Sean Payton
FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2021, file photo, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) throws a pass in the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Alabama in Arlington, Texas. Perhaps the best-known collegian selected in the fourth round Saturday was Book. And Book went somewhere with a QB opening: New Orleans, which saw career passing leader Drew Brees retire. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
Lower-round QBs face long odds to make it in NFL

By Josh Dubow May. 03, 2021 04:46 PM EDT

FILE - New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks to the members of the media in Charlotte, N.C., in this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, file photo. The NFL will consult an advisory committee made up of former coaches, general managers and players on such issues as postponing, moving or even canceling games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The first New Orleans Saints draft since the retirement of all-time leading NFL passer Drew Brees might not include a quarterback. But a cornerback could be in the cards. Saints coach Sean Payton says the two Saints QBs under contract could very well be part of the club’s long-term future. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco, File)
Circumstances led Saints to draft for value more than need

By Brett Martel May. 01, 2021 09:17 PM EDT

Saints take defenders Werner, Adebo on 2nd day of NFL draft

By Brett Martel Apr. 30, 2021 09:42 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints selected Ohio State linebacker Pete Werner in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night before trading up to...

An image of Houston defensive end Payton Turner is displayed on stage after he was chosen by the New Orleans Saints with the 28th pick in the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Saints draft Houston DE Payton Turner with 28th overall pick

By Brett Martel Apr. 30, 2021 12:14 AM EDT

FILE - Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater participates in the school's Pro Day football workout for NFL scouts in Evanston, Ill., in this Tuesday, March 9, 2021, file photo. Slater is as possible first round pick in the NFL Draft, April 29-May 1, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Mock Draft: As usual, it's all about the quarterbacks

By Barry Wilner Apr. 26, 2021 12:28 PM EDT

FILE - New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks to the members of the media in Charlotte, N.C., in this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, file photo. The NFL will consult an advisory committee made up of former coaches, general managers and players on such issues as postponing, moving or even canceling games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The first New Orleans Saints draft since the retirement of all-time leading NFL passer Drew Brees might not include a quarterback. But a cornerback could be in the cards. Saints coach Sean Payton says the two Saints QBs under contract could very well be part of the club’s long-term future. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco, File)
Saints mindful of holes beyond QB in first post-Brees draft

By Brett Martel Apr. 23, 2021 03:58 PM EDT

Saints enter draft with holes at all levels of defense

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2021 01:10 PM EDT
28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-5) LAST SEASON: The Saints won the NFC South for a fourth consecutive season, and made the playoffs for the...

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Winston eager for chance to succeed Brees with Saints

By Brett Martel Mar. 23, 2021 09:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) shakes hands with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) after an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Winston re-joins Saints for 2021 after Brees retirement

By Brett Martel Mar. 16, 2021 06:15 AM EDT

File-This Feb. 7, 2010, file photo shows New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrating with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Saints' 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
Record-setting Saints QB Brees announces retirement at 42

By Brett Martel Mar. 14, 2021 05:37 PM EDT

Chargers' Staley rounds out staff by hiring 16 coaches

By Joe Reedy Feb. 11, 2021 07:48 PM EST
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Brandon Staley said when he was hired as coach of the Los Angeles Chargers last month that he wanted to craft an offense that played...

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi, right, laughs with offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael during practice at their NFL football training facility in Metairie, La. The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, they have agreed to terms with Lombardi as offensive coordinator, Renaldo Hill as defensive coordinator and Derius Swinton II as special teams coordinator. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool, File)
Chargers' Lombardi hoping to make most of second chance

By Joe Reedy Jan. 26, 2021 08:14 PM EST

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) makes the catch as Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) defends during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Signs point to Saints entering new era in 2021

By Brett Martel Jan. 18, 2021 08:12 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, left, plays with his children as Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady speaks with Brittany Brees after an NFL divisional round playoff football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 30-20. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Saints' Brees exits playoffs, perhaps career, on sour note

By Brett Martel Jan. 18, 2021 01:00 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chad Henne celebrates after a run during the second half of an NFL divisional round football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Gutsy or insane? Depends on the outcome of tough calls

By Barry Wilner Jan. 17, 2021 08:50 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) hands off to running back Alvin Kamara (41) in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Saints' Brees sees playoff clash with Brady's Bucs as fate

By Brett Martel Jan. 14, 2021 06:59 PM EST

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

FILE - Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith instructs his players during NFL football training camp in Nashville, Tenn., in this Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, file photo. The New York Jets interviewed Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, for their head coaching vacancy. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, Pool, File)
Jets interview Titans OC Smith, Saints DBs coach Glenn

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Jan. 11, 2021 12:06 PM EST

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) is chased by Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kalif Raymond (14) after Peters intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter to seal the Ravens' win in an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The Ravens won 20-13. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
On Football: Defenses rise to task in NFL postseason

By Barry Wilner Jan. 11, 2021 02:32 AM EST

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) walks off the field after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. The Saints now 21-9. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Drop, ejection and penalties sink Bears in playoff loss

By Guerry Smith Jan. 10, 2021 10:41 PM EST