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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Saints’ Kiko Alonso Suffers ACL Tear

January 6th, 2020 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

Saints linebacker Kiko Alonso suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). The early belief is that he’ll recover in time for the start of the 2020 season, but it’ll be a tough offseason for the linebacker as he approaches his 30th birthday in August. 

This marks the third ACL injury of Alonso’s career. The veteran missed the entire 2014 season with the same injury and suffered a setback in that same knee in 2015.

Alonso is slated to earn $6.375MM in base compensation next year, the final year of his contract. The Saints, in theory, could save $7.85MM against the cap by releasing him, with just $850K left in dead money.

The Saints traded for Alonso in September by shipping Vince Biegel to the Dolphins. In 13 games this year, Alonso recorded 31 tackles and started in just four games.

Updated 2020 NFL Draft Order

January 6th, 2020 at 8:36am CST by Zachary Links

After a weekend full of drama and upsets, four more spots have been determined in this year’s NFL Draft order. Most notably – the Patriots will pick No. 23 overall, their highest original pick since 2006.

Here’s the updated rundown, from Nos. 1-24:

1. Bengals (2-14)

2. Redskins (3-13)

3. Lions (3-12-1)

4. Giants (4-12)

5. Dolphins (5-11)

6. Chargers (5-11)

7. Panthers (5-11)

8. Cardinals (5-10-1)

9. Jaguars (6-10)

10. Browns (6-10)

11. Jets (7-9)

12. Raiders (7-9)

13. Colts (7-9)

14. Buccaneers (7-9)

15. Broncos (7-9)

16. Falcons (7-9)

17. Cowboys (8-8)

18. Dolphins (via Steelers 8-8)

19. Raiders (via Bears 8-8)

20. Jaguars (via Rams 9-7)

21. Eagles (9-7)

22. Bills (10-6)

23. Patriots (12-4)

24. Saints (13-3)

Latest On Drew Brees’ Future

January 5th, 2020 at 9:51am CST by Rory Parks

Patriots QB Tom Brady indicated that he is unlikely to retire, but with all of the talk surrounding Brady, not much has been said about the future of another future Hall-of-Famer, Saints signal-caller Drew Brees.

Brees, like Brady, is eligible for free agency, but unlike Brady, it does not sound as if there is any possibility that he could be playing for a different club in 2020. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Brees wants to remain with the Saints, and given the way he’s playing, it’s likely that the two sides come together on a new contract after the season is over (video link).

The franchise tag is also a possibility, though Rapoport says that would be a last resort. Brees, who will turn 41 later this month, is having an excellent season despite missing five games with a thumb injury (which, in retrospect, may have allowed him to stay fresh). He has thrown 27 touchdowns against just four interceptions en route to a career-high 116.3 quarterback rating, and he is a big reason why the Saints look like one of the most complete teams in football.

Of course, if the Saints do win their second Lombardi trophy this year, there will be speculation that Brees could retire to end his career on the mountaintop. But that does not sound likely either, as a source close to Brees told Rapoport that, if the New Orleans legend wins the Super Bowl in 2020, he’ll just want to win again in 2021.

The Saints host the Vikings in the wildcard round today, a game in which New Orleans is favored by 7.5 points.

NFC South Notes: Winston, Brown, Olsen

December 28th, 2019 at 5:50pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Buccaneers decision makers have faced one looming question at the quarterback position this season: Is Jameis Winston their franchise quarterback? Jenna Laine of ESPN chronicles the situation and details the organization’s biggest upcoming off-season decisions. Per Laine, members of the Tampa Bay organization have gone back and fourth on their belief in Winston and just a few weeks ago, some brass were “absolutely ready to be done with Winston,” however, the enigmatic quarterback has led the Bucs on a four-game winning streak and has changed some opinions.

While Winston’s play helped make his case, it also limited Tampa’s options at finding a replacement. Top quarterback prospects Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa are unlikely to be attainable for the Bucs in the draft now that they are unlikely to have a top-15 pick. There are a number of potential free agent options at the position, but Winston’s pedigree and relative youth likely means he’ll be back in Tampa.

Here’s some other notes from around the NFC South:

  • Wide receiver Antonio Brown was not alone when he arrived in New Orleans for his workout with the Saints this week, according to Mike Garafolo on Good Morning Football. The four-time all-pro was accompanied by his entourage and a camera crew during the process. Brown has been mired in controversy surrounding his locker room antics in Pittsburgh, his strange decisions with the Raiders, and multiple allegations of sexual and behavioral misconduct that led to his release from the Patriots. No one denies his talent, but it remains unlikely any team will sign him this season.
  • While the future of quarterback Cam Newton will be the biggest offseason story in Carolina, longtime Panthers tight end Greg Olsen will be deciding between retiring or returning next season. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the former may impact the latter. Newton and Olsen made one of the best quarterback-tight end combinations from 2014-16 and Yates believes Olsen is less likely to walk away from another chance to play with Newton.

Saints To Waive CB DeShawn Shead

December 28th, 2019 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Saints To Hold Off On Antonio Brown Signing

December 27th, 2019 at 2:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints’ Antonio Brown audition doubles as one of the highest-profile occurrences in the history of the in-season workout circuit, but the mercurial superstar does not look to be set for a lengthier New Orleans stay.

Sean Payton said Friday afternoon the Saints do not plan to sign Brown at this point, adding that this morning’s summit was “due diligence.” While any meeting with Brown would exceed such a qualifier, it may be a moot point — at least for the 2019 season.

The NFL plans to place Brown on the commissioner’s exempt list if a team signs him, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Payton confirmed (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk) that’s the information he’s received from the league. Nevertheless, Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, indicated he will continue discussions with the Saints, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

The investigation into the two sexual misconduct allegations against the 31-year-old All-Pro remains ongoing, with Schefter noting no end date is known at this point (Twitter link). A Brown return to the league will likely not happen until 2020, and NFL discipline could further delay his re-emergence.

Bringing Brown in without the intention of signing him soon is an interesting move, especially considering Payton indicated the team was not interested in him when he became available in September. The 14th-year Saints HC said Friday he was not being truthful when he previously claimed the team possessed no interest in the superstar talent.

Midway through last season, the Saints worked out then signed Dez Bryant. Their 2019 receiving corps looks similar to how it did at that point, with role players surrounding new single-season reception record-holder Michael Thomas. Ted Ginn, however, has stayed healthy this season. He remains New Orleans’ top Thomas sidekick. Jared Cook, however, serves as the key difference between this year’s Thomas supporting cast and last season’s, with the tight end’s 661 yards second on the team.

Saints Audition Maurice Harris

December 27th, 2019 at 1:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Antonio Brown wasn’t the only wide receiver showing his stuff for the Saints on Friday. Brown and Maurice Harris were among six WRs auditioning for the team, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 

[RELATED: Saints To Work Out Antonio Brown]

Head coach Sean Payton is aiming to update his WR list for the playoffs, in case any receivers are lost to injury, Schefter hears. That may or may not be an indicator for Brown’s chances of landing a deal. Granted, even if Brown is signed, the league office may step in and keep him off the field by placing him on the Commissioner’s List.

Harris, 27, doesn’t offer the same kind of upside as Brown, but he would come without any of the aforementioned complications. The former UDFA had his first productive pro season in 2018, though he hasn’t had a gig since getting cut by the Patriots back in August. Last year, with the Redskins, Harris caught 28 passes for 304 yards across 12 games.

It stands to reason that the Saints will sign at least one receiver in the coming days. Just this week, the club was forced to place Krishawn Hogan on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.

Antonio Brown To Work Out For Saints

December 27th, 2019 at 8:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are set to audition Antonio Brown. Brown leaked the news via his personal Instagram on Friday and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) has confirmed the workout. 

Although Brown is a free agent, it remains to be seen whether the NFL will allow him to actually suit up for a club in 2019. Currently, the star wide receiver is in limbo. The league office started investigating Brown after he was accused of sexual abuse in a lawsuit in September. The NFL has since interviewed Brown, but there’s still no word on his status.

Teams have reportedly been interested in Brown, one of the most dominant offensive players in the modern era. But, up until today, no one has moved to bring the controversial star in for a workout.

If Brown is signed and cleared to play, the Saints would arguably boast the most lethal 1-2 WR combination in the league with Brown lining up opposite of Michael Thomas. Brown would have to get ready and learn the playbook in short order, but he could have an extra week to gear up if the Saints are able to secure a first-round bye. A combination of a Saints win over the Panthers and losses by the Packers or 49ers would give the NFC South champs an automatic pass to the divisional round.

The workout is not believed to be related to Thomas’ hand injury, which has limited him in practice this week, as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets. Even though Thomas is on track to play, the Saints are thin at receiver on the whole. The Saints just placed Krishawn Hogan on IR and, besides Thomas, no Saints WR has more than 29 catches on the season.

At minimum, if Brown is signed, it could help to jumpstart the NFL disciplinary process. Many expect the league office to place Brown on the Commissioner’s Exempt list once he puts pen to paper, keeping him away from the field until his investigation is complete.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/26/19

December 26th, 2019 at 3:00pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Oakland Raiders

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

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