New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees reportedly restructured his contract Thursday to aid the Saints in making a splash in free agency.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the restructuring will save New Orleans $10.8 million against the salary cap as it gets set to host tight end Jared Cook on a free-agent visit Thursday. Pelissero also noted that the Saints are hoping to use some of that cap space to re-sign backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who visited the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday.

Cook is by far the best free agent available at the shallow tight end position, and he is coming off a career year. The 31-year-old veteran led the Oakland Raiders in every major receiving category last season with 68 catches for 896 yards and six touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl.

Those all represented career highs for a player who has long been considered a breakout candidate due to his elite-level athletic ability for the position.

Cook was originally selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft out of South Carolina by the Tennessee Titans, but despite showing flashes of brilliance, he has been something of a journeyman. Stints with the Titans, St. Louis Rams and Green Bay Packers all yielded mixed results until his two strong seasons in Oakland.

The tight end was once a huge part of the New Orleans offense with Jimmy Graham in the fold from 2010-2014. Graham had 889 or more yards and nine or more touchdowns in four of those seasons as Brees' favorite target.

Since Graham was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2015, however, the Saints have largely phased out the tight end as a significant factor in the passing game aside from an 825-yard, six-touchdown performance by Ben Watson in 2015.

Last season, Watson was New Orleans' top producer at tight end with just 35 grabs for 400 yards and two touchdowns. Per Luke Johnson of NOLA.com, Cook was more productive on his own last season than the Saints' entire tight end corps:

With Watson retiring, the Saints are in dire need of a primary pass-catching option at tight end, and Cook could be that guy.

As potent as the Saints offense is, they have a lack of true weapons in the passing game. Aside from wide receiver Michael Thomas' 125 receptions for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns last season, no other non-running back had more than 35 catches, 427 yards or five touchdowns for New Orleans.

Cook could take a significant amount of pressure off Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara, and he would give Brees a big target to throw to in the red zone.

New Orleans looks like an ideal fit for Cook, as he may be exactly what the Saints need to get over the hump after falling in the NFC Championship Game last season.

Free-agent tight end Jared Cook is scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote that it is unlikely that Cook re-signs with the Oakland Raiders because of the team's budget as well as his developing market.

Rapoport reported earlier on Wednesday that the New England Patriots could also be in the mix:

The soon-to-be 32-year-old Cook is coming off his finest season to date in which he set career highs in catches (68), yards (896) and touchdowns (six). Those impressive numbers led to his first career Pro Bowl selection.

According to Pro Football Focus, Cook recorded the fifth-highest receiving grade (81.5) among tight ends a season ago.

Cook has proved to be a reliable pass-catcher through the years regardless of what uniform he is wearing. Since 2011, he has averaged 48 receptions for 629 yards and three scores. 

The high-priced acquisition of receiver Antonio Brown combined with Derek Carr's $125 million contract has Oakland already committing a large chunk of change to its offense. In other words, the team may not be willing to meet Cook's market price, leading him to sign elsewhere.

Meanwhile, New Orleans is looking to address the tight end position this offseason following the retirement of veteran Benjamin Watson.

Kicker Wil Lutz has signed a five-year contract to remain with the New Orleans Saints.

He announced the deal Wednesday on Twitter:

Lutz, who was a restricted free agent, has been one of the NFL's most accurate and consistent kickers since joining the Saints as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia State in 2016.

The 24-year-old has converted 87.0 percent of his field-goal attempts and 96.7 percent of his extra-point tries. He is the fourth-most accurate kicker of all time in terms of field goals.

Lutz has scored 130 or more points in each of his three NFL seasons, but the 2018 campaign was arguably his best to date. He made a career-best 93.3 percent of his field goals (28-of-30) and 98.1 percent of his extra points (52-of-53) for 136 points.

He also made all four of his extra points and went 5-of-6 on field goals during the Saints' playoff run.

On a conference call to announce his signing, Lutz showed gratitude toward the Saints, saying, "This is the team that took a shot in the dark on me from the start." He added: "If you do what you're asked to do, this is what it leads to. ... It's extremely gratifying, and it's an amazing opportunity for me."

Lutz was a little-known commodity when the Baltimore Ravens released him prior to the 2016 season, but Saints head coach Sean Payton brought him in and chose him over veteran Kai Forbath.

The move has paid big dividends for the Saints. With a high-powered offense led by quarterback Drew Brees, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas, Lutz should get plenty of opportunities to rack up points in 2019 and beyond.

The New Orleans Saints are changing things up in their backfield after announcing a four-year agreement with free-agent running back Latavius Murray on Wednesday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that Murray's deal is worth $14.4 million over the four years.

The Saints will be Murray's third NFL team in six seasons. The 29-year-old started his career with the Oakland Raiders before spending the past two years with the Minnesota Vikings.

Mark Ingram just finished his eighth season in New Orleans, but will play for the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. The Saints drafted the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner No. 28 overall in 2011.

Ingram started his career slowly, averaging 3.9 yards per carry in his first two seasons, but has since become one of the most consistent running backs in the NFL. The 29-year-old had a streak of four straight seasons with at least 1,100 yards from scrimmage from 2014 to 2017 and has averaged 5.1 yards per touch since 2013.

Murray will likely serve as the Saints' backup behind Alvin Kamara. His 6'3", 230-pound frame gives him the power to be used in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He's also been an effective pass-catcher and had 41 receptions in 2015.

The New Orleans Saints saw enough from Teddy Bridgewater last season to reward their backup quarterback with a new contract.   

Per NFL Network's Jane Slater, the 26-year-old is expected to re-sign with the Saints despite having a "bigger deal on the table" from the Miami Dolphins.

Financial terms were not immediately disclosed.

After two promising years to begin his career with the Minnesota Vikings, Bridgewater is still trying to get an opportunity to start for a team since returning from a major knee injury suffered during the 2016 preseason. 

The Louisville product has appeared in six games over the past three seasons, including one start for the Saints in the 2018 regular-season finale. He started last season with the New York Jets, creating buzz during the preseason by going 28-of-38 for 316 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in four games.

The Saints wound up acquiring Bridgewater and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick in August for a 2019 third-round draft pick. He provided insurance in case something happened to Drew Brees, who wound up having an MVP-caliber season. 

As for what he hoped to accomplish this offseason in pursuit of a new contract from a team, he emphasized his desire to keep improving. 

"Trying to become a better player and continue to find ways to make an impact in this league," Bridgewater told reporters in January. "That's my focus right now."

The Saints believe in his ability to make an impact in 2019. The former first-round pick completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 6,150 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2014-15 with the Minnesota Vikings. 

Bridgewater will again be second on the depth chart behind Brees, but he remains in a situation with one of the NFC's best teams and a chance to compete for a Super Bowl after reaching the NFC Championship Game last season. 

Veteran running back Mark Ingram is a free agent this offseason and could have a pair of NFC North teams on his trail.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have both shown an interest in signing Ingram (h/t Rotoworld).

Ingram has expressed a desire to return to the New Orleans Saints for a ninth season, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett:

"I'm not looking just to up and leave New Orleans. We've got a good squad. I feel like we can do this type of thing for many more years. So I'm not looking just to bail out of New Orleans. I was drafted here. I met my wife here, my children were born here. Very rarely does anybody get to spend their career in one place. I love New Orleans, I love this team, I love this organization. So we'll see what happens. ... I hope everything works out. I love it here."

Given his age (29), Ingram may not be willing to give New Orleans a hometown discount, though. This could be his last chance to cash in as a free agent.

Ingram appeared in 12 games in 2018, running for 645 yards and six touchdowns. He missed the Saints' first four games while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.

The two-time Pro Bowler would have obvious value to either the Bears or Packers.

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reported Chicago was discussing potential trades centered around Jordan Howard. Were the team to move Howard, Ingram would be a great backfield complement to Tarik Cohen, who excels as a pass-catcher.

For the Packers, Ingram would be a sort of hedge against Aaron Jones or Jamaal Williams. Jones has been effective over his first two years, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and running for 1,176 yards in 24 games. Williams has 1,020 yards and seven scores in 32 appearances.

Having Ingram would provide some security for Green Bay were Jones or Williams to struggle with a larger role in the running game.

The New Orleans Saints are a team to "keep an eye on" as the Pittsburgh Steelers explore the market for receiver Antonio Brown, according to NFL.com's Michael Silver.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Raiders are also interested.

New Orleans is coming off a season in which it posted the best record in the NFL (13-3) and came within one controversial no-call of a Super Bowl berth. Adding a dynamic playmaker opposite of Pro Bowler Michael Thomas would figure to make an already potent offense even more prolific.

The 30-year-old Brown has recorded six consecutive seasons with 1,200-plus yards and has double-digit touchdowns in four of the last five years. Not only that, but he led the NFL with 15 receiving touchdowns in 2018 while hauling in 104 catches for 1,297 yards.

Meanwhile, Saints quarterback Drew Brees has spent the past 13 years in New Orleans rewriting the NFL record books. Prior to last season, he had posted 12 consecutive 4,000-yard seasons, topping 5,000 yards five times during that span.

New Orleans ranked 12th in the league in passing in 2018, with Brees finishing in a tie for sixth with 32 touchdown passes.

The Saints have been among the best teams in the league the past two seasons only to suffer a pair of heartbreaking postseason defeats. Perhaps Brown could finally help them get over the hump.

Brown's days in Pittsburgh have appeared number since the end of the 2018 regular season when he missed a must-win Week 17 contest after being involved in a dispute with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during a mid-week practice. 

The seven-time Pro Bowler has since aired his frustrations with the team, both on Twitter and to ESPN:

Brown revealed in mid-February that he met with Steelers owner Art Rooney II and that the two agreed it was time to go their separate ways. In fact, he has already started saying his goodbyes to Steeler Nation.

Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert let it be known on NFL Network, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, earlier this week that three teams have inquired about Brown, but he did not name names. He did make it clear, though, that the team would only make a trade that was in the best interest of the franchise.

From New Orleans' standpoint, it would have to make sense financially. Brown has three years and more than $36 million in base salary remaining on his current contract, per Spotrac.

Of note, New Orleans only has one pick, a second-rounder, in the first four rounds of the 2019 NFL draft due to previous trades.

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata was arrested and cited on accusations of marijuana possession in January, according to the Advocate's Nick Underhill and Ramon Antonio Vargas.

Acting on a tip, authorities obtained a warrant and arrived at Onyemata's apartment, where they said they discovered "marijuana, cannabis oil, marijuana edibles and hemp powder."

Onyemata received a misdemeanor citation and is due in court at a date to be determined.

Underhill and Vargas noted an arrest for marijuana possession can carry a four-game suspension from the NFL.

The Saints selected Onyemata in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, and he has appeared in every one of the team's games over the past three seasons. He finished 2018 with 35 combined tackles and 4.5 sacks, with the latter number tied for fourth-highest on the team.

Onyemata helped the Saints defensive line finish second in adjusted line yards and fourth in adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders. The unit sat 17th and sixth, respectively, in those two categories in 2017.

Sheldon Rankins tore his Achilles in New Orleans' NFC Divisional Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles, which could jeopardize his availability for the start of the 2019 season.

If the NFL suspends Onyemata, the Saints might be down their two best interior defenders to open the year.

Many people say they're going to boycott things.

The people of New Orleans backed it up.

Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune reported Super Bowl LIII drew a 26.1 rating in New Orleans, the city's lowest-ever viewership for a Super Bowl. That's a drop of more than half from last year's 53.0 rating. The Super Bowl has typically posted a rating of over 50 in recent years.

Duncan's report noted that New Orleans' 26.1 rating was the lowest among metered markets.

The city has been in an uproar since a blown pass interference call on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in the NFC Championship Game arguably cost the Saints a chance at the Super Bowl. Protestors lined the streets of New Orleans on Sunday, and the Times-Picayune thumbed its nose at the game on its front page.

Saints players clearly reveled in the Rams' 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots. The game set all-time lows for points scored by a winning team and overall points scored in a Super Bowl.

"Y’all better score more then (sic) 3 points in that new stadium," wide receiver Michael Thomas tweeted.

The overwhelming negativity should come as little surprise given the continued outcry from fans and players over the last two weeks. Billboards were erected in Atlanta showing Saints fans' displeasure, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell took heaps of criticism from the Saints organization and its fanbase.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton wore a shirt depicting Goodell as a clown in a press conference, and running back Alvin Kamara told Barstool Sports that Goodell is a clown.

In other words, it comes as little surprise that the people of New Orleans were in no rush to sit on their couch and watch a game they believe their teams should've been playing. 

New Orleans Saints fans may get over a blown call in their team's 2018 NFC Championship Game loss some day, but it's not today.

Michael DeMocker of NOLA.com provided video of thousands of Saints fans marching on Super Bowl Sunday in New Orleans, while Atlanta is home of this year's championship game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams:

The Saints had the ball on the Rams' 13-yard line with 1:48 left and the score tied at 20 in the NFC Championship. On 3rd-and-10, quarterback Drew Brees looked for Tommylee Lewis, but Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell-Robey Coleman interfered with the pass-catcher to prevent a completion.

No call was made, and the Saints eventually lost 26-23. If the refs blew the whistle, the Saints would have been in position to run down the clock close to zero seconds before a game-winning field-goal attempt.

After a Saints field goal on the next play, the Rams had more time to tie the game after a late field goal before winning in overtime.

Per DeMocker, the no-call prompted a day-long "Nola No Call Second Line & Jazz Funeral":

Fans waved yellow flags and participated in other activities:

While this event may be an overreaction, in fairness, the passionate Saints fanbase has now seen two straight heartbreaking postseason endings.

The Minneapolis Miracle was tough enough, but this year's championship game clearly stings more.