NEW ORLEANS — A number of New Orleans Saints gamers defended Jameis Winston and the choice to run a play out of victory formation in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
At the very least 5 present Saints and several other former gamers defended Winston on social media after the backup quarterback handed the ball off to operating again Jamaal Williams to attain a landing as an alternative of taking a knee. Winston overruled coach Dennis Allen’s orders to take a knee and run out the clock in what finally turned a 48-17 victory over their NFC South rival.
New Orleans tight finish Jimmy Graham wrote Monday on social media that critics ought to “get off [Winston’s] again.”
“This man is the perfect teammate I’ve ever had,” Graham mentioned on X. “Loves this metropolis, this recreation and embodies every thing you possibly can ask for in a pacesetter. Was a uncommon state of affairs and all of us take duty. No person thought it could get blown out of proportion. Additionally [f—] the falcons.”
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The gamers’ defiance of Allen’s playcall coincides with public scrutiny of the Saints’ management after the staff missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
Saints defensive finish and staff captain Cameron Jordan additionally took to social media Monday to make clear an earlier remark the place he mentioned staff management, emphasizing that he was speaking about gamers like himself, not coaches.
“If management will not be what it must be, management can change, similar to gamers can change,” Jordan advised reporters within the New Orleans locker room.
Jordan later wrote on social media: “Nope i used to be speaking getting extra from participant management… beginning with myself. The staff goes because the gamers go.”
The gamers have rallied round themselves and Winston, together with Graham, a 13-year-veteran who discovered himself in a equally controversial state of affairs in 2014 when he overruled then-coach Sean Payton’s orders to not dunk the ball after a landing throughout a preseason recreation, inflicting a shouting match on the sideline.
Graham, who was traded from the Saints after the 2014 season and returned this season, performed solely seven snaps in opposition to the Falcons, together with the ultimate offensive play, in what could possibly be the 37-year-old’s closing recreation. He has not addressed his standing, though he posted a tribute to the Saints on X on Monday.
Additionally unclear is the way forward for Winston, whose contract is about to void this season. However the potential free brokers echoed the feelings of their teammates below contract, who all emphasised on social media and in interviews that the choice to get Williams a landing was a staff choice and never simply Winston going rogue.
Saints operating again Alvin Kamara, defensive sort out Khalen Saunders, former tight finish Benjamin Watson, present tight finish Juwan Johnson, former extensive receiver Lance Moore, security Johnathan Abram and former operating again Mark Ingram have been amongst those that took to social media to defend Winston or the choice.
Jordan additionally was amongst those that supported Winston and the landing, however he did not specify a selected purpose so many gamers felt compelled to indicate public help.
“If something, if 10 gamers pop up, it is simply because that is how a lot we care about one another as a locker room,” Jordan mentioned. “For him to need to interview to elucidate himself about why he did it, it is clear-cut why.
“He felt that Jamaal ought to’ve obtained a landing, and in my thoughts, I used to be like s—, we should always’ve despatched Jimmy in and obtained him that ninetieth landing for his legacy.”
Allen, who has a 24-46 general file in his two stints as a head coach, mentioned he doesn’t imagine the incident Sunday was an indication of a fractured locker room.
Allen publicly disagreed with the gamers’ choice Sunday and apologized to Falcons coach Arthur Smith, who was seen yelling at Allen after the sport concerning the landing. Smith was fired by the Falcons later that night time.
“What I’ll say is that this, I will say that these gamers went out and performed their tail off within the final 5 video games of the season, and I have been on groups the place that does not occur,” Allen mentioned Monday. “So no, I do not imagine there’s any fracture.”
Jordan, when requested whether or not he thought the late landing in opposition to Atlanta was an indication of a fractured staff, mentioned the media was mentioning the subject greater than the gamers. He additionally mentioned gamers have a considerable amount of duty on themselves when requested whether or not the staff believed in Allen.
“I imply DA is our head coach. So so long as that’s the similar sentence, it may be the identical sentence. After all we imagine we’ll get our issues collectively,” Jordan mentioned. “On the finish of the day, it is on the gamers.
“As a lot as DA places an ideal recreation plan collectively, typically we do not execute to the best of our talents and also you see the issues that occur in that. It is a gamers’ recreation.”
Allen admitted Monday that there wanted to be some changes to the staff’s tradition, though he didn’t specify whether or not that included main adjustments to the workers or roster.
“We have had lots of success round right here, and I feel typically you possibly can type of get somewhat comfy with that,” Allen mentioned. “And so I simply suppose we have to reevaluate what we have to do to win video games on the stage that we have to win video games at. And I feel that’ll be a giant a part of what we do that offseason.”
Offensive lineman James Hurst, who was signed in 2020, mentioned any tradition adjustments felt like a gradual shift through the years and never an abrupt flip.
“I feel many of the issues that have been in place after I obtained listed below are nonetheless right here,” Hurst mentioned. “I feel that is the problem of [GM] Mickey [Loomis], the problem of DA and the problem of the gamers to determine what’s lacking or what modified. Have we turn into too content material? Are we taking issues with no consideration? These are the questions it’s important to ask your self.”
Jordan echoed an identical sentiment Monday.
“I feel you possibly can at all times give extra,” Jordan mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t say, ‘Yeah, we’ve got nice management, we’ve got the best leaders,’ if we’re not in a playoff place, proper? And that is occurred back-to-back-to-back years. So no matter that’s, if it begins with me, then I must demand extra. I would like to offer extra, no matter that’s.”
