Countdown to Kickoff: Zach Wood is the Saints Player of Day 49
We have less than 50 days before the New Orleans Saints embark on their 59th NFL season with a regular season opener at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Wearing No. 49 for new coach Kellen Moore's crew is an underappreciated member of the roster, long snapper Zach Wood. Entering his ninth season with New Orleans, Wood is one of the longest-tenured Saints and longest-tenured long snappers in the NFL. Our Saints Player of the Day, here's a deeper dive into his background.
At Rowlett High School, Wood was an honorable mention all-state defensive tackle before committing to Southern Methodist University. As a defensive end in a 3-4 front for the Mustangs, Wood started 33 contests over his last three seasons. He gathered 8.5 sacks and forced 2 fumbles while also blocking 4 kicks and serving as the team's long snapper.
After not being selected in the 2016 NFL draft, Wood was signed to an undrafted deal by the Dallas Cowboys. He didn't make the Dallas roster as a defensive lineman, but was brought back the following offseason on a reserve/future contract as a long snapper. Wood was again cut by the Cowboys at the conclusion of the preseason. This time, he was picked up by Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints.
Wood won the long snapper job with New Orleans after a tryout. He'd remain in that role for the last 132 consecutive games. Wood has been one of the league's most consistent players at his often overlooked position. In 2022, he earned 2nd Team All-Pro recognition from Pro Football Focus. After a series of one-year contracts, New Orleans awarded him for his consistently with a four-year deal in 2023. There are a lot of questions surrounding the Saints roster heading into this season. However, long snapper is not one of those positions, thanks to the capabilities of Zach Wood.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Drew Allar's growth at the center of Penn State's 2025 hopes
If Penn State's going to make a serious run in 2025, it starts with Drew Allar. And James Franklin made it clear at Big Ten Media Days—he's proud of the quarterback Allar has become. 'Drew has made tremendous growth every single year,' Franklin said. 'All the way back to recruiting.' It's easy to forget now, but Allar wasn't always a blue-chip name. 'When we first started recruiting, he was a three-star recruit. Kind of a throwback recruit,' Franklin said. 'He kept getting better, kept moving up the charts.' Eventually, he was ranked as the top quarterback in the country. Since stepping on campus, Allar's rise hasn't slowed. He sat behind an NFL-caliber QB as a freshman, learned the ropes, and then took control of the offense. And now, going into his third year as the starter, he's the face of a program with championship-level expectations. 'He's now 6'5', 235 pounds, can make every throw on the field, has shown that he can hurt people with his feet,' Franklin said. 'And he's made tremendous strides as a leader.' That leadership piece is what separates Allar. Franklin praised the way he's raised the standard—not just for himself, but for the team. 'He's willing to have tough conversations with his teammates,' he said. And Allar didn't just flirt with the idea of the NFL after last season. Most people had him pegged as a first-round draft pick. He came back anyway. 'Unfinished business,' Franklin called it. Both for Allar personally and for the team. That choice speaks volumes. Not every player projected in the first round decides to return. But Allar is betting on himself, his teammates, and the bigger picture in Happy Valley. 'I'm a big Drew fan,' Franklin said. 'You guys get a chance to get around him, you'll feel the same way.' Franklin emphasized that Allar represents everything Penn State football stands for. 'It's team, team, team. It's community. It's Penn State,' he said. 'He does things the right way.' The numbers back it up. Allar is one of only two FBS quarterbacks since 1956 with over 800 completions, 50 touchdowns, and fewer than 10 interceptions. That's elite efficiency—and it's why he's back to chase a title. With Drew Allar at the helm, Penn State has a steady leader who's matured on and off the field. His poise, arm talent, and presence in the locker room make him one of the most valuable players in college football heading into the fall. Franklin isn't just hoping for greatness—he's expecting it. And if Allar takes another leap in 2025, he just might carry the Nittany Lions all the way to the top.
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
NFL power rankings: As preseason nears, who are Eagles' main threats?
NFL power rankings with the 2025 preseason set to begin July 31 (previous rank in parentheses): 1. Philadelphia Eagles (1): The offense returns virtually intact, former coordinator (and new Saints head coach) Kellen Moore a notable exception. Coordinator Vic Fangio is back for a second year running the defense, though that unit will need to adapt from significant losses in free agency. Last year's club was one of the very best of the past quarter century and seems to have an excellent shot at repeating − especially when you consider proven NFL players like RB AJ Dillon, CB Adoree' Jackson and OLBs Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche are all projected to be among the backups. 2. Baltimore Ravens (2): How talented is this secondary? Chidobe Awuzie, a Round 2 pick in Dallas eight years ago, projects as the dime back after former Green Bay Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander joined up as the fifth first-rounder likely to play ahead of him on this unit. Stopping the pass was a big problem here a year ago but could be a strength as QB Lamar Jackson and Co. make their latest run at a Super Bowl. 3. Kansas City Chiefs (4): With G Trey Smith and DE George Karlaftis extended, the only piece of semi-pressing team business remaining is a new deal for All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie − and that may have to wait. Resolution on WR Rashee Rice's post-legal status would also be nice, but even having him back for some portion of this season is a win over his injury-aborted 2024 campaign. K.C.'s biggest issue, the O-line notwithstanding, could be a quickly narrowing gap with their AFC West competitors. 4. Buffalo Bills (5): The only franchise to play in four consecutive Super Bowls − all infamous losses in the 1990s − is now the only team with 78 wins (playoffs included) over a six-season stretch without reaching a Super Bowl. Will Josh Allen's (and the Mafia's) suffering finally end in 2025? 5. Los Angeles Rams (3): No team pushed Philly closer to the precipice in the 2024 playoffs than the Rams. No team might be more heavily reliant on a seemingly brittle component − Matthew Stafford − than the Rams, their 37-year-old quarterback sidelined so far this summer by a balky back. He's missed 11 starts over the past three seasons. But if he's generally available in 2025, LA could wind up in SF for SB60. 6. Green Bay Packers (8): They bring a compelling mixture of young talent but also continuity, an aspect that could distinguish them from their NFC North rivals, who are all undergoing some measure of major upheaval at a key spot. 7. Washington Commanders (6): If you'd told their fans a year ago that the 2025 Commanders would reach the divisional round of the postseason, imagine what the excitement level would have been. Now? That might seem like a major disappointment for a team led by a quarterback, albeit the amazing Jayden Daniels, heading into just his second season. 8. Denver Broncos (13): While coach Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix might be this team's most recognizable faces, a defense that ranked seventh overall in 2024 might wind up being its strength. 9. Detroit Lions (7): The departures of coordinators Ben Johnson (Bears) and Aaron Glenn (Jets) for head coaching gigs have drawn deserved offseason focus for the impact in Motown. But HC Dan Campbell also lost six other assistants as other teams try to replicate Detroit's recent success. Most of the Lions' copious talent remains, but it remains to be seen if the revamped staff can maximize it following a 27-7 regular-season mark over the past two seasons. 10. Pittsburgh Steelers (16): If the Aaron Rodgers era lasts eight months, this season could be the sterling silver Stairway to Seven. If the Aaron Rodgers era lasts seven months, this season will be a slag pile that could land some folks on the scrap heap. But it seems off to an encouraging start in steamy Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 11. San Francisco 49ers (14): With many of their top players, like RB Christian McCaffrey and LT Trent Williams, healthy again − and armed with a last-place schedule that is the league's easiest based on opponents' collective winning percentage (.415) in 2024, they're well positioned for a major rebound. Still, with WR Brandon Aiyuk still on the mend from his 2024 ACL/MCL tear, WR Jauan Jennings seeking a raise, and the defense trying to recover from several departures, the beginning of the season could be something of a speed bump. 12. Arizona Cardinals (17): Below average under rookie coach Jonathan Gannon in 2023 to average last season, the Cards are hoping to sustain the upward trend into the postseason. 13. Houston Texans (10): Will they regret building their ground game around RBs Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb and Dameon Pierce, who are all in various states of disrepair? 14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9): With LT Tristan Wirfs (knee surgery), arguably the Bucs' best player, and WR Chris Godwin (ankle) stuck on the PUP list amid yet another offensive coordinator change, it's worth wondering if the perennial NFC South champs fall into an early season hole. 15. Los Angeles Chargers (11): While the eye injury to RB Najee Harris and retirement of WR Mike Williams have generated the summer headlines, the main concern here might be the defense given the Bolts allowed an average of more than 25 points over their final five games of last season ... and that was before they lost Joey Bosa and several others in free agency. 16. Seattle Seahawks (15): As a member of the Vikings, QB Sam Darnold dealt the 2024 Seahawks a death blow last December in Lumen Field. Now the 12s can only hope he's the real deal and won't serve a self-inflicted coup de grâce in November. 17. Minnesota Vikings (18): Maybe it's apples to Granny Smith apples, but let's attempt some contextualization. QB J.J. McCarthy attempted an average of 22.1 passes during his final (championship) season at Michigan in 2023. During his rookie absence in 2024, Darnold never threw fewer than 24 in a game for Minnesota on the way to his first Pro Bowl honors. Should be interesting to see how long HC Kevin O'Connell keeps the training wheels on McCarthy. 18. Cincinnati Bengals (12): In case you were wondering just how bad this defense might get without All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson − though he's at least ready to end his holdout and stop getting fined − no one else had more than five sacks or 23 pressures in 2024. He had a league-leading 17½ and 54, respectively. 19. New England Patriots (20): Highly regarded new coach. Talented second-year quarterback. An offseason loaded with major moves. Don't be surprised if their 2024 win total (4) doubles. NFL OFFSEASON GRADES: Patriots, Bears only teams to get A's, so how did rest do? 20. Chicago Bears (19): Highly regarded new coach. Talented second-year quarterback. An offseason loaded with major moves. Don't be surprised if their 2024 win total (5) doubles. 21. Dallas Cowboys (22): Tyler Guyton, last year's first-rounder, avoided a catastrophic camp injury and could be ready by Week 1. But whether he's in the lineup or not, this team needs much better play from the left tackle spot if QB Dak Prescott is going to survive the full season. 22. Jacksonville Jaguars (26): The attention is understandably focused on WR/CB Travis Hunter, the second pick of the 2025 draft. Much more should be focused on QB Trevor Lawrence, the first pick of the 2021 draft − and upon whose shoulders, surgically repaired and otherwise, this franchise's fortunes will rise or fall. 23. New York Jets (25): They've got certifiable stars, a new coach who seems to be galvanizing the entire organization, a compelling haul of rookies and ample buzz around new QB1 Justin Fields. But given how often potential and production are inversely related in the New York market, Glenn and Co. have plenty to prove despite all the promise. 24. Atlanta Falcons (27): Amid the runaway speculation about QB2 Kirk Cousins' future here … it might be here. With all of 230 snaps as a rookie, QB1 Michael Penix Jr. hasn't played much more than 2024 draft mate McCarthy, who also effectively replaced Cousins. But now two years removed from his Achilles tear plus arm and shoulder woes in 2024, don't be surprised if "KFC" comes out of the bullpen at some point and plays much better than he did late last season. 25. Carolina Panthers (23): If third-year QB Bryce Young is to sustain last year's late-season momentum, he'll need what was by far the league's worst defense to put him in far fewer compromising positions. 26. Las Vegas Raiders (21): Maybe the departure of DT Christian Wilkins proves to be addition by subtraction. But it also leaves the defense in an even more precarious position while further incentivizing opponents to double- and triple-team DE Maxx Crosby. 27. Miami Dolphins (24): Speaking of defenses that have shed Wilkins − and CB Jalen Ramsey and S Jevon Holland and DL Calais Campbell − if the Fins' pass rush can't live up to its dominant potential, then this offense might have to win a lot of shootouts. 28. Tennessee Titans (31): They got QB Cam Ward atop the draft and, to the degree it wasn't already, it's full speed ahead with the rookie now that backup Will Levis has opted for season-ending shoulder surgery. Could be a rough, if hopeful, ride in Nashville. 29. New York Giants (28): They didn't get QB Cam Ward atop the draft − but reportedly tried − instead coming back into the bottom of Round 1 for Jaxson Dart. But it's currently full speed ahead with veteran Russell Wilson … even if he's unable to get this offense into third gear. 30. Indianapolis Colts (30): Legend has it that legendary coach and analyst John Madden uttered the phrase, 'If you've got two quarterbacks, you have none.' Not sure many folks will be playing "Madden NFL" with this Colts team. 31. Cleveland Browns (29): Given the open question here at quarterback, the offense would most obviously benefit from a strong rushing attack. But Chubb left and rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned due to ongoing legal issues. Jerome Ford, who rushed for a team-best 565 yards in 2024, stands to get a heavier workload than the DUDE Wipes that seem to underpin much of the team's marketing efforts. 32. New Orleans Saints (32): Derek Carr − gone. Tyrann Mathieu − gone. The core of what was a top-10 scoring defense four of the past five seasons − gone. Hope at the outset of the 2025 season − a camp holdout. All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
Inside Liverpool's commercial juggernaut: New Adidas deal, 1.7bn engagements and why Asia matters
According to figures from Blinkfire Analytics, Liverpool had 1.7billion engagements across all social media platforms last season — more than the top 10 teams in the NFL or the NBA combined. There were 60m alone on the April day when Arne Slot's side clinched the Premier League title. Yet that is just one way in which the club's off-field operation has mushroomed in recent years. Over the past decade, commercial revenue has almost tripled. The last set of accounts for 2023-24 was significant in that, for the first time, commercial income (£308million) was more than half of total revenue (£614m). It was also the first time in the Premier League era that they had surpassed arch-rivals Manchester United (£303m) commercially. Advertisement 'There's been a step-change in terms of our revenue, but there's still a lot of room for us to grow,' Liverpool's chief commercial officer Ben Latty tells The Athletic. 'The potential is huge. I believe we're only just getting started in terms of where we can go as a commercial business. We have got the right people and the right structure in place to really kick on now.' Out-performing United or trying to reel in Manchester City (£344million), the only Premier League club with a higher income commercially, isn't what drives Latty and his staff, who are dotted around offices all over the world. He insists he 'wouldn't even be able to tell you what their commercial numbers are'. Instead, Liverpool's ambition revolves around maximising revenues from streams they can influence. 'Controllable revenue — matchday and commercial — is what I'm focused on,' Latty says. 'Media money is great but, to an extent, it's based on the on-pitch performance. We have to be a football club which is sustainable in everything we do.' Latty, who reports to Liverpool's CEO Billy Hogan, was promoted to the role of chief commercial officer in 2024, two years after returning to the fold as commercial director, having stepped down as head of global partnership sales in 2021 to join a group in Bristol operating professional teams in football, rugby union and basketball. The club have set up partnerships, with staff permanently based in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Boston and New York in the United States, and in London as well as on Merseyside at home. Multi-million pound deals have been struck with high-profile blue-chip U.S.-based brands such as mobile-phone firm Google Pixel, fitness company Peloton, logistics and shipping giants UPS and digital strategists Orion Innovation. But the importance of the Asian market to Liverpool remains as strong as ever. According to the club's data, they have close to 250million fans across the continent, and it is their biggest region for retail revenue. Advertisement Nine of Liverpool's 20 standalone retail stores across the world are in Asia, with the latest opening its doors in Hong Kong last week. They also have 48 official supporters' clubs spread across the continent. That is part of the appeal for shirt sponsors Standard Chartered and training kit sponsors AXA, as well as official partners such as Japan Airlines and Tokyo-based publisher Kodansha. Liverpool's current pre-season tour, with money-spinning friendly matches in Hong Kong and Japan, ticks a lot of boxes. 'When it comes to tours, we always assess the market and look at different options both east and west,' Latty says. 'Before we made any decisions, we sat down with (sporting director) Richard Hughes, (his assistant) David Woodfine, (director of medicine and performance) John Power and others to go through all the options available. 'Some will be questioned based on football suitability, training facilities, et cetera. Football preparation is paramount, but the football-operations team understand the commercial value of these tours, too. For us, it's about bringing the club closer to fans who maybe can't get to Anfield.' Twice during Brendan Rodgers' reign as manager, pre-season tours to Asia also involved fixtures in Australia. The only time Liverpool have gone there since 2015 was for a post-season friendly in Sydney in 2017. Was it ever on the agenda to visit Australia this time? 'There were some reports, but it was nowhere near advanced,' Latty says. 'We always look at it. We never rule it out, but for this tour specifically, the idea was that we would do these two games and then get back to Anfield. 'We would have looked to play another game at Anfield on top of Athletic Club (the Spanish side visit for two back-to-back games on Monday, August 4), but the success of the team meant we have the Community Shield to play (on August 10) before the Premier League game against Bournemouth on the Friday night (August 15). That meant the window was reduced.' Advertisement In the past, Liverpool alternated their pre-season tours between the U.S. and Asia. How about 2026? 'We always start to look at our options a year out,' Latty says. 'That will be a mix of speaking to promoters or looking at how we could do it ourselves. If you do it yourself, you take some of that risk and back yourself in terms of filling stadia. The football side guides us in terms of what's best for the team, and then you also take into account what's going to give you commercial security and enable you to make the most of the window available to us.' The links between the club's sponsors and Asia are clear, but there was no contractual obligation to play in either Hong Kong or Japan this summer. 'There are so many variables,' Latty explains. 'Stadium availability, opposition availability, making sure there are the right training facilities. There are no guarantees. But we know when a partner is focused on a certain market and if the stars align, then we try to make it work.' Current deals with Standard Chartered and sleeve sponsor Expedia run until 2027, with discussions over possible extensions due to begin imminently. 'We'll be starting that process, both in terms of having discussions with the incumbent and naturally you'd expect us to go and talk to the market as well,' Latty says. 'At this time, I don't believe there's any bigger football club than Liverpool.' There's the strange scenario on this tour of Liverpool playing in last season's Nike kit as their new deal with Adidas doesn't begin until August 1. It's down to the fact the start of Nike's five-year contract was delayed because the 2019-20 season was extended into the July due to a three-month hiatus enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic. Liverpool will wear Nike gear for the final time in a while against Yokohama F. Marinos at Nissan Stadium today (Wednesday) before flying home. The big Adidas launch will follow on Friday, with the flagship club store at Anfield reopening having undergone a major summer makeover. 'It's just the reality of the situation,' Latty says. 'When you think back to when we started the partnership with Nike, it was late because of Covid. One thing I will say is that Nike have been incredible. They said they would be good partners until the very end and they've been true to their word. In terms of providing the equipment and kit needed for this tour, they have delivered everything we asked for. Advertisement 'You tend to launch a new kit in May and potentially wear it for the final game of a season, depending on the significance of the fixture. We haven't been able to do that, but August 1 will be big for us.' Latty insists there was never any prospect of an agreement being reached where Adidas would take over a few months early: 'We were always going to honour the contract with Nike. When we first entered into discussions with Adidas, it was always clear when we could start the partnership and everyone knew exactly where they stood. It won't happen again and won't really impact us.' It means Liverpool have three new kits to launch in a short period of time — a process that will be staggered in the coming days. The Adidas deal will certainly be more profitable for them than the Nike one. Figures remain confidential, and it will be partly linked to sales and team performance, but the yearly windfall will be a lot more than the figure of £60million per year which had previously been mooted. A new club mobile app has been launched and, under the terms of the contract, Liverpool will continue to have the freedom to commission and sell their own branded merchandise through the club's retail operations. 'With kit deals, there are so many variables,' Latty adds. 'It's really hard to compare a kit deal with Liverpool to a kit deal with a competitor. The way we run our merchandising business is completely different to most other clubs as we do everything ourselves. Some clubs are happy to outsource it. 'For us, having flexibility and ensuring we get the product into the hands of our fans around the world through the right distribution network is really important. 'We had record kit sales year on year (with Nike). It was a competitive situation, and varying factors meant that Adidas were the party we moved forward with. They have been great in that, as long as it doesn't impact their business, we can do what we want. That's a successful part of the merchandising business we've got as we look to keep growing. 'As Billy Hogan said recently, we're one of the biggest clubs in the world and we want to act like it. That's the case both on and off the field.'
