in a long comeback story.

The Saints, per Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter), will fill Ola’s roster spot with free agent tackle Derek Newton, who has not played football since October 2016.

While Newton’s career was thought to be over, the formerly dependable Texans tackle has participated in workouts during the 2018 season — most recently with the Saints. That audition will land the 31-year-old blocker a job with the 11-2 Saints.

Ola went down with a high ankle sprain during the Saints’ win over the Buccaneers, according to NOLA.com’s Josh Katzenstein (on Twitter). A journeyman who has started one game in the past three seasons, that coming this year for the Saints, Ola will end the year on IR. He has not played for the same team in consecutive seasons since coming into the league, spending time with the Bears, Lions, Chargers, Bills and Saints.

A 2011 seventh-round pick out of Arkansas State, Newton was the Texans’ starting right tackle from 2012’s first game until that career-defining night in Denver. Newton tore both of his patella tendons in that game. The Texans waived Newton via failed physical designation in April, and he field a $500K grievance. But Newton then worked out for the Jets, Cardinals and Saints in the fall. He may soon have a chance to suit up in a game again.

If Newton suits up for the Saints, he will be the first player in NFL history to dress for a game after suffering two patella tendon tears. Former Bears wide receiver Wendell Davis and former Ravens and Browns cornerback Gary Baxter returned to practice but never again suited up for a game after suffering these severe injuries, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).

0 comments New Orleans Saints Derek Newton Michael Ola

Saints To Re-Sign Michael Ola

By Zachary Links | at October 18, 2018 1:39 pm

The Saints re-signed veteran offensive lineman Michael Ola, according to a league source who spoke with Josh Katzenstein of the The Times-Picayune. The deal may be an indication the Saints will be without a lineman or two this week.

Left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) and left guard Andrus Peat (head) were both limited in practice on Wednesday, so the status of one or both players may be in doubt for Sunday’s late slate tilt against the Ravens. The Saints, ideally, do not want to shuffle a front five that has been among the league’s best this year.

The 4-1 Saints lead the league in scoring with 36 points per game and the O-Line has allowed quarterback Drew Brees to get sacked just eight times so far. Meanwhile, Alvin Kamara and the recently activated Mark Ingram have been the beneficiaries of wide running lanes, resulting in a team average of 4.1 yards per carry.

Ola, 30, was with the Saints this offseason and was a backup with the team in Week 1. This time, he’s hoping to take off his coat and stay a while.

1 comment New Orleans Saints Transactions Michael Ola