Kellen Moore Reveals the Moment That Left Him Speechless: Saints Rookie Caught Training Alone at Midnight
In a season brimming with high expectations and intense pressure, the New Orleans Saints have found a source of quiet inspiration in one of their youngest players. Cameron Hayes, a fifth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, has emerged as a symbol of relentless work ethic and dedication—qualities that coaches are calling "rare DNA" in the modern era of athletes.
While most rookies might struggle to find their footing in the league, Hayes has quietly carved out a reputation for his commitment to the grind. The 22-year-old defensive back, often described as undersized but fiercely competitive, has become known for his work-first mentality—a mentality that has now caught the attention of team leaders, including head coach Kellen Moore.
The Last to Leave: A Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Hayes’s daily routine has become legendary at the Saints’ practice facility. While most players head home by evening, Hayes is often the last to leave the facility, working late into the night. Sources say he spends an average of 12 hours a day inside the building, splitting his time between the gym, film room, and training field. The lights of the complex frequently remain on until nearly 11 p.m., with Hayes running footwork drills, reviewing defensive tape, and sharpening his reaction times in near silence.
“That’s his sanctuary,” one team staffer noted. “When everyone else is gone, he’s still working, still refining his game. He’s not waiting for his chance; he’s creating it.”
His late-night training sessions have not gone unnoticed. Coaches, teammates, and staff have all been struck by his dedication and attention to detail, qualities that have rapidly earned him respect within the Saints’ organization.
Kellen Moore Reflects on Hayes’s Dedication
In a recent interview, Moore shared a deeply moving moment that had a lasting impact on him and his teammates. One night, Moore returned to the facility to retrieve some forgotten gear. To his surprise, he found Hayes still training—sweat dripping, breathing heavy, yet focused with an intensity that stood out even in the quiet of the empty building.
Moore paused for a moment, observing Hayes’s effort in silence. “I stood there for a while and didn’t say a word,” Moore recalled. “He didn’t even know I was watching. When you see a rookie working like tomorrow might never come, you realize the love for this game still runs deep in this team.”
Moore, who has seen countless talented players throughout his career, was particularly struck by Hayes’s “fire,” noting that few have that same level of passion and drive. “It made me respect him even more,” Moore said softly.
The story quickly spread throughout the locker room, and the next morning, Moore shared his experience with the team in a meeting. It became a poignant reminder of what it truly means to be a Saint: “Work when no one’s watching, never give up, and let your effort speak louder than anything else.”
Hayes’s Rising Role and Teamwide Respect
Hayes’s hard work is beginning to pay off. In recent weeks, he has earned more reps on special teams and has been integrated into various defensive packages. His unwavering commitment to improvement and his humble yet relentless approach to the game have earned the admiration of his coaches, including Moore.
Moore has praised Hayes as a “walking example of Saints culture.” Sources inside the organization say his discipline, attitude, and tireless work ethic have made him a standout, even as a rookie. His story serves as a powerful reminder to the entire team that in New Orleans, respect is not earned through words or flashy performances—it is earned through actions, particularly when no one is watching.
A New Standard of Work Ethic
In a league where attention often goes to the stars and the headline-grabbers, Cameron Hayes’s journey offers a refreshing lesson on the value of quiet dedication. His commitment to becoming the best version of himself—whether or not anyone is watching—has inspired not only his teammates but an entire organization. As the Saints look to make another deep playoff run, Hayes’s story has become a new symbol of the kind of player the Saints pride themselves on: one who leads through action, not words.
As Moore so aptly put it, “We’re all here for the same reason, but it’s guys like Hayes who remind us that the journey is just as important as the destination.”
22-Year-Old Star’s Breakout Exposes Broncos’ WR Dilemma
If you wanted any indication about how expectations have shifted around the Denver Broncos in the last year, consider that the only conversations around the team right now seem to be negative ones on how bad their offense is.
That’s despite having an 8-2 record and being a pair of last second field goals away from being undefeated. That’s despite being on a 7-game winning streak headed into a Week 11 home game against their AFC West Division rival Kansas City Chiefs.
All anybody wants to talk about, it seems, is how bad quarterback Bo Nix has been. Which might be fair.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox thinks Nix might get help in the form of second year wide receiver Troy Franklin, who he tagged as the team’s possible “Breakout Star” in the second half of the season.
“With four touchdown receptions in his last four games, second-year Denver Broncos receiver Troy Franklin has already started to break out a bit, and it’s been no accident,” Knox wrote on November 13. “Bo Nix’s college teammate has been targeted a whopping 37 times in that four-game stretch. The Oregon product’s target share isn’t likely to dip over the second half of the season, and he could be the key to unlocking a Broncos offense that has been as inconsistent as any in the NFL this season.”
Rough Rookie Season for Former Oregon Star
Franklin was a fourth round pick (No. 102 overall) in the 2024 NFL draft after putting up 81 receptions for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns catching passes from Nix at Oregon in 2023.
That type of production didn’t convey to his rookie year, when he had 28 receptions for 263 yards and 2 touchdowns in 16 games. He’s already eclipsed through 10 games in 2025 with 42 receptions for 425 yards and 5 touchdowns, leading the team in receptions and touchdown receptions.
Franklin may have had extra motivation in his sophomore campaign after critics came hard for him in 2024, including Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski putting him at No. 4 on his list of the “NFL’s Worst Rookies” at one point.
“The logic seemed sound: The Denver Broncos paired their new franchise quarterback, Bo Nix, with his favorite collegiate target, Troy Franklin,” Sobleski wrote in October 2024. “They should hit it off, right? Well, the previous rapport hasn’t translated so far.”
Franklin ended the season making NFL history with Nix in an AFC Wild Card Round loss to the Buffalo Bills on a 43-yard touchdown pass.
“INCREDIBLE, but true Bo Nix to Troy Franklin is the FIRST rookie to rookie TD in NFL PLAYOFF HISTORY,” NFL on CBS wrote on its official X account.
Franklin Hasn’t Shown He’s Viable WR2 Yet
The Broncos have spent most of the last 2 seasons waiting for someone to step up and become a viable WR2 option behind $92 million Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton.
No one has to this point, although there’s some who think Franklin’s success as of late has come at the expensive of Sutton.
“As the Broncos continue to look under the hood of their lackluster passing offense, one thing needs an immediate change … Start featuring Courtland Sutton more,” Denver sports radio host Zach Bye wrote on his official X account on November 10. “Troy Franklin has 41 targets in the last 5 weeks. Courtland Sutton has 29 over that stretch … Go back to basics.”
