Report: Taysom Hill set to start at QB vs. Dallas
Could Hill be the Saints’ saviour?
The New Orleans Saints are set to swing a change under centre. Trevor Siemian has held the starting quarterback job for five weeks, in which New Orleans has lost four consecutive games. While the former Bronco has an impressive 9 touchdowns to 3 interceptions, his completion percentage has severely affected the Saints’ efficiency on offense.
Siemian’s highest completion percentage since replacing injured starter Jameis Winston is 60.98% — in the 27-25 loss to Atlanta — though he has failed to hit 60% in each of his other four appearances. With New Orleans’ season now hanging in the balance, despite the same record as the NFC’s #7 seed Minnesota, Taysom Hill is being called in to start, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN.
The NFL Nation reporter said in an article for ESPN that Hill had practiced in full all week, which has seemingly been enough to convince head coach Sean Payton. Hill has been dogged by a plantar fascia injury since Week 10 and as such, hasn’t been a viable option at the starting quarterback position since.
Now things appear to have changed, with Triplett reporting the Saints’ hope the BYU product will provide their offense with some newfound juice.
Despite Triplett’s confirmation, Payton stopped well short of crowning Hill as the starter during his press conference Wednesday.
"We'll see,” he said, via Katherine Terrell of The Athletic. “Yeah, we'll see. We want to see how Taysom is doing tomorrow. Obviously we're trying to get him back off this foot. It'll be either he or Trevor." "(The injury) happened at Tennessee and he's gradually gotten better each week.
"Last week when that topic was brought up, I just knew it wouldn't be right to put him back there with the shape his foot was in at the time. It's gotten better. I'm going to see how tomorrow goes. We've got a lot of time before we play."
The Saints don’t have time to lose again, particularly against a conference rival. Their 4-4 record against the NFC isn’t doing them any favors in the playoff picture, and another loss could mean this team is over the hill for another season.
Tom Brady ready for another Super Bowl tilt
Tom Brady is treating campaign No. 22 no differently to the Super Bowl-laden previous. The chip is still there and so too is his passion and drive.
Tom Brady, is treating campaign No. 22 no differently to the Super Bowl-laden previous. The chip is still there and so too is his passion and drive.
“I love playing football,” Brady told Peter King in his latest Football Morning in America column. [Offensive coordinator] Byron Leftwich said something really good the other day: It’s a very simple game that’s so hard to execute. It’s a totally imperfect game that you’re trying to do as perfectly as possible. Every day I come out trying to do it. I’m hoping this is my best year.”
Could it be? Well, Brady’s weaponry and offensive have hardly been better across his two-decade career and let’s not forget, despite a slow start last season was one of his best.
Let’s reflect for a moment. New team, new coaches, new system, new lifestyle, a torn MCL, all amidst a global pandemic.
Brady’s healthier now and certainly feels more at home with the offense if Bucs head coach Bruce Arians is to be believed.
“When he calls a play this year, he knows the picture in his brain. Last year, it was just words,” Arians said.
Brady has two years remaining on his three-year deal with Tampa and assured NFL defenses in the offseason that he’ll see them out. Could he play beyond then, taking him to the ripe old age of 46.
“I’ll know when the time’s right,” Brady told King regarding the inevitability of retirement.
“If I can’t . . . if I’m not a championship-level quarterback, then I’m not gonna play. If I’m a liability to the team, I mean, no way. But if I think I can win a championship, then I’ll play.”
For every year which Brady sticks around, he believes his squad will be a bonafide Super Bowl threat. With Tampa’s roster, it could be years.
When prodded on whether 2021 will be better than any before, Brady illuminated the formulaic approach he is renowned for.
“That’s a prediction and I’m not for that,” Brady said. “I’m into doing the work. Is the process gonna be right? I’m gonna work my ass off to get it right.”
The Bucs are every chance to put themselves in a position to go back-to-back, a feat rarely achieved in the National Football League. I mean, can you even remember the last QB to do it? You might’ve heard of him.
Thomas Patrick Edward Brady.
Drew Brees talks Jameis, Taysom & the QB who has caught his eye
Drew Brees believes the quarterback battle down in New Orleans is unlikely to end anytime soon.
Drew Brees believes the quarterback battle down in New Orleans is unlikely to end anytime soon. The Saints GOAT thinks both Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill will spend time under centre in New Orleans’ first season without Brees in 16 years.
“Both guys have such a love for the game … and you can see it in the way they play. Taysom has an infectious love for the game,” Brees told Mike Tirico in Football Morning in America.
“There is not a guy who is more respected for that and for what he brings to the team. Jameis was such a joy to be around. He also loves the game and loves to work at it. You can tell that football consumes his thoughts.
“He wants to be a great player and continue to improve. Whatever happens, in terms of whoever is the starter, I do think there is a scenario where both of them are playing. If Jameis is the starter I think Taysom is seeing a lot of action at quarterback, maybe even more-so than he did with me.”
As for withdrawals from his time in the New Orleans spotlight, Brees hasn’t come across any yet.
“I have been preparing for the next chapter, I’m excited about it. There is a feeling of gratitude and appreciation for all that the game gave me,” he said.
“I still have a chance (at NBC) to be connected with the game and stay involved, but I am excited to be able to pursue some other passions that I haven’t been able to up to this point.”
Brees is preparing to play a large part in NBC’s football coverage this season, signing on as a studio analyst for Football Night in America. A guy you’ll hear him speak about and this season is Justin Herbert; the Chargers quarterback who has caught his eye more than any other youngster in the league.
“I don’t think I’ve seen an athlete quite like him. We played them last year, and I was impressed,” Brees revealed.
“Then I saw him at mini-camp in OTAs and was amazed at how big and strong he is. His forearms and hands look like he has been digging fence-post holes his entire life. He is good, smart and has those leadership qualities. You talk about building an offense around a guy, he can be a 15-year franchise guy.”
Brees will also be instrumental in NBC’s coverage of Notre Dame, in addition to the Olympics and of course, Super Bowl LVI.
‘They Know Who They Are’ - Tom Brady doubles down on teams who passed on him
You may not like it, but Tom Brady’s still carrying that chip…the dogged, competitively spiteful mentality…
You may not like it, but Tom Brady’s still carrying that chip — no, I don’t mean the Lombardi Trophy, though he is very much in possession of it heading into the NFL season.
Rather, the dogged, competitively spiteful mentality. Make no mistake Brady is the type who would want GMs and owners wincing each time they see him in a Bucs uniform. TB12 hasn’t forgotten who passed on his signature in free agency last year and is hellbent on inflicting further pain upon them.
“They know who they are. They know who they are . . . it’s fine. Everyone has a choice to choose. I think what you realize is, there’s not as many smart people as you think,” Brady said in an interview with Jim Gray on Sirius XM.
“That’s just the reality. I think it’d be a no-brainer if you said, hey, you’ve got a chance to get Wayne Gretzky on your team, or you got a chance to have Michael Jordan on your team . . . Oh, we don’t need him, no thanks. We’re good.”
This comes shortly on the heels of Brady mentioning his reaction to teams passing on him while starring on LeBron James'‘ television show, The Shop.
“I was thinking, you’re going with that motherfucker?” Brady’s quote understandably went viral and despite being pressed, refused to reveal to Gray which team he was specifically referring to.
“There’s private things for me that are going to remain motivational for me,” Brady said.
Lord help them if we ever find out which team Brady was talking about. What is certain however is Brady hasn’t lost an ounce of hunger and that grudge mentality remains.
Bring on week 4 in Foxboro.
NFL announces Preseason TV schedule
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel…this includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The NFL announced this week there will be a record number of preseason games will be shown on NFL Network.
Let’s hope we’ll see more of this!
Importantly, all preseason games will be shown on NFL GamePass, which is fantastic news for international and American fans alike.
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel will show eight games through Weeks 1-2 before a final seven during the third and final week of preseason.
This includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The Football Team kick off NFL Network’s coverage on August 12 at New England, where we should get our first official look at Mac Jones in a Patriots uniform.
Trevor Lawrence is likely to hit your screens on August 14 as Urban Meyer and the Jags host AFC rivals, Cleveland.
Media and fans alike will be hoping to get a glimpse of Jordan Love too, which may come as early as Week 2 (August 21) at home to Zac Wilson and Gang Green.
Below is a full list of the games to air on NFL Network across the preseason:
Week 1
Thursday, August 12
7:30 PM ET – Washington Football Team vs. New England Patriots
Friday, August 13
7:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, August 14
1:00 PM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears
4:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings
7:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 15
1:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 2
Thursday, August 19
7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 20
8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team
Saturday, August 21
1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
4:25 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
10:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 22
1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3
Friday, August 27
8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, August 28
1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills
7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, August 29
1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
For American fans — NFL Network will blackout live games shown concurrently in local markets.
NFL Training Camps begin this week- When does your team return?
Football season is fast approaching with the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers kicking off their respective training camps on Wednesday.
Football season is fast approaching with the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers kicking off their respective training camps on Wednesday.
All players from the Cowboys and Steelers are scheduled to report, with the teams facing off in the Hall of Fame Game on August 5.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host its rookies on Tuesday, with veterans coming through on Saturday.
Below you will find exactly when each team reports for training camp ahead of the NFL preseason which begins on Thursday, August 12.
Reporting dates and locations for NFL training camps this offseason - courtesy of NFL Communications.
NFL announces joint practices - Who your team is playing and why
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
Joint practices aren’t a new phenomenon in the NFL. They essentially act as an opportunity for teams and players to go through scrimmages against different personnel.
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
New Orleans and Jacksonville were set to meet in Louisiana on August 20, but since the release of the schedule both teams have confirmed otherwise.
Teams NOT involved in joint practices this offseason:
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Football Team
Some teams will engage in two bouts of joint practices; the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and both the New York clubs (Jets and Giants).
Arguably, the most famous joint practice moment of recent memory involved then-Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and Washington’s DeAngelo Hall getting into it. Things got interesting, real quick…
Thankfully for DB’s everywhere their ankles won’t be tested by D-Hop until preseason at the earliest.
Full list of this year’s joint practices:
Courtesy of NFL Communications
Watch: Ted Ginn announces retirement - best plays of his career
Ginn, 36, played for six teams (Miami, San Francisco, Carolina, Arizona, New Orleans and Chicago) across a stellar 14-year career after being drafted 9th overall to Miami in the 2007 NFL draft.
Punters and kickers can sleep a little easier tonight now that specialist sensation Ted Ginn has announced his retirement.
Ginn, 36, played for six teams (Miami, San Francisco, Carolina, Arizona, New Orleans and Chicago) across a stellar 14-year career after being drafted 9th overall to Miami in the 2007 NFL draft.
Ted Ginn stats:
412 catches for 5,742 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns
262 punt returns for 2,624 yards and 4 TDs
307 kickoff returns for 6,899 yards and 3 TDs.
15,749 career all-purpose yards — 4th in the NFL since 2007, behind Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore and Darren Sproles.
Oh, and a special treat for those who remember GInn from his Ohio State days…what a phenom.
Who will play under the franchise tag in 2021?
The NFL list of franchise tagged players is relatively short this season. Only six players will go through the 2021-22 NFL season under the conditions of the tag.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams and Broncos safety Justin Simmons were all tagged and looked likely to remain that way until they agreed new deals with their respective teams.
Carolina right tackle Taylor Moton was similarly fortunate after agreeing a four-year, $72 million deal with the Panthers just before today’s deadline.
The unlucky six on this season’s franchise tag are:
Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR)
Allen Robinson (Chicago Bears WR)
Marcus Maye (New York Jets S)
Marcus Williams (New Orleans Saints S)
Cam Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars T)
Brandon Scherff (Washington Football Team G)
Why Von Miller believes Peyton Manning - and not Tom Brady - is the GOAT
Hold up now, just wait a second.
Before the outcry, we must be fair to Von and point out his thoughts are from late October 2020 -- long before Brady and the Bucs got it together and dominated the Chiefs. Perhaps his opinion has since changed, but judging by his love for Peyton that’s as likely as a flying pig.
What’s perhaps most interesting about Von Miller’s GOAT take is the question was never raised about Manning or Brady was never raised. Von decided to take it upon himself to assert Peyton Manning as the greatest of all time.
Irrespective of who you side with, Von’s love and admiration for Peyton -- both as a player and as a human being -- is palpable.
“He is the real deal and he’s the GOAT,” Miller said of his former Super Bowl winning teammate.
“They have these discussions about Peyton and Tom Brady, and Tom Brady, he’s won a lot of Super Bowl’s and I’m a Tom Brady fan but Peyton Manning, he changed the position of quarterback from an audible position on the line to being a technician, going about his game, knowing the defense and that’s why Peyton Manning is the GOAT in my eyes.”
“Of course we’ve got Tom Brady and I’m a big Tom Brady fan and everything he does man, but I played with Peyton Manning man, and I got to experience what type of guy he was, what type of player he was and what type of leader he was. He’ll always get my vote on being the GOAT, ‘cause he truly was.”
As for what Peyton Manning was truly like, away from the public eye, Von took us into the Broncos locker room, detailing the tendencies and nuances of Denver’s favorite son.
“I’m just taken to the image that I have of Peyton Manning. Him being in the locker room, just being around Peyton Manning, he was just a true leader man, a true leader of men,” he said when asked about Peyton’s most memorable qualities.
“If he did mess up on anything, he went about his business, so professional man and he never made the same mistake twice. He handled adversity off the football field, on the football field, he was the same guy every single day.
“He knew the coaches, he knew the players, he knew the players’ kids, he knew the janitors by first name and had conversations with all these guys. He was a real superhero man, it’s not a facade, it’s not anything fake, it was just him.”
Does Peyton Manning really run around in Von Miller’s backyard?! To find out, along with more of Von Miller’s conversation with Patrick Djordjevic, click here.