Saints lose CB Patrick Robinson surprises Saints by announcing retirement
Veteran was competing to be starter, but coach says he understands move
Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson is retiring despite being a candidate for a starting job.
Robinson was a 2010 firstround draft choice by New Orleans and turns 34 in September.
He left New Orleans in 2015 and won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia during the 2017 season before returning to the Saints in 2018.
He’d been getting firstteam snaps, with the Saints trying to fill a vacancy created when they allowed Janoris Jenkins to become a free agent in a cost-cutting move.
Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday he wasn’t expecting
Robinson’s decision but understands when veterans decide during training camp they’re ready to retire.
“He’s played in this league a long time,” Payton said.
“He’s had a great career. He’s been smart with his money and it was something that deep down inside he felt.
“It’s not unusual, really, in training camp. It’s happened a number of times.”
Packers
MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers probably won’t appear in any of Green Bay’s three preseason games as the Packers look to get 2020 first-round draft pick Jordan Love as much work as possible.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Love will play the majority of the preseason opener Saturday against the Houston Texans and that Kurt Benkert also would get some snaps.
LaFleur then was asked whether Rodgers would play at all in the preseason.
“I would say most likely not,” LaFleur replied.
The Packers want to get Love some game experience after the pandemic wiped out last year’s preseason.
Love also didn’t play a single down last year during the regular season as the third-team quarterback behind Rodgers and Tim Boyle, who is now with the Detroit Lions.
Bills
The Buffalo Bills activated Jerry Hughes from the non-football injury list after the team’s top pass rusher missed the first two weeks of training camp because of an injured left calf.
Hughes was hurt while working out before camp opened.
He is in his 12th year and his absence allowed younger defensive ends to get more practice time. Hughes had 4.5 sacks last season.
Buffalo restocked its pass rush in the draft by selecting Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham with its first two picks.
The Bills also used their top pick, a second-round selection, in 2020 to draft defensive end A.J. Epenesa.