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Battle of the GOATs? Why Tom Brady-Drew Brees matchup is like nothing we’ve seen before in the NFL
METAIRIE, La. — The rivalry between Tom Brady and Drew Brees has now spanned four different decades and six different teams — dating back to when Brady’s Michigan Wolverines trounced Brees’ Purdue Boilermakers in 1999. But when Brady debuts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome (4:25 […]
Continue readingNFL Rank: Predicting the best 100 players for the 2020 NFL season
The 2020 NFL season is just over a week away, so it’s time for our annual ranking of the league’s top 100 players. What can we expect from the game’s best players? We asked a panel of 46 ESPN NFL experts to rate players based on how good they will be in the 2020 season […]
Continue readingHow other Saints leaders spoke up after Drew Brees became center of turmoil
METAIRIE, La. — It seemed almost impossible after the fires that were ignited throughout the New Orleans Saints’ roster on Wednesday that by 9 a.m. Thursday, coach Sean Payton could be tweeting the words, “This is another example of why I love OUR team. #ChangeIsComing” Payton was applauding team captain and NFL Players Coalition leader […]
Continue readingCB P.J. Williams, Saints reach 1-year deal
Williams battled injuries and inconsistency early in his career, but he found a niche over the past two seasons as a nickelback with the Saints, playing about 80% of their defensive snaps inside the slot when active. He also filled in at safety when needed because of injuries late last season. The Saints let cornerback […]
Continue readingFormer Saints safety Vonn Bell to sign with Bengals
Bell’s deal is for three years and $18 million, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bell, 25, has shown steady improvement since being drafted in the second round out of Ohio State in 2016. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder was an every-down player for the Saints when healthy in 2019. He set a career high with 89 […]
Continue readingNFL free agency: Ranking the 15 best remaining free agents
NFL teams have scooped up more than 70% of the ESPN’s original top 100 free agents this week, either through market signings or by using the franchise and transition tags. That doesn’t mean the well is dry, however. Here are 15 of the best players remaining. As always, we’ve focused this list toward the philosophies […]
Continue readingSaints bringing back safety Malcolm Jenkins
METAIRIE, La. — For years, Sean Payton has admitted that letting safety Malcolm Jenkins go in 2014 was one of his biggest regrets. So the New Orleans Saints didn’t hesitate to scoop him back up after the Philadelphia Eagles decided not to exercise the 2020 option on Jenkins’ contract this week. “Should have never let […]
Continue readingNFL Rookie Rankings: Nick Bosa beats out four offensive first-year stars for the top spot
The 2019 rookie class had a lot of intrigue, and with the NFL’s regular season well behind us, we ranked the best of the best in the year’s group. We also looked at two first-year players who closed the season well and saw their stock rise, and two whose stock declined in the final month. […]
Continue readingThe story behind Kirk Cousins’ perfect 43-yard pass to Adam Thielen that sunk the Saints
NEW ORLEANS — Redemption came tumbling out of the sky, a perfect rainbow ticketed for his outstretched hands, and all Adam Thielen had to do was catch it. It was overtime Sunday in the Superdome. The Minnesota Vikings had squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead but won the coin toss, and they needed a touchdown to […]
Continue readingBarnwell’s guide to the 2019 NFL playoffs: How all 12 teams can win the Super Bowl
With the 2019 NFL playoffs upon us, you already know a little bit about the NFL’s 12 remaining teams. Let’s go a little further and try to offer up some additional insight into the remaining contenders as part of my preview. How are they better or worse than public perception? Is that likely to play […]
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