Drew Brees wants to play, but shoulder won't let him
Drew Brees has been out of the NFL since 2020, when he retired after a long-time, record-setting career. Though he couldn't achieve a title beyond his first with the team in Super Bowl XLIV, he was a repeated fixture in the NFC Playoffs and a threat to get back there with the Saints year in and year out.
With Brees retiring at 41, yet seeing Tom Brady push the envelope playing through his year 45 season, it leaves the door open for fans to wonder, could Brees have returned to play?
Especially seeing teams like the Browns turn to 38-year-old Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers continuing to play at 39 with no end in immediate sight, couldn't Brees have been impactful with the rulebook generally protecting quarterbacks more than ever?
Brees admitted on a radio show recently that there have been a few inquiries. He even admitted he would be playing somewhere, but for one reason: He can't throw with his right arm anymore.
"I don't throw with my right arm anymore. If I could, I would absolutely still be playing," Brees admitted. He said the only thing he does right-handed athletically is pickleball because it's underarm.
Wow. Tough for Saints fans to hear, thinking of all the near misses in the postseason. Every year, there was the thought that 'next year' would be the Saints year.
Ron Rivera's future is going under assessment the rest of the way
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Ron Rivera is a, "topic of discussion," for the Commanders.
Rapoport suggests that the team's new ownership wants to evaluate Rivera after the season so they can look at his entire season of work. Rapoport suggests that even if the Commanders take an ugly loss to the formidable Dallas Cowboys on center stage on Thanksgiving, ownership really wants to consider the season in totality, even though the public discussion is sure to swirl if that comes to bear.
Rivera is coaching his second team, and is widely revered in NFL circles. Firing him would be a very clear decision, but Josh Harris, who just purchased the team this offseason, may prefer to select his own head coach to put his stamp on the team.
Harris also owns the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers. Harris purchased the Devils in August, 2013, and fired his incumbent head coach in December, 2014. He purchased the Sixers in 2011 and retained the incumbent Doug Collins until his resignation in 2013. He's generally given incumbent coaches a decent leash.
Cowboys looking at signing Shaq Leonard
Darius 'Shaq' Leonard is on the open market after the Indianapolis Colts shockingly released the All-Pro linebacker. The Dallas Cowboys are one of the teams expected to at least consider signing him according to David Moore of The Dallas Morning News.
The decision to sign Leonard is not as simple as seeing a former All-Pro and opting to add him to the mix. Leonard underwent back surgeries in recent offseasons and his playing time has been limited as a result, which created some internal frustration internally with the Colts over how much he was costing the team relative to his production.
So, for whichever team signs him, they may be getting less an immediate on-field production add and more of a morale boost than anything else. That doesn't mean, though, that Leonard would be an unimpactful addition. His experience achieving at a high level defensively could be a good add for the Cowboys' defense in general.
That said, Leonard's shock over his benching in Indianapolis and subsequent cut could indicate he's more game-ready than his playing time in Indy previously suggested.
Since the Cowboys also already boast a solid defense, Leonard may be a good add even if he's only available on limited downs. Dallas could use an extra oomph, one that Leonard may be able to provide.
Dianna Russini indicated that the Vikings, Eagles, and "others" are all collecting information on him (subscription required).
