The value Saints coach Sean Payton sees in Benjamin Watson has little to do with the career-best receiving numbers the veteran tight end
put up the last time he played for New Orleans in 2015.
Watson wasn't a featured receiver then
http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jessie-bates-iii-jersey , and won't likely be this season, either.
Payton figures he can count on Watson being an exemplary leader in the locker room, a willing role player who'll rarely blow an assignment ??and someone who
remains skilled enough at age 37 to help Drew Brees punish defenses that pay too
much attention to star play-makers such as receiver Michael Thomas and running
back Alvin Kamara.
Recalling a 2015 game in which Watson caught 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta, Payton said, "I don't know that the game plan called
for that. It's kind of just how it unfolded."
"With Ben, you know he's someone that has versatility and he's a super teammate," Payton said. "He's been a real dependable player. ... You know
exactly what you're getting and there's a value in that."
Similarly, Watson said it would be too simplistic to view his 2015 receiving numbers ??74 catches for 825 yards and six touchdowns ??as a main reason for his
return to New Orleans after two years with Baltimore.
"I don't know what to expect. Every year is different," Watson said after a voluntary offseason practice on Thursday. "Even when I was here the last time
... I was here three years and my role was different every single year.
"You contribute in different ways. You're healthy or not healthy. Another guy's healthy or not healthy. You may be strong in one position and weaker in
other positions," Watson said. "There's just this mix that happens every single
year and you really don't know what it is, really, until the end of the
year."
While Watson joined the Ravens in 2016, he missed that season because of a right Achilles tear. He came back last season, playing in all 16 games and
catching 61 passes for 522 yards and four TDs.
"I proved last year that I can be dependable, that I can play the game and that I can contribute in a number of different ways
Jarvis Landry Jersey ," said Watson, who signed a one-year, $2 million free agent contract with the Saints in late March. "That's why you sign guys to
your team."
Watson has attended two of three voluntary practices open to media so far this offseason and doesn't seem to have lost the chemistry he'd developed with
quarterback Drew Brees, whom Watson calls "No. 9."
Watson does not describe himself as the type of dynamic play-maker who'll be Brees' No. 1 option on a lot of plays called, but added, "When you got a guy
like No. 9 who can identify mismatches and knows what the coverage is going to
do before it does it, then you get the ball."
Watson began his career with New England, which made him a late-first-round draft choice out of Georgia in 2004. He was a Super Bowl champion as a
seldom-used rookie, but hasn't won a ring since establishing himself as an NFL
regular.
Watson views his return to New Orleans as a chance to join a contender, something the Saints weren't when he last played for them in 2015.
Last season, boosted by a core of rookies and second-year players in prominent roles, the Saints came one play away from advancing to the NFC
championship game.
"It's about going places where not only do you have some familiarity ??you enjoyed being there ??but also giving yourself an opportunity to win," Watson
said. "Winning is a big deal. It doesn't happen for a lot of players over the
course of their career."
With the Saints, Watson said, "You have the coaching staff
Authentic Jihad Ward Jersey , you have the front office, you have the fan base, you have the quarterback. ... That's definitely made coming to New Orleans
very attractive."
Following four trades and a flurry of free-agent deals, the Cleveland Browns are looking better.
Maybe even good enough to win a game next season.
On the day one-of-a-kind left tackle Joe Thomas said goodbye after 11 stellar seasons, the Browns took the first steps without their perennial Pro Bowler, a
player who might be replaced but never duplicated.
Hours after Thomas announced he’s retiring, the Browns confirmed the acquisition of quarterback Tyrod Taylor, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and
cornerback Damarious Randall in three separate deals pulled off last week by new
general manager John Dorsey, who also shipped quarterback DeShone Kizer to Green
Bay and defensive tackle Danny Shelton to New England.
Dorsey stayed just as aggressive in free agency, reaching contract agreements with seven players, including offensive tackles Chris Hubbard and Donald
Stephenson, who can help offset the loss of Thomas. Running back Carlos Hyde
also is leaving San Francisco for Cleveland.
The Browns didn’t confirm their haul of free agents, but a person with direct knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press that the team has contract
agreements with Hubbard, Stephenson, Hyde
Denzel Ward Color Rush Jersey , tight end Darren Fells, defensive end Chris Smith and cornerbacks Terrance Mitchell and T.J. Carrie. Those deals are
expected to be finalized Thursday, said the person who spoke on condition of
anonymity because the contracts are not yet signed.
And while Dorsey acquired needed talent to a team coming off a 0-16 season, he hung on to all five of Cleveland’s picks in the first two rounds of this
year’s draft. The Browns have the No. 1 and No. 4 picks and three in the second
round.
”Anytime you can have a chance to acquire three good football players right off the bat in the trades, you’ve got to do it,” said Dorsey, hired in December
after five years in Kansas City. ”I give a lot of credit to everyone in football
operations because we sat there for two months. We made some plans and laid some
plans in regard to free agency and how we were going to attack it. We identified
certain players we thought would help this organization moving forward who had
the qualities we were looking for with regard to do they love football? Are they
leaders at their position? Are they guys that are going to be good in the locker
room?
”I thought the three guys in the trades fit everything we were looking for.”
Taylor could be the team’s long-sought answer at quarterback. He led the Buffalo Bills to their first playoff appearance in 17 years last season and has
the ability to move the chains through the air or on the ground.
”He’s a great kid. Great leader, smart as a whip,” said Dorsey, who sent the Bills a third-round draft pick for Taylor. ”He has the physical abilities to
extend the play. He’s got more than enough arm talent and he doesn’t turn the
ball over.”
Kizer led the league with 22 interceptions as a rookie and his turnovers in key situations sabotaged the Browns’ chances to win.
Taylor is expected to start next season as the Browns groom a young quarterback, and the team is doing its diligence to decide which one to take. On
Wednesday, Alonzo Highsmith, the team’s vice president of player personnel,
attended Baker Mayfield’s pro day at Oklahoma.
”We view Tyrod as a perfect fit to lead our team,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. ”He possesses the qualities we want of a starting quarterback. He’s
smart
Authentic Kennys Vargas Jersey , a leader, and an efficient passer that doesn’t turn the ball over. He’s a winner and has been very productive as a
starting quarterback in this league. The expectation is for Tyrod to come in and
be our quarterback, get himself acclimated to our offense and help us get to
winning as quickly as possible.”
Landry will help that happen.
The three-time Pro Bowler, who has caught 400 passes in his first four seasons, gives the Browns a downfield threat to pair with wide receiver Josh
Gordon. Landry had a league-leading 112 receptions last season for the Miami
Dolphins, who received a fourth-round pick this year and a seventh-rounder in
2019 from Cleveland.
”It’s really exciting that we had the opportunity to put him on our team,” Jackson said. ”He’s going to bring a fire and competitive energy to our team
that will make us better. He’s a playmaker and a difference maker that we expect
to make our offense go.”
Landry is set to make $16 million under the franchise tag he signed with Miami – or more than $15 million more than Gordon, who received a qualifying
offer for $790,000 in 2018 as an exclusive rights free agent.
The 25-year-old Randall played cornerback for three years with the Packers, but the Browns intend to move him to free safety.
”Demarious is very versatile,” Dorsey said. ”I’ve long admired him when he was playing safety back at Arizona State. He’s a first-round pick a couple of
years ago, which shows you what his skill set is. He’s proven his versatility
where he can play corner, he can play safety. I’m glad we got all three of those
guys.”
—
.
