HEADLINES

Khalif Barnes

Saints Claim Joe Callahan From Packers

October 14th, 2016 at 4:10pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Saints have claimed quarterback Joe Callahan off waivers from the Packers, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. In a corresponding move, the Saints have released offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, according to Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link).

Joe Callahan

The Packers cut Callahan on Thursday, but their hope was that the rookie would pass through waivers and end up on their practice squad. He’ll instead head to New Orleans, which has two quarterbacks on its roster – Drew Brees and Luke McCown – and Garrett Grayson on its taxi squad. Callahan, a former standout at Division III Wesley College, joined the Pack as an undrafted free agent this year. Thanks to an excellent preseason, he unexpectedly cracked Green Bay’s 53-man roster, though his stay only lasted five weeks.

As for Barnes, the Saints have shuffled him on and off their roster since August. The former Jaguar and Raider has 151 appearances and 117 starts to his name, but he hasn’t yet seen action this year.

Saints Sign Khalif Barnes

October 6th, 2016 at 3:46pm CST by Zachary Links

No, this is not a re-post. The Saints are signing offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter). To make room on the roster, cornerback Brian Dixon is being released. The Saints made this exact same transaction in reverse on Saturday. Khalif Barnes (Vertical)

The 34-year-old Barnes has been yo-yo’d on and off of the Saints’ roster this year. After being cut on October 1st, Barnes apparently did not drift far from New Orleans. Coach Sean Payton said that Barnes was not in football shape in September, but his conditioning is presumably better now.

Dixon, a third-year UDFA out of Division II Northwest Missouri State, played in all 32 of New Orleans’ contests in 2014-15 as a backup. Given the way the Saints have been playing with the roster, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him return in the near future.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints Cut Khalif Barnes, Sign Brian Dixon

October 1st, 2016 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second time in a month, the Saints made the decision to cut tackle Khalif Barnes, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Third-year cornerback Brian Dixon will return to the team’s active roster after spending time this season on the Saints’ practice squad.

The 34-year-old Barnes has spent plenty of time on the fringe for the Saints this summer, working out for the team on multiple occasions and now being cut for the second time. Sean Payton said in September, when both he and Dixon failed to make New Orleans’ 53-man roster, Barnes was not yet in football shape. The Saints then re-signed him two weeks later after he presumably worked his way into shape.

Barnes did not see action for the Saints this season after playing for the Jaguars and Raiders for 11 years. A starter of 117 games since entering the league as a second-round Jags pick in 2005, Barnes started just one game for the Raiders last season — his final year with the team he played for from 2009-15.

Dixon rejoins a Saints team in dire need of experience at corner after losing both Delvin Breaux and second-year player P.J. Williams to injuries. A third-year UDFA out of Division II Northwest Missouri State, Dixon played in all 32 of New Orleans’ contests in 2014-15 as a backup. He’ll likely function in that role again.

The Saints have Sterling Moore, whom they signed late in the summer, and UDFAs Ken Crawley and De’Vante Harris as their top three corners presently. Dixon saw action for both Rob Ryan and Dennis Allen‘s units in 2015, so system acclimation probably won’t be an issue.

The Saints, after giving up an NFL-record 45 touchdown passes last season, rank 25th against the pass this season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints To Sign OT Khalif Barnes

September 28th, 2016 at 2:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are expected to sign tackle Khalif Barnes today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Barnes had multiple auditions with the Saints this month and he finally has landed a deal with New Orleans. Khalif Barnes (Vertical)

The tackle hooked on with New Orleans towards the end of the preseason but he did not make the final 53-man cut in early September. Coach Sean Payton indicated that Barnes didn’t make the team initially because he wasn’t in football shape. Now, Barnes is presumably ready for live action.

Barnes played in 14 games for the Raiders last year, but he only started one contest. In his previous ten NFL seasons, Barnes started in more than 80% of his games.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints Audition Khalif Barnes

September 14th, 2016 at 4:40pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

For the second time since last week, the Saints tried out free agent offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Wednesday, according to Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate.

Khalif Barnes (Vertical)

The Saints are familiar with Barnes, having employed the 34-year-old briefly toward the end of the preseason before releasing him as part of their final cuts on Sept. 3. New Orleans head coach Sean Payton said after the club cut Barnes that he wasn’t in football shape, per Underhill, so it’s possible it will bring the tackle/guard in as depth if it feels his conditioning is now up to par.

“I think (well) considering this is a player that really hasn’t been in an offseason plan,” Payton said. “He is overweight right now, he’s big and that will be a process of him gradually cutting his weight down, but to sign him early in the week and play 20 something snaps, we wanted to make sure we didn’t give him too many snaps and risk any type of injury for a player that really hadn’t had the training camp and offseason program. I think he handled it pretty well.”

Barnes, who went in the second round of the 2005 draft, racked up a combined 151 appearances and 117 starts as a member of the Jaguars and Raiders over his first 11 NFL seasons. Barnes suited up for 14 of the Raiders’ games last year, but he made a career-worst one start.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints Audition Rueben Randle, Others

September 6th, 2016 at 4:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints auditioned a small army’s worth of players today. Among the notable players to work out for New Orleans were wide receivers Rueben Randle, Greg Little, and Andre Caldwell (Twitter links via Nick Underhill of The Advocate). Rueben Randle

Offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, long snapper Aaron Brewer, long snapper Andrew East, long snapper Thomas Gafford, offensive tackle Bryce Harris, tight end Nic Jacobs, tight end Jake Stoneburner, guard/center Mike Liedtke, cornerback Sterling Moore, cornerback Darrin Walls, cornerback B.W. Webb, and wide receiver Nate Washington also auditioned for the Saints. Liedtke’s visit “went well” and “there’s a good chance something may happen soon,” according to agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link).

Randle, 25, joined the Eagles this offseason after averaging 56 receptions, 782 yards, and six touchdowns over the past three seasons with the Giants. However, he was cut loose before the 75-man deadline. Randle is known to be a talented receiver but there were serious questions about his work ethic while he was in East Rutherford.

Caldwell, 31, appeared in 14 games for the Broncos last season, catching 10 passes (22 targets) for 72 yards. While he wasn’t one of the primary targets in Denver, he did also have two touchdowns on the year. In the spring he signed on with Detroit and before he was cut by the Lions in August, it was said that he suffered a “season-ending” hand injury. It seems that Caldwell’s injury might not be as bad as once feared.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints Move Roster To 53

September 3rd, 2016 at 6:42pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Saints have now announced their full list of transactions that bring them down to 53 players.

Cut:

Placed on IR:

Barnes signed with the Saints last Sunday, meaning his stay in New Orleans lasted less than a week. In 11 NFL seasons, the 34-year-old has seen action in more than 150 games (117 starts) with the Jaguars and Raiders. Barnes lost his starting job in Oakland last season, but still appeared in 14 games.

Saints Sign OL Khalif Barnes

August 29th, 2016 at 7:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

7:51pm: It’s a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal for Barnes, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

6:41pm: The Saints have reached an agreement with veteran offensive lineman Khalif Barnes, according to Nick Underhill of the Advocate (Twitter link). Barnes was part of a workout session in New Orleans earlier today.Khalif Barnes (Vertical)

Barnes, 34, offers two attributes in spades — experience and versatility. In 11 seasons, Barnes has appeared in more than 150 games (117 starts) with the Jaguars and Raiders. Moreover, Barnes is able to play both inside and out, so he could act as a backup at up to four offensive line spots. He lost his starting job in Oakland last season, but still appeared in 14 games, and could serve as depth in New Orleans.

Barnes wasn’t the only acquisition for the Saints today, as the club also sent a conditional seventh-round pick to the Dolphins in exchange for DE/LB Chris McCain.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints Audition QBs Charlie Whitehurst, Ricky Stanzi, Others

August 29th, 2016 at 2:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints tried out a handful of players today, as Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune (on Twitter) reports. Among the players trying out were quarterbacks Ricky Stanzi and Charlie Whitehurst. Guard Todd Herremans, tight end Bear Pascoe, tight end Jack Tabb, and tackle Khalif Barnes also auditioned for New Orleans. Charlie Whitehurst

Currently, the Saints have Luke McCown and Garrett Grayson on the roster behind starter Drew Brees. Grayson gave up two bad interceptions against the Steelers on Friday night and coach Sean Payton expressed frustration with him after the game.

“He struggled tonight. I was disappointed with a couple of those plays,” Payton said (via Nick Underhill of The Advocate). “The interception to the running back is poor; and obviously, he gets blinded on the linebacker throw and forces it. So that was troubling. He had a good play early on with the touchdown pass, but I would like to see him further along at this point than he is.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Mailbags: Jets, Chiefs, Raiders, Bengals

April 25th, 2015 at 12:36pm CST by Ben Levine

We took a look at ESPN.com’s NFC mailbags earlier this morning. Let’s now shift our focus to the AFC…

  • Rich Cimini wouldn’t be in favor of the Jets sacrificing a future first-rounder to secure Marcus Mariota at the second pick. However, the writer would be in favor of swapping the team’s first and third rounder to switch spots with Washington.
  • The Chiefs would presented with a “dilemma” if running back Todd Gurley is available at pick number-eighteen, says Adam Teicher. Gurley would certainly be the best player available at that point in the draft, but the team already has a stud running back in Jamaal Charles.
  • Meanwhile, among players who could “reasonably be available” for the Chiefs first pick, Teicher points to Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson, Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat, Florida State center Cameron Erving and USC wideout Nelson Agholor could be potential targets.
  • Bill Williamson suggests the Raiders could target a guard in the middle rounds to pair with Gabe Jackson, sending Khalif Barnes to more of a reserve role.
  • Following the additions of Pat Sims and Michael Johnson, Coley Harvey has been told that the Bengals have no open spots on the defensive line. However, the writer believes the team could still pursue a rookie lineman if they could get good value at the draft spot.
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