Saints legend delivers a clear message to doubtful Saints fans
A Saints legend just gave his opinion on the future of the team in a recent interview with RG.
Marques Colston recently sat down with RG's DJ Saddiqi to discuss the New Orleans Saints' current direction. One of the major takeaways from Colston’s interview is the Saints lack of identity, which is to be expected. Kellen Moore is in his first year at head coach and Spencer Rattler is still a young, inexperienced quarterback.
Colston is a Saints legend, finishing his career with 711 receptions, 9,759 yards and 72 receiving touchdowns in his 10 year career. Each of those marks are franchise records. He played through the golden age of Saints history, so he should have a pretty good idea of what a team should look like.
“I think it's a team that's very much still finding their identity. There's so much transition. You got an offense coordinator as a first-time head coach. He's trying to find his identity as a play caller and as a leader. You got some of those younger players that are just trying to figure out who they are in the league. On top of that, you got some of the veteran players that are kind of that staying force in that that they're kind of that steadying anchor.”
The Saints' young talent have great mentors surrounding them
The Saints have a mix of young, developing talent with some proven veterans. This is exactly what the front office wants. Let the new age of players learn from some franchise greats. This will create a culture and set the standard of what the team wants to be.
"They know who they are, and they have this standard that they want to play at," Colston said. "I think as long as the younger guys can continue to play to the standard of the Cam Jordan's, the Alvin Kamara's, the Demario Davis's. I think as long as that kind of becomes that North Star, that standard becomes the North Star, they'll continue to get better. They'll continue to improve. Once you start to build that momentum, you'll start to see the winning stack over time."
Having leaders such as Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan, and Alvin Kamara greatly aid the rebuild and player’s development. For example, both Danny Stutsman and Devin Neal have a spectacular mentor to learn from before they hopefully take over.
Despite the record, Spencer Rattler has played winning football
Colston praised Spencer Rattler’s performance. He’s been playing winning football by limiting his turnovers and making good decisions.
“He's played pretty well over these first handful of weeks, and it hasn't necessarily showed up in the win column, but he's playing winning football. It sounds funny, but the No. 1 objective in winning is, don't lose, right? He's not turning the ball over, he's making good decisions. Sometimes the decision is, get to fourth down and punt.” Colston said, “He's playing winning football, and I think he'll just continue to build momentum. He'll continue to build confidence.”
Rattler has been great outside of his week seven performance against the Chicago Bears. As Colston said, the record doesn’t reflect it, but the Saints have been in a position to win. It’s all about building momentum from here on out.
Steelers Sign Aaron Rodgers’ Former WR
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers made sure they helped out quarterback Aaron Rodgers, giving him a wide reicever he has great rapport with.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling plans to sign with the Steelers and reunite with Rodgers.
Steelers Host Marquez Valdes-Scantling for Workout
Valdes-Scantling worked out for the Steelers on Oct. 27, just a day after they lost 35-25 to the Packers at Acrisure Stadium in Week 8.
The workout went well, which allows Valdes-Scantling to join the Steelers and have a chance for more great moments with Rodgers.
Fowler reported that Valdes-Scantling will likely start on the practice squad and that it's not known when he'll join the Steelers, due to travel logistics.
Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling Share Great Connection
The Packers took Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USF and he spent his first four seasons in the NFL catching passes from Rodgers.
Valdes-Scantling caught 123 passes for 2,153 yards, 17.5 average yards per reception, and 13 touchdowns during his time in Green Bay.
His best season with Rodgers came in 2020, starting 12 of 16 games and making 33 catches for 690 yards and six touchdowns, both career-highs. His 20.9 yards per reception led the NFL that season
Valdes-Scantling Moves around the NFL
Valdes-Scantling signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 24, 2022.
He spent two seasons with the Chiefs, making 63 catches for 1,002 yards, 15.9 yards per reception, and three touchdowns in 33 games.
Valdes-Scantling won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs, including catching a touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, a 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
His best season with the Chiefs and MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes came in 2022, where he made a career-high 42 catches for 687 yards, 16.4 yards per reception, and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs released him after the 2023 season and he spent 2024 with both the Buffalo Bills and the New Orleans Saints, playing in 14 games combined. He had 17 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns with the Saints in eight starts.
He signed with the 49ers practice squad on Aug. 27, but a calf injury landed him on injured reserve on Oct. 17 and the 49ers released him the day after.
How the Steelers Wide Receiver Corps Looks Now
The Steelers currently have six wide receivers on the 53-man active roster, which includes DK Metcalf, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, Ke'Shawn Williams and Roman Wilson.
Adding Valdes-Scantling gives them a veteran presence on a roster with either younger wide outs or older, but less productive ones.
It also allows Rodgers a wide receiver that he has worked with before, which should make for a more effective offense overall.
