Saints Hire Scott Linehan, Fill Out Staff
The Saints are hiring several coaches to round out Kellen Moore‘s staff, including former Rams head coach Scott Linehan, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
The 61-year-old Linehan has 35 years of coaching experience, including several stints as offensive coordinator at top college programs (Washington, Louisville) and several NFL teams (Vikings, Dolphins, Rams, Cowboys). He also served as the Rams’ head coach from 2006-2008. The team compiled an 11-25 record before Linehan was fired due to an 0-4 start to the 2008 season.
Linehan has spent the last five years coaching at the college level. He was LSU’s passing game coordinator in 2020 before taking offensive analyst positions at Missouri (2021-2023) and Montana (2024). Now, he’s set to join Moore’s staff, likely in a role under offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.
Linehan has plenty of familiarity with his new colleagues. He was the Lions’ offensive coordinator when they signed Moore as an undrafted rookie quarterback in 2012. Linehan recognized Moore’s potential as a coach and began mentoring him in Detroit, per Nick Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Linehan then brought Moore with him to Dallas when he took over as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator in 2015.
Linehan was also the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Idaho in 1992 and 1993 when Nussmeier was the Vandals’ starting quarterback. Nussmeier has also served as an assistant coach on Linehan’s staff with the Rams and the Cowboys.
The Saints are also adding to their defensive staff with expected hires of Grady Brown and Robert Blanton, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Brown is a veteran defensive backs coach who spent the last four years with the Steelers and interviewed for the Falcons’ defensive coordinator vacancy this year.
Blanton is a former NFL safety who briefly overlapped with Moore when both played for the Cowboys in 2017. He has spent the last four years as the defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach at Miami University (Ohio).
NFL Workout Updates: 10/19/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- S Trey Caldwell; CBs Brian Dixon, Deji Olatoye, Trovon Reed (link)
Detroit Lions
- DBs Robert Blanton, Ed Reynolds (link)
New York Giants
- LSs Andrew East, Derek Hart, Colin Holba (link)
New York Jets
- TE Jason Croom; WR Patrick Owusu (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- CB Marqueston Huff; S Robenson Therezie (link)
Washington Redskins
NFL Workout Updates: 10/17/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- QB Matt Simms; DE Noble Nwachukwu; LB Boseko Lokombo (Twitter links via Adam Caplan)
Chicago Bears
- QB Alek Torgersen; WRs Jordan Payton, Kevin Snead (link)
Cincinnati Bengals
- TEs Brian Parker, Josiah Price, Steven Scheu; DBs Robert Blanton, K.J. Dillon, Harold Jones-Quartey, Robenson Therezie (Twitter links)
Denver Broncos
- WRs Devin Lucien, Tim Patrick, Domonique Young (link via Caplan)
Detroit Lions
- DE Jacquies Smith; Ks Dan Carpenter, Travis Coons (link via Caplan)
Houston Texans
- QB Taylor Heinicke (link via Caplan)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CBs Alex Carter, Deji Olatoye, D’Joun Smith (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- G Oni Omoile; T Nick Becton; DT Josh Augusta; LB Johnathan Calvin (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- DB Justin Currie (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
- DBs Robert Blanton, Antone Exum, Ed Reynolds, Ahmad Thomas (link via Caplan)
New Orleans Saints
- RBs Matt Asiata, Ka’Deem Carey, Dexter McCluster; WR Paul Turner; LB Bryan Braman (Twitter links via Caplan)
New York Jets
- DE Owa Odighizuwa; S Harold Jones-Quartey (link via Caplan)
San Francisco 49ers
- DE Devin Taylor (link via Caplan)
Washington Redskins
- RBs Troymaine Pope, Stanley Williams, Joseph Yearby; WRs Rashad Ross, Kendal Thompson; Gs Willie Beavers, Zach Voytek; T Storm Norton; ; LB Jayrone Elliott; CB Damian Swann; DBs Ed Reynolds, Orion Stewart, Mykkele Thompson (all Twitter links)
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/3/17
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Trae Elston, S Shamarko Thomas
- Placed on injured reserve: S Colt Anderson
- Released: S Robert Blanton
- Waived: DE Eric Lee
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: WR Damiere Byrd
- Released from IR: LB Jeremy Cash
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted to active roster: LB Deon King
- Signed off Eagles‘ practice squad: WR Bryce Treggs
- Placed on IR: LB Dominique Alexander
Houston Texans
- Signed: DB Marcus Cromartie
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed off Redskins‘ practice squad: G Kyle Kalis
- Signed: C Mike Person
- Placed on IR: C Deyshawn Bond
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted to active roster: DB Jordan Lucas
- Placed on IR: T Eric Smith
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: FB Zach Line, LB Gabe Martin
- Released: DL Kendall Langford
- Waived: LB Ben Heeney
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: LB Josh Carraway
Bills Sign DT Deandre Coleman
The Bills announced that they have signed defensive tackle Deandre Coleman and safety Robert Blanton. The addition of Coleman was necessary given the Bills’ issues in the middle of the defensive line.
The Bills are concerned about the status of Marcell Dareus‘ ankle and he may not be available for Sunday’s contest against the Broncos. Without Dareus, the Bills are expected to use either free agent pickup Cedric Thornton or Adolphus Washington in a starting role. Coleman will help to provide depth behind them while Jerel Worthy remains in concussion protocol.
Blanton, meanwhile, joins the roster just one day after the team dropped fellow safety Trae Elston.
The Bills, who may also be without left tackle Cordy Glenn, will take on the Broncos in Week 3.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/18/17
Today’s workout update notes:
Buffalo Bills
- Ps Taylor Symmank, and Matt Wile; LS Derek Hart (Twitter links via Howard Balzer and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Carolina Panthers
- S Jack Tocho (Tuesday) (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
Cincinnati Bengals
- QBs Jerod Evans and Wes Lunt; RB Kelvin Taylor; WRs C.J. Board and Moritz Boehringer; TEs Taylor McNamara and Wes Saxton; DE Pat O’Connor; CBs Alex Carter and Josh Thornton (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, and Howard Balzer)
Detroit Lions
- LB Tre’Von Johnson (Twitter link via Balzer)
Green Bay Packers
- OL Fahn Cooper, Givens Price, and Brandon Thomas (Twitter link via Pelissero)
Houston Texans
- TE Alex Ellis (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Indianapolis Colts
- TEs Sam Cotton, Alex Ellis, Scott Orndoff, Josiah Price, Steven Scheu, Robert Tonyan (Twitter link via Balzer)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Jaydon Mickens; DBs Robert Blanton, Marqueston Huff, and Robenson Therezie (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union)
New England Patriots
- WRs River Cracraft, Kenny Lawler, and Nelson Spruce; DE Jonathan Woodard; DB Robert Nelson (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New Orleans Saints
- CB Bradley Sylve (Tuesday) (Twitter link via Wilson)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Joseph Jones; S Tyvis Powell (Twitter link via Balzer)
Cowboys Trim Roster To 53
The Cowboys navigated the busy cut week and moved down to the 53-man limit. Here are the players Dallas removed from its roster to reach the regular-season standard.
Released:
- S Robert Blanton (story)
- T Emmett Cleary
- RB Ronnie Hillman
- QB Luke McCown (story)
- QB Kellen Moore (story)
Waived:
- DE Richard Ash
- DE Woody Baron
- RB Brandon Brown-Dukes
- WR Brian Brown
- C Ross Burbank
- CB Dejaun Butler
- DT Jordan Carrell
- T Clay DeBord (injury settlement)
- G Kadeem Edwards
- LB Keenan Gilchrist
- CB John Green
- WR Karel Hamilton
- P Sam Irwin-Hill
- DT Joey Ivie
- TE Blake Jarwin
- WR Andy Jones
- LB Joseph Jones
- DE Lenny Jones
- WR Lance Lenoir
- DE Darnell Leslie
- LB Lamar Louis
- TE M.J. McFarland
- DE Lewis Neal
- WR Uzoma Nwachukwu
- CB Sammy Seamster
- S Jameill Showers
- G Dan Skipper
- G Nate Theaker
- CB Marquez White
- LS Zach Wood
Placed on Reserved/Suspended list:
- DE David Irving
- DE Damontre Moore
Placed on IR:
- RB Duke Thomas
Cowboys Release S Robert Blanton
Robert Blanton joined the Cowboys earlier this offseason, but he didn’t even make it to the regular season. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the organization has released the safety.
Blanton signed with Dallas earlier this offseason following a single season in Buffalo, where he compiled 35 tackles in 10 games (two starts). The 2012 fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Minnesota, where he served mostly as a backup defensive back. His best season came in 2014, when he compiled 106 tackles and one interception.
Roster Resource expected the 27-year-old to start at strong safety alongside Byron Jones. Following the release of Blanton, the Cowboys will now lean on one of Xavier Woods, Jeff Heath, and Kavon Frazier to fill that role.
Cowboys To Sign S Robert Blanton
Former Bills safety Robert Blanton has signed with the Cowboys, agent Jason Bernstein tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Blanton visited with the Cowboys earlier this offseason and, one month later, he has agreed to sign.
Blanton has mostly served as a second-stringer during his five years in the NFL, except for the 2014 season with the Vikings in which he started 13 games and made 105 tackles. He’s only gotten three starts in the last two years, but he could be in for a significant role after the Cowboys’ secondary was picked apart by free agency. The Cowboys now have four safeties on the roster in Byron Jones, Jeff Heath, Kavon Frazier, and Blanton. Dallas is expected to add to the thin cast in this month’s draft.
Last year, Blanton appeared in ten games (two starts) for Buffalo, amassing 26 tackles in total. A foot injury halted his season in November.
Robert Blanton Visiting Cowboys
The Cowboys have observed defections across their secondary this month after seeing Barry Church, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne sign elsewhere. They are thinner at both cornerback and safety but brought in a player with some experience for a visit today in Robert Blanton, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.
Blanton has mostly served as a second-stringer during his five years in the NFL, with his work for the 2014 Vikings being an exception. Blanton started 13 games for the Vikes that year and made 105 tackles. Since, he’s been deployed as a first-unit player in just three games, two with the Bills last season.
But Blanton became part of a revolving Buffalo back-line crew after going on IR in late November. His one-year deal with the Bills produced 28 tackles. Dallas currently has just Jeff Heath and 2016 sixth-rounder Kavon Frazier as safeties alongside Byron Jones.