Patriots Trying To Sign Taysom Hill Away From Saints?
Are the Patriots trying to sign Tayson Hill away from the Saints?
New Orleans and New England are in similar situations. Both organizations are in the midst of their Hall of Fame franchise quarterbacks becoming unrestricted free agents this offseason.
The major difference between the two, however, is that Drew Brees still desperately loves the Saints and Brady’s feelings towards the Patriots are unclear.
The 41-year-old Brees is only mulling two options.
Brees has repeatedly indicated that he is simply in the process of deciding whether he wants to play or retire. If he opts to return, it will be to play for New Orleans.
“I’ve never been in the situation where I was mulling over the thought of (returning),” he said recently.
“To me, each one of these contracts, I don’t know how many it’s been, I’ve played with them 14 years.
“It’s not a matter of if it gets done, it’s when. At this stage of my career, it’s not a given if I come back every year but when that time comes, I’ll always be a Saint.”
Brady, conversely, has made no such pledges to New England.
The six-time Super Bowl champion plans to take his time in free agency and determine which organization is ultimately the best fit for him.
“I’m open-minded about the process,” he said recently regarding playing elsewhere.
“At the same time, I love playing football and I want to continue to play and do a great job. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead. Whatever the future may bring, I’ll embrace it with open arms.”
Up to this point, Brady has been linked to the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins.
So what happens if he departs?
If Brady does end up leaving New England for one of those teams, it is worth asking how the Patriots will replace him.
According to Bleacher Report insider Mike Freeman, the Patriots are a “team to watch” in the pursuit of Hill, The Saints’ restricted free agent quarterback.
A few months ago, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton indicated that someone would try to sign Hill and force his team to match.
“(Sean) Payton told NBC Sports’ Peter King that he believes a team will attempt to sign Hill to a restricted free-agent contract this offseason,” Freeman said recently.
“If a team does, the Saints can match it. The team to watch is the Patriots, who may make a run at Hill whether Tom Brady returns or not.”
Above all, Hill wants to start – somewhere.
Hill was used in a limited capacity by the Saints last year, but whenever utilized, he delivered. Recently he expressed a desire to be a starter in the NFL – whether it was for New Orleans or some other organization.
“I definitely view myself as a franchise QB,” he said during Super Bowl week.
“If New Orleans don’t view me that way then I have to leave.”
The Saints will probably lose one quarterback.
Last season, the Saints had three quarterbacks on the roster: Brees, Hill and Teddy Bridgewater. Brees and Bridgewater are unrestricted free agents, and Hill is restricted.
At least one of those guys is definitely leaving. If either Hill or Bridgewater depart, and if Brady chooses to go elsewhere this summer, there is a very good chance that the Patriots end up with whoever leaves.
Currently, the only quarterbacks New England has on the roster are Cody Kessler and Jarrett Stidham. Neither is a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL for a team of the Patriots’ stature.
A lot of dominoes will start dropping as the NFL creeps closer and closer to mid-March, when free agency officially kicks off.
Once Brees and Brady make their decisions, the quarterback situation for both the Saints and Patriots will come into greater focus.
Related: Philip Rivers Openly Recruited By AFC Contender
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
Fourth paragraph of Drew Breed story says Patriots rather than Saints.
Brees has repeatedly indicated that he is simply in the process of deciding whether he wants to play or retire. If he opts to return, it will be to play for New England.
oops! The power of proof reading!