Saints are ‘doing due diligence,’ could sign Antonio Brown
Prolific but beleagured freeagent receiver Antonio Brown got his chance to show the New Orleans Saints how he could help them in the playoffs.
Whether Brown winds up catching passes from recordsetting quarterback Drew Brees during 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.
Although New Orleans head coach Sean Payton did not rule out signing Brown, he said there were no immediate plans to do so after including the fourtime AllPro in a workout with six receivers Friday.
“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 sexualmisconduct allegations, which have spawned an ongoing league investigation of the receiver.
Payton had indicated on multiple occasions this season that the Saints were not interested in signing Brown.
“I probably wasn’t telling you the truth a few months ago,“Payton said. “We’re looking closely all the time at who are the players available, how can they help us, especially as we get ready here for this postseason?”
Le’Veon Bell vowed in November not to give the NFL any more of his blood. Now we are about to find out what happens if he sticks to that vow. The Jets’ running back posted on Twitter the notice from the league saying he had been “randomly selected” to complete a doping test. “I bet I don’t,” Bell tweeted. In November, Bell tweeted that he had been randomly selected for the tests five times in 10 weeks.
The Atlanta Falcons are keeping head coach Dan Quinn for another season despite a second straight losing record. They also retained general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz has been ruled out of the team’s Sunday matchup against the Giants. The Stanford alum from Danville hasn’t practiced this week after suffering a fractured rib and a back injury against Dallas on Sunday.
The Cincinnati Bengals activated former Stanford receiver Trent Irwin from their practice squad.
USA Today reported that the Giants have put Rhett Ellison, a tight end from St. Francis High in Mountain View, on injured reserve with a concussion.
College basketball: Evansville placed men’s head coach Walter McCarty on administrative leave and is conducting an internal investigation into alleged violations of the school’s Title IX policy. The university released a statement Friday saying it has received reports about McCarty’s offcourt behavior, including a recent incident that appeared to be a Title IX violation. The school did not disclose further details about the investigation and said it would not discuss the specifics. Evansville added that it takes reports about harassment or discrimination seriously and offers support for students and employees who believe they have been victims of inappropriate behavior.
Soccer: Matt Doherty scored in the 90th minute to complete Wolverhampton’s comeback from two goals down to beat 10man Manchester City 32, dealing a further blow to the champions’ faint hopes of a third consecutive Premier League title. City is third in the standings halfway through the season, 14 points behind leader Liverpool.
Tennis: Rio Olympics gold medalist Monica Puig had stitches removed Friday after surgery for a nerve problem in her right elbow that will sideline her for the start of the season.
Baseball: The Kansas City Royals signed Maikel Franco to a $2.95 million contract to be their starting third baseman next season.