josh katzenstein

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneMike Westhoff tells New Orleans Saints players that he sleeps well at night because he doesn’t have a conscience.The 70-year-old special teams coach can be demanding and prickly, but...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneAlex Okafor remembers one of the primary goals for the New Orleans Saints defense before the 2018 season.“Coming into the season, we said that if we can become top 10 in run...

By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTwo injured New Orleans Saints players were in the locker room on Monday, and both offered optimistic outlooks about their returns in 2019.Wide receiver Cameron Meredith and cornerback Patrick Robinson, two of the team’s top free-agent...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints assistant head coach/tight ends Dan Campbell could soon have an opportunity to lead his own team.According to an NFL Network report on Monday, the Packers and...

NOLA.com PhotoBy Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints had an unimpressive close to their season on Sunday (Dec. 30) as they lost, 33-7, to the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.For the Saints (13-3), this game had no playoff implications...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneIf you’re already sick of reading about Teddy Bridgewater this week, you’ve come to the wrong place.Back when the New Orleans Saints traded for Bridgewater in August, fans wanted to...

By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneFirst (take)NFL players and coaches hate hearing the term “meaningless game.”It’s fitting for media and fans to describe Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers as meaningless because there are no playoff...

(David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s consecutive snaps streak ended last Sunday at 1,973.In his first 30 NFL games, the 2017 first-round pick played every offensive snap, but three...

(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneWhen the New Orleans Saints played the Carolina Panthers in Week 15, there was a moment when right tackle Ryan Ramczyk worried about running back Alvin Kamara.Kamara had just finished a run on the...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneSean Payton is already sick of being asked if the New Orleans Saints will rest some starters in the season finale next Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.The question came up twice...

Nola.com photoBy Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTwo weeks in a row, the New Orleans Saints needed a defensive stand late in the fourth quarter.Two weeks in a row, the Saints defense did what it needed to do to seal a win.In Sunday’s game, the Pittsburgh Steelers took the...

(Photo by Mike Mulholland, MLive.com)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneCornelius Lucas was planning on visiting his family in New Orleans for Christmas. The Saints gave him a chance to come home early.The 27-year-old offensive tackle signed with the Saints on Thursday...

Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneBy Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneFirst (take)The New Orleans Saints have never been in this situation.Sure, in 2009, they were the best team in the NFC, finishing 13-3 to earn the No. 1 seed. That performance in...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Keith Kirkwood has not had off-the-charts production in his first six NFL games, but the timing of his catches indicate just how much...

(Photo - NewOrleansSaints.com)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints left tackle Terron Armstead has missed the past five games, and on Wednesday, he provided a bit more information on his lingering injury.Armstead said he’s been dealing with a torn pectoral...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints altered their practice schedule Wednesday because they have a short week of preparation before Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.The Saints didn’t...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneCHARLOTTE — The New Orleans Saints are one step closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.It wasn’t easy, but the Saints used a second-half comeback to beat...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneDuring New Orleans Saints training camp this summer, special teams coach Mike Westhoff approached defensive end Alex Okafor with an idea.“I said, ‘I want to use you this year on our...

(Photo - NOLA.com)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneKeith Kirkwood became a father when he was 18.Biologically, Kirkwood is not related to Aria Nelson, but he still thinks of her as his daughter.“That’s my angel,” he said.Aria, 6, is the daughter of Kirkwood’s longtime...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints (11-2) are officially heading to the playoffs, but they still have work to do in order to claim home-field advantage or the No. 1 seed in the NFC.The Saints...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneCarolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton gave the New Orleans Saints some bulletin board material on Thursday.During Newton’s news conference in Charlotte on Thursday, a reporter...

New Orleans Saints special teams ace Taysom Hill blocks a punt by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 (NOLA.com Photo)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTAMPA, Fla. — The New Orleans Saints avoided a disaster on Sunday (Dec. 9).After trailing...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints have a chance to clinch the 2018 NFC South championship with a win on Sunday over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.For some reason, though, that game wasn’t top of...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTo see how much New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees appreciates center Max Unger, go back and watch the play when Brees broke the NFL’s career passing yardage record in Week 5...

Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneBy Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneFirst (take)As I walked my dog on Thursday morning, I saw a New Orleans Saints shirt that grabbed my attention in the window of Pop City on Magazine Street.It was a shirt that...