Antonio Brown works out for Saints; no offer yet
Prolific but embattled free-agent receiver Antonio Brown got his chance to show the New Orleans Saints how he could help them in the playoffs.
Whether the former Steelers receiver winds up catching passes from record-setting quarterback Drew Brees in a potential Super Bowl run remains to be seen. And the NFL could have a say in the matter — if the Saints decide to sign him.
While Saints coach Sean Payton did not rule out signing Brown, he said there were no immediate plans to do so after including the four-time All-Pro in a workout Friday with six receivers.
“Not now,” Payton said, adding that coaches and the front office are “mainly doing our due diligence on all of those players. Obviously there’s a little bit more attention drawn to him because of his career. But right now it was more or less us having a chance to get to know these guys and seeing what kind of shape they’re all in.”
Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press that Brown’s “visit with the Saints went very well and we will continue discussions with them.”
Brown has been out of the NFL since the New England Patriots cut him Sept. 20 amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations which have spawned an ongoing league investigation of the receiver.
Jets
Le’Veon Bell’s return to football hasn’t included the big plays and eye-popping statistics that made him one of the most electrifying and productive players in the league.
The running back struggled — along with most of the rest of the offense — in his first season with the New York Jets. Still, Bell isn’t necessarily looking to find a hole and run to another team in the offseason.
“I wouldn’t have signed here for four years if I didn’t want to be here four years,” he said Friday.
After sitting out last season in a contract dispute with the Steelers, Bell joined the Jets as a free agent in March on a $52.5 million contract that included about $35 million in guaranteed money. It was an aggressive and popular move by then-general manager Mike Maccagnan, who envisioned the running back being a dual-threat presence in Adam Gase’s offense.
Thing is, there were reports that Gase balked at the Jets spending that much money for a running back. Then it took a while for Bell to get going, with spotty offensive line play and quarterback Sam Darnold missing three games with mononucleosis all contributing. Bell has rushed for 748 yards this season, and his 3.3 average per carry ranks as the lowest of his career.
Chargers
Los Angeles’ playoff hopes were dashed weeks ago. Austin Ekeler still has plenty to play in the finale Sunday at Kansas City.
Ekeler needs 50 yards to become at least the fourth running back since the NFL-AFL merger to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He leads the league in receiving yards and touchdowns (eight) by a running back and is second in receptions (83). Marshall Faulk was the previous player to do it with 1,048 yards in 1999 for the St. Louis Rams.