Saints return to practice after off day, release QB J.T. Barrett to add TE Jake Powell

The New Orleans Saints were back to practice Thursday after a day off, and quarterback J.T. Barrett was back off the roster.

The second-year quarterback out of Ohio State was cut from the 90-man training camp roster to make room for rookie tight end Jake Powell, an undrafted free agent out of Monmouth who has been signed for the second time this offseason.

Barrett was undrafted in 2018 and spent time on the Saints practice squad while being released and resigned over two dozen times to date. The Saints have three quarterbacks – veterans Drew Brees, Teddy Bridegwater and Taysom Hill – on their roster currently.

Notes: A pair of rookies – wide receiver Emmanuel Butler and seventh round tight end Alize Mack – missed Thursday’s practice after suffering undisclosed injuries Tuesday … The NFL’s new highest paid wide receiver is Michael Thomas, who practiced for the first time since ending his holdout. “It’s definitely a blessing now it’s time to motivate and inspire the guys to go do the same thing and just play for the ultimate goal and to play for a championship. That’s the number one goal here and now that’s my main focus,” Thomas said after practice.

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton

Training Camp Presented By Verizon

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Post-Practice Media Availability

Opening Statement:
“Just one transaction. We re-signed tight end Jake Powell and we waived quarterback, JT Barrett. We’re still at our 90 (man roster) count.”

We kind of figured (Michael Thomas) would be in soon. Is it comforting to have him back?

“He’s an important part of what we do offensively. He is experienced. I felt real positive. I knew Mike was going to come in in good shape. It’s good to have him back. It’s good to see them out there moving around.”

What would you say is Michael Thomas’s greatest asset?

“He is a strong target in traffic. He is one of those guys that has a good radius for the quarterback. He’s a guy that really works at his craft relative to the whole week leading up to the game. His strength is run after the catch. Those are all things that I think he does very well.”

Do you think he’s about as double covered — especially since he operates and traffic — as you’ll see in this league?
“Well, it’s hard to say because it varies per team, per coverage. There are weeks where we’ll get a heavier role maybe on third down specifically. I think a lot of it depends on down and distance. I’m sure there are a handful of players you look closely (at) on defenses who you have to take away and certainly he’s one of those players if you’re defending us that you want to limit and try to minimize the threat he can have on you. That’s something that you’ve got to work through formationaly and something you’ve got to work through relative to the quarterback’s progression. That’s part of the little bit of the chess match each weekend.”

Does that (factor into why) the catch rate he had last year of almost 85 percent was so astronomical? 
“Well, the catch rate just deals with the consistency at which your ball goes to him and he catches it. If you’re putting on a Wednesday night, third down reel and you’re the opponent and you’re looking at two to three or four to six and you’re trying to look at who the threats are, you’re trying to make sure you have a good gameplan to cover those threats and he’s one of them.”

Was it important to get his contract done sooner rather than later? Just so you can get him back out here? 
“I think that’s the case. You don’t run into these situations like you might have eight, 10 years ago where you might go five, six, seven days with your rookie first round pick. That has kind of changed now with the slot system. It was good to get it done and get him out here. Obviously, we are preparing. There is a lot that we are doing right now. There always is that sense of urgency.”

When you look at Drew (Brees) working with different receivers and obviously with Jared Cook like zone versus man, you see him on a particular play, maybe it might have been an incompletion and you get with Jared and say, ‘this is what I am expecting.’ Is that something you do on the field and in the film room?

“That will happen with an immediate response. Drew might grab them. A coach might grab them. You see something and then again you confirm it when you are watching the tape. That’s why we try to as much as we can watch the film in groups rather than separate so there is that dialogue. That’s the things that you’re trying to get ironed out prior to the regular season starting.”

In the past you hqve highlighted players that when the pads come on it kind of changed for the positive for them. Are there a couple of guys that (stand out)?

“We were talking about personnel yesterday, I thought the last few days, Dwayne Washington stood out. He’s someone that we know we can play in the kicking game, but he’s had some good practices. You’ve noticed it, Trey Hendrickson, at his weight and playing well. (David) Onyemata is another player. Those are a few players that you’re seeing pretty consistently. (Erik) McCoy’s done well inside. It’s still early.”

You talked about how Mike Thomas practices at such a high level. How much does that impact other guys to also help them?

“There is a formula for him and sometimes even in walkthrough with Mike, it is almost full speed. Darren Sproles was that way. He has a way that he gets ready in regards to stretch and prepared mentally and physically to play a game each weekend. He’s pretty routine-driven that way.”

Talk about (Terron Armstead’s) development from the time you drafted him to what you’re seeing today.
“He is a tremendous athlete and if you went back all the way to the (scouting) combine you really looked at some of the numbers, they were unique for a tackle. How he ran, his movement skills. He played at a small school, but it was a real good third round pick for us. He has got fantastic leadership. He’s tough. I can remember the first game he started and then that year we’re in the playoffs. There’s a toughness and not only a physical toughness, but there’s a mental toughness with him, some grit. And I think that clearly he is one of our leaders on this team and someone that’s well-respected.”

You’re getting with the officials when they come in later today. Anything specific you’re looking to ask them?
“Typically when they come in they’ll have a presentation. There is a video they show. We will talk about the rule changes, we will talk about the points of emphasis, there will be questions in the room. They will show the video and then we are fortunate now to have them Thursday, Friday, Saturday. We will have them for a stretch where the players can communicate (with them). They will throw a flag on the field. We will not stop the drill. There is always that positive interaction that you get relative to how they see certain things. And we’ve got a handful of guys we haven’t worked with before and I think that’s good.”

Do your defensive backs have questions for them about the new pass interference rule, where there is a challenge mechanism in place? Do they come to you about that?
“No. There’s no new standard. Pass interference is going to be evaluated just like it has been before on the field. What’s out of their control is if It goes to replay. The questions relative to pass interference being something that can be challenged or offensive pass interference when it goes back to New York, what’s the standard there? And it’s clear and obvious and those guys have all the angles and copies to look at a play. And then of course inside two minutes the replay official is in charge of stopping it and what are his standards? It’s real time. Seeing it real time on a replay. That was one of the things we discussed, but we discussed a lot of different things last night.”

Are the referees involved with the TV networks as far as how long they want a game to last?
“That’s kind of behind the scenes because that can be controlled relative to how long your halftime is. That can be controlled relative to when the ball’s in play. There’s things that can take place to keep it at that spot where they want it that are really outside the officials and outside the coaches and the players. When it’s a change though, relative timing, sometimes you are playing in the stadium, halftime in our league is pretty quick. If you’re walking back up a ramp to your right down the hallway to a locker room, you’re probably quickly going to the restroom, maybe grabbing something to drink or eat, coaches are going through quick adjustments, then you are meeting and then you are returning (to the field). The halftime compared to a college halftime is much different.”

About a week into camp. Is the depth playing out the way your thought it was going to?

“Yesterday was the first time we met personnel-wise. It’s still early. We’re working with a lot of different rotations and there’s a lot ahead of us here, so it’s still about the technique and fundamentals, making sure that the players know their assignment and then that’ll begin to unfold. All of this is important.”

When a player is new to a team, is there a point during training camp you start to worry about how much missed time they might accumulate compared to a player who has played for you for a while?

“The alert (is) when a player is new is, where is he coming from? Is he coming from a team where he just finished playing and is he in shape? Has he been in an offseason (strength and conditioning) program? Has he not been in an offseason program? It is more about what’s he ready for so that we don’t have an injury the first couple days he’s out here. A lot of it depends on the specific player.”

Did (Michael Thomas) have to do the conditioning drill?
“Well he just got here, so at some point we’ll work through that.”

Were you surprised you were able to retain both your offense and defensive staff in terms of coordinators and position coaches?

“A lot of that is really out of your control. I’ve said this before, I think it is a good thing and it’s something that you want to, as the head coach, help (them move up the ladder). You want to see these guys have these opportunities especially in a head coaching position or even a coordinator position. We have a handful of guys that are going to be head coaches in this league on this current staff. What specifically are the teams looking for that they interview with? I don’t know, and that varies per team, but you get a little bit more concerned if no one’s calling.”

You have to feel good about the retention.

“I like our group. Absolutely. A lot of these guys I’ve been with for quite a while. Some of them, maybe not as long, but I think that the number one thing I learned is when you’re an assistant, you focus on where your feet are at the ground at that time, and focus on working and doing your job. It’s a small league. There aren’t a lot of secrets and very quickly word gets out as to who’s doing well. If you do that, those other things come.”

New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver Michael Thomas

2019 Training Camp Presented by Verizon

Wednesday, August 1, 2019

Post-Practice Media Availability

What did you miss most about camp?

“Missing the reps and competing against my teammates knowing that if I win, a guy across from you got better, or if he wins, then you know, I got better and there’s ways to coach off of that. The development and becoming a better player and a great player, you can’t do that sitting at home.”

Where you able to replicate some of that competitiveness when you were not here at training camp?

“Yes, for the most part, as much as I could. It is a lot different than it is out here and you are competing against another hungry opponent.”

When you look at your career and being part of NFL history, setting the receptions record for a player’s first three years and think it was about a month ago, you said that was kind of the gameplan. Did you stick to it? I do not want a penny more or a penny less. This is the market value and what I want? Is this is what you intended?

“Yes sir and I have to earn it too. I feel like I have been earning that and that is what I am going continue to do. That is how I approach the game. I set high goals and I want to live up to them. So I feel like, you cannot really find that out about a person from (a) Q and A or maybe watching at practice and we have to really know the person. I know deep down in my heart and my gut that I love playing this game. I love competing and competing with the best.”

What was your routine like during the practices that you could not be at?

“I was looking at Twitter and seeing who is making plays. Checking you guys’ highlights and watching the film on iPads and stuff like that. The first couple of days it was kind of easier then, as it kept going on and prolonging, then it kind of felt like days turned into weeks so you just want to be out here and we have ultimate goals to be the last team standing and play for a championship.”

What are your thoughts on being rewarded for your play?

“I have always been motivated by slights and yes, for sure. I come from a competitive family. My uncle is the first receiver drafted in 1996 overall at number one. When I was drafted, it was what it was. It was the second (round) and stuff like that, but I had to control it and now we both have a little something to talk about. Just being a competitor and when you set high goals, there is rewards on the end of it.”

How rewarding is it that you earned this contract?

“It’s definitely a blessing now it’s time to motivate and inspire the guys to go do the same thing and just play for the ultimate goal and to play for a championship. That’s the number one goal here and now that’s my main focus.”

How is the addition of Jared Cook going to help your game?
“You guys have seen it. He is a football player, a functional football player; he is a Pro Bowl tight end. He is for real. So anytime you add another guy into our offense that is for real. It only can make it better.”

What does this second contract do for you, your foundation setting and family?

“I signed that deal and I told Mickey (Loomis) that I’ll be back to do a third deal. It was just the process. Now it is onto the next goal. I am now the highest paid, but now I have to go earn it. It is kind of something you set on. You are now the highest paid; now you have to go earn it. That is my biggest thing, I’m trying to earn every penny of it.”

What went into the decision to sit out?

“That’s the business part of it and that’s why I hired an agent and my agent becomes a coach and negotiator and I have to listen to the guy that I hired. That was what they told me and those are the protocols that I follow.”

Was there a day you targeted and said to yourself, I have to get to this date?

“I was in San Diego training the whole time, I was doing everything I was supposed to do. I just didn’t report on the day that everyone else reported.”

We all speculate about who might want to go first and sign a contract amongst all the receivers. You did not mind going first?

“At the end day, it is football. We knew that someone else is going to go, that is how the game goes. Even watching Drew Brees, he could be the best quarterback right now and another guy’s going to jump him. That is just how it goes. Having guys like that, veterans and people that have been in the game and know the game, just trusting them and listening to them. I had great advice.”

Do you think you might be the most doubled covered receiver in the league, especially as you operate in traffic so much?

“I don’t know. As long as I’m getting open and catching the ball, I think that just whatever comes with it. It is what it is.”

How much pride do you take though in catching those tight window passes when you are not wide open a lot of time when you are catching the ball?
“I just have a lot of pride in my quarterback, the offense, I know we’re not, you’re just not here to just call plays. I know Drew Brees does not make bad decisions. He has a high football IQ, so if (he) makes a decision, I have to make it also.”

Are you on the Emmanuel Butler hype train now?

“For sure, we have to keep getting better. We have the ability to get better every day just by the coaches that we have every day. They coach us very hard. C.J. (Curtis Johnson) is on us every second of the day. That is why I value staying here. That is why I value new life. I wanted to be back here because I knew with the coaches that I had, I could be the best player and I wanted to play. They are always going to correct me and coach me hard.”

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees

2019 Training Camp Presented by Verizon

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Post Practice Media Availability

How great was it to have Michael Thomas back?
“Everybody’s going to ask the same question first. Michael Thomas, he is back. It is awesome, great to have him back. I knew it was only a matter of time. I think the timing is good, getting back in the fold. We’re still at the beginning I think of our install for the most part so he came in today as if he’s been here the whole time and so all good.”

Did you text him or did he text you and saying, Hey, I’m coming in?
“Yes, I’ve been texting him, just checking on him and seeing how things are going and I knew things were close, so (I’m) glad that it got done.”

Coach (Payton) complimented his practice habits and what he brings to the table. Does he help elevate other guys too?
“Yes, I think so. I think there’s definitely a presence and attitude, a swagger to what he brings to the field. You know when he is out there, there is no half-speed rep. Everything is a thousand miles an hour, Mach three with your hair on fire with Mike. I think everybody else elevates their game to that. I think he makes the guys he is going up against better, the DBs. I think it is just that heightened level. Our team periods are competitive anyway, right? We are out here to make each other better. We are out here to just (use) that adage, iron sharpens iron. That is truly the way we feel about these training camp practices. I am trying to beat our defense every day, right? And I expect them to try to do the same to me. It is only making me better. It is only making them better. And at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team, but if we can go into the regular season feeling like we’ve been playing against the best of the best for the last six weeks, then I think that puts us a step ahead.”

You all said you understood why he was sitting out, but, is there an appreciation that he got it done pretty quick and he’s back here?
“Yes, absolutely. Again, you know that this is part of the business at times and you hope that it doesn’t drag out too long. We want to have all the guys here, all the members of the team, we want the whole band. Right? The more work that we can all get together I think the better off we are.”

Now that you are in this mode where you’re back pushing that boulder up the hill, how can you tell a difference than an influence like the way last season ended has and coming that close on the mindset of a team starting over again the next year?
“Training Camp’s Training Camp. You really just try to put it into a bunch of one day segments. Every day is a new installation to a degree, right? The defense is continuing to add more. The offense is continuing to add more, but it’s almost like going back to square one for every installation. And I go back and I look at the same plays and I try to approach it as if I’m seeing it for the first time and okay, let’s just go back to square one. How am I reading this play and what if this happens? It changes the mindset a little bit. You go back and literally start from scratch with just about everything and just kind of rebuild the foundation by which we’re going to continue to evolve and add as the year goes on. Just like we always do.”

So any hangover effect would’ve been February, March, April. You don’t believe that carries over into August, September?
“You can’t, you can’t let it happen. As angry as we all were, as frustrated as we all were. It’s not like you just totally forget that. I think there’s defining moments from your career. I certainly know I’ve had my fair share that I can reflect back on and still sting a little bit and still burn a little bit and still motivate, still inspired as part of what keeps you going.”

I’m fascinated what your relationship with Zion (Williamson). You had the passing of the torch when he got drafted. You talked about him in your ESPY speech. You’re 40, he’s 19 years old. How did it all come about and you seem to have really kind of taken him under your wing?
“First of all, let’s take a step back. Zion has not played a game yet, right? He has not stepped foot on the court yet for the Pelicans during a regular season game. So as much excitement as there is and I think at the end of the day, for me as being a guy who knows what it is like to come to a city and feeling like, man, it is kind of starting from scratch and building something from the ground up. That’s the way we felt when we came here in ‘06 with Sean Payton and all the guys that came in that year and here we are 14 years later and we are able to look at all that we have accomplished and how we are still trying to climb and get better. I think we’re at that point with the Pelicans in a lot of ways where we’ve (had) a lot of turnover, right? You acquire a guy like him and Jaxson Hayes and the big trade with AD (Anthony Davis) getting guys from the Lakers and picks. I think you take that and you add it to a guy like Jrue Holiday, who in my opinion is the real leader of this team right now on the Pelicans side and the guy that with him and then you are taking some of these talented young players that you are trying to add pieces to the puzzle. I think for me, it is allowing these young guys to see the opportunity that they have here in New Orleans. This is incredible fan base, this is an incredible city that is ready to embrace them, but there is a right way to do it, right? It is not like you just snap your fingers and it happens, man. It takes work. It takes hard work. It takes dedication and there’s going to be some bumps in the road. I think we’re all in this honeymoon phase a little bit where we’re all excited, but at some point you’ve got to get to work and you’ve got to put your nose to the grindstone and just focus on getting a little bit better every day and then going out and taking what you’ve been doing in practice and in the offseason and putting that to work in the season.”

With the ESPY’s, how did it work that your sons and Zion (Williamson) had the exact same tuxedo?

“That was just by chance, honestly. First of all, when I signed the Jersey to Zion, I did not know that was going to be for public consumption. I did not know that that was going to show up on Instagram and videos and all this other stuff. And that was just my personal statement to him, just welcoming him to the city and letting him know that I want to be there for him as a resource in whatever I can do. I feel that way about every rookie that walks in the door here to. Whatever I can do, just because of the way I feel about this city and these organizations from the ownership down. But, that was the first time we had met Zion. Did not know that I was going to see him. It was literally right when we walk out of the hotel to jump in our car to go to the red carpet. My boys are there with the maroon tuxedo jackets with the black lapel and out walks Zion same outfit. So it this like this is meant to be. It was awesome. And then right by right by him walks Bill Russell. It was pretty cool because it was like one of obviously the most legendary players in the history of the game and also when it comes to just what he was able to do off the field in regards to social justice causes and various things. So for me, looking at Bill Russell as this is one of the fixtures of professional sports period, right? And then seeing kind of the next generation there at the same time. I don’t know. That’s the part of me that really loves the ESPY’s. I’m sitting there in my seat and I’m looking at Bill Russell and I’m looking at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and I’m looking at Dr. J (Julius Erving) and so forget football for a second. I’m in awe of the guys that have just paved the way for all of us as athletes in general.”

Do you feel like you would regularly maybe check in on Zion (Williamson) during the season since it’s convenient?
“I’ll check in on all those guys. Listen, he’s in a tough spot because obviously there are a ton of expectations, right? Comes in as the number one pick you know what type of athletic ability he has and the excitement around that. By all accounts we’ve got a pretty young team, right? Certainly, I am always going to be there for Zion (Williamson). Whatever I can do to help guide, to help advise, to help mentor. I’m there. If he wants to go one on one, I’ll do that too. Listen, I think there’s a kinship regardless of the generational gap, right? There’s a kinship because I’m in a different sport and yet I understand the pressures, right? I can be there as a resource for him or any of those guys, I’m happy to take on that responsibility.”