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New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

Saints Activate Willie Snead, Place John Kuhn On IR

September 28th, 2017 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

John Kuhn‘s September of transactions saw the latest chapter reveal itself Thursday, and the veteran fullback’s time with the team took a bad turn.

The Saints placed Kuhn on IR because of a biceps injury Ian Rapoport of NFL.com refers to as “potentially serious” (Twitter link). Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com tweets Kuhn likely tore a biceps muscle during practice this week.

Kuhn, who re-signed with the franchise again on Monday, looks like he will be out for the season. The Saints used his roster spot to officially activate Willie Snead, who is set to return after serving a three-game suspension.

The 35-year-old Kuhn played in two Saints games this season after suiting up for all 16 in 2016. New Orleans released the blocking back twice this month but re-signed him soon after.

Snead returns after a suspension for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. The third-year wideout has been a consistent part of New Orleans’ offense since debuting in 2015.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/17

September 26th, 2017 at 2:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: LB Tre’von Johnson

Indianapolis Colts

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2017 Record

September 26th, 2017 at 10:18am CST by Zachary Links

We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.

Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Browns enjoyed top priority thanks to their 1-15 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com):

T-1. Bengals

T-1. Browns

T-1. 49ers

4. Giants

5. Chargers

6. Colts

T-7. Texans

T-7. Seahawks

9. Cardinals

10. Jets

11. Saints

12. Bears

13. Dolphins

14. Buccaneers

15. Ravens

T-16. Panthers

T-16. Cowboys

T-16. Rams

T-16. Steelers

T-20. Broncos

T-20. Lions

T-20. Packers

23. Vikings

T-24. Bills

T-24. Jaguars

T-24. Patriots

T-24. Raiders

T-24. Eagles

T-24. Titans

30. Redskins

31. Chiefs

32. Falcons

 

Saints, Bengals Get Roster Exemptions For Willie Snead, Vontaze Burfict

September 25th, 2017 at 8:35pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints and Bengals have been given roster exemptions for wide receiver Willie Snead and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, respectively, as they return from suspension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Both exemptions expire on Thursday, so New Orleans and Cincinnati will each need to clear a roster spot by that time.Willie Snead (Vertical)

Snead, 24, was suspended three games following an offseason DUI arrest. A former undrafted free agent, Snead has been a revelation for the Saints since entering the league out of Ball State in 2015. In two seasons in New Orleans, Snead has averaged 70 receptions for 940 yards and four touchdowns. An exclusive rights free agent in 2017, Snead could potentially be in line for a new contract.

New Orleans is 1-2 after a win against the division rival Panthers on Sunday, but the club’s problems haven’t come on offense. Instead, it’s the Saints’ defense (31st in DVOA heading into Week 3) that’s been the team’s Achilles heel. However, Snead will give New Orleans another dimension on offense as the team seeks to replace the production void left by Brandin Cooks, who was traded to the Patriots in the spring.

Burfict, meanwhile, was originally handed a five-game ban for an illegal preseason hit on Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman, but that suspension was originally reduced to just three contests. In the meantime, the Bengals extended Burfict through the 2020 campaign on a three-year, $33.234MM deal. However, the specifics of that contract aren’t nearly as impressive as initial reports suggested.

Like Snead with the Saints, Burfict’s return won’t help the Bengals’ true woes, which have mostly occurred on the offensive side of the ball. But Burfict — whom Pro Football Focus graded as the NFL’s No. 6 linebacker a season ago — will give Cincinnati another playmaker on defense, and allow the club to push Vincent Rey back into a reserve role.

Saints Re-Sign DL Kendall Langford

September 25th, 2017 at 5:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have re-signed defensive lineman Kendall Langford, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter links). In related moves, offensive tackle Bryce Harris was released and defensive back Arthur Maulet was waived.Kendall Langford

Langford, 31, had a short stint with New Orleans last week, as he signed with the club on Thursday before being cut on Saturday. Clearly, his release was part of some sort of Saints roster shuffle, as the team wanted him back as soon as possible. A nine-year NFL veteran, Langford spent the past two seasons with the Colts before being released in August. Aside from the Saints, the only club to have expressed interest in Langford over the past month was the 49ers.

New Orleans is coming off its best defensive performance of the 2017 campaign, as it held Cam Newton and the Panthers to juset 13 points and 362 total yards. But the Saints could still use extra depth on the defensive side of the ball, as the unit ranked 31st in DVOA heading into Week 3. Langford, who can play both end and tackle, will help make up for the loss of fellow defenders Nick Fairley and Mitchell Loewen, both of whom are out for the year.

Saints To Re-Sign John Kuhn

September 25th, 2017 at 1:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have re-signed John Kuhn, as Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. The fullback has yo-yo’d on and off the roster over the past few weeks. John Kuhn (vertical)

The Saints released Kuhn after roster cutdowns in early September. On Sept. 6, Kuhn was re-signed, but he was cut again on Sept. 21. Now, he’s back with the team in advance of their game in London on Sunday against the Dolphins.

Kuhn was with the Saints in Charlotte for Sunday’s game against the Panthers, so it was expected that he would be back with the team before long. If the Saints want to do some more roster jockeying, this might not be the last time they add/drop the 35-year-old this year.

Saints Cut Kendall Langford, Darryl Tapp

September 23rd, 2017 at 3:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two days after signing him, the Saints made the decision to cut Kendall Langford to make room for players they presumably believe will be of greater use to them on Sunday. New Orleans also cut defensive end Darryl Tapp, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

A 10th-year veteran, Langford signed a one-year deal with the Saints on Thursday. He’d been a starter in all but one season, but the 31-year-old defensive lineman will venture back into free agency. Being a vested veteran, Tapp will as well.

The Saints cut the defensive line duo to sign defensive backs Justin Hardee and Arthur Maulet, Yates reports. New Orleans has encountered a cornerback shortage, with Marshon Lattimore and Sterling Moore deemed out for Week 3. With Delvin Breaux on IR, the team has made moves to enhance its skeleton crew in advance of Sunday’s game against the Panthers.

Langford spent the past two seasons with the Colts but also served as a starter for the Rams and Dolphins. Tapp suited up in all 16 Saints games last season, starting two. It’s possible the team could look to re-sign the pair after its cornerback situation clears up.

Hardee signed with New Orleans’ practice squad on Friday, doing so after the Texans cut him after the preseason concluded. The Saints signed Maulet as a UDFA in May and added him to their practice squad before the regular season.

Lack Of Continuity Hurting Saints' Defense

September 22nd, 2017 at 9:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne
  • A lack of continuity is one of the key causes of the Saints’ years-long defensive struggles, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com observes. The Saints have started the most defenders (55) in the NFL dating back to 2014, and have also seen a league-high 23 defensive backs start at least two games in that span, per Triplett. The club has simply missed on too many defensive free agent signings and draft picks – including linebacker Stephone Anthony – to establish a rhythm on that side of the ball, Triplett contends. The Saints traded Anthony, a first-round selection in 2015, to Miami this week for a 2018 fifth-rounder after he failed to live up to his draft status in New Orleans. Safety Kenny Vaccaro, a 2013 first-rounder, may also find himself in another uniform soon. A starter in 57 of 58 career appearances, Vaccaro sat on the bench for a large portion of the Saints’ blowout loss to New England last week. Former teammate Scott Shanle, a retired linebacker, informed Triplett that Vaccaro is “the most bipolar player I’ve ever seen as far as consistency. When he’s on, he’s one of the best players in the league. When he’s off, I just don’t get it.”
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