Saints could benefit from some ‘magic’ in 2021

The New Orleans Saints might be due for a little magic in 2021.

First, let reflect on the career of longtime NFL quarterback Earl Morrall, who proved to be more than just an insurance policy during his 21 years of service in the National Football League. The four-time NFL champion and 1968 league MVP was most valuable when his team really needed him most.

Following a trade from the New York Giants to the Don Shula-coached Baltimore Colts, Morrall replaced the injured Johnny Unitas after am elbow injury to his throwing shoulder shelved the legend in the final preseason game in ’68. The newcomer guided the Colts to a 13-1 mark, earning MVP honors at age 34.

Two year later, Morrall once again came out of the bullpen after Unitas was injured in game five of regular season. Baltimore went onto a 10-1-1 record the rest of the way, culminating in a 16-13 victory over Dallas in Super Bowl V.\

In 1972, Shula, now the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, claimed Morrall off the NFL scrap heap for the $100 waiver wire price in April. Starter Bob Griese was injured October 15 in the season’s fifth game against the Chargers. The 38-year old Morrall once again took charge, helping the history team record 12 consecutive wins in their run to a perfect 17-0 campaign.

Morrall played for six different NFL teams, making 102 career starts and posting a 63-36-3 mark.

What does Morrall have to do with the Saints and magic?

Current veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is an aging veteran passer seeking a new opportunity. He has had eight stops during his NFL days with 146 starts. His career resembles Morrall’s in many ways.

The Harvard grad was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2004. Fitzpatrick scored a near perfect score in the 2005 pre-draft Wonderlic test, finishing in just nine minutes. He was scooped up by the St. Louis Rams in round 7 of the ’05 draft.

In 2010, he had 13 starts in Buffalo, becoming the first Buffalo QB since ex-Tulane star J.P. Losman to throw for at least 3,000 yards in a Bills uniform. He also tossed at least one touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games. In 2012, Bills head coach Chan Gailey was canned, and Fitzpatrick was not retained.

While with the Houston Texans, he threw six touchdown passes in a single game against the Titans on November 30, 2014.
After a two-year stopover with the New York Jets, he landed in Tampa Bay in ’17.

With starter Jameis Winston serving a three-game suspension in ’18, “Fitzmagic” led the Buccaneers into the Superdome for the season opener and racked up 417 yards with four touchdowns and a 156.2 QB rating, giving the visitors a 48-40 upset win over the Saints.

Fitzpatrick threw for over 400 yards in the subsequent two weeks, becoming the first QB in NFL history to throw for 400 yards or more in three consecutive weeks. He is also the only player in league history to throw a touchdown pass with eight separate teams.

His path then led him in 2019 to Miami where he beat out Josh Rosen, who had just arrived in a trade from the Cardinals. Fitzpatrick not only earned the starting role, but he became the oldest player (37) in NFL history to lead a team in rushing with 243 yards plus four touchdowns.

Last season, he beat out highly regarded rookie Tua Tagovailoa early in the season and played in 9 games for the Dolphins with seven starts. He was 4-3 as a starter, completing 68.5% for 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also led rallies in a couple of relief appearances.

Once again, Ryan Fitzpatrick is in the unemployment line, seeking a new NFL home. He has succeeded in a variety of offensive schemes so he may be a good fit in the Sean Payton offense. With the Saints backed up to the wall by the salary cap, ‘Fitzmagic’ could be a bargain with unknown upside.

Fitzpatrick still possesses an ability to throw deep and can function as a quality starter who should be a viable option even if the Black and Gold decide to select a rookie to groom in the upcoming draft. What he may lack in skills as a younger player, the cerebral and gutsy Fitzpatrick offsets in experience.

The Arizona native has been sporting his recognizable thick beard since his days playing in the icey, cold weather in Buffalo. Unlike Morrall, he has never made the playoffs throughout his career but he has vowed to shave his dense facial hair if and when he wins a championship.

The question is, are the Saints even willing to bring on a QB who will be 39 years old this season even though he could be an ideal fit, at least for the short term. Their starter last year was 41, after all. Consider this an endorsement.