New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints have signed veteran cornerback PJ Williams to a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $2 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. 

Williams, 26, started eight games for the Saints last season (14 total appearances), registering 44 tackles, an interception and a sack.  

In his four-year career, Williams has accumulated 151 tackles, four picks, two forced fumbles and two sacks.

The Saints are loaded in the secondary. Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins will start at cornerback, while the team signed Malcolm Jenkins this offseason to pair with Marcus Williams at safety. Add in Patrick Robinson, who is capable of handling slot duties, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson providing depth at safety and the return of Williams, and the Saints are in good shape. 

Williams can also play some safety in a pinch if needed. And with Jenkins capable of playing slot corner, the Saints have a ton of versatility on the back end. 

It's another reason why the Saints have a strong case to be among a handful of teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations this season. The offense is already loaded behind Drew Brees, with Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, Emmanuel Sanders and a strong offensive line giving the Saints more firepower than most teams.

But the defense is also fearsome, and bringing back Williams on an affordable deal was smart business for the Saints. His experience and versatility in the secondary provides them with excellent depth at an important position. 

Oops.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton admitted to reporters on Wednesday that he misspoke when he said during a Tuesday appearance on ESPN's Get Up! that 2020 will be 41-year-old All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees' "final season."

"I'm a big dummy," Payton said on a call with reporters. "I think his plan is to take it year by year."

Payton's full comments from Get Up!, which centered around backup hybrid quarterback Taysom Hill, are below:

"I think the role is pretty clear, and first and foremost, we still view him as a quarterback, and we spent a lot of time this offseason discussing our vision for him this season at quarterback, but then also at the F-position. And what I mean by that ... that slash, tight end, wide receiver, he's a tremendous blocker, he's physical. I don't think people realize how fast he is. He's probably one of the three or four fastest guys on the team. So, he'll play that F-position, he'll certainly be involved in the kicking game. It's one of the things he takes pride in and is very good at.

"And then the unique situation with our team and with our quarterback, Drew Brees is...he's announced he's coming back for his final season, I think Taysom sees himself as being a starting quarterback in this league and we do too."

Brees re-signed with the Saints on a two-year, $50 million contract last month.

However, at January's Pro Bowl the future Hall of Famer hinted to The Times-Picayune's Amie Just that retirement might come sooner rather than later:

"I'm really waiting until football is totally done. Obviously being here, I'm just very much focused on my family and this opportunity to be be around the guys, playing the game. Then, I'll kind of lay low for a little bit, get away and then assess. I kind of have a process in mind. And I'll give it a month or so.

[...]

"I have never been in the situation where I was mulling over the thought of (returning). To me, each one of these contracts, I don't know how many it's been with the Saints, I've played with them 14 years, each one, it's not a matter of if it gets done, it's when. At this stage of my career, it's not a given that I'm coming back every year, but when that time comes, I'll always be a Saint."

Brees announced he would return for the 2020 season in mid-February:

The 13-time Pro Bowler has set numerous all-time individual records but has won just one Super Bowl title with the Saints, which came back in the 2009 season.

Brees left the then-San Diego Chargers and began his New Orleans tenure began in 2006. Since, he has thrown for 65,068 yards, 467 touchdowns and 184 interceptions with a 133-83 record. Brees has led the NFL in completion percentage since 2017, including a career-best 74.3 percent last season.

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton appeared on Wednesday's episode of the Rich Eisen Show and said the NFC South team has set up its draft war room in a local brewery that belongs to the family of Gayle Benson, who owns the Saints and New Orleans Pelicans.

The NFL draft is still scheduled to take place from April 23-25 amid the coronavirus pandemic, but all public events in Las Vegas have been canceled. What's more, team facilities are closed and travel restrictions are in place, meaning squads around the league have to adjust as the draft approaches.

Payton has firsthand experience with a virus that has led to so many changes in the sports world after testing positive, but he told WWL Radio (h/t ESPN's Mike Triplett) he was cleared of the diagnosis.

Part of New Orleans' adjustment to the situation is apparently setting up a war room in a brewery as it looks to add the next game-changing superstar to its roster following three straight NFC South titles. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected in his most recent mock draft that the Saints will take Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the No. 24 overall pick as a potential long-term answer after Drew Brees eventually retires.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton discussed Taysom Hill's future with the team during an appearance on ESPN's Get Up Tuesday. 

Payton mentioned his desire to continue using Hill in a multitude of ways next season but added that the Saints view him as a future starting quarterback in the NFL as well:

"I think the role is pretty clear, and first and foremost, we still view him as a quarterback, and we spent a lot of time this offseason discussing our vision for him this season at quarterback, but then also at the F-position. And what I mean by that ... that slash, tight end, wide receiver, he's a tremendous blocker, he's physical. I don't think people realize how fast he is. He's probably one of the three or four fastest guys on the team. So, he'll play that F-position, he'll certainly be involved in the kicking game. It's one of the things he takes pride in and is very good at.

"And then the unique situation with our team and with our quarterback, Drew Brees is, he's announced he's coming back for his final season, I think Taysom sees himself as being a starting quarterback in this league and we do too."

Brees signed a two-year, $50 million contract to return as the team's starting quarterback in 2020, while Hill signed a one-year, $4.6 million contract with the Saints after they placed a first-round tender on him. Hill can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season.

The 29-year-old Hill played quarterback in college at BYU, but he has been used in a multitude of ways by Payton in his three years with the Saints.

In addition to playing a few snaps at quarterback last season, Hill lined up at tight end, wide receiver and in the backfield. He also had a significant role on special teams.

He went 3-of-6 for 55 yards as a passer in 2019, rushed 27 times for 156 yards and a touchdown and caught a career-high 19 passes for 234 yards and six touchdowns. Hill also rushed for 50 yards, completed a 50-yard pass and made two catches for 25 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans' playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Hill was the No. 3 quarterback on the Saints' depth chart last season behind Brees and Teddy Bridgewater, but with Bridgewater joining the Carolina Panthers this offseason, Hill could move into the backup spot in addition to his other duties.

Brees is still a productive quarterback, but at 41 years of age, the 2020 season could be his last. If that is the case, the Saints will have to make a decision on Hill's viability as a starting quarterback following the 2020 campaign.

Hill never reached the 3,000-yard passing mark in a season at BYU and his 43-31 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio left plenty to be desired. He did rush for 2,815 yards and 32 touchdowns in 37 games, though.

Given the success of dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL currently, perhaps there is hope for Hill to be the heir apparent to Brees at quarterback in the next year or two.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, who was the first person in the NFL with a publicly confirmed COVID-19 case, spoke with Jarrett Bell of USA Today about his experience.

"You fatigue real easy," Payton said. "I'd be up moving around, doing something, then you'd want to lay down again. That lasted three or four days. By the time I got the test results back I had begun feeling better. I had my appetite back."

Per Bell, Payton also had "flu symptoms, chills, aches and for one day, he said, a low-grade fever."

Payton, who said he is "100 percent recovered," was forced to go into self-quarantine. He told Bell that he got a "little stir-crazy" but that he spent much of his time resting and recovering.

He also spoke on FaceTime with family and friends, watched Netflix, spoke with the NFL's competition committee and worked on a few new projects related to his new home.

As for where Payton thinks he may have obtained COVID-19, he said it's "impossible" to truly know.

"Oh, my gosh," he said. "Impossible."

"If you didn't travel and were in only maybe three controlled environments, it would be easier (to determine)," he said. "But shoot, I was at Mardi Gras. After that, I was in New York City for a week, then down to Florida for three days and then back to New Orleans. I have no idea."

Thankfully, the rest of Payton's family has not tested positive for COVID-19, including his fiancee and two children.

As for what's next, Payton is interested in donating blood but isn't sure if that's possible at this time.

"I'm in that unique group that they believe can't get it again this season and can't give it.

"I'm waiting to hear if people like me are going to be able to give blood. I don't know the specifics, whether that's through a transfusion or plasma replacement. I know they're looking to see if there's a benefit to people who have had it and recovered from it and now maybe have the blood or the antibodies built up to help someone who has it. I'm waiting to hear if that's the case and if it is, what's the protocol and where do you go to give blood."

For now, Payton is back at work as of Monday. He and the rest of the Saints are preparing for the draft remotely. Per Bell, the Saints will begin holding conference calls Wednesday to "stack" their draft board, a process usually done at team headquarters. That isn't happening now with the NFL ordering all teams to close their doors until further notice.

The 56-year-old has coached the Saints for 14 seasons, compiling a 131-77 record and winning 10 or more games in eight seasons. He led New Orleans to a win in Super Bowl XLIV over the Indianapolis Colts in February 2010. The Saints have reached the NFC title game three times under his watch.

Emmanuel Sanders joined the New Orleans Saints on a two-year, $16 million deal after playing last season with the Denver Broncos and NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

Sanders jumped on The Rich Eisen Show Monday and gave some insight into his free-agency process, noting that he spoke with the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and 49ers before joining the Saints.

Any chance Sanders had of going to the Bills ended quickly, as Buffalo traded for Minnesota Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs.

With them out of the picture, the NFL's three 13-win teams in the 49ers, Packers and Saints all came to light at various times.

In the end, Sanders chose the Saints, citing the NFL's all-time passing touchdown and yardage record holder Drew Brees, the all-time single-season leader in receptions in Michael Thomas and Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton.

Sanders, 33, noted how the Saints' wide-open, spread offense mirrored that of the 2014 Denver Broncos, which featured him, quarterback Peyton Manning, wideouts Wes Welker and Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas helping the offense score the second-most points per game in football.

The 10-year veteran also expressed how his two-year deal matched the two-season pact that Brees also signed, so Sanders could be playing with him through the life of his contract.

Furthermore, Sanders said how the signing lit a new fire under him, and that his 11th season felt like his first as he heads to a team with the attainable goal of winning the Super Bowl.

The Saints offense looks unstoppable on paper, with Brees, Thomas, running backs Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray, tight end Jared Cook, wideout Tre'Quan Smith and the entire starting offensive line returning.

With Sanders in the mix, the Saints can make the case to be the NFC's No. 1 contender for a Super Bowl berth. Sanders was productive last year with 66 catches, 869 yards and five touchdowns for the Broncos and 49ers.

His numbers are more impressive when considering that Denver's passing game sputtered with Joe Flacco under center and San Francisco's offense shares the wealth between a host of running backs, wideouts and tight end George Kittle.

Sanders may be entering season No. 11, but he has the potential for a fantastic year. As he noted on The Rich Eisen Show, he'll be playing indoors 11 times in 2020, perhaps conducive to a better individual performance. He'll also have Brees throwing him the ball, Thomas taking attention off him and Payton calling plays.

All of this points to a great season for Sanders and the Saints.

Former New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey has tested positive for COVID-19. 

Dempsey's daughter Ashley told Ramon Antonio Vargas of the Times-Picayune her father, 73, tested positive at Tulane University Medical Center after he developed symptoms while living at the Lambeth House senior living center.

Vargas noted there has been an outbreak of the coronavirus at the facility during the worldwide pandemic.

Ashley said her father, who also has Alzheimer's and dementia, has experienced mild symptoms to this point.

The former kicker is the latest person associated with the Saints to test positive for COVID-19. Head coach Sean Payton tested positive, and former Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert's father, Bobby Hebert Jr., died Saturday after contracting the coronavirus.

Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, donated $5 million to the state of Louisiana to help fight the pandemic, while Gayle Benson, who owns the Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, spent $1 million to create the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund to help.

Dempsey, who was born without toes on his right foot and fingers on his right hand, kicked in the NFL from 1969 through 1979 for the Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills.

He was best known for the 63-yard field goal he kicked in 1970, which set the NFL record that stood until Matt Prater surpassed it by one yard in 2013 while kicking in Denver.

Dempsey was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection during his rookie campaign on the Saints and kicked in the playoffs in 1975 and 1976 for the Rams.

Fans were able to get an inside look at the New Orleans Saints playbook Sunday as head coach Sean Payton broke down some plays on Twitter. 

Initially responding to a post about play designs out of an empty backfield, Payton showcased some of his plays to get the ball to Saints stars Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara:

He also noted a concept that Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice "mastered" in his day:

Just for good measure, Payton explained his code of "sandwich terms" for tight end splits, including Quiznos and Jimmy Johns.

"I quickly drew [one] up on paper and took a picture of one of our plays. Posted it, then just continued," Payton told Mike Triplett of ESPN.

He later elaborated in a phone interview with USA Today's Jarrett Bell:

"I’m scrolling and saw a (non-NFL) coach put up a play, saying, 'Put up an empty play and tag it.' So, I drew one up, took a picture and put it up in the conversation. That took off and led to another, then another, then led to a little history about Jerry Rice. For the better part of an hour I had some fun. Then it was like, ‘I’ve got to get off here.' It was almost 11 o'clock."

The thread was likely an informative one for fans...and possibly for opposing coaches, too.

New Orleans Saints receiver and returner Deonte Harris is giving back to his team's home city and his hometown during the coronavirus pandemic:

The Saints organization has been hit directly by COVID-19, as head coach Sean Payton announced he had tested positive for the virus on March 19:

Gayle Benson, owner of the Saints and the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, personally donated $1 million toward creating the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund earlier this month. She provided a statement that reads, in part:

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, an enormous impact on our community and businesses of all sizes. We want to do our part to assist those that have been impacted in our community. We are grateful to the Greater New Orleans Foundation for their efforts in helping us get these funds to those in our community facing hardship due to the residual impact of COVID-19."

On Thursday, Saints future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees donated $5 million alongside his wife, Brittany, to Louisiana's relief efforts:

Brees detailed where the money will go in an Instagram caption:

"After considerable research and conversations with local organizations, we will be mobilizing our partnerships with Second Harvest Food Bank, Ochsner Health Systems, Walk-Ons, Jimmy Johns, Smalls Sliders and Waitr to prepare and deliver over 10,000 meals per day throughout Louisiana for as long as it takes to children on meal programs, seniors, and families in need. Let’s all do our part, maintain hope, and get through this together."

Harris joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent last year and led the NFL in punt returns (36) and punt return yards (338) as a rookie. That earned him All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.

The New Orleans Saints agreed to a two-year, $50 million deal with quarterback Drew Brees, keeping the 19-year veteran in town for two more seasons.

The 41-year-old, who led the league with a 74.3 percent completion rate in 2019, is worth far more on the free-agent market. However, Brees intended to sign back with New Orleans on a team-friendly deal, which pleased general manager Mickey Loomis.

"We needed to know what Drew was going to count on our (salary) cap this year, what resources are we using because then that gives us the ability to do some other things," Loomis said on the New Orleans Saints Podcast (h/t Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com).

"To Drew's credit, his No. 1 goal was to make sure we had an opportunity to improve our roster, keep our roster together and be as competitive as we can be. I'm certainly appreciative of how he's handled that contract the last couple times because again the most important thing to him is we have a competitive team."

Brees also earned a $23 million bonus as part of his contract to stay with the Saints through 2021. The 13-time Pro Bowler has been with the team since 2006, winning one Super Bowl and two Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year awards.

New Orleans has been busy this offseason, notably signing wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and safety Malcolm Jenkins to multi-year deals. The Saints also reinvested in the offensive line, bringing back guard Andrus Peat.

The Saints look even stronger on paper than last year when they went 13-3 and won the NFC South.

The season ended in disappointment when New Orleans suffered an upset loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card Round, but this year's team once again looks like a clear contender to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

That's in part because of Brees' contract discount.

By any measure, he was one of the five best quarterbacks in the league last year. In addition to his No. 1 completion rate, Brees was second in quarterback rating and fifth in adjusted yards per pass attempt, per Pro Football Reference. 

However, his average salary per year is tied for 14th among all quarterbacks, according to Over the Cap.

Brees finished the year as the NFL's all-time leader in passing touchdowns and passing yards.