INDIANAPOLIS — The New Orleans Saints will be represented at the Pro Football of Fame Induction Ceremony for the second time in three years this summer after tackle William Roaf, who starred for the team from 1993-2001, was elected to the Canton, Ohio, shrine on Saturday. Roaf, a former Louisiana Tech star … Continue Reading →

INDIANAPOLIS — When it comes to getting contracts done this offseason, All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks understands the protocol New Orleans Saints officials are going to follow. He knows it will start later this month with a record-setting quarterback who’s probably going to get a deal comparable to the ones Peyton Manning … Continue Reading →

INDIANAPOLIS — Befitting a unit that shattered a pair of longstanding NFL offensive records during the 2011 season, the New Orleans Saints picked up two major awards Wednesday in conjunction with Super Bowl XLVI activities. Quarterback Drew Brees was named the FedEx NFL Air Player of the Year for the fourth time … Continue Reading →

It’s Super Bowl week, which means members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will gather Saturday in Indianapolis to choose the 2012 class for induction. As always, there will be numerous induction-worthy candidates, some of whom will be in this class, some of whom will be part of later … Continue Reading →

Because he’ll be plenty busy this week, it’s not likely that newly hired New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have much time to reflect on what was happening four years ago at this time. Then again, with preparations being made for Super Bowl XLVI, a game that will be a … Continue Reading →

While there have been far more Super Bowls that turned out to be duds, here’s hoping this year’s game is as interesting as the AFC and NFC championship games were on Sunday. While they weren’t nearly as compelling as the San Francisco 49ers’ dramatic 36-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints in … Continue Reading →

As the New Orleans Saints raced through the second half of their schedule on a lengthy winning streak, gaining more and more confidence with each game, the question came up almost weekly in their locker room: Were these Saints better than a team that two years earlier won its first 13 games … Continue Reading →

LOS ANGELES — Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the winner of the 46th annual Byron “Whizzer” White Award on Friday night at the NFLPA PULSE Awards. The award is presented annually to the player who serves his team, community and country. “It’s such a tremendous honor. As I look at the … Continue Reading →

It will be difficult for followers of the New Orleans Saints to muster much interest in the NFL conference championship games Sunday, especially that NFC game in San Francisco. If the Saints could have stopped the 49ers in the final minute and a half last Saturday, the New York Giants would be … Continue Reading →

Updated at 4:51 p.m. – METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Drew Brees has spent the past six years reinvigorating the Saints, rewriting NFL records and rebuilding New Orleans.  His contract may be expiring, but the Big Easy's biggest sports star doesn't see himself changing teams any time soon.  Brees said Friday he would be "beyond stunned" if he and the … Continue Reading →

METAIRIE — Former St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has agreed to take over as defensive coordinator for with the Saints. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday about the hiring on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not announced it. Spagnuolo, 52, was head coach … Continue Reading →

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — New Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey is close to completing his staff. Mularkey hired former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Greg Olson as quarterbacks coach and former New Orleans secondary coach Tony Oden to the same position Thursday. The moves leave the Jaguars with just a few open spots, including … Continue Reading →

On a long plane ride home from the West Coast late Saturday night, the New Orleans Saints probably figured their lost weekend couldn’t get any more painful than it already was. Yet, it did Sunday afternoon. The Saints were still feeling the sting of an NFC Divisional Playoff loss to the San … Continue Reading →

METAIRIE — The New Orleans Saints announced Wednesday the signing of 10 players to futures contracts for the 2012 season. Seven of the 10 were on the Saints’ practice squad at one time or another in 2011. Six of them were members of the practice squad when the season ended with a … Continue Reading →

METAIRIE — The New Orleans Saints are expected to interview former St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo on Wednesday for the team’s vacant defensive coordinator position. Saints coach Sean Payton is in search of a new defensive coordinator after Gregg Williams left Monday to take the same job with the St. Louis … Continue Reading →

METAIRIE — Three days after being eliminated from the playoffs with a disappointing loss to the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton on Tuesday put a wrap on the 2011 season. After bringing his players in for team and exit meetings on Monday, Payton held the end-of-the-season news conference … Continue Reading →

The helmet-to-helmet hit by San Francisco safety Donte Whitner that sent Saints running back Pierre Thomas to the locker room early in Saturday’s NFC playoff game was legal. Whitner was not penalized because the tackle was not against a defenseless player. Helmet-to-helmet hits are banned against defenseless players in eight categories, and … Continue Reading →

SAN FRANCISCO — Before the start of the postseason, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and some of his players talked about the “finality” of what they were about to get into. Twelve teams get into the playoffs; only one comes out in possession of the Vince Lombardi Trophy to take home … Continue Reading →

SAN FRANCISCO — For a team whose calling card this season was a ferocious and stingy defense, the San Francisco 49ers’ offense didn’t do a bad job in the final four minutes of Saturday’s NFC Divisional Playoff game with the New Orleans Saints. In fact, when the game and a spot in … Continue Reading →

SAN FRANCISCO — With running back Mark Ingram already on injured reserve, the New Orleans Saints offense took a big hit on its first possession of Saturday’s NFC Divisional Playoff game with the San Francisco 49ers. Running back Pierre Thomas suffered a concussion when he caught a pass near the 49ers’ goal … Continue Reading →

First quarter 49ERS: Vernon Davis 49-yard pass from Alex Smith at 2:08 (David Akers kick). DRIVE: 2-54-0:46. KEY PLAY: Davis catches a deep out from Smith and shakes free and scampers to the end zone when safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper collide at the Saints’ 30. 49ERS 7, SAINTS 0. 49ERS: … Continue Reading →

SAN FRANCISCO — The New Orleans Saints got beat Saturday on a play that was installed Wednesday — kind of. In the aftermath of the 49ers’ thrilling 36-32 victory in the NFC Divisional Game this much was certain: It pays to study film — kind of. The Niners’ Alex Smith hit Vernon … Continue Reading →

Summary 49ers 36, Saints 32 New Orleans 0 14 0 18 — 32 San Francisco 14 3 3 16 — 36 First Quarter SF: V.Davis 49 pass from Ale.Smith (Akers kick), 2:08. SF: Crabtree 4 pass from Ale.Smith (Akers kick), :41. Second Quarter SF: FG Akers 25, 14:12. NO: Graham 14 pass from Brees (Kasay kick), 9:32. NO: Colston 25 pass from Brees (Kasay … Continue Reading →

Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis with a 14-yard touchdown with nine seconds left as San Francisco shocked New Orleans 36-32 in the NFC Divisional playoffs Saturday at Candiestick Park in San Francisco. Davis' second touchdown of the day answered Jimmy Graham's 66-yard touchdown from Drew Brees with 1:48 left, giving the Saints … Continue Reading →

Riding an offense that’s been virtually unstoppable for the past nine games, the New Orleans Saints are just one victory away from reaching the NFC Championship game for the third time in six seasons. But after running the table in the second half of the regular season and continuing to roll with … Continue Reading →