Latest news with #MickeyLoomis
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Saints veteran Khalen Saunders reacts to 2025 schedule's lack of prime-time games
Khalen Saunders isn't an easy person to surprise. He's seen it all in the NFL -- he's won a pair of Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, then intercepted his old teammate Patrick Mahomes and sprinted almost halfway to the end zone with the whole football world watching. But the big defensive lineman was still taken aback when he saw the New Orleans Saints' schedule for 2025. "Zero prime times is (expletive) insane. Wow bro, wow," Saunders wrote on social media. "League said here take yall funky (expletive) schedule and gtfo my face." Advertisement He's used to playing under the bright lights. Saunders dressed out for five of the Saints' last six prime-time games and appeared in 13 of them with the Chiefs, and that's just in the regular season. He got on the field in six playoff games with Kansas City, too. This year, the Saints will not kick off a single game on a Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night, ending a 25-year streak that goes back to the day Mickey Loomis was hired in their front office. So if Saunders wants to end up on another highlight reel, he'll need to make more plays to draw more attention. There's something to be said for working away from the cameras and forcing the networks to put a spotlight on you. But NFL careers are brief. It's a shame this is where the Saints have put themselves, but they only have themselves to blame given the state of the franchise. This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints DT Khalen Saunders shocked he isn't playing in prime time
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints receive no prime-time games for the first time since 2000
Saints receive no prime-time games for the first time since 2000 For the first time since the year 2000, the New Orleans Saints will not play a single game in prime time this season. They've had at least one game kick off after 7 p.m. CT every year from 2001 to 2024, but after bottoming out with their worst record in decades last season (and while stuck in a 1-8 rut in prime time), the bright lights won't be shining on New Orleans in 2025. It'll be the first time in some Saints fans' lifetimes that their team won't be featured on a Sunday, Monday, or Thursday night. It's a really tough break, but it's not unusual. Last year, the Carolina Panthers were the lone team who didn't receive any prime-time games, and the NFL was right to sideline them during a 5-12 season. In 2023, four different teams were shut out of prime time: the Houston Texas (who shocked everyone and went 10-7), Atlanta Falcons (who finished at 7-10), Arizona Cardinals (4-13), and Indianapolis Colts (9-8). The Detroit Lions did not receive a prime-time feature in 2022, either, but they went 9-8 that year. Every team got at least one prime-time game in 2021. So it's on the Saints to prove they deserve more attention. Like we said, they've only won once in their last nine prime-time games. Their 5-12 record last season was their worst finish since the 2005 Hurricane Katrina-impacted season. The last time the Saints didn't draw a single prime-time matchup, Mickey Loomis was in his first year working in their front office and a couple of offseasons away from being promoted to general manager. Mike Ditka had just been fired after posting a 3-13 record in his third year as head coach. It was a rough time for the franchise. But the Saints hired a spry 45-year old Jim Haslett to replace Ditka, and he stunned the football world by turning things around. New Orleans won 10 games in his first year on the job, finished in first place in their division, and won the first playoff game in franchise history. We shouldn't put those kind of expectations on Kellen Moore, but we also shouldn't act like he can't pull it off, either. Stranger things have happened in the NFL. Maybe a little less time in the spotlight and a change in leadership is just what the Saints need to get back to their winning ways.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Derek Carr confirms shoulder injury, criticizes 'nonsense' around reporting: 'Why do we always have to have an opinion?'
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is weighing in on the discourse around his shoulder injury. On Monday, the veteran QB confirmed news of his shoulder injury in a speech delivered at Church LV, a church in Las Vegas, and criticized the idea that his injury was not real. Earlier this month, reports circulated that Carr was dealing with a significant shoulder injury and might require surgery, putting availability for next season in doubt. But during Monday's address, Carr dispelled rumors that his injury was meant to force the Saints into a trade. "I hate that I have to say this, but I have to say this. Yes, I have a shoulder injury, despite what ESPN says, and what some lady on a podcast might think," Carr said. "I have an MRI report to prove it. The team knows about it, we've been in constant communication. There's nothing wrong, we're figuring it out, and we're gonna go forward with that." Carr's claim that the team is fully aware of the injury seems to be true: During availability earlier this week, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis acknowledged Carr's injury but refused to answer any more questions about the quarterback. Derek Carr is publicly speaking about his shoulder injury. During a church service in Las Vegas (@TheChurchLV), he said he has been in contact with #Saints officials, has gotten an MRI and says everyone is trying to figure out the next steps. — Farrah Yvette (@farrah_yvette) April 28, 2025 Though Carr did not name specific reporters in his speech at the church, "some lady on a podcast" likely refers to The Athletic's Diana Russini, who said on an Apr. 15 episode of her "Scoop City" podcast that she thought Carr's situation was "fishy" and speculated that it was "trade bait." Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio had a similar report, saying on his podcast earlier this month that announcing the injury was likely a "chess move" on Carr's part. Carr dismissed those rumors as lies Monday, with his speech turning to a rant about the way that people talk about him and his injury. "I've been dealing with people lying about me and I've been dealing with them saying this and this and that, and I'm like, 'Lord, why do I have to continue to deal with this nonsense?'" Carr said. "... You never know what someone's really going through. ... "Why do we always have to have an opinion?" Carr added. "Twitter and Instagram has ruined things for some people. Because now all these people think that they have voices that have to be heard. Some people's voices don't need to be heard right now." Carr missed the final weeks of the 2024 season after suffering a fracture in his left hand in December. His contract, which was recently restructured in his favor, keeps him in New Orleans through 2026, with the Saints taking a significant cap hit if they decide to trade him. At the time of the reports, most analysts believed that the Saints were going to draft Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, either as a backup or a replacement to Carr. Instead, New Orleans drafted quarterback Tyler Shough, a 25-year-old with college experience at Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville. If Carr is not available in 2025 due to his injury, Shough can likely step in sooner rather than later.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints GM says Derek Carr has shoulder issue, but won't answer questions about his availability for 2025
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury, but team general manager Mickey Loomis had no interest discussing the issue. Loomis confirmed Carr was battling an injury Wednesday, but refused to answer any more questions about the situation. With the NFL Draft approaching, reports emerged suggesting Carr could miss the entire 2025 NFL season due to a shoulder injury. Loomis was asked about that situation Wednesday. He confirmed Carr is dealing with a shoulder issue, but he said the team was hoping to have more information soon. Mickey Loomis acknowledges that Derek Carr has a shoulder injury and they hope to have clarity on the situation soon. — Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 23, 2025 When he was pressed on Carr's status, Loomis bluntly told reporters he wasn't going to talk about Carr anymore. Loomis: "I'm not going to answer any more questions about Derek. If you have questions about the draft I'm happy to answer those." — Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 23, 2025 The Saints are considered a prime landing spot to select one of the top quarterbacks in this draft. While Cam Ward is expected to be off the board when the team picks at No. 9, Shedeur Sanders — who is considered the second-best quarterback prospect in the draft — could still be available. The Saints have been linked to Sanders in the lead-up to the draft, and could pull the trigger on the Colorado quarterback at No. 9 if he's there. But the Saints won't make that move out of desperation. Loomis said Carr's injury will not affect how the team approaches the draft. That doesn't mean a ton. The Saints were a rumored landing spot for Sanders long before Carr's injury was first reported. That injury puts pressure on the Saints to find another quarterback in 2025, but the team may have already been leaning that way in the first place. If New Orleans passes on Sanders at No. 9, things could get interesting. The team could hold out and hope one of the other top quarterbacks is available when it picks again at No. 40. It could also consider hopping into the Kirk Cousins trade discussions — if the division-rival Atlanta Falcons will allow it — or contacting Aaron Rodgers. Those last two options aren't the most inspiring, but that's what happens when your quarterback sustains a potentially serious injury in April. Neither player would provide the same excitement as a rookie quarterback, but would give the Saints a one-year option while the team evaluates the quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints GM says Derek Carr has shoulder issue, but won't answer questions about his availability for 2025
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury, but team general manager Mickey Loomis had no interest discussing the issue. Loomis confirmed Carr was battling an injury Wednesday, but refused to answer any more questions about the situation. With the NFL Draft approaching, reports emerged suggesting Carr could miss the entire 2025 NFL season due to a shoulder injury. Loomis was asked about that situation Wednesday. He confirmed Carr is dealing with a shoulder issue, but he said the team was hoping to have more information soon. Mickey Loomis acknowledges that Derek Carr has a shoulder injury and they hope to have clarity on the situation soon. — Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 23, 2025 When he was pressed on Carr's status, Loomis bluntly told reporters he wasn't going to talk about Carr anymore. Loomis: "I'm not going to answer any more questions about Derek. If you have questions about the draft I'm happy to answer those." — Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 23, 2025 The Saints are considered a prime landing spot to select one of the top quarterbacks in this draft. While Cam Ward is expected to be off the board when the team picks at No. 9, Shedeur Sanders — who is considered the second-best quarterback prospect in the draft — could still be available. The Saints have been linked to Sanders in the lead-up to the draft, and could pull the trigger on the Colorado quarterback at No. 9 if he's there. But the Saints won't make that move out of desperation. Loomis said Carr's injury will not affect how the team approaches the draft. That doesn't mean a ton. The Saints were a rumored landing spot for Sanders long before Carr's injury was first reported. That injury puts pressure on the Saints to find another quarterback in 2025, but the team may have already been leaning that way in the first place. If New Orleans passes on Sanders at No. 9, things could get interesting. The team could hold out and hope one of the other top quarterbacks is available when it picks again at No. 40. It could also consider hopping into the Kirk Cousins trade discussions — if the division-rival Atlanta Falcons will allow it — or contacting Aaron Rodgers. Those last two options aren't the most inspiring, but that's what happens when your quarterback sustains a potentially serious injury in April. Neither player would provide the same excitement as a rookie quarterback, but would give the Saints a one-year option while the team evaluates the quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
