Andrus Whitewing

By Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer - Contact Reporters | Chicago Tribune

(Click on "Full Story" below to see Sean Payton Interview)

Expanding the video replay system is a major topic for owners at the NFL’s annual meetings this week. Tribune reporters Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer sound out some important considerations and how the league might help itself in this edition of Real Talk.

Rich Campbell: It’s a shame, Dan, that a travesty was required for the NFL to re-embrace the debate about expanding its video replay system, but that’s the reactive nature of this league. Better late than never, though. Count me among those who strongly believe that if the league has technology to help legitimize the outcome of games, it should use it.

Owners will consider nine proposals to expand replay. The big difference, though, between the competition committee’s two proposals and the seven submitted by teams is whether replay should be used to review plays that aren’t initially penalized. ...

Full Story - Chicago Tribune

By Will Brinson | CBS Sports

This is the offseason of replay in the NFL, with everyone widely assuming some kind of change would be coming to the instant replay situation in the wake of the Saints getting hosed in the NFC Championship Game when the officials on the field failed to throw a flag for an obvious pass interference penalty.

But ownership has made it fairly clear that no significant change is coming for replay -- CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora said on Tuesday's Pick Six Podcast that it's unlikely we see a "seismic shift" in how replay is handled.

"As much as some specific people on the competition committee very much would like to see on-site video replay beefed up, more 4D cameras, I'm just not sure the league owners are quite there yet," La Canfora explained. "And I would be surprised if there was some seismic shift in how games are officiated coming out of this meeting."

Full Story - CBS Sports

ProFootballTalk

Saints coach Sean Payton believes the NFL's decision to use an 'all-star' officiating crew impacted the missed pass interference call in the NFC Championship.

Link to video

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Teddy Bridgewater is coming back to the New Orleans Saints in 2019 to be the backup quarterback behind Drew Brees for the second year in a row.

In theory, Bridgewater has the best chance to be Brees’ long-term replacement, but with Brees not saying how much longer he wants to play, it’s tough to project what will happen in 2020 and beyond.

For 2019, though, the Saints made sure to bring back their veteran backup by giving Bridgewater what is effectively a one-year, $7.25 million deal that is fully guaranteed. ...

Full Story - NOLA.com

By John Sigler | Saintswire

The NFL announced that the Green Bay Packers will visit the Chicago Bears on ‘Thursday Night Football’ to kick off the 2019 season, with the NFL’s oldest rivalry matching up to celebrate the league’s 100th season. This will be the 199th meeting between Chicago and Green Bay, and it will be televised nationally on NBC.

Traditionally, the reigning Super Bowl champions host the season-opening kickoff. That’s been a flexible arrangement in the past, though — the Baltimore Ravens risked a scheduling conflict with the neighboring Baltimore Orioles, so they traveled to the Denver Broncos in 2013. So this decision will push the New England Patriots to hosting ‘Sunday Night Football’, which will also be broadcast on NBC. That’s unwelcome news to New Orleans Saints fans, who won’t catch their team on either of the first two big games of the 2019 season. The Saints are not scheduled to play the Patriots until 2021. ...

Full Story - Saintswire - USA Today

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints considered defensive tackle their biggest need this offseason, and their top acquisition at the position was Malcom Brown, who spent the previous four years with the New England Patriots.

Brown will likely slot in at nose tackle with Tyeler Davison still a free agent, and with Sheldon Rankins and David Onyemata questionable for the start of the season, Brown’s presence on the interior will be even more important.

The Saints signed Brown to a three-year deal worth $15 million, and he brings ample experience to the defensive line after playing 60 games with 51 starts the past four years in New England. ...

Full Story - NOLA.com

John DeShazier | Senior Writer - NewOrleansSaints.com

Phoenix – The courting ended days ago. The commitment began Tuesday.

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton broke the news from the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix that the Saints signed free agent tight end Jared Cook, perhaps the top tight end target on the market.

Cook, who will be entering his 11th season, caught 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns last season with Oakland. The former third-round pick (by Tennessee) in 2009 has caught 425 passes for 5,464 yards and 25 touchdowns in 149 regular-season games.

“He’s excited,” Payton said during his 80-minute media availability. “We’re excited to have him.

“It gives us a threat opposite of (receiver) Mike (Thomas). A lot of times where Mike lines up is opposite the tight end. We feel like we’ve got some good tight ends in the building that we have roles and visions for. But I think Jared’s got a unique skill set. We saw a lot of good tape of him.” ...

Full Story - NewOrleansSaints.com

By James Parks | 247 Sports

The New Orleans Saints’ season did not end the way they wanted.

Instead of playing in the Super Bowl, the team was controversially deprived of a berth in that game after officials declined to call what was an obvious pass interference call.

But the good news is that the Saints have been genuine title contenders in each of the past two seasons and will enter the 2019 campaign as favorites again to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

To that end, the Saints have made a few moves on their staff and on the roster.

Here is an overview of what the team has done so far. ...

Full Story - 247 Sports

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Addressing the tight end position was one of the New Orleans Saints top priorities heading into this offseason, and they filled that need by adding the top free agent at the position in former Raiders tight end Jared Cook.

Saints coach Sean Payton confirmed the Cook signing, which has been reported as imminent for more than a week, at the owner’s meetings in Phoenix. That was followed shortly by a tweet from the Saints account welcoming Cook to the club. ...


Full Story - NOLA.com