rod walker

Advocate staff photo by MATTHEW HINTONBy Rod Walker | The AdvocateThe NFL's top scoring offense didn't light up the scoreboard Thursday night in quite the record-setting pace it had done the past three weeks. Drew Brees and company didn't have to.The Saints' defense had their back...

(Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)By Rod Walker | The AdvocateIdeally, Marshon Lattimore wouldn't want to spend his Thanksgiving playing football."You want to be with your family eating Thanksgiving dinner," Lattimore said. "I would rather sit home and watch it."But on...

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELDBy Rod Walker | The AdvocateDon't let the swagger — and yes, the Saints have plenty of it — fool you.They sometimes dance on the sideline, much to the delight of Who Dat Nation.The defense collectively poses for pictures after creating a turnover...

Advocate Staff photo by SOPHIA GERMERBy Rod Walker | The AdvocateIn case anyone needs a reminder, the New Orleans Saints hit the road and play the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.Who could blame you if you almost forgot?After all, Sunday's road game in Cincy is sandwiched smack-dab in the...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateThe streak is now 16 games, the length of an entire NFL season.That's how long it's been since the New Orleans Saints have allowed an opposing rusher to go for more than 100 yards in a game.You have to go all the way back to Nov. 19, 2017, when Washington...

By Rod WalkerDespite his team having the NFL's longest winning streak and a splendid 7-1 start to the first half of the season, Saints coach Sean Payton says there is still room for improvement.One area in particular, the team's red zone defense, remains a glaring weakness to Payton.He...

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELDBy Rod Walker | The AdvocateThis time a year ago, New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith was playing on an undefeated team.So Smith, a member of UCF's perfect season last year, knows all too well how determined opposing teams can be...

(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)By Rod Walker | The AdvocateMarcus Williams walked out of the visitors' locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday clutching a football.It was the game ball, presented to him after the Saints' 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.It was Williams' return to...

(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)By Rod Walker | The AdvocateMINNEAPOLIS — This time, there was no last-second miracle to save the Vikings.The defense wasn't about to let this one slip away, despite a first half when it looked like the Saints' defense wouldn't give them a chance.This time, the...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocatePlaying against the Vikings defense is always tough.Having to do it in Minnesota can be even tougher.The Saints have won just three times in the 17 games they have played in Minnesota. That includes a regular season and playoff loss during the 2017 season.The...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateBALTIMORE — Drew Brees got his 500th career touchdown Sunday.But more important, he got win No. 1 against the Ravens.Finally.It's been a long time coming.Thanks to a fourth-quarter rally and a missed extra point by Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker with 26...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateThe pipeline from Glenville High School to the New Orleans Saints continued on Tuesday when receiver Shane Wynn was added to the practice squad.Wynn is the fourth Glenville alum on the team, joining Ted Ginn Jr., Marshon Lattimore and Justin Hardee from the school...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateJustin Hardee hadn't intercepted a pass since his senior year at Glenville High School in Cleveland.So to finally get another one, seven years later, on such a grand stage — the Saints' 43-19 Monday night victory over the Washington Redskins — is a moment Hardee...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateDrew Brees tried his best all week to deflect the attention away from the record.Then, moments before Engine, Engine No. 9 ever got rolling Monday night, he tried yet again as he delivered one of his fiery pre-game speeches to his teammates."Tonight, it's about...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateTerrell Fletcher caught the very first one.Little did Fletcher, or the guy who threw the pass to him, know that it was the start of a record-setting journey.The play — the first completion of Drew Brees' career — went for 7 yards, just a small fragment of the...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateThe final scene would resemble a script from a fictional Hollywood movie, almost too good to be true for every Saints fan.It's Feb. 3, 2019. Gayle Benson, standing in the midst of falling confetti, raises the Lombardi Trophy in the air, just like her husband Tom...

By Rod WalkerJustin Hardee approaches special teams a lot like he approaches life.He knows it isn't always easy, although he often makes it look like it is.He knows it requires some sacrifice.And it doesn't come with a whole lot of attention or fanfare.But Hardee is a firm believer...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateJayrone Elliot can't really help it.It's just who he is.It's why he earned the nickname "Mr. Friendly" during his playing days at Glenville High School in Ohio.He earned that name off the field by how he treated his peers. He earned it on the field by how he...

By Rod WalkerIt was just a preseason game.But for Tre'Quan Smith, the New Orleans Saints' 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars still counts.It's why one of Smith's assistant coaches at Central Florida sent him a text message after the victory."14-0," the message read.Smith, who...

By Rod WalkerThe plan wasn't to write about Marcus Williams for the second time in two weeks.But Williams has made it pretty difficult not to.Through nine practices — the midway point of the 18 training camp sessions scheduled for Metairie — Williams has been the MVP so far.At least...

By Rod WalkerThe plan wasn't to write about Marcus Williams for the second time in two weeks.But Williams has made it pretty difficult not to.Through nine practices — the midway point of the 18 training camp sessions scheduled for Metairie — Williams has been the MVP so far.At least...

By Rod Walker | The AdvocateIt's been a little over three months since the 504 number popped up on Boston Scott's cell phone.Scott was in the car, having just finished a birthday lunch at a Baton Rouge hibachi restaurant with friends and family.He had turned 23 years old the day before...

By Rod WalkerThe second-year safety used the word "past" six times during the first two minutes.The "past" is where Williams has buried his miscue that buried the Saints' season six months ago.Surely it hasn't been easy though.There have been plenty of reminders of the "Minnesota...

By Rod WalkerNeither one of them heard their names called in the NFL Draft.But Lance Moore and Pierre Thomas didn't let being undrafted free agents stop them.The two diamonds in the rough went on to have solid NFL seasons in New Orleans as part of one of the most potent offenses in the...

By Rod WalkerTypically, it’s all about football around the Brees household. That’s what you’d expect when the man of the house is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.But as Drew Brees found out last week, football is apparently starting to lose a little ground to fútbol.A trip...