New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara said Thursday that he has no interest in speaking with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the blown pass interference call in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, Kamara commented on the potential of talking to Goodell about the officiating error:

"I'm not gonna talk to him," Kamara said. "Somebody gonna talk to him. He needs to talk to somebody. ... Apology's not gonna do nothing."

After Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman was not called for pass interference despite hitting Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball arrived, the Saints kicked a field goal to take a three-point lead late in regulation of the NFC Championship Game.

The Rams went on to tie it and then win the game in overtime, but had the penalty been called, the Saints would have been able to attempt the short, game-winning kick with just seconds remaining.

There was some confusion Wednesday during Goodell's press conference with regard to whether he had spoken with Saints players about the non-call.

While it sounded like Goodell did say he talked to the players, the NFL released a transcript of his comments using punctuation that suggests the contrary, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett: "Listen, we understand the frustration of the fans. I've talked to Coach [Sean] Payton. The team, the players, we understand the frustration they feel right now, and we certainly want to address that."

Payton acknowledged that he spoke with Goodell, and he also said shortly after the loss to L.A. that he talked to NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron, who told Payton that the officials "blew the call."

The loss left the Saints agonizingly short of the Super Bowl, and they must now watch as the Rams and New England Patriots clash in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Two New Orleans Saints fans tried to use the court system to overturn the NFC Championship Game result, but the case was rejected by a federal judge, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN).

Season ticket holders Tommy Badeaux and Candis Lambert wanted to force NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate "extraordinarily unfair acts" from the game, most notably the apparent pass interference against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman that went uncalled.

However, U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan rejected the arguments from the lawsuit.

The Saints appeared headed to Super Bowl LIII late in the Jan. 20 game against the Rams when they had the ball deep in opposing territory with less than two minutes remaining. A pass interference call would have given the team a first down and a chance to run out the clock or score a touchdown, either of which would have given New Orleans a better chance of winning.

However, the Rams got the ball back and forced overtime, which they eventually won to earn a Super Bowl bid.

Saints coach Sean Payton said after the game that the league admitted they "blew the call," per Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune. 

Goodell provided his thoughts on the Saints and their fans at a press conference Wednesday.

"We understand the frustration they feel," the commissioner said, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. "Whenever the officiating is part of a discussion, it’s not a good thing. But we also know our officials are human."

Despite the missed call, it doesn't appear as though the league will do anything to rectify the situation.

The Saints will at least have another chance in state court with a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of season ticket holders still pending.

The NFL issued a clarification of Roger Goodell's statements Thursday, saying the commissioner did not claim he spoke to New Orleans Saints players about the controversial no-call on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman.

"Listen, we understand the frustration of the fans. I've talked to Coach Payton," a league-issued transcript read, per Mike Triplett of ESPN. "The team, the players, we understand the frustration they feel right now, and we certainly want to address that."

When Goodell spoke to the media Wednesday, he appeared to be saying he spoke with Sean Payton, players and fans about the missed call. Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas tweeted that Goodell had not talked to the players, and former New Orleans tackle Zach Strief alleged that Goodell was lying.

"The man literally stands up on a podium and just lies. It's mind blowing. He is the commissioner of the biggest sports league in the country, and it is totally cool with all the people who employ him, the 32 owners, that he just lies to everybody," Strief said on WWL Radio.

The league's clarification is an important one because this seems to be more of a misunderstanding than a lie due to the lack of a clear period in Goodell's sentence.

Goodell admitted the officiating crew made an error not calling Robey-Coleman for pass interference or a helmet-to-helmet hit on Tommylee Lewis on a late fourth-quarter drive in the NFC Championship Game. The Saints could have all but drained the clock to set up a potential game-winning field goal had the penalty been called. 

"It's a play that should be called,” Goodell told reporters. "We're going to make sure that we do everything possible to address the issues going forward and see if there are improvements we can make with instant replay or anything else. I understand the emotions."

Multiple petitions and several fans and players called on the NFL to replay the game or overturn the result. Goodell said the NFL never considered either of those options. 

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton reacts to heartbreaking losses in a way most fans can relate to.

Payton told reporters Wednesday he basically went into hiding after the Saints' 26-23 overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

"What is it now, a week and a half? It feels like it's been longer than that," Payton said. "I would say honestly after the game for two to three days, much like normal people, I sat and probably didn't come out of my room, ate Jeni's ice cream and watched Netflix for three straight days."

Wednesday marked Payton's first public comments since his postgame press conference following the NFC Championship Game.

Payton noted he spoke to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent about the controversial no-call on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman late in the fourth quarter.

"My discussions briefly on Monday and Tuesday with the commissioner and Troy were relative to—not any type of reversal or anything like that—just the play and any statement," he said.

Payton also called Al Riveron, the NFL's head of officials, "fantastic" and "brutally honest" for acknowledging right after the Rams' victory that the officials missed penalties for pass interference and a helmet-to-helmet hit from Robey-Coleman on Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis.

The Saints' loss ended an otherwise incredible 2018 season. With a 13-3 record, they won the NFC South for the second straight year and advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2009.

New Orleans Saints star quarterback Drew Brees wrote an emotional Instagram post Monday morning, addressing the team's heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

It read in part:

"I've spent this last week navigating the heartache and disappointment from the game. Some things within our control and some outside our control that caused us to fall short. So much of our motivation is to represent the Who Dat Nation with determination and resiliency. We want to play for you, fight for you, and win for you. You deserve that.

Brees continued:

"There is no place like New Orleans. There is no community like ours. No fans like the Who Dat Nation. I refuse to let this hold us down. I refuse to let this create any negativity or resentment. I embrace the challenge. 

"So keep your chin up, hold your head high, puff your chest out because WE are the Who Dat Nation and WE will always persevere."

The Saints' loss in the NFC Championship Game infamously featured an atrocious non-call by the referees, when Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman clearly committed pass interference against wide receiver Tommylee Lewis on a crucial third-down attempt late in the fourth quarter. 

So blatant was the non-call that Robey-Coleman has since been fined by the NFL $26,739 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Lewis, which also wasn't called.

Had either penalty justifiably been called, the Saints would have had the opportunity to run out the clock and attempt a game-winning field goal as time expired. Instead, they were forced to kick the field goal with a little under two minutes remaining, allowing the Rams a chance to get back the ball and tie the game.

The Saints still had ample opportunities to win, but the defense was unable to keep Jared Goff from driving down the field for that game-tying field goal. The Saints also had the ball first in overtime and could have won with a touchdown on that opening drive, but Brees threw an interception.

The defense was unable to keep Goff from getting into field-goal range a second time, and Greg Zuerlein blasted a 57-yard game-winner to send the Rams to the Super Bowl. 

It was the second straight year the Saints lost in the playoffs in devastating fashion. Last season, an improbable touchdown reception by Minnesota Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs on the last play of the divisional-round matchup ended New Orleans' season. The team and its fanbase have faced heartbreak in two straight seasons, but Brees is remaining positive in the face of that adversity.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy used his time Friday on the Senate floor to question the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell for the silence since officials missed an obvious pass interference call on Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in the NFC Championship Game. 

"The state of Louisiana is outraged," Cassidy said about the missed call in the New Orleans Saints' 26-23 overtime loss.

Although Saints head coach Sean Payton said NFL head of officiating Al Riveron told him the officials "blew the call," neither Goodell nor the league office has released a statement on the potentially game-changing decision.

"Saints fans would like to have an accountability for the referees," Cassidy said. "People look into conflicts of interest. It has been pointed out that the referee who missed the call lives in Los Angeles. Is he a die-hard Rams fan? There is still no official statement from the NFL. Perhaps they could answer some of these questions."

He added: "It really is a taint upon the Super Bowl."

Craig Caplan of CSPAN provided further comments from Cassidy, who brought visuals to the floor:

Robey-Coleman, who admitted he should have been called for a foul on the play, received a $26,739 fine from the NFL on Friday for his hit on the controversial play.

Nevertheless, the Rams have advanced to Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 where they will face the New England Patriots for the championship.

New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson called out NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for his silence after Watson's team was on the wrong end of a crucial no-call near the end of the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams:

With the Saints and Rams tied at 20 late in the fourth quarter last Sunday, referees failed to call defensive pass interference on Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman, who knocked down Saints wideout Tommylee Lewis before the pass-catcher had a chance to make a play:

The Saints would have then earned a first down with the opportunity to run down the clock and kick a late field goal to win. However, New Orleans had to kick a field goal immediately, which gave the Rams enough time to tie the game in regulation. They did so, and Los Angeles eventually won in overtime 26-23.

The no-call has elicited plenty of response from the Saints. Team owner Gayle Benson released a lengthy statement:

General manager Mickey Loomis told reporters "the disappointment will never go away and that pain will never go away." Saints head coach Sean Payton also called the league office immediately after the game:

The loss was especially painful for Watson, who is retiring after 15 years in the league. He did win a Super Bowl as a member of the 2004 New England Patriots, but Watson finished that season on injured reserve and could not play in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Watson was a member of the 2007 AFC champions, but the Pats lost 17-14 to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. This season was Watson's last opportunity to play in the Super Bowl for a winning team.

The game won't be replayed, despite the hopes of a lawsuit against the league by two Saints season-ticket holders.

The question is whether the no-call brings about expanded replay reviews to penalties such as pass interference, which the NFL is reportedly considering, per Barry Wilner of the Associated Press.

New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams was arrested Wednesday on charges of drunk driving and careless driving.

Per police records (h/t Ramon Antonio Vargas of The New Orleans Advocate), Williams' arrest occurred around 1:10 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning and he posted bond after being booked. 

Prior to the 2015 NFL draft, Williams was arrested for a DUI in Leon County, Florida.

The charge was later dropped by the State Attorney's Office, citing a portion of the police dash cam that didn't capture the full arrest on video, making it impossible for a jury to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Williams was driving the vehicle and under the influence. 

The Saints selected Williams in the third round of the 2015 draft. He sat out his rookie season with a torn hamstring and played just two games in 2016 because of a concussion. 

Williams has appeared in 31 of 32 games for the Saints over the past two seasons, though. The 25-year-old started a career-high seven games in 2018 and helped New Orleans reach the NFC Championship Game. 

New Orleans Saints fans have hilariously filed two lawsuits against the NFL for an official's non-call in the team's 26-23 loss against the Los Angeles Rams during Sunday's NFC Championship Game, and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr isn't having it.

"Sorry. Take your L and keep pushing," Barr told TMZ Sports when asked what his message would be to Saints fans. "It happens. It's unfortunate, but it's the world we live in. It's not perfect."

Barr added that he understood the fans' frustrations but that officials miss calls all the time. 

The play in question came when Rams' cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman blatantly interfered with Saints wideout Tommylee Lewis on a third-down play, hitting him well before the pass reached him. Officials could have called either pass interference or a personal foul for a hit on a defenseless player, but instead swallowed their whistles.

Had the penalty been called, the Saints could have run the clock down and attempted a game-winning field goal. Instead, they kicked a field goal, the Rams drove down the field and tied the game with a field goal of their own and won the game in overtime. 

Many Saints fans believe the NFL should force the team to replay the final two minutes. Even wide receiver Michael Thomas took that stand.

But the absurdity of the of that idea is that the Saints still had multiple opportunities to win the game after the non-call. The defense could have stopped the Rams on the final drive of overtime. They could have scored a touchdown when they had the ball on the first possession of overtime, ending the game, but Drew Brees instead threw an interception. They could have stopped the Rams from getting into field-goal range for the game-winning kick.

Instead, Saints fans are filing lawsuits against the NFL. It may be time for New Orleans to take the L.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been named as the 2019 Pro Bowl replacement for Los Angeles Rams star Todd Gurley.

Gurley will not participate in the exhibition because the Rams will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.

A third-round pick in 2017, Kamara has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons.

He had a strong case to be a Pro Bowler when the rosters initially came out. The versatile New Orleans star piled up 883 yards and 14 touchdowns (which ranked second in the NFL behind only Gurley) on the ground and hauled in 81 receptions for 709 yards and four more scores.

He also saw time on special teams, averaging 31.5 yards on kickoff returns and 6.8 yards on punt returns.

When he was left off the initial roster, the 23-year-old couldn't help but laugh:

Still, Kamara has to be disappointed he'll be available for the Pro Bowl after the Saints' season ended with a controversial 26-23 loss to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

Kamara was not the only New Orleans player selected to the Pro Bowl roster Tuesday. Offensive guards Andrus Peat (replacing the Philadelphia Eagles' Brandon Brooks) and Larry Warford (replacing the Dallas Cowboys' Zack Martin) have also been added. Meanwhile, Chicago Bears offensive linemen Charles Leno Jr. and Cody Whitehair will replace Saints linemen Terron Armstead and Max Unger.