Canal Street Chronicles - All Posts

Podcast: Saints need to bring back Darren Sproles

2019-06-04T08:14:26-05:00

Plus, the boys discuss the best summer beer.

The Saints are signing running backs left and right, so why not add one more in Darren Sproles? We think it’s a fun idea and we like fun. What’s the best summer beer? Is Drew Brees still the most valuable Saints player? Plus, we discuss our worst bathroom experience on a road trip.

Want to join the fun or ask the guys a question, tweet them @PodcastSaints, like their Facebook page, or email them at saintshappyhour@gmail.com.

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WARNING: podcast contains explicit language

How will the team respond to another heartbreaking end to the season in 2018?

2019-06-04T08:00:00-05:00

Will it be baggage or motivation?

The Minnesota Miracle. The call so egregious the NFL rules committee fundamentally altered what players are subject to review moving forward.

The New Orleans Saints have had back-to-break heart-breaking, soul-crushing ends to Super Bowl runs in 2017 and 2018. The Saints were able to respond well after 2017 and made a deeper run in 2018 as the #1 seed in the NFC. The question now for the Saints, and what Bleacher Report has called the biggest question for the team, is “how will they respond again this year?”

For the second time in two years, the New Orleans Saints had their postseason end in heartbreaking fashion. This time, it was a blown non-call against the Rams. As we’ve seen in the past—the Falcons’ 28-3 Super Bowl collapse is a prime example—the hangover from a devastating postseason loss can loom large.

So are the Saints ready to move on and focus on the coming season? Perhaps not, but maybe they can learn from it.

”You always try to take your experiences from the year before and turn it into something positive,” quarterback Drew Brees said, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. “Use it as momentum, use it as motivation, a chip on your shoulder, unfinished business—whatever you want to term it.”

For players like Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore, Cam Jordan, and Michael Thomas, will another instance of coming up that close finally wear on their psyche? We’ve seen how they were able to respond after one such instance, and it seemed they did just fine. On the other hand, we’ve seen how players like Marcus Williams have seemed to let the loss affect them, so it’s to be determined how players like Tre’Quan Smith, Marcus Davenport, and Demario Davis will rebound. At the same time, there are players like Jared Cook and Latavius Murray who weren’t a member of either team.

Gone are the veteran locker room presences of Ben Watson and Mark Ingram. Will the 2019 Saints be able to buckle down and stay focused on the grand prize? Or will another instance of coming up short be a distraction for the team moving forward? Let’s hope not.

New Orleans Saints Triumphs: The folding of the U.S.F.L.

2019-06-03T12:00:00-05:00

A Golden Era of Saints football that was built through the collapse of an expansion league.

The United States Football League (USFL) was an expansion league that began play in the spring/summer of 1983. The fledgling league was entertaining in it's short three year duration, and even provided a bit of competition for the NFL in regards to obtaining players. The USFL managed to lure some players like future Hall of Fame end Fred Dean, future Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, star running back Joe Cribbs, and a number of other NFL veterans to better their product on the field. The new league also was able to grab some stars right out of college with big contract offers. Heisman Trophy winners like Herschel Walker, Mike Rozier, and Doug Flutie, along with numerous other college stars spurned the NFL for the riches of the USFL. Some even believed that the new league could eventually force a merger, similar to what occurred with the AFL nearly two decades earlier. Unfortunately, the league quickly ran into financial difficulties. Reduction of the number of teams, franchise mergers, and talented individual players could not stave off approaching disaster. Finally, a fateful decision by the league's owners --led by New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump --to move their games to the fall in direct competition with the NFL doomed them, and the USFL would cease operations in 1986. The dissolving of the expansion league led to a flock of talented players and coaches who would now enter the NFL. The infusion of talent would be led by future Hall of Fame players such as Reggie White, Jim Kelly, Steve Young, and Gary Zimmerman, but many NFL franchises would immediately benefit. The New Orleans Saints were one of the teams that would reap the rewards from the financial blundering of the USFL. Today we revisit our series of Triumphs and Tragedies throughout the history of the Saints franchise with a triumph due to a tragic moment for an entire football league.

Si.com

(left to right) Reggie White of the Memphis Showboats, Herschel Walker of the New Jersey Generals, and Steve Young of the LA Express

The Saints entered the 1985 season under new ownership. Millionaire businessman Tom Benson had purchased the struggling franchise that had often been a laughingstock since it's inception in 1967. Benson began to make sweeping changes throughout the organization almost immediately after the '85 season. He first hired Jim Finks, who was instrumental in setting the foundation for powerful teams in Minnesota and Chicago, to be the general manager. Finks' first act would be to hire a new head coach, following the resignation of Bum Phillips. The future Hall of Famer Finks would turn to the now-defunct USFL for the man to bring a new culture and mentality to the Saints.

Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

Jim Mora Sr. would receive his first professional head coaching job with the USFL's Philadelphia Stars in 1983 after stints with the Seahawks and Patriots as a defensive assistant, previously serving in the same roles in college with Washington, U.C.L.A., Colorado, and Stanford prior to that. Mora would be by far the winningest coach in the three year history of the USFL, winning 78% of his games with a 48-13-1 record. Mora's Stars teams would reach the league championship game in all three seasons of the USFL's existence, winning the title in 1984 and 1985. He brought his hard-nosed, disciplined style to New Orleans in 1986, and it would pay immediate dividends. Mora would lead the Saints to the first winning season and playoff berth in franchise history in 1987, and would build the team into a perennial playoff contender. New Orleans would go seven consecutive seasons without a losing record between 1987-93, finishing with a winning record or qualifying for the playoffs five times and winning the franchise's first division title in 1991. Mora won nearly 56% of his regular season games as Saints coach. His 93-74 record was far and away the best all-time mark among New Orleans coaches until surpassed by Sean Payton in 2017. Mora would resign his position midway through the 1996 season after consecutive 7-9 finishes the previous two years. He would eventually be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame, but Mora's 0-5 record in the postseason would for some taint his legacy. The reality is that Jim Mora's New Orleans Saints had one of the league's stronger teams through the late 1980's and early 1999's, and among the most feared defenses in NFL history. Those defenses were paced by a dominating linebacking corps known as "The Dome Patrol". Finks and Mora already had some solid defensive pieces in place when they came to New Orleans, a unit built around the talents of future Hall of Fame linebacker Rickey Jackson. They added a bookend to Jackson in the 3rd round of the '86 draft with the selection of Pat Swilling, a draft that also netted the team offensive lineman Jim Dombrowski along with running backs Reuben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard. The rounding out of an NFC contender was completed by a handful of players who followed Mora from the USFL to New Orleans, including a player who Mora has stated was "the best football player he'd ever coached".

Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - 1986: Linebacker Sam Mills #51 of the New Orleans Saints covers Earl Dickerson #29 of the Los Angeles Rams during a 1986 season NFL game at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Sam Mills entered the NFL in 1981, undrafted as an undersized and little regarded player from Montclair State. After failed tryouts with the Cleveland Browns and Toronto Argonauts of the C.F.L., Mills was a school teacher in New Jersey when a new opportunity would present itself with the USFL. The linebacker who would earn the nickname "Field Mouse" would become one of the biggest stars of the expansion league, and is widely regarded as the USFL's best defensive player other than perhaps Reggie White. Mills would earn All-USFL honors in all three years of the league's existence, and was the key piece on Mora's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars title teams. He would follow his coach to the Saints, and would proceed to make every other team regret overlooking him due to his 5'9 stature for the next decade. Mills would spend the next nine seasons anchoring the outstanding New Orleans defense, going to four Pro Bowls and earning a spot on the NFL's 1990's All-Decade team. He proved to be a sideline to sideline playmaker that would have five seasons of over 100 tackles in his career with the Saints, finishing with a franchise record 1,265 tackles. Mills would also add 4 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries (scoring 2 touchdowns), and 10.5 sacks from '87-94 with New Orleans, eventually earning his place in the team's Hall of Fame. He would depart the Saints after 1994, playing three more standout seasons with the Carolina Panthers, but Mills is considered one of the all-time greats in Saints history. He would team with Jackson and Swilling to make up 3/4 of the vaunted Dome Patrol, with the fourth also a USFL refugee who followed Mills into the NFL.

Vaughan Johnson bypassed the NFL coming out of college at N.C. State to join the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL in 1984. Johnson was a key member of the Bulls defense, and had 4 sacks and 3 interceptions in two seasons. Upon the folding of his league, Johnson would join the Saints, who selected him in the 1st round of a special supplemental draft in 1984 for USFL and Canadian football league players. He would make an immediate impact for his new team with his underrated versatility and bone jarring hits. Johnson was perhaps the most underappreciated member of this fearsome unit throughout national media circles, but most definitely respected among coaches and fellow players. He would earn 4 Pro Bowl trips in his eight years with the Saints, during which time he had 669 tackles, 4 interceptions, 5 fumble recoveries, 11 fumbles forced, and 12 sacks. Johnson and Mills completed the most feared linebacking crew in NFL history, but Finks and Mora would also take advantage of the rival league to grab a key piece to their offense.

Bobby Hebert, a Louisiana native, would also go directly to the USFL after college at Northwestern (La.) State. Hebert would become starting quarterback of the Michigan Panthers and have instant success, leading his team to a championship over Mora's Philadelphia Stars in it's inaugural season and winning league M.V.P. Hebert would again face down his future coach in a title game in 1985. This time as a member of the Oakland Invaders after a merger of the two franchises, but he fell short to Mora and the Baltimore Stars. He would be 37-19-1 as starting quarterback in the USFL, throwing for 11,137 yards and 81 touchdowns. Hebert would join his hometown Saints and his former nemesis Mora in 1985. By 1987, he had won the starting job, leading New Orleans to it's first ever winning record and postseason berth. He helped pace a Saints offense that would finish top five in scoring over two of the next three seasons.

Hebert would sit out the 1990 season due to a contract dispute. In his absence, New Orleans would use another former USFL player and Louisiana native at quarterback to fuel their push to the playoffs. John Fourcade, a backup with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL, would go 7-4 as a spot starter for the Saints between 1987-90. Hebert returned to the New Orleans lineup in 1991, and would go 20-5 as a starter while leading the Saints back to the playoffs in '91 and '92. Hebert would depart New Orleans after the '92 season, finishing his final three years with the hated Atlanta Falcons. His legacy, much like Mora's, is somewhat tainted in the eyes of some due to his postseason struggles. He would win almost 59% of his games with the Saints though (49-26), and still sits near the top of the franchise's all-time passing lists with 14,630 yards and 75 touchdowns.

Both Fourcade and Hebert were aided offensively by a number of dynamic stars. The team had one of the better offensive lines, one that at one point included another USFL star, former L.A. Express lineman Derek Kennard, who would help power the Dallas Cowboys to a title in Super Bowl XXX, but also started 32 consecutive games for New Orleans from 1992-93. Hilliard and Mayes were a terrific running back duo added early in the '86 draft also, but additional depth was added at that spot by yet another Louisiana star

Buford Jordan took advantage of an opportunity in the USFL when coming out of McNeese State college in 1984, joining the New Orleans Breakers. Although overshadowed by a much more ballyhooed college player in Marcus Dupree from Oklahoma initially, Jordan would turn the tables quickly. He was one of the USFL's leading rushers in 1984, finishing with 1,276 yards while averaging six yards per carry, scoring eight touchdowns, and adding 4 more scores on 45 receptions for 427 yards. The Breakers franchise would relocate to Portland in 1985, but Jordan remained one of their offensive stars, scoring 6 touchdowns on 1,009 yards from scrimmage. Despite being a first round pick by the Packers in the 1984 supplemental draft for USFL/CFL players, Jordan's rights were acquired by the Saints upon the league's demise in 1986. Jordan would be a valuable special teams contributor for New Orleans from 1986-92, while also providing key depth to the offensive backfield. He would rush for 687 yards and eight scores for the Saints, adding 37 catches for 355 yards and a touchdown. Jordan is also a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Linebacker Sam Mills of the Philadelphia Stars

The crumbling of the United States Football League brought a wave of talent into the NFL both on the field and within the coaching ranks. Most every franchise would benefit, but perhaps no team moreso than the New Orleans Saints. Mora, Mills, Johnson, and Hebert are all in the team's Hall of Fame, and each left undeniable footprints on the franchise's history. They combined with a terrific 1986 draft, along with some pieces that were already in place, to usher in the first truly notable era in New Orleans Saints football.

Fleur-de-Links, June 3: With Camp underway, young Saints looking to make early impressions

2019-06-03T08:27:51-05:00

Saints News:

Lil' Jordan Humphrey hoping unique name makes way onto Saints' roster | Saints | theadvocate.com
Lil' Jordan Humphrey isn't actually little.

Ex-Patriots DT Malcom Brown already 'having fun' with new-look saints defensive line | Saints | theadvocate.com
In terms of team success, Malcom Brown couldn’t have been in a better situation during his first four NFL seasons in New England. A veteran of three Super Bowls already

Alvin Kamara hosts hundreds of kids at 2nd annual football camp - nola.com
The day began with kids doing drills and ended with a high school 7-on-7 tournament.

2019 New Orleans Saints minicamp presented by Verizon practice schedule
All three practices are open to the public

Jets interview Saints’ Terry Fontenot for GM vacancy - nola.com
Fontenot has been with the Saints for 16 years.

Marcus Davenport, Cameron Jordan attend Von Miller’s pass-rush summit
New Orleans Saints defensive ends Marcus Davenport and Cameron Jordan sought out the best by attending Von Miller's annual pass-rush summit.

Baton Rouge native Cameron Tom looks to make way into conversation of Saints' center battle | Saints | theadvocate.com
It was a 40-day stretch that could have left Cameron Tom a little discouraged and scratching his head.

NFL News:

Are the New York Jets the NFL's Most Dysfunctional Franchise? | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
For some NFL teams, the offseason has been a time of renewed optimism. Of acquisitions that have filled needs and improved rosters. Of new schemes and strategies. Of getting better...

QB Blake Bortles soaking up lessons from McVay - NFL.com
Now an understudy in L.A., former Jaguars starter Blake Bortles is soaking in the sun and knowledge from coach Sean McVay and hoping to find a starting role down the road.

Jimmy Graham: 'Gonna go prove a lot of people wrong' - NFL.com
After a disappointing season that saw Jimmy Graham catch just two touchdowns passes for the Packers, the tight end vowed to have a bounce-back season in 2019.

Vikings ranked as fourth-best wide receiver corps in NFL - Daily Norseman
Which says a lot about their top two guys

John Ross, DeSean Jackson sound game for an NFL’s fastest player race
A race between the two would be fun, to say the least.

Analyzing what Flacco's teammates have said about him since OTAs
Broncos fans should pay close attention to what Joe Flacco's teammates have said about him during OTAs.

Von Miller happy to see Chris Harris 'get his due' - NFL.com
Von Miller and Chris Harris Jr. have shared the field since their rookie seasons with the Broncos. Thus, it should be of little surprise that Miller was pleased to see Harris get a new deal last week.

Saquon on Jones: Wait until 'he wins two Super Bowls' - NFL.com
Through nine days of offseason workouts in East Rutherford, Daniel Jones has already won over the people who matter most: his Giants coaches and teammates, including Saquon Barkley.

Muhammad Wilkerson arrested on DWI charge - NFL.com
Former Jets and Packers defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, an unrestricted free agent, was arrested early Saturday morning for driving while intoxicated, New York Police confirmed.

Healed-up Malik Hooker embracing full offseason - NFL.com
Colts free safety finally has a full offseason after dealing with multiple injuries in the past and could be poised for a big 2019 campaign with Indianapolis.

Rob Gronkowski: 'You can put [comeback talk] to rest' - NFL.com
At a charity event on Sunday, recently retired New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski tried to put rumors to rest of a comeback, stating, "I'm feeling good, [I'm in] a good place."

Life of a Saint: Sam Mills

2019-06-03T07:00:00-05:00

Former teammates and competitors speak about Sam Mills as a player, a leader, and a gentleman.

His story has all the makings of an incredible movie. The tale of the undersized guy succeeding against the bigger opponents is something that appeals to so many of us. But Sam Mills was so much more than the ‘David versus Goliath’ narrative.

For Mills, the NFL Pro Bowls, NFL All-Pro Awards, All-USFL honors, USFL Championships, Saints Hall of Fame induction and having his jersey retired by the Carolina Panthers are all impressive feats. But you can’t define Mills by his extensive list of accomplishments. To those who shared the field with him, he was so much more.

As we journey back to look at the life of the late Sam Mills through the eyes of his former teammates and competitors, we learn about the type of guy he was, the things that were important to him and hear some interesting, touching and humorous memories along the way.

Life of a Saint: Sam Mills

Brett Maxie on Sam Mills

“Sam was the most genuine teammate that I ever played with. He was one of the brightest guys and accomplished a lot considering his stature and playing that position. He was probably the best player, pound for pound, that I ever played with. For what he did, with the type of player he was – from a physical standpoint, it was incredible. He is the consummate football player.

I remember when I thought about going into coaching, he was there at that same Super Bowl. We were playing in a golf tournament. He was staying in the hotel a couple of rooms down from where I was. He and I were talking in my room about our careers after football. We retired the same year. I told him what my thoughts were, that I was going into coaching. I asked, ‘How about you?’ He said, ‘I don’t want to coach. I have this insurance thing that I have going. I think that’s what I’m going to do.’ So, he was going to sell insurance. Well, that same year, once I got hired in Carolina with the Panthers, Sam ended up being a part of the organization, but not in coaching. He started out in the personnel department. He thought about it and decided he needed to stay in football. I think that’s what he really wanted. Something just steered him away from football for a while. We talked at that Super Bowl for a while. We kept talking about it and I just kept bringing it up. Next thing I know, a couple of months later, we’re both working for the same organization, just in two different departments.

You talk about a great individual though, good grief.”

Toi Cook on Sam Mills

“Whenever you’d see Sam, we’d always say ‘Sammie’ like Sammie Davis. His nickname for me though was, ‘All I know’ because he’d always start out saying ‘All I know…’ His other one to me was, ‘Stanford my ass!’ I think that was his favorite. One time, we were in a special teams meeting and Joe Marciano asked us a question about this one formation. No one could answer it. He finally gets to me and I think I was sleeping when he called on me. I said the wrong answer and Joe was like, ‘Wrong! Stanford my ass!’ From that point on, to Sammy I was ‘Stanford my ass.’

I remember when they did the statue of him in Charlotte. I was there. I was like, ‘Sammy, who gets a statue while they’re still playing?’ That just goes to show you what kind of person Sam Mills was.

You want to talk about hard work and ‘want to’, he was the epitome of ‘want to’. Everyone has some kind of disability or disadvantage when it comes to playing sports, unless you’re Michael Jordan or Kobe or Lebron. As far as being small or undersized, he ain’t the only guy. But I don’t know a lot of people that taught high school while they were trying to be a football player. And I’m not talking about P.E. He was a teacher. When he was trying to make the USFL, the jobs he was doing, it’s just an unbelievable story.”

Toi Cook also mentioned that he is in the early stages of trying to put together a movie about Sam Mills.

Willie Roaf on Sam Mills

“Sam was one of the two nicest guys I ever played with. It was him and Dermontti Dawson. Sam Mills was the nicest guy you’d want to play with. He was the leader of our team. I still don’t understand why we let him go to Carolina. Then he became the oldest linebacker to make All Pro. Me and him lived around the corner and had a great relationship.

I remember one time in practice, I went to hit Sam and if you didn’t get low, he was gonna be up underneath you. So, I got low and I hit Sam and he bent the bar on the front of my helmet. He hit me so hard that he bent the bottom of my helmet to let me know. Sam brought it. Sam was a class act. It’s crazy that a lot of those linebackers get Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Mark Fields, who I played with, got Hodgkin’s. A lot of those linebackers and safeties get Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. When he passed, I was happy that there was the statue of him outside of the Panthers facility. But Sam should have never left the Saints organization. When Jim Mora got him from the USFL and he got a chance to get in the NFL, he earned it. Sam is another one of those guys that when you talk about the Hall of Fame, he deserves it. He was one of those unsung heroes to me and doesn’t get the credit. He’s another guy that deserves to be in the hall.

I remember going to his house. His wife and kids were there. We’d just sit down and talk about life. He’d ask how I was doing. He was a man of God and he’d talk about living the right way. I needed to hear that. He helped teach me how to do things the right way. He offered those words of wisdom along the way. Obviously, my dad taught me a lot, but Sam was always there for me too. I look at Sam and Reggie White in a similar way. They were similar guys in that everybody respected them. There is not one guy that wouldn’t walk in and listen to them talk Aeneas Williams is another guy. Those guys were just guys that carried themselves in a way that you have to respect them.”

Stan Brock on Sam Mills

“Without sitting down and looking at everyone Coach Mora brought in, Sam Mills was the game changer. He was the guy. Not because he was a great football player, which he was, but because of his attitude, his demeanor and the way he went about the game. He brought a lot to a lot of us who thought we knew better. We thought we were a little bit better than what we were. He brought that attitude and that character. He had that quiet, do your work mentality and his ability to play football was crazy.

When they first got there, Coach Mora’s first year, I was a seven-year veteran. When you’re a seven-year vet in the National Football League, you have all the answers. Well, you think you have all the answers. So, we’re sitting there at our first dinner. Our new coach is there, and we’ve never really talked to this guy before. He was kind of a hard guy to warm up to. Then we started looking at these players because that’s when the USFL was folding and they were bringing players in. We knew Coach Mora was from the USFL.

So, we’re looking around and we see this little, short guy in the chow line and we were wondering what position he played. We thought, ‘He must be a running back or something.’ The next day, we go over to the lockers and we see he’s got a black jersey on. So then we thought, ‘Man, he’s too thick to be a DB. Is he a linebacker? Oh my God, he’s gonna get killed.’

So we go out and this is the old days where you used to hit all the time. You lined up and you hit. We had full pads every day of practice. So the first time we go one-on-one, sometimes you’d line up against a linebacker or a DB. It was just luck of the draw. So, it looked like this little, short guy was gonna work against me. I said to someone in line, ‘Oh, I’m gonna show this guy what it’s like in the NFL.’ I came off the ball and Sam hit me right underneath the chin, picked me up and threw me on the ground like a rag doll. At that point, some of my teammates were like, ‘Whoa!’ The figured I must have stepped wrong or twisted my ankle or something must have happened. The next time I came around in line, I made sure that I was gonna go against Sam. This time, I concentrated on it and I was gonna get him. I came off with the best technique that I had and he put his helmet underneath my chin, stood me up, threw me on the ground and stood there in the hole. I got up, dusted my pride off and thought, ‘Well, I think that guy’s got a chance to make it.’ Everyone was laughing at me.

We were very lucky to have him on our team. He did more than just play that linebacker position. He was a team leader on and off the field and taught a lot of us how to prepare and go about playing the game.”

Pat Swilling on Sam Mills

“I called him ‘The Field General’. Rickey Jackson was the guy that when the hammer needed to be brought down, Rickey brought down the hammer. Sam Mills was the everyday, student of the game. He used to call me ‘Sack Man’. He’d say, ‘Here they come, Sack Man. They’re coming right.’ Low and behold the quarterback would be looking at Sam, and then he’d run the play. And sure enough, here they come.

Sam Mills was a coach on the field. Sam Mills was a wonderful person. I’ll tell you the truth, when I think about Sam I get choked up just because of who he was. He was a hard-working guy and a family guy. And I’ve never seen a guy who loved football more than Sam did. He loved the game and he played that way.

He wasn’t the most gifted guy at 5’9”, 5’8”, 5.7” or whatever he was. Hell, when I first saw him, I thought, ‘Damn. Is he a running back or something?’ I’m standing at 6’4” and I was looking at him thinking, ‘He’s really an inside linebacker?’ But man, when he strapped it up, he would knock your d-ck in the dirt. He was something special. When he used to hit those guards, it didn’t take them long to figure out he was for real.”

Brad Edelman on Sam Mills

“He was an ideal teammate. If you had to use someone to define ‘teammate’, Sam Mills was the guy who would come to mind. He was loyal. He led by his actions and he was very well respected for that.

I practiced against him most every day. Although we didn’t go full speed, Sam never half-assed it, ever in his career, even at practice. So, even though we weren’t going full speed, we hit pretty well. Sam had a great leverage because of his size and his physique. He had a low center of gravity. For a shorter player, he really packed a punch. He could get underneath you and he could get on you very quickly. He would hit you and he’d move.

He was THE ideal teammate. The kind of guy you’d get in the foxhole with. He was a trusted ally on the field and a genuinely unpretentious, good-natured human being off the field.”

Quinn Early on Sam Mills

One of the things that really stood out for me about Sam was the fact that he was the hardest working guy that I knew. He worked hard in practice. He didn’t take any crap from anybody. He had this amazing work ethic.

But the biggest thing about Sam was, what an amazing and free man he was. He would make it a point to sit down and ask you how you were doing. He would talk your life and your achievements, He honestly cared about his teammates as people, not just as football players.

As athletes, we all go through different levels of people not believing in you. ‘He can’t do it.’ Many of us, Sam included, were motivated by that in spite of all that. Even when he proved it, they’d still say, ‘He’s too short.’

I remember we were playing a game and Sam didn’t necessarily play on the kickoff team. Something happened where somebody got hurt. Keep in mind that at this point in his career, he’s a Pro Bowl player and he’s part of the Dome Patrol. He is THE guy. Anyway, the special teams coach yelled out, ‘I need one!’ Sometimes, these star players are not going to be the first ones to run out on the field. But Sam was sitting on the bench and coach needed one. He was the first one to jump up, grab his helmet, threw the helmet on and ran on the field. He didn’t even play on the kickoff team. He ran down there and made this amazing hit. I think he made the guy fumble. He made this amazing play and I remember just seeing him grab the helmet and run out on the field and make the play.

That’s just an example of what Sam brought to the team.

John Fourcade on Sam Mills

“Sam Mills, to me, was the heart and soul. He was a gentleman. He was well respected and was always business first, pleasure second. The guy was all about playing the game of football. He never let his height, his weight or whatever interfere. Sam was a class act and a gentleman to be around.

I’m not just saying this because he’s deceased. I’m saying this because I witnessed it for five years. The guy was just class on and off the field. He treated you, and not just former players, he treated people with kindness and respect that people deserved to be treated with.

He was a workaholic. He showed up with his lunch pail every day. Then he went home at the end of the day. I remember that split-gap tooth that you’d look at all the time. Sam was just a great guy to be around. I don’t think there’s anything that anyone could say bad about Sam on or off the field. ‘Mighty Mouse’ was a great one.”

Vaughan Johnson on Sam Mills

“He was like a big brother. He was a great friend. A lot of people talked about his football playing and that’s kind of obvious. He was a better man than he was a football player. He really cared about other people. His humility was unprecedented. He’d do anything to help you.

Since we played the same position, we played side-by-side. But before that, we were competitors. We were both trying to make the team when we first got there. Think about it. He was far more advanced in the defense than I was. He had played in Jim Mora’s system in the USFL. But any questions I had, any problems I had, He never had a problem helping and telling me things to make me better even though we were fighting for the same job. That just goes to show you what type of person he was; tremendous man. He was an excellent football player, but a tremendous man and a great friend.

The thing about Sam was, the fans in New Orleans used to call him, ‘Field Mouse’. That wasn’t his favorite comment about him. Sam and I, after the game, would go to get something to eat. So, one time, we go into New Orleans to go to dinner and this place is packed. We walk in the door and one of the fans stood up and hollered, ‘FIEEEELD MOUUUUSE!’ It was hilarious. The whole restaurant looked. Of course, he’s onto the autograph signing. So, even though it wasn’t his favorite thing, he handled it with class and signed autographs, smiled for pictures.

But I never let him forget it. Anytime I’d see him, ‘FIEEEELD MOUUUUSE!’”

Tyrone Hughes on Sam Mills

“The little time I knew him, he was a great guy and great teammate. He was one of the guys who was willing to help out the younger guys to learn. But not only that, he worked hard in film study and on the field. He was a veteran guy and some of the things he did really made you appreciate him but also made you appreciate how much he appreciated the game.

You’d hear coaches talk about wanting their starters play special teams. I know Coach Osborne used to do that with us in college. Once I got to the pros, I didn’t think that that was the case. But with a 53-man roster, a lot of those guys, especially the defensive guys, have to get in there and play special teams. One of the things that made me successful was Sam. Sam Mills was the center on kickoff returns. He was on the front line and he was the reason I scored a couple of touchdowns, both on punt returns and kickoff returns my rookie year. Anytime I needed to know something, I could always go to him and say, ‘Hey Sam, what did you see on that play?’ You could always go to him. He was always approachable and happy to help.

He used to call me ‘Ninth Ward’. It wasn’t anything negative. Just the fact that I was from the Ninth Ward, he and Gene Atkins used to call me that. But I think I earned their respect as a rookie by being able to do the punt and kickoff returns as well as I did. He would always say, ‘Hey, Ninth Ward! Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep working hard.’”

Merril Hoge on Sam Mills

“Sam and I went over to Europe on a couple of trips for the NFL. That’s where I got to know him. I had already played against him. Playing against him and then meeting him were completely to the contrary. He’s a very soft-spoken, mild-mannered, respectful, genuine guy. But he is fierce on the football field. He was like a load of dynamite.

I remember, we were getting ready to play them and this is where I get the term, ‘fist fight at the 50’. It seemed like we stayed at the 50-yard line and just went back and forth, toe-to-toe when we went there to play him.

Everybody has to have some level of intellect to play in the NFL and to play for a long period of time. If you don’t have some intelligence and work at your craft, you just get exposed. That level of football is just too complicated and too sophisticated. He was a student of the game and he was a ball of dynamite when he hit man! He played the game the way it was supposed to be played.

Everybody always used to talk about his size. Quite honestly, people forget that we’re not the NBA. We aren’t trying to play above the rim. We want to play below the rim. We want to play a leverage game. It’s not about size. Size is irrelevant if you play with great leverage and technique, especially at his position.

As a person, I genuinely got to know him. We really connected. I was really moved by the kind of person he was. I remember when he got diagnosed (with cancer). I remember I was driving to NFL Films to do a show when I heard. I hadn’t talked to him in a couple years. The one thing I remember when I was diagnosed was people would say, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t call. I just didn’t know what to say.’ With Sam, I didn’t know what to say either. I remember what all those people said to me and it struck me. You don’t have to know what to say. Just knowing that you’re thinking of somebody and calling them up and telling them, ‘Hey, I’m not sure what to say, but I’m thinking of you.’ Those things matter. So, I called him up and I said, ‘Sam, I really don’t have words. I know the kind of person you are. I know you’ll take it on and I’m here if you need anything. I don’t expect you to follow up because you have to battle. I will be the one checking in.’ I remember he started crying. He told me how much he appreciated it and I remember how grateful I was that I made that call versus hoping I’d make that call or wishing I would have made that call.”

Why the New Orleans Saints could win it all, Part III: Tight ends

2019-06-02T10:00:00-05:00

The position on offense where the Saints improved the most.

Bringing back a series of pieces from the past three years, we’re going to check each position group on the New Orleans Saints and discuss how they improve the Saints’ chances of making a run in 2019. On to the Saints tight ends!

To view previous parts, see below:

Part I: Offensive Line

Part II: Running Backs

The tight end position largely underwhelmed for the New Orleans Saints in 2018. Benjamin Watson led the group with 400 receiving yards and two touchdowns as the primary pass-catching tight end of the bunch. Josh Hill added only 185 yards and one touchdown in 2018, and UDFA Dan Arnold also caught a touchdown and hauled in 150 yards in the regular season.

After the conclusion of the 2018 season, Ben Watson retired and then subsequently un-retired to join the Rob Gronkowski-less New England Patriots. Watson’s spot in the New Orleans Saints lineup had already been filled by that time, though, as the Saints inked former Oakland Raiders tight end Jared Cook to a two-year deal. Josh Hill and Dan Arnold are both set to return with the latter competing for a roster spot with 2019 draft pick Alize Mack.

So here’s why they’re better in 2019:

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

On offense, tight end is the position where the Saints objectively made the largest improvement on the roster.

Gone is 39 year old Ben Watson, and in comes 32 year old Pro Bowler Jared Cook. For the Raiders last year, Cook amassed 896 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, catching 4 of those touchdowns and averaging 50 yards per game after the trade of Amari Cooper. Once Cooper was gone, opposing defenses singled in on Cook as the only receiving option to threaten a secondary. Before the Cooper trade to the Dallas Cowboys, Cook averaged 67 yards per game. Of note, Watson averaged only 25 yards per game with the Saints in 2018, and in case you’re curious, Jimmy Graham averaged 55 yards per game in his final season in New Orleans.

But now Cook is coming to a New Orleans Saints offense led by the most accurate passer in NFL history in Drew Brees. Ted Ginn Jr went from a 57% catch rate in his final year with the Carolina Panthers to a 76% catch rate in his first year in New Orleans. Cook posted a respectable 67% catch rate last year in Oakland, a career best, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Cook set a new career mark in New Orleans this year. Add in the fact that the Saints offense also has the likes of offensive weapons Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas, and opposing defenses will not be able to key in on Cook like they could in Oakland.

The presence of Drew Brees and Michael Thomas can only help Jared Cook. If Cook was only half the player he was in 2018 for the Saints in 2019, it still would have been an improvement over what the Saints got from their tight ends in 2018. But is there anyone here expecting Cook to not be even more productive and put up even better numbers in 2019 from last year?

#2 wide receiver battle the one to watch for Saints

2019-05-30T08:00:00-05:00

Who will step up along side Michael Thomas?

The New Orleans Saints wide receivers were largely inconsistent in 2018 beyond Michael Thomas. Thomas has firmly established himself as a top 5 wide receiver in the NFL, but the Saints couldn’t get much of anything out of Ted Ginn Jr. (missed part of the season due to injury), Cam Meredith (placed on IR), Keith Kirkwood (inconsistent), Austin Carr (inconsistent), Tre’Quan Smith (inconsistent), and Tommylee Lewis (lol).

The Saints declined to add any wide receivers via traditional free agency or the 2019 NFL Draft, but they did add a couple of intriguing UDFAs - the only problem is, part of the reason Carr and Kirkwood struggled with consistently in 2018 was largely due what made them go undrafted as well.

Still, because no one has firmly stepped forward and grasp the #2 wide receiver role, the battle is open through OTAs and mini camp. It’s this battle that Bleacher Report named the biggest developing position battle for the Saints this year:

New Orleans Saints No. 2 WR: Ginn vs. Smith vs. Meredith vs. Butler

At wide receiver, the New Orleans Saints are a one-man show. It’s Michael Thomas and everyone else. He accounted for more than half the team’s receiving yards (1,405 of 2,521) at the position in 2018.

Last year, Ted Ginn Jr. dealt with a knee injury, which limited him to five contests. He’s going into his age-34 season on the final year of his deal.

Tre’Quan Smith had a strong 2018 exhibition showing (15 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown), but he feasted on the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins for 268 of his 427 yards during the regular season. Going into his second year, the Central Florida product has a shot to lock down the No. 2 spot, but he must be consistent to leapfrog Ginn on the depth chart.

Following a breakout 2016 campaign with the Chicago Bears (66 receptions for 888 yards and four touchdowns) Cameron Meredith hasn’t been able to shake off the injury bug.

Meredith tore his ACL during the 2017 preseason, which sidelined him for the ensuing year. The Saints signed the 26-year-old last offseason; he appeared in six games but never looked 100 percent and landed on injured reserve in need of a scope on the same knee. If the four-year veteran turns back the clock to 2016, he has a chance at a solid role.

Don’t sleep on undrafted rookie Emmanuel Butler, who was the first to record 1,000-plus receiving yards in two seasons at Northern Arizona. He’s a 6’4”, 220-pound wide receiver who needs to refine his route-running but carries some upside because of his size and vine-like 33-inch arms.

Bleacher Report lists UDFA Emmanuel Butler, but fails to mention another UDFA that has intrigued many Saints fans: Lil’Jordan Humphrey out of the University of Texas.

So what says you, Who Dat Nation? Which wide receiver do you think finishes the year with the second-most receiving yards (assuming Michael Thomas is first)? Vote in the poll. Explain in the comments. Send me presents.

A return to health by these players may make Saints unstoppable

2019-05-30T07:00:00-05:00

The return of these players from injury might doom the rest of the N.F.C.

Injuries are the great equalizer in all of sports. The wrong injury to the right star may bring a championship contender tumbling down to the bottom of the pack. No team is exempt from this rule of fate. Two keys to success are hoping that your team has good depth when the injury bug does bite, and that the biggest stars stay healthy. The New Orleans Saints possess one of the deeper rosters in the National Football League, but like all teams they are affected by injury during the year. The Saints made it to the NFC title game last season on the strength of their depth and star power. They may have an even more complete roster this year, with the return of a number of players who missed significant portions of the 2018 season.

Patrick Robinson, cornerback

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The 31-yr. old Robinson was a first round draft choice of New Orleans in 2010 out of Florida State, the 32nd overall selection. Robinson had a mixed career of ups and downs during five years with the Saints that included 9 interceptions, until departing as a free agent after the 2014 season. After bouncing from the Chargers to the Colts in two seasons after his departure, Robinson landed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, where he was a integral part of their defensive secondary on the way to a Super Bowl championship. Robinson had rounded into one of the better slot corners in the league while with Philadelphia, a spot he was expected to fortify when rejoining the Saints. Unfortunately, Robinson suffered a broken ankle in a week three win at Atlanta, an ailment that landed him on injured reserve and ended his 2018 season, while New Orleans often struggled with slot receivers. His insertion back in the lineup strengthens a Saints secondary that has a Pro Bowl caliber cornerback in Marshon Lattimore, another capable outside corner in Eli Apple, and experienced safety play from Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams as well as corner P.J Williams. New Orleans also added Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in the draft's 4th round, who is expected to add athleticism at safety and take on a slot coverage role himself. Robinson's experience and athleticism in the slot will give added options and versatility for Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and secondary coach Aaron Glenn, allowing them to square off against the deepest receiving corps in the NFL.

Cameron Meredith, wide receiver

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Meredith was a free agent addition last offseason, formerly of the Chicago Bears. The 26-yr. old Meredith was beginning to look like one of the league's top up and coming wideouts in 2016 with the Bears, when he led them with 66 receptions for 888 yards and four scores despite poor quarterback play. He suffered a severe knee injury in the 2017 preseason that forced him to miss that entire season though, and would not be recovered when joining the Saints. Meredith missed most of the '18 preseason, and would only appear in six regular season contests with just 9 catches for 114 yards before being placed on injured reserve by New Orleans. The 6'3 207-lb. Meredith is a physical receiver with good hands and the ability to operate well through the intermediate zones. His ability to revert to his pre-injury form will give quarterback Drew Brees another big target to go along with Michael Thomas, something that limited the Saints offense often last year. The added production should even help speed the development of second year wideouts Tre'quan Smith and Keith Kirkwood.

Ted Ginn Jr., wide receiver

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Ginn was an important part of the Saints offense in 2017, after his free agent signing away from division rival Carolina. The thirteen year veteran is still one of the faster players in the league, and one of the most feared deep threats in the NFL. Ginn got off to a slow start in 2018, then was shelved for twelve games thanks to a knee injury. Although he did return during the final month of the season, most defenses were able to clamp down on the Saints shorter routes without him in the lineup. Ginn still seems to possess much of his trademark speed and deep ball abilities, even at 34 years old. He adds a gamebreaking element to the multifaceted New Orleans offense, and his presence on the field should create room underneath for Thomas, Alvin Kamara, newly signed tight end Jared Cook, and the rest of the Saints weapons.

Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Rankins had a monstrous 2018 season that should have been worthy of All-Pro consideration. The 12th overall selection in the 2016 draft, Rankins dominated offenses at times last year, finishing with 8 sacks, 40 tackles (12 for loss), a forced fumble, and 15 quarterback hits. The 25-yr. old lineman suffered an Achilles injury during the Saints divisional playoff win over Philadelphia though, an injury that will likely keep him out of action until midseason. Rankins' absence from the lineup was a noticeable loss in the Saints NFC Championship game against the Rams, raising some concern about the team's interior defensive line as they enter 2019. New Orleans signed free agent tackles Malcom Brown and Mario Edwards Jr., two former high draft picks, to strengthen the interior, and reportedly are in the running to sign former Buccaneers All-Pro Gerald McCoy. Rankins is one of the defense's top stars though, a player who can wreck an opponent's game plan with interior disruption. His full recovery takes an already deep defensive line that already contains All-Pro Cam Jordan and potential second year star Marcus Davenport on the edges to an elite level. A recipe that might signal disaster to offenses throughout the NFL.