OFF THE WALL

Saints reportedly tried to lure back Brees, Rivers

Down to their fourth-string quarterback because of a COVID-19 outbreak, the New Orleans Saints reportedly tried to lure former star quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers out of retirement to play against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.

With Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian on the NFL’S reserve/ COVID-19 list and rookie Ian Book set to start against the Dolphins, the Saints reached out to Brees (pictured) and Rivers, according to Jeff Duncan of NOLA.COM.

However, according to Duncan, both future Hall of Famers rejected the idea, leading the Saints to sign veteran Blake Bortles to fill in if needed.

According to the report, Brees “wasn’t 100 percent confident he would be able to make the throws necessary to successfully lead the offense.” The report also stated that Saints coach Sean Payton personally called Brees about the opportunity.

Brees, the former Saints legendary quarterback, joined the broadcast booth as an analyst for NBC Sports after retiring at the end of last season. Rivers, the longtime Chargers great, retired after spending last season with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Saints have been hit hard by COVID-19 with the outbreak infecting at least 15 players and several coaches.

Jameis Winston opened the season as the team’s starter before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 7.

Trivia question

Player of the Year twice (2008, ’11). Who are the only two players to win the award three consecutive years?

Accidental Like

Some people did not react well to the San Francisco 49ers’ frustrating loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.

For a second, that group seemed to include Niners GM John Lynch, whose Twitter account appeared to have liked a tweet calling for the team to leave starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who made some critical mistakes during the game, in Nashville.

The tweet has since been unliked, but Lynch really did appear to have hit that button at some point between Thursday night and Friday.

Soon after Twitter users started noticing his social media activity, Lynch jumped in with an explanation that he had “accidentally and unknowingly” liked the tweet while at Christmas Eve mass with his family.

“Apparently — while in Christmas

Eve Mass w my Family — I accidentally and unknowingly Liked a Tweet. Never intended to and remain a huge believer in Jimmy. Merry Christmas to everyone.”

Given that A) nearly every major sports executive knows not to air grievances via social media and B) “NFL general manager” is definitely a job that leads to some surreptitious pocket phone activity during family events, this at least seems believable.

Lynch is also the person who oversaw Garoppolo’s move to San Francisco in his first year as general manager. The team has since made clear it doesn’t see the veteran quarterback as its future with its drafting of Trey Lance in this year’s draft, but it has still started Garoppolo in every game when healthy during the season.

Trivia answer

Earl Campbell (1978-80) and Marshall Faulk (1999-2001).