Tag: Brees

Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald headline HOF semifinalists

Posted on | by Field Level Media

In their first year on the ballot, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore and Jason Witten are semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

They were among the 26 modern era candidates announced on Tuesday, a list that will be whittled down to 15 finalists by a 50-member selection committee.

Four returning finalists are already locked into the last 15 after reaching the final seven in 2025: Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri.

Eight others are returning finalists: Eli Manning, Fred Taylor, Steve Smith Sr., Reggie Wayne, Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda, Terrell Suggs and Darren Woodson.

The other nine semifinalists, including first-timers Lomas Brown and Kevin Williams, are Hines Ward, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski, Rodney Harrison, Earl Thomas, Vince Wilfork and Robert Mathis.

In addition to voting on 15 modern era finalists before the Super Bowl in February, the selection committee will consider three seniors, one coach and one contributor.

Between four and eight new members will become the Class of 2026. In the first year of this format in 2025 only four men got in.

Brees trails only Tom Brady on the all-time list for passing yards (80,358) and touchdown passes (571) and led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV title.

Fitzgerald ranks second only to Jerry Rice in receiving yards (17,492) and receptions (1,432) and played his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals.

Rivers was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection who played 16 of his 17 seasons with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers and passed for 63,440 yards and 421 TDs.

Gore ranks third on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards, trailing only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. He was named to five Pro Bowls.

Witten made 11 Pro Bowls, played 16 of his 17 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and ranks No. 2 among tight ends in receptions (1,228) and receiving yards (13,046).

–Field Level Media

Report: Fox signs Drew Brees as full-time NFL analyst

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fox is hiring Drew Brees as a full-time NFL game analyst and is likely moving on from the embattled Mark Sanchez, The Athletic reported on Wednesday.

Brees, a 13-time Pro Bowl quarterback, joins a lineup featuring Tom Brady and Greg Olsen and will be in the broadcast booth a week from Sunday, per the report.

Exact terms of his deal and specific game assignments are not yet known.

Brees would likely be paired with play-by-play man Adam Amin, who had been working with Sanchez, 38, before the latter’s arrest for battery following an early October altercation in Indianapolis.

Brees, 46, retired from the NFL after the 2020 season and spent the 2021 season with NBC Sports, working as a color analyst for the network’s Notre Dame broadcasts and appearing on “Football Night in America.”

Brees has also done studio work with Fox and ESPN and served as an analyst for Netflix’s international feed last Christmas.

Brees led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV championship in the 2009 season and was a two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He ranks second behind Brady in NFL history in passing yards (80,358) and touchdown passes (571).

–Field Level Media

Saints quarterback Drew Brees his former teammate and successor with the Chargers, quarterback Philip Rivers (17) are among 2026 Hall of Fame nominees. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald among 2026 HOF candidates

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Chargers teammates Philip Rivers and Drew Brees are among first ballot modern-era candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 announced Wednesday.

Brees, who went on to win a Super Bowl and reach prolific production levels as a quarterback with the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, tight ends Jason Witten and Greg Olsen and linebacker Thomas Davis also are on the list of newly eligible candidates with a total of 128 modern-era players receiving nominations.

At least three of the candidates will make of the Hall of Fame class announced before Super Bowl LX in February in Santa Clara, Calif.

The nominees are narrowed by the Hall of Fame selection committee to 25 semifinalists during the regular season.

From there a vote to reduce the list to 15 finalists among modern-era candidates is held and ultimately the class of 3-5, as stipulated by Hall of Fame rules, is decided from a list of seven during an annual selection meeting held Super Bowl week.

Only 11 true open spots exist because of the automatic advancement of candidates who reached the “final seven” vote last year.

Several of the quarterbacks eligible for the Hall are intertwined.

In 2004, Rivers was drafted and traded to the Chargers from the New York Giants for Eli Manning, another Super Bowl winner eligible for induction. Manning, selected No. 1 by the Chargers, was in the final 15 for the Class of 2025 in his first year of eligibility. When Brees became a free agent after the 2005 season, the Chargers offered less than he expected, opening the door for the Saints to sign Brees. He played in New Orleans until retiring in 2020.

Brees was Super Bowl XLIX MVP, a 13-time Pro Bowl selection and retired with 571 career touchdown passes and over 80,000 passing yards.

Rivers was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection in his 17 NFL seasons, all but one of which came with the Chargers. He played for the Colts in 2020.

Manning won Super Bowl XLII (2008) and Super Bowl XLVI (2012) with the Giants, beating seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady both times.

Former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, wide receivers Torry Holt (Rams), Reggie Wayne (Colts) and Steve Smith Sr. (Panthers, Ravens), offensive tackle Willie Anderson, guards Mashal Yanda (Ravens) and Jahri Evans (Saints), linebackers Luke Kuechly (Panthers) and Terrell Suggs (Ravens, Cardinals), safety Darren Woodson (Cowboys) and kicker Adam Vinatieri (Patriots, Colts) also are returning 2025 finalists who weren’t selected.

Pro Football Hall of Fame selection bylaws automatically advance any players who were in the final seven vote the prior year. This year, Anderson, Holt, Kuechly and Vinatieri begin the process in the final 15 for 2026.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees stands on the sidelines before the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills at the Caesars Superdome. Brees is b being honored at half-time of the game that he is also announcing for NBC. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Report: N.J. halts Citrus Bowl bets due to Purdue hiring Drew Brees

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Gaming regulators in New Jersey have taken the Citrus Bowl off the board because Purdue hiring Drew Brees as an interim assistant coach caused a violation of the state’s regulations, ESPN reported Friday.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement announced that “an individual associated with the Purdue Football team” was in violation of its regulations. ESPN reported that individual was Brees, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback, who had a business relationship with sportsbook PointsBet.

Wagers placed by New Jersey bettors after Dec. 15 — the day Brees was named an interim assistant — must be voided, per the regulatory body’s ruling.

PointsBet announced on Dec. 22 that it was ending its “ambassador partnership agreement” with Brees after his decision to join the coaching staff at his alma mater.

The Citrus Bowl will see Purdue take on No. 17 LSU on Monday afternoon.

Brian Brohm is serving as the interim head coach for the Boilermakers on Monday after his brother, Jeff Brohm, left the post to take the same position at his alma mater, Louisville.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is honored at halftime of the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Saints attempted to coax Drew Brees out of retirement

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New Orleans Saints reportedly reached out to Drew Brees earlier this week in a bid to gauge his interest about returning to the field.

The Saints, after all, have seen their quarterback carousel turn from Jameis Winston (torn ACL) to Trevor Siemian to Taysom Hill of late. With the latter two on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Saints (7-7) appear ready to put fourth-round rookie Ian Book under center for Monday’s game against the visiting Miami Dolphins (7-7).

The Saints recently signed veteran Blake Bortles to back up Book, but he didn’t appear to be the first choice.

The Times-Picayune reported Saints coach Sean Payton lobbied Brees to come out of retirement for just Monday’s game. Brees, who was on vacation in Hawaii with his family, reportedly “gave the idea some serious thought” before opting against resuming his playing career.

From the looks of Brees’ social media accounts, perhaps that thought came on the golf course.

Brees, 42, said he “wasn’t 100% confident he would be able to make the throws necessary to successfully lead the offense,” per NOLA.com.

A 13-time Pro Bowl selection, Brees currently is an NFL analyst on “Football Night in America.”

Brees led New Orleans to its lone Super Bowl championship following the 2009 season. He also became revered in the city for his leadership after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005.

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) blows a kiss to his family as he walks to the tunnel following a 30-20 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a NFC Divisional Round playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Saints QB Drew Brees retires

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees announced his retirement on Sunday.

The 42-year-old Brees is the NFL’s all-time leader with 80,358 career passing yards and 7,142 completions. His 571 touchdowns rank second to Tom Brady’s 581.

Brees spent the past 15 seasons (2006-20) with the Saints after playing his first five campaigns with the San Diego Chargers. He was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection.

“Til the very end, I exhausted myself to give everything I had to the Saints organization, my team, and the great city of New Orleans,” Brees said in his announcement on Instagram. “We shared some amazing moments together, many of which are emblazoned in our hearts and minds and will forever be a part of us. …

“I am only retiring from playing football, I am not retiring from New Orleans. This is not goodbye, rather a new beginning.”

Brees led New Orleans to its lone Super Bowl championship following the 2009 season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) blows a kiss to his family as he walks to the tunnel following a 30-20 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a NFC Divisional Round playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Brees reworks contract to save Saints cap space

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Drew Brees, who is expected to retire in the coming months, might have handed the New Orleans Saints a parting gift Friday.

The 42-year-old quarterback agreed to restructure his contract, lowering his 2021 base salary to $1,075,000, the veterans’ minimum, multiple media outlets reported. He had been due to make $25 million, with the Saints getting socked with a $36 million salary-cap hit on his deal for the year.

The revised pact would save the Saints $24 million against the cap this year if they release Brees after June 1. That money could help a franchise that already was well over the salary-cap limit. New Orleans would face an additional $11.5 million in cap charges for Brees in 2022 based on the new deal.

Brees is the NFL’s career leader in completions (7,142) and passing yards (80,358). His 571 touchdown passes rank second behind the 581 of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, and his career average of 280 passing yards per game ranks second behind the 307.7 average of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Brady and Mahomes will square off in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Brees has played the past 15 years with the Saints after starting his career by playing five seasons for the then-San Diego Chargers. He has a career 172-114 regular-season record as a starter and a 9-9 record in the postseason, having led New Orleans to its lone Super Bowl championship following the 2009 season.

Saints coach Sean Payton said earlier this week that he expects to learn Brees’ decision on his future soon. He added that the club hopes to bring back Jameis Winston, who along with Taysom Hill served as Brees’ backups in 2020.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Jameis Winston (2) talk on the sideline during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton: Saints wanted Patrick Mahomes; now want Jameis Winston back

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints are in meetings this week evaluating the roster, and the quarterback position remains a hot topic.

There is growing sentiment Drew Brees plans to retire, leaving Payton to plot for a future without his franchise quarterback.

New Orleans re-signed Taysom Hill last spring and picked up Jameis Winston, the former No. 1 pick, after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We got great exposure for one year with Jameis Winston,” Payton said Wednesday in an interview with NFL Network. “We had enough time to see what we had with him as a player, as a leader, as an athlete. I really like what we had a chance to see. He was a tremendous leader on this team. That’s hard to do when you come in new, free agency, first year as a backup. That will be an important checkmark for us. A lot of times you want to hold your cards closer to the vest, and he is a free agent. He along with Taysom Hill, who’s in the building. We’ve said it all along — we’re going to develop and coach those guys.”

The Saints are 8-1 over the past two seasons without Brees, who had a hand injury in 2019 and fractured ribs last season. He has been the starting quarterback for the Saints since 2006. An official announcement from Brees on his status for next season is expected in the coming weeks, well before free agency begins in March.

Payton lamented a close call on Brees’ heir apparent in 2017, when the Saints held the No. 11 pick and had been on a stealthy campus visit to scout Patrick Mahomes. After a full day in Lubbock visiting Texas Tech coaches and working out Mahomes, Payton and the smitten Saints’ brass scurried back to the airport in an effort to cover up their affinity for the Red Raiders star.

“We came away from there blown away, impressed,” Payton said. “I know I came away from there saying, ‘That’s the best college quarterback I’ve ever evaluated.’ … There were all the other checks, the things you can’t see on video — his personality is fantastic, he’s one of those guys who was always hanging out in the gym in high school, he comes from an athletic family, he’s got a bright smile. It was all there.”

About 12 minutes before the Saints went on the clock in the first round of the draft, the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to No. 10 in a deal with the Buffalo Bills. Payton cringed, and knew exactly what was coming.

“Andy (Reid) went up to 10. As soon as that trade took place, we know that was for Mahomes,” Payton said. “He’s fun to watch. And certainly tough to defend.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and quarterback Taysom Hill (7) during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Saints’ next QB? Taysom Hill leads odds on 21 names

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Taysom Hill watched in street clothes as Drew Brees struggled in the New Orleans Saints’ loss in the Divisional Playoffs on Sunday.

Brees gave a quick look back at the field at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome before heading into the tunnel, and likely into retirement.

Hill? His status as the heir apparent is uncertain after an up-and-down showing in four starts while Brees was injured during the regular season.

The 30-year-old is still under contract for one more season and did complete 72.7 percent of his passes for 928 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in 16 games. Hill did not play in the playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a knee injury, and not having his multi-dimensional skillset available did impact coach Sean Payton’s playbook.

Hill has been installed as the 5/2 favorite to take the first snap at quarterback for the Saints in Week 1 by SportsBetting.com.

The list of other candidates is deep and extremely varied.

Matthew Stafford is still under contract with the Lions, but there is speculation the veteran may ask for a fresh start elsewhere. He is being offered at 4/1 to land in New Orleans, followed by Jameis Winston (5/1), who is a free agent after playing as a backup in 2020 with the Saints.

A number of other veteran quarterbacks are expected to be available this offseason, and the Saints could be an appealing destination as an established contender with a number of offensive weapons.

Or does New Orleans double down on Hill for 2021 and look to the draft for a long-term answer for Payton to groom?

Saints Next Quarterback Odds (SportsBetting.com):
Taysom Hill 5/2
Matthew Stafford 4/1
Jameis Winston 5/1
Philip Rivers 6/1
Carson Wentz 10/1
Jimmy Garropolo 11/1
Alex Smith 13/1
Deshaun Watson 16/1
Andy Dalton 20/1
Taylor Heinicke 20/1
Ryan Fitzpatrick 22/1
Teddy Bridgewater 22/1
Jacoby Brissett 25/1
Marcus Mariota 25/1
Sam Darnold 25/1
Drew Lock 25/1
Cam Newton 30/1
Jared Goff 30/1
Mitchell Trubisky 40/1
Matt Ryan 50/1
Ben Roethlisberger 50/1

–Field Level Media

Jan 10, 2021; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrate after the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Divisional round primer: Browns take aim at another upset

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns get to celebrate their first postseason win in 26 years but their reward isn’t as fun as wakeboarding on Lake Erie.

The sixth-seeded Browns receive a date next Sunday (3:05 p.m. ET) against the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.

The host Chiefs are also known as the defending Super Bowl champions and are heavy favorites to end Cleveland’s season in the AFC divisional round matchup.

But Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield isn’t willing to listen to the refrain, not after his team led the entire way in Sunday’s 48-37 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round.

“Nobody here is satisfied yet,” Mayfield said. “There’s a new standard and we’re going to try to keep it that way.”

The powerful Chiefs are well-rested after receiving a bye and quarterback Patrick Mahomes likely took note that Cleveland allowed Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger to complete 47 passes (in 68 attempts) for 501 yards.

Following is a quick glance at next week’s other three playoff games:

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
The second-seeded Bills halted their own playoff issues on Saturday when they edged the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 for their first postseason triumph since the 1995 season. Buffalo will host the fifth-seeded Ravens on Saturday (8:15 p.m. ET).

Quarterback Josh Allen has provided Buffalo with a toughness quality at quarterback and top target Stefon Diggs has been superb all season. The Ravens counter with Lamar Jackson, who passed for 179 yards and rushed for 136 in Sunday’s 20-13 slaying of the fourth-seeded Tennessee Titans.

Baltimore is more accustomed to postseason play than the Bills and will certainly hope its defense can rattle Allen. The Ravens impressively held Titans’ 2,000-yard back Derrick Henry to 40 yards on 18 carries.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Tom Brady and Drew Brees will square off for the third time this season when the fifth-seeded Buccaneers visit the second-seeded Saints on Sunday (6:40 p.m. ET). New Orleans and Brees won the first two matchups by a combined 72-26.

The Saints held Chicago out of the end zone until the final play of Sunday’s 21-9 victory in the NFC wild-card round and will look to frustrate Brady. The 43-year-old Brady threw just two touchdowns against New Orleans this season while being picked off five times and sacked on six occasions.

Brees tossed six touchdown passes without an interception against the Buccaneers. And it surely doesn’t hurt to have do-everything running back Alvin Kamara on your team.

Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers
NFL MVP favorite Aaron Rodgers and the top-seeded Green Bay Packers are coming off a bye as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday (4:35 p.m. ET).

The sixth-seeded Rams already won one game in which few gave them a chance as they recorded a 30-20 road win over the Seattle Seahawks. Jared Goff (fractured right thumb) was forced into action when backup quarterback John Wolford suffered a neck injury and he is going to need to be able to throw the ball better (he was 9 of 19 vs. Seattle) for the Rams to keep up with the Packers.

Rodgers and star wideout Davante Adams (tied Sterling Sharpe’s franchise record of 18 touchdown catches) have been terrorizing defenses all season. Green Bay figures to keep its foot on the pedal early and often as it knows the Rams aren’t equipped for a shootout.

–Field Level Media