Malcom Brown
FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020 file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) tries to throw as he is brought down by New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans. For all the extraordinary talent the Saints and Buccaneers have at quarterback, running back and receiver, defensive end Cameron Jordan figures that what happens in the trenches will be the decisive factor in their divisional-round playoff clash.(AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Saints' defensive line aims to disrupt Bucs' Brady once more

By Brett Martel Jan. 13, 2021 08:59 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees makes a face while warming up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints 1/10/2021

Jan. 10, 2021 03:14 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) fumbles as he is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Saints sack leader Hendrickson, Vikings linebacker Davis out

Dec. 25, 2020 03:26 PM EST

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) gives his cletes to a fan following an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. The Cowboys defeated the Bengals 30-7. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Eagles missing 3 starters in secondary against Cardinals

By The Associated Press Dec. 20, 2020 12:10 PM EST

Trainers check New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) after an injury during the second half of NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Colts have left tackle Castonzo, LB Okereke vs. Raiders

By The Associated Press Dec. 13, 2020 12:23 PM EST

Denver Broncos quarterback Kendall Hinton (2) speaks with Broncos' Offensive Quality Control coach Rob Calabrese prior to an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos 11/29/2020

Nov. 29, 2020 03:26 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Kentavius Street (95) sacks quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. Brees has been diagnosed with multiple rib fractures and a collapsed right lung, a person with knowledge of the situation said Monday, from the heavy hit on the play. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Saints resourcefulness, resilience to be tested sans Brees

By Brett Martel Nov. 16, 2020 09:15 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) tries to evade New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Saints overcome Brees injury, beat 49ers 27-13

By Brett Martel Nov. 15, 2020 07:55 PM EST

New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) on a reception in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints 11/15/2020

Nov. 15, 2020 04:40 PM EST

An unmasked New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, right, greets a masked Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater before an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints 10/25/2020

Oct. 25, 2020 11:50 AM EDT

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton talks to quarterback Drew Brees during practice at their NFL football training facility in Metairie, La., Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. The Saints also have had very little turnover on coach Payton’s staff. The coordinators and most position coaches remain the same. Having so many familiar faces remain in an organization coming off three straight NFC South titles should only help in a year when a global pandemic has wiped out traditional offseason programs and preseason games. “I do think the continuity can provide us that advantage,” Payton said.(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool)
Saints see Super Bowl as the only bar for success in 2020

By Brett Martel Aug. 27, 2020 04:32 PM EDT

Patriots get 4 compensatory draft picks, two in third round

Mar. 10, 2020 06:54 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The New England Patriots will have the maximum four compensatory picks in next month's NFL draft, including two in the third round, the highest...

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) drops back to pass as he throws a pass that was fumbled and recovered by the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints 1/5/2020

Jan. 05, 2020 01:27 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) hands off to running back Latavius Murray (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers 12/29/2019

Dec. 29, 2019 01:24 PM EST

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. The New Orleans Saints won 26-18. Ryan was sacked nine times in the game. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Saints showcased depth, dynamism in clinching NFC South

By Brett Martel Nov. 29, 2019 04:35 PM EST

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew, lower left, is sacked by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, center, as Jaguars offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, right, tries to slow Jordan down during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Saints defense looking more dominant by the week

By Guerry Smith Oct. 14, 2019 06:17 PM EDT

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) and defensive end Marcus Davenport (92) celebrate a sack in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. The Saints won 31-24.(AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Saints' defense in dominant form

By Guerry Smith Oct. 07, 2019 07:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2019, file photo, New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) leaves the field after an injury in the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans. Rankins has returned to practice for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in New Orleans’ divisional round playoff victory over Philadelphia last January. Saints coach Sean Payton says he does not think it is realistic that Rankins would play in the regular season opener. (AP Photo/Bill Feig, File)
Saints' long-awaited shot at redemption starts vs. Texans

By Brett Martel Sep. 05, 2019 11:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs in for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game, in Cincinnati. The NFC South’s reputation as the NFL’s most balanced division has taken a hit. The New Orleans Saints’ two-year run as division champion, including a dominant showing in 2018, has left other teams eager to prove there is still parity in the South. (AP Photo/Frank Victores, File)
NFL 2019: Saints aim to overcome past playoff devastation

By Brett Martel Aug. 22, 2019 12:03 PM EDT

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore steps on the field at the start of an NFL football training camp practice, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Gilmore turns a corner, might be anchor of Patriots defense

By Kyle Hightower Aug. 01, 2019 04:45 PM EDT