|
New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley has been straightening out after early struggles
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On Yesterday
08:14 PM
|
By Mike Triplett / Times-Picayune
After struggling early in the season, New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley has been on a hot streak over the past six games. He has made 10 of his last 11 field-goal attempts. And he has made five straight over the past two weeks, including kicks of 50, 48 and 45 yards.
Hartley said he tried to remain patient and confident earlier this year, even when he was temporarily replaced by veteran John Carney.
"It's always (important) when things aren't going your way to be able to stay on that keel and just know things are going to turn around, things are going to get better, and just keep working and things will work out," Hartley said.
Full Story – Nola.Com |
|
 |
|
New Orleans Saints mailbag
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On Yesterday
02:31 PM
|
By Pat Yasinskas / ESPN
The New Orleans Saints are next in our series of team-by-team mailbags.
Razza in South Florida writes: No mention of Chris Ivory in the Rookie Watch? What's up with that? I agree with Sam Bradford and Ndamukong Suh being at the top of the list. High expectations were met. But to be mentioning LeGarrette Blount and no Ivory is a puzzling omission to say the least.
Pat Yasinskas: No argument here. In fact, I’ll put a bug in Matt Williamson’s ear, especially if Ivory has another big game Sunday. Also, I’ll give you a little alert here about a column I’m writing for Friday. Can’t give you all the details yet, but a big part of it is how Ivory’s emergence has helped the entire offense.
Full Story –ESPN.Com
|
|
|
|
Saints preparing for possible playoff match-up when Rams come to town
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On Yesterday
09:24 AM
|
By Danny Cox / New Orleans Sports Examiner
The New Orleans Saints currently sit in the fifth seeded spot for the NFC playoffs with a 9-3 record. The St. Louis Rams are in the fourth seeded spot with a 6-6 record. It may not seem fair or make a whole lot of sense, but that's merely the way the NFL playoff system works.
Now this weekend's game with the Rams in the Superdome has so many more implications then many would have thought at the beginning of the season.
As it stands, the Saints sit second in the NFC South behind Atlanta and would make the playoffs as a wild card team. Both teams have four games remaining including a Monday nighter in Atlanta on December 27. Sadly, the Saints don't hold their own destiny in their hands because even winning that game won't ensure a repeat NFC South title.
Full Story – Examiner.Com
|
|
|
|
As New Orleans Saints' season peaks, so does Drew Brees' play
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On Yesterday
08:42 AM
|
By Mike Triplett / Times-Picayune
Since the New Orleans Saints' win last week at Cincinnati was so sloppy, it almost went unnoticed that quarterback Drew Brees had his best performance of the season.
Brees had a season-high passer rating of 120.3 and a season-high completion percentage of 82.8 while completing 24 of 29 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
And, of course, he led the Saints from behind in the final minutes for the second straight week, this time completing a 42-yard throw to Robert Meachem and a three-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston for the 34-30 victory.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints' Jahri Evans a victim of success?
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On Yesterday
08:10 AM
|
By Jeff Duncan / Times-Picayune
Is Jahri Evans too dominant for his own good?
That's what the New Orleans Saints seem to think.
The Saints' Pro Bowl guard has been flagged for an NFL-high eight holding calls this season. His 11 overall penalties are tied for the second most of any player in the league.
The NFL, unlike other sports, doesn't play favorites.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Dr. James Andrews, Drew Brees go-to guys for shoulder surgery
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On Yesterday
08:09 AM
|
By James Varney / Times-Picayune
After quarterback Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma, his shoulder was injured not once, not twice, but three times, a triple whammy that marred his comeback to football and made his future in the game dicey.
He has since flourished as a rookie in the NFL, justifying the St. Louis Rams' faith in making Bradford the No. 1 pick of the 2010 NFL draft and establishing himself as a virtual lock to be the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
How did he manage such a spectacular turnaround? Well, Bradford acknowledged Wednesday, he essentially had two of the world's greatest experts on his case: Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Drew Brees.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Kawika Mitchell is newest New Orleans Saint
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-08-2010
09:00 PM
|
By James Varney / Times-Picayune
Kawika Mitchell, an 8-year NFL veteran who won a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants, became the newest member of the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday.
The team signed the linebacker to an undisclosed deal after he impressed in a workout and a roster spot became available because the Saints put running back Ladell Betts on injured reserve, ending his season. The Saints did not need another running back because Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush are back from injuries and both are expected to play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.
"He had a good workout the other day," Coach Sean Payton said. "With the injury to (Stanley) Arnoux, we were able to bring in (Ramon) Humber as a special teams player; Kawika is a player that has a lot of experience and will number one give us depth and we'll look to see as we move forward how we can work him into our various packages. But he's someone with a lot of experience and we felt like his workout was very good."
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints defense has been giving up some yards lately
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-08-2010
11:05 AM
|
By John DeShazier / Times-Picayune
The reservoir of good will earned by the New Orleans Saints' defense isn't in danger of drying up any time soon.
Not after it covered the assets of the offense and special teams for weeks earlier this season, when both of them couldn't find their footing and combined to jeopardize a few games.
But some of the excess is seeping off.
Consecutive games at Dallas and at Cincinnati were near disastrous for the defense, the only saving grace being that New Orleans escaped with wins. If not for that, and a five-game winning streak that has the Saints 9-3 and stalking Atlanta (10-2) in the NFC South, there would be even fewer positives for a unit that went from giving up almost nothing, to one that gave up a lot of everything against the Cowboys and Bengals.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints will have to buck history again
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-08-2010
09:08 AM
|
By Guerry Smith / New Orleans Sports Examiner
The Saints made history last year, becoming the first team to win the Super Bowl after losing its final three regular-season games.
To repeat as champions this season, it appears they will have to buck history again. If they qualify for the playoffs, they probably will be a No. 5 or No. 6 seed, a hole only two teams (Pittsburgh 2005, New York Giants 2007) have climbed out of since the NFL expanded to six playoff teams per conference in 1990.
Sunday was a really bad day for the Saints. No, not because they blew a 20-6 second-half lead against 2-9 Cincinnati and needed a bonehead offside penalty on the Bengals to set up the winning touchdown in the final minute.
Full Story – Examiner.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints vs. St. Louis Rams scouting report
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-08-2010
08:59 AM
|
By Nakia Hogan / Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints vs. St. Louis Rams scouting report
Sunday, 3:05 p.m., Fox
The St. Louis Rams have undergone a bit of a transformation.
The once perennial losers of the NFC West have played themselves into the postseason race with a quarter of the NFL schedule remaining.
A year after going 1-15 in Coach Steve Spagnuolo's first season at the helm, the Rams (6-6) have won consecutive games to pull into a tie with the Seattle Seahawks for first place in the NFC West.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Payton doesn't see a trend in Saints' blown leads
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-08-2010
06:10 AM
|
By Bret Martell-AP Sports Writer / Times-Picayune
he New Orleans Saints seemingly were on their way to comfortable victories in each of their last two games, only to blow two-touchdown leads each time and find themselves frantically coming from behind in the final minutes.
While coach Sean Payton wants to address the mistakes that nearly cost his team a pair of crucial victories at Dallas and Cincinnati, he doesn't see a troubling trend yet.
If anything, he sees a team that has been good enough to extend its current winning streak to five by overcoming several blunders in hostile environments with clutch plays at the end.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Houdini-esque: The Saints 'escape act' of the 2010 season
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-08-2010
06:05 AM
|
By Danny Cox / New Orleans Sports Examiner
The LSU Tigers have often been called the "Cardiac Cats" while under the leadership of one Les Miles. This is due to their last second victories, come from behind wins, and overall way of stressing out their fans. Much of the same can be said about the New Orleans Saints, we just haven't come up with a clever name for them yet.
Sunday's 34-30 escape act in Cincinnati was only one of the numerous times this season that the Saints have gone out of their way to stress out the "Who Dat Nation." For some reason, this elite team just can't seem to put their opponents away and run off with an easy victory. The very least we'd like to see is a "sure thing."
It doesn't have to be easy.
Full Story – Examiner.Com
|
|
|
|
Drew Brees' big dreams inspire teenagers in 'Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge'
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-07-2010
09:23 AM
|
By Kari Dequine / Times-Picayune
Competing in the first annual "IDEAbowl," teams from four local high schools spent the last 17 weeks as budding entrepreneurs, and it wasn't just another class or hypothetical lesson: The businesses they created were real.
The inspiration to the "Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge" came from last season's Saints game against the host Miami Dolphins.
It was New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees' "trust-me-I'm-going-to-go-for-it moment," described Tim Williamson of the game-changing play that sparked the partnership between Williamson's Idea Village and Drew Brees' entrepreneurial investment into the city's youth.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Chris Ivory is becoming more and more confident in the New Orleans Saints offense
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-07-2010
09:21 AM
|
By Nakia Hogan / Times-Picayune
Chris Ivory walks about the New Orleans Saints' locker room with a bit more pep in his step. He talks with more confidence. He's smiling more often.
It's all a product of how he's performing.
Ivory, an undrafted free agent running back, turned in his second 100-yard rushing game Sunday, gaining 117 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in the 34-30 win at Cincinnati.
The performance further cemented his place in the Saints' backfield, where he'll soon be joined by Pierre Thomas, who's expected to make his return to the lineup Sunday against the St. Louis Rams after missing the past nine games with a left ankle injury, and Reggie Bush, who is slowly rounding himself back into form after missing an eight-game stretch with a broken fibula.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Press Conference Transcript, 12/6/10
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-06-2010
09:08 PM
|
By WGNO ABC26 News / New Orleans.Com
Opening Statement:
“From an injury standpoint, there was really not anything significant. Julius Jones tweaked his ankle but was able to return to the game. Overall, we fared pretty well coming out of that contest. After looking at the tape, we’ll meet here and there are a number of things that we’ll have to work on to clean up. Most glaringly the penalties and it wasn’t just in one area. I think we can play better in the kicking game with our field position and our coverage units. Certainly we’d like to get off the field defensively with some long-yardage situations. Offensively we only converted one third down and I thought we were inconsistent protecting the quarterback – especially early on; we were better in the second half. Anyway, those are all things we’ll have clean up and we’ll get started this week with our preparations for St. Louis.”
Are the penalties something that becomes a snowball effect during a game?
Full Story –New Orleans.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints only celebration was a win against Cincinnati
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-06-2010
04:19 PM
|
By Jeff Duncan / Times-Picayune
Cincinnati -- Yes, the New Orleans Saints won. Yes, their five-game winning streak makes them as hot as any team in the NFL.
But there was nothing to celebrate Sunday.
What happened on the frozen field turf at Paul Brown Stadium wasn't good.
There's no silver lining when you turn a commanding two-touchdown lead against an inferior opponent into a fight-for-your-life nail-biter.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
A good offensive performance tops the grades for the New Orleans Saints
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-06-2010
03:50 PM
|
By James Varney / Times-Picayune
Cincinnati -- Grading the New Orleans Saints and their performance against Cincinnati in the Saints 34-30 win.
Offense -- 3.5 fleur de lis
Another outstanding performance from quarterback Drew Brees and running back Chris Ivory; wide receivers Robert Meachem and Marques Colston and tight ends Jimmy Graham and Jeremy Shockey made big catches. The Saints gained 436 yards and won in the fourth quarter. It would appear a four fleur-de-lis game. As players noted afterward, however, the team was plagued by penalties, and Brees blamed them for putting the offense in situations that left them 1-of-8 on third downs. They also lost the turnover and time of possession battles, albeit narrowly. On most Sundays, Brees noted, a statistical cocktail like that indicates a loss.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints survive their own mistakes to beat Cincinnati
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-06-2010
03:48 PM
|
By James Varney / Times-Picayune
Cincinnati -- The New Orleans Saints committed blunder after blunder Sunday, including a season high in penalties, but summoned big plays in the fourth quarter to beat the Bengals 34-30.
It marked the second consecutive dramatic road win for New Orleans (9-3), and quarterback Drew Brees said it was made possible by a culture of winning the Saints have developed and the positive mindset that engenders. Conversely, for Cincinnati (2-10), the ninth consecutive loss, eight of which came on the opponent's final possession, underscored a ruined season.
Yet as Brees also stressed, the Saints' recent style, while exciting, is one that must change if the team hopes to make a real stab at defending its Super Bowl title. Brees welcomed the big plays -- the Saints had two touchdowns of more than 50 yards, including their longest run of the season -- but said a more consistent attack stamps the top teams.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Mistakes almost cost Saints win at Bengals
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-06-2010
03:46 PM
|
By Brian Allee-Walsh / New Orleans.Com
The serendipitous New Orleans Saints overcame their own “12th man’’ - and the home-standing Cincinnati Bengals - in the freezing cold Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.
Quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Marques Colston collaborated on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds remaining to give the Black and Gold a wild 34-30 victory and keep pace with the front-running Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South.
The Saints (9-3) trail the Falcons (10-2) by one game in the division standings with four games remaining in the regular season.
Full Story –New Orleans.Com
|
|
|
|
Ivory continues to prove himself as top Saints ball carrier
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-06-2010
03:44 PM
|
By Brian Allee-Walsh / New Orleans.Com
New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory has become a two-legged beast when he has the ball in his hands, a North-South runner with good vision, burst and deceptive straight-line speed
The undrafted rookie free agent who finished his collegiate career a year ago at nearby Tiffin (Ohio) University also seems to be finding his groove at the right time for the reigning Super Bowl champions (9-3), who are trying to overtake the front-running Atlanta Falcons (10-2) in the NFC South.
Full Story –New Orleans.Com
|
|
|
|
Penalties had New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton seething
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
10:05 PM
|
By Mike Triplett / Times-Picayune
Cincinnati - The New Orleans Saints played one of their sloppiest games of the season in Sunday's 34-30 victory, with a season-high 11 penalties for a season-high 100 yards
But the one that seemed to stick in Coach Sean Payton's craw the most was the 12-men-on-the-field penalty against the Saints' punt return unit in the fourth quarter, which allowed the Bengals to keep the ball and keep driving for the tying touchdown.
"It almost cost us the game today," said Payton, who was asked exactly what happened on the play, when linebacker Marvin Mitchell started to run on the field, then couldn't get off in time.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Recap of the New Orleans Saints win against Cincinnati
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
08:39 PM
|
By Mike Triplett / Times-Picayune
DID YOU SEE
CARL NICKS
The New Orleans Saints' left guard made the biggest play of Sunday's 34-30 victory at Cincinnati by jumping offside.
With 34 seconds left and the Saints trailing 30-27, they lined up with the intention of drawing the Bengals offside on fourth-and 2 from Cincinnati's 7-yard line. Quarterback Drew Brees went into his cadence three different times and even faked an audible, sending tight end David Thomas in motion to try and sell the idea that the Saints were going to actually run a play. But center Jonathan Goodwin was under strict instructions not to snap the ball.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints beat Cincinnati 34-30 at Paul Brown Stadium
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
08:37 PM
|
By Jeff Duncan / Times-Picayune
Cincinnati -- The New Orleans Saints got a touchdown with less than a minute to play and beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-30 at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday.
Drew Brees hit Robert Meachem for a 3-yard pass -- one play after the Bengals jumped offsides on a fourth-and-2 -- and the Saints, which blew a 14-point lead, improved to 9-3 on the season.
It got a little hairy after the touchdown as Bernard Scott returned the kickoff 47 yards to the 49 yard line.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Icy Brees: Saints eke out 34-30 comeback win over Bengals
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
08:35 PM
|
By Danny Cox / New Orleans Sports Examiner
Many expected the New Orleans Saints (9-4) to head into Cincinnati on Sunday and continue their winning ways by defeating the Bengals (2-10). For the entire first half, that seemed to be the way things were going but things changed come the third and fourth quarters.
Then, it was time for Drew Brees to show why he is the leader of this team.
Brees hit Marques Colston on a three-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds remaining to help squeak out a victory 34-30 over the Bengals. Some bad clock management and a sack by Roman Harper on Carson Palmer ended the the game and sealed the win.
Full Story – Examiner.Com
|
|
|
|
Winning on the road
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
10:47 AM
|
By Mike Detillier-NFL Analyst / Houma Today
When Bill Parcells was with the Dallas Cowboys, he said good teams win at home, but Super Bowl-caliber teams win on the road.
"It is tough to win on the road, real tough," Parcells said. "Just take a look at the elite teams in this league. They win most of their home games, and they also win most of their games on the road. That is a hard accomplishment. It's all about focus, mental toughness, being able to fight adversity away from your friendly environment and building your own confidence. You can't carry momentum from week-to-week in this league, but you can carry confidence. The great teams find a way to win on the road. The great teams take an opponent's best shot in their backyard and walk away with a win. It's tough to win in this league, but even tougher to win on the road."
Full Story –Houma Today.Com |
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints say they've learned lesson about playing struggling opponents
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
10:44 AM
|
By James Varney / Times-Picayune
What are the chances today's game between the New Orleans Saints and the Cincinnati Bengals is the one people expected?
That is, could the apparent mismatch between New Orleans (8-3) and Cincinnati (2-9) be something like what the NFL envisioned when the schedule was put together -- an outdoor December battle between the defending Super Bowl and AFC North champions?
The odds of that happening are reduced by the Saints' losses to Arizona and Cleveland, according to several Saints players. Even accomplished professionals need reminding from time to time that nothing will be handed to them, and losses to the Browns and Cardinals provided that jolt.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
Marques Colston makes noise with his play for the New Orleans Saints
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
10:42 AM
|
By Jeff Duncan / Times-Picayune
Cincinnati, Ohio -- The best receiver on the field today at Paul Brown Stadium won't be the one of which you're thinking.
He doesn't have a flashy nickname or his own reality TV show.
He doesn't have a Facebook page or Twitter account.
And he won't choreograph an elaborate dance if he scores a touchdown.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
REPORT: Saints Pierre Thomas not returning against the Bengals today
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-05-2010
10:40 AM
|
By Danny Cox / New Orleans Sports Examiner
While it was said on Saturday that running back Pierre Thomas would be a game-time decision for the New Orleans Saints' (8-3) game against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-9); it was just revealed on the NFL Network that he will not be playing today.
Thomas was thought to finally make his comeback from a torn tendon in his left ankle against the Bengals with Coach Sean Payton stating that he would wait until right before the game to make a decision. It appears he just isn't at the strength needed yet to step onto the field.
Full Story – Examiner.Com
|
|
|
|
Chris Henry's mother will have a hard time watching the New Orleans Saints vs. Cincinnati game
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-04-2010
11:37 AM
|
By Nakia Hogan / Times-Picayune
Carolyn Glaspy had stopped going to football games.
She no longer had a reason to attend. Her favorite player was no longer in the NFL. He died last December, leaving her with only the memories of his touchdowns.
But she'll make an exception Sunday.
Glaspy, the mother of former Belle Chasse and Cincinnati Bengals standout receiver Chris Henry, who died last December when he fell from a moving truck, will brave the frigid Cincinnati weather Sunday to watch Henry's former team play his childhood idols, the New Orleans Saints.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
|
New Orleans Saints say turnover bounces will eventually go their way
Posted By: mvtrucking
Posted On 12-04-2010
11:32 AM
|
By Mike Triplett / Times-Picayune
The New Orleans Saints steadily have been improving in turnover ratio, with half of their 18 takeaways coming during their four-game winning streak.
They could have an opportunity to increase that tally Sunday in Cincinnati. The Bengals are tied for the fifth-most in giveaways in the NFL, with 25.
But Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn't like the term "giveaway" because it implies the defense is waiting for the other team to do the job for them. Williams said he constantly reminds his team that they're called "takeaways" for a reason.
Full Story – Nola.Com
|
|
|
