HEADLINES

New Orleans Saints News & Rumors

NFC South Notes: Brees, Jordan, Panthers

May 28th, 2015 at 8:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Many were surprised by the Saints‘ offseason trade of star tight end Jimmy Graham, but quarterback Drew Brees has learned to roll with the punches over the years, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune writes. “I love Jimmy and I miss Jimmy, as a player and a person, but life goes on and I like the players that we have,” Brees said. Brees singled out Ben Watson, Josh Hill and third-string tight end Orson Charles as capable replacements for Graham, who is now with the Seahawks. Here’s more from the NFC South..

  • Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan played coy when asked about the status of his contract on Thursday, as Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune writes. Jordan did confirm that there have been contract talks for more than a year, but wouldn’t say much more. Jordan is currently playing on his fifth-year option.
  • Last week we learned that the Saints let two area scouts go. Today, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (on Twitter) found out that college scouts Brian Adams and Ryan Hollern are the scouts who were fired.
  • The Panthers believe that their offseason additions will help to free things up for wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, The Associated Press writes. The Panthers brought back veteran Ted Ginn Jr. and drafted Devin Funchess from Michigan in the second round this offseason to help beef up a passing game that finished 19th in the league last season. Benjamin, a rising NFL sophomore, impressed as a rookie in 2014.

NFC Notes: 49ers, Armstead, Briggs, Saints

May 24th, 2015 at 8:16pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Here’s a look at the latest regarding a pair of NFC teams:

  • The 49ers are hoping their roster is so deep that first-round defensive end Arik Armstead doesn’t start contributing on the field until 2016, according to of Paul Gutierrez ESPN.com. Armstead might have to make his mark this year, though, as the 49ers’ defensive line took a big hit with the recent retirement of Justin Smith. Veteran Darnell Dockett is expected to be San Francisco’s No. 1 right end, which could leave the left side open for Armstead, Gutierrez notes.
  • Smith’s retirement freed up cap room for the 49ers, but Gutierrez doesn’t necessarily think they’ll use it this year. The team could sign free agent linebacker Lance Briggs, whom it has expressed interest in, but Gutierrez doesn’t expect it to happen unless Briggs comes cheap. Moreover, the Niners have 13 players entering contract years – Aldon Smith, Alex Boone, Anquan Boldin, and Vernon Davis among them – so they have to watch out for the long term.
  • Quarterback Ryan Griffin‘s roster spot with the Saints is in jeopardy after they used a third-round pick on Garrett Grayson. Nonetheless, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com believes Griffin still has a chance to beat out Luke McCown as one of the team’s top three QBs. The winner of the Griffin-McCown battle will likely be the No. 2 behind Drew Brees, leaving Grayson to develop as a No. 3, while the Saints are expected to be cut the loser.
  • Free agent wide receiver Kris Durham told Sirius XM NFL Radio that he worked out for the Saints, writes Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. It was reported earlier this week that Durham worked out for the Cowboys. The four-year veteran has played for the Seahawks, Lions, and Titans during his career, hauling in 55 passes and three touchdowns.

Extra Points: Michael Sam, Saints, Dolphins

May 22nd, 2015 at 8:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s look at some assorted notes from around the league…

  • Michael Sam‘s deal with the Montreal Alouettes is for one year, but it does contain an option year for 2016, clarifies Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reported earlier that Sam will earn $100K for 2015, and $150K for 16, well above the usual rate for CFL players.
  • We heard earlier today that the Saints would be making some changes to their personnel department, and Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (Twitter link) confirms the firings have begun, as two area scouts have been let go.
  • The Dolphins have locked up Ryan Tannehill, Mike Pouncey, and Ndamukong Suh in recent months, but the club’s attitude toward roster-building was forged in 2014, as GM Dennis Hickey explains to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.

Extra Points: Yanda, McGlynn, Peterson, Jets

May 22nd, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Luke Adams

With the week winding down and Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, let’s round up a few odds and ends from around the NFL….

  • With Marshal Yanda heading into the final year of his five-year contract with the Ravens, the team is exploring what a contract extension for the veteran guard would look like, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. As Zrebiec points out, it may not be feasible for Baltimore to keep both Yanda and Kelechi Osemele, who are both eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2016.
  • Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune has the details on Mike McGlynn‘s contract with the Saints, tweeting that the offensive lineman will get a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract with a $30K signing bonus.
  • It’s not clear when Adrian Peterson will report to the Vikings, but head coach Mike Zimmer told 1500 ESPN Twin Cities this week that he thinks he has “an indication” of when his running back will show up, as Andrew Krammer details.
  • Former Rams scout Brian Shields has accepted a scouting job with the Jets under GM Mike Maccagnan, reports Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Maccagnan has made several changes to his club’s scouting department since this year’s draft.
  • The Saints are retooling their own scouting department under the influence of Jeff Ireland, and will likely part ways with some employees soon, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports.

Poll: Most Improved Revamped Contender?

May 22nd, 2015 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

Every team in the NFL has undergone changes to some extent this offseason, but some clubs have managed to maintain more continuity than others. Among the teams that have overhauled their rosters most significantly are three teams that just missed out on playoff spots by a game or two in 2014. The Eagles, Saints, and Dolphins have all seen major turnover at key spots on their rosters over the past few months.

In Philadelphia, Chip Kelly continues to allow standout offensive players to leave town, trading LeSean McCoy to the Bills and allowing Jeremy Maclin to walk in free agency. The Eagles also have a new starting quarterback (Sam Bradford) and landed the top running back (DeMarco Murray) and cornerback (Byron Maxwell) available in free agency.

While the Eagles’ biggest changes came in free agency, the Saints went the trade route, shipping out Jimmy Graham, Kenny Stills, and Ben Grubbs in separate deals. The team did add a few free agents, including running back C.J. Spiller and cornerback Brandon Browner, but New Orleans will be relying heavily on its rookie class, after having added extra picks in the first and third rounds.

As for the Dolphins, it’s no secret what their biggest offseason move was: Ndamukong Suh was the most noteworthy free agent to change teams in years, and he’s headed to Miami for the 2015 season. However, that was far from the only splash made by the Dolphins. The club also overhauled its wide receiving corps, acquiring Kenny Stills, signing Greg Jennings, and jettisoning veterans Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson, and Brian Hartline. Ryan Tannehill will also have a new weapon at tight end, in former Brown Jordan Cameron.

As noted above, there are plenty of other teams – both playoff clubs and non-contenders – who underwent major roster changes in the offseason, but few overhauled their rosters as significantly as the Eagles, Saints, and Dolphins. Will that pay off for those teams in 2015? Which of these three teams do you think improved the most this offseason?

Extra Points: Brees, Cowboys, Rice

May 21st, 2015 at 9:21pm CST by Zachary Links

Drew Brees has said that he wants to play football until he is 45, but he admits that goal is a little bit unrealistic. “45 is a long way away,” the Saints quarterback said on ESPN’s SVP and Russillo, according to Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate. “I’m 36 right now, and I know I got maybe a little overzealous last year when I threw out the number 45.” Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, and Steve Deberg hung in there until they were 44, but those final years were mostly spent playing in reserve roles. Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Along with free agent running backs Daniel Thomas, Ben Tate, and Felix Jones, Ronnie Wingo also worked out for the Cowboys today, as Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram tweets. Wingo was released by the Falcons earlier this month to help make room on the roster for incoming rookies.
  • A judge dismissed domestic violence charges against former Ravens running back Ray Rice, as The Associated Press writes. Rice completed the terms of his pretrial intervention, which included $125 in fines and anger management counseling.
  • Joe Barksdale, who signed a minimum-salary deal with the Chargers, was offered more from the Rams earlier in the offseason, Jim Thomas of the Post Dispatch tweets. Back in March, Barksdale looked like a decent bet to land a deal similar to the $6MM-per-year pacts signed by Austin Howard and Anthony Collins in 2014. However, that kind of market never materialized for the veteran. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former Ram just 48th out of 84 qualified tackles last season.
  • Falcons linebacker Joplo Bartu was fined $50,000 for an alcohol-related offense, but only after his two-game suspension was rescinded, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Bartu, who had 83 tackles in 2014, was handed a two-game suspension in March for his DUI arrest. Earlier this month, the linebacker brought new information to the league and his punishment was altered. However, future violations of the law will carry more significant discipline for him.
  • Ravens rookie lineman Leon Brown hopes to land a roster spot with his hometown team, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun writes. The 6-foot-5, 332-pound former junior college All-American also had an invite to try out for the Jaguars, but he chose the Ravens instead. Brown, an Alabama product, went undrafted this year.

Minor Moves: Thursday

May 21st, 2015 at 8:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Raiders announced that they have signed fifth-round draft pick Neiron Ball, as the staff at CSNBayArea.com writes. The linebacker was selected 161st overall by the Raiders after starting four seasons at Florida.
  • The Chiefs released Ricky Henry and signed tight end Ryan Taylor, according to the league’s transaction report, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. Taylor, 28 in November, appeared in 45 games for the Packers from 2011 through 2013.
  • The Colts announced that they have waived tackle Demarco Cox. Cox, who four years of college basketball at Ole Miss (2010-14) before transferring to Georgia Tech (2014-15) for his final season of eligibility, just signed with the club on Tuesday.
  • The Packers announced that they have signed cornerback Travis Manning. Manning, 24, was a standout at Division II Northwest Missouri State. He previously participated in camps with the Cowboys and Chiefs.
  • The Saints placed wide receiver Andy Tanner on the IR after he cleared waivers today, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune tweets.

Andrus Peat, Saints Agree To Terms

May 21st, 2015 at 11:52am CST by Luke Adams

The Saints have finished locking up their 2015 draft class, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that the club has agreed to terms with first-round offensive tackle Andrus Peat. Peat was the last of the Saints’ nine draft picks who remained unsigned.

As Over The Cap’s data shows, Peat will count for a little over $2MM against the Saints’ cap in 2015. Overall, his four-year contract will be worth $11.393MM, including a signing bonus of approximately $6.546MM. Peat’s deal will also feature a fifth-year option, allowing New Orleans the opportunity to lock him up through the 2019 season.

One of two players selected in the first round by the Saints, Peat was the third offensive lineman to come off the board in this year’s draft. Only Brandon Scherff (No. 5) and Ereck Flowers (No. 9) were picked before Peat, who went to New Orleans with the 13th overall selection. While it’s not clear if Peat will play tackle immediately, given the presence of incumbent starters Terron Armstead and Zach Strief, he should get the opportunity to compete for a starting job somewhere along the line.

Extra Points: Heyward, Giants, Brees

May 20th, 2015 at 9:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward said he’s in no rush to get his contract done, Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets. The veteran would like to get a deal done as soon as possible, but he’s not dwelling on it. The 26-year-old has appeared in every regular season game for the Steelers since his debut in 2011. Over the last two seasons, he has started 29 games for Pittsburgh and racked up a combined 114 tackles and 12.5 sacks. Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • After Robert Kraft decided to accept the penalties brought against the Patriots, speculation began to fly that the owner made a back-room deal with Roger Goodell that includes leniency for quarterback Tom Brady. Giants owner John Mara finds that theory to be preposterous. “I believe [Patriots owner Bob Kraft] ultimately accepted the penalties because he knew he didn’t have anywhere to go” with an appeal or a potential lawsuit, Mara told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
  • Giants center Weston Richburg is disappointed by the news of Will Beatty‘s injury but he also doesn’t see the team going out-of-house to replace him. “We were gonna depend on him big-time, but it’s a next man up mentality,” Richburg told SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Twitter) “We have guys here who can step up.”
  • Drew Brees is confident that the Saints‘ young, inexperienced receivers keep the offense moving in the absence of tight end Jimmy Graham and receiver Kenny Stills, who’ve both been traded away, The Associated Press writes. While nine-year veteran Marques Colston remains on the roster, most of the receivers and tight ends on the club haven’t been asked to play prominent roles yet.
  • Some are wondering why the Inglewood stadium could be the only possible L.A. host of Super Bowl LIV and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) explains it’s because it’s the only site that could have a team playing there in 2018. The Carson project simply wouldn’t be ready in time.

Saints Sign Mike McGlynn

May 20th, 2015 at 3:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The Saints have added some depth to their offensive line, signing veteran free agent Mike McGlynn to a contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). While terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, I’d expect it to be a one-year contract for something close to the minimum.

McGlynn, who turned 30 earlier this offseason, has spent time with the Eagles, Bengals, Colts, and Chiefs since entering the league in 2008, starting games for all four teams. In 2014, he played for Kansas City, acting as the team’s regular left guard for the majority of the season.

While McGlynn started 13 games for the Chiefs, his performance wasn’t overly impressive, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF graded McGlynn poorly as a pass blocker and even worse as a run blocker, placing him dead last out of 78 qualified guards.

The Saints may not count on McGlynn to play regularly for them during the 2015 season. New Orleans traded for Max Unger, who is expected to play center, and used a first-round pick on Andrus Peat, who may start his NFL career as a guard if Terron Armstead and Zach Strief continue to hold the tackle spots. The Saints dealt guard Ben Grubbs to the Chiefs earlier in the offseason, but still have Jahri Evans and Tim Lelito in the mix for their interior line spots.

As a corresponding move to the signing of McGlynn, the Saints have cut wide receiver Andy Tanner, according to Yates (Twitter link via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com).

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