• 

Who Dat Nation, last week I said:

“Forget the score. Show me who’s ready to play.”

Well… 34–0 is a little hard to forget.

There’s no dressing this one up. We got beat. Bad. The Rams controlled the game, we couldn’t put a single point on the board, and there were enough mistakes to keep the coaches busy all week.

But that’s why we play these preseason games.

We’d rather find the problems now than discover them when Detroit comes around and the games actually count.

There were still a few guys who gave us something to watch. CJ Donaldson made plays when the offense desperately needed something. Bryan Bresee brought some pressure up front. Moliki Matavao made the most of his opportunities.

But overall?

Not good enough.

And Tony isn’t giving anybody a participation trophy after a 34–0 loss.

Last week we asked “Who came to play?”

This week the better question might be:

So… who showed up?

Because there weren’t enough of them.

Now we’ve got one preseason game left. Forget excuses. Forget that the games don’t count in the standings.

Show us improvement.

Show us some fight.

Show us that when September 13 gets here, we’re ready to play football.

And yes, I said WE.

Because around here, it’s always been WE.

We win together. We lose together. We complain together. And every damn Sunday, we come back together.

That’s the Who Dat Nation.

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
WhoDatNation.com

• 

Who Dat Nation, preseason Game 2 is here.

The Saints head west to take on the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, and after what we saw in the opener, my question hasn’t changed much:

Who’s ready to play?

Last week, guys like Zach Wilson, Bub Means and Michael Heldman answered that question. They took advantage of their opportunities and gave the coaches something to think about.

Now comes the harder part.

Do it again.

One good preseason game can get our attention. Two good games start making a case for a roster spot.

That’s what I’m watching against the Rams.

I want to see who builds on last week. Who cleans up the mistakes? Who looks more comfortable? Who makes the coaches notice him again?

And after the work we’ve seen from this team in practice, I want to see that carry over when they’re lining up against somebody else.

We’re getting closer to the regular season now. Every snap matters a little more, and there are only so many roster spots available.

Somebody is going to take advantage of this opportunity.

Somebody else might watch his opportunity disappear.

Forget the preseason record. Show me progress. Show me competition. Show me who’s ready.

Saturday is another chance to find out.

Saints at Rams. Preseason Week 2.

WHO DAT! ⚜️

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
WhoDatNation.com

Well, Who Dat Nation, this isn’t the news anybody wanted.

Jordyn Tyson is reportedly expected to miss roughly two months with the hamstring injury he suffered during the joint practice with Jacksonville.

Let’s not sugarcoat it.

This hurts.

The Saints didn’t draft Tyson eighth overall to have him watching September football from the sideline. He was having an impressive camp, and the idea of putting him alongside Chris Olave was one of the things that had me excited about this offense.

But here’s the good news:

The season isn’t over because one rookie receiver got hurt.

And maybe this is where some of that depth we’ve been talking about starts paying off.

Somebody Else Just Got an Opportunity

Chris Olave is still the guy at the top of the receiver room.

Behind him, the Saints have players like Devaughn Vele, Kevin Austin Jr. and rookies Bryce Lance and Barion Brown who now have an opportunity to earn more work while Tyson recovers.

And remember what we said before the Jacksonville game:

“Forget the score. Show me who’s ready to play.”

Well, that question just became even more important.

Tyson’s absence means somebody else is going to get those practice reps.

Somebody else is going to get those targets.

And somebody else has an opportunity to make the coaches say, we need to keep this guy on the field even after Tyson comes back.

That’s football.

Don’t Rush the Kid Back

This might be the most important part.

He’s 22 years old.

He’s the eighth overall pick.

Hopefully he’s going to be catching passes in New Orleans for a long time.

So don’t turn a two-month injury into something worse because everybody wants him back two weeks early.

Get him healthy.

Really healthy.

If that means we don’t see Jordyn Tyson until October, so be it.

I’d much rather have him healthy for the second half of the season than spend the entire year watching that hamstring become a recurring problem.

Tony’s Take

Am I disappointed?

Absolutely.

But I’m not panicking.

We wanted the Saints to build a deeper roster instead of depending on a handful of players to carry everything.

Now we’re about to find out whether they actually did.

Let the other receivers compete. Let Tyler Shough build chemistry with them. Find out who belongs.

Then hopefully sometime in October, you add Jordyn Tyson back into the mix.

And if this offense is already clicking when he returns?

That’s when things could get interesting.

Get healthy, rook.

We’ll be waiting.

WHO DAT!

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
WhoDatNation.com

Before Saturday’s preseason opener, I said one thing:

“Forget the score. Show me who’s ready to play.”

Well, the Saints lost 24–20 to Jacksonville.

And you know what?

I’m still not worried about the score.

This was preseason football. Most of the starters weren’t playing, the coaches were evaluating the bottom half of the roster, and winning the game wasn’t nearly as important as finding out who deserves to be here when September arrives.

And we got some answers.

Zach Wilson Made People Pay Attention

Let’s start with the obvious one.

Zach Wilson looked good. Really good.

Wilson finished 11-of-16 for 145 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, posting a 118 passer rating. More importantly, he looked comfortable. He pushed the ball downfield, made some impressive throws and showed some of the arm talent that once made him the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

I’m not about to start a quarterback controversy after one preseason game.

Tyler Shough is the quarterback we’re building around.

But every NFL team needs a backup capable of walking into a game and keeping the offense alive.

If this version of Zach Wilson is what the Saints are getting?

That’s a pretty nice problem to have.

Bub Means Answered the Call, Too

With Jordyn Tyson sidelined, I asked before the game:

Who is going to take advantage of the extra opportunities at receiver?

Bub Means was one of the guys who answered.

The Saints themselves listed Wilson, Means and Michael Heldman among the players who stood out in the opener.

That’s exactly what preseason is supposed to produce.

Somebody gets hurt. Somebody else gets more snaps.

Then you find out who is ready.

There Were Problems Too

Let’s not pretend everything was perfect just because we’re excited football is back.

The Saints led 20–6 at halftime and then watched Jacksonville score 18 unanswered points in the second half. Jacksonville’s depth eventually took over, including 78 rushing yards and the winning touchdown from undrafted rookie J’Mari Taylor.

That’s something coaches will notice.

Spencer Rattler also had a rougher afternoon. He completed 8 of 11 passes for only 42 yards and lost a fumble deep in Saints territory that handed Jacksonville a scoring opportunity. To his credit, Rattler acknowledged afterward that he should have thrown the ball away.

And Charlie Smyth missed a 52-yard field goal in the second half.

Those things matter when guys are fighting for jobs.

But Here’s Why I’m Leaving the Dome Feeling Pretty Good

We didn’t see the Saints team that’s going to line up against Detroit on September 13.

We weren’t supposed to.

What we saw were players competing for jobs.

And some of them made the coaches’ decisions a little more difficult.

That’s a good preseason game.

Would I rather win 24–20 than lose 24–20?

Of course. I’m still a Saints fan.

But nobody is hanging a banner for preseason victories.

What matters is finding players who can help you when the real games start.

Saturday we found a few.

And the biggest surprise might have been Zach Wilson.

So after Game 1, I’m sticking with exactly what I said before kickoff:

Forget the score. Show me who’s ready to play.

Some guys did.

Now let’s see who can do it again next week.

WHO DAT!

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
WhoDatNation.com

From the Westbank: Forget the Score — Show Me Who’s Ready to Play

Who Dat Nation, football is back in New Orleans.

The Saints open the preseason today against Jacksonville in the Dome, but this isn’t one where I’m worried about what the scoreboard says when the clock hits zero.

Forget the score. Show me who’s ready to play.

With Tyler Shough and several starters expected to sit, this game is about the next group of guys getting their opportunity.

That starts with Spencer Rattler, who is expected to start at quarterback. Here’s his chance to show what he can do with meaningful preseason snaps. I want to see command of the offense, good decisions and somebody taking advantage of the opportunity in front of him.

Unfortunately, we won’t get the look at Jordyn Tyson we were hoping for. Our first-round receiver suffered a hamstring injury during Thursday’s joint practice with Jacksonville. In August, I’m perfectly fine being cautious with that one. Get him healthy. We need Tyson when the games actually count.

But his absence creates opportunities for somebody else.

Who steps up at receiver? Who makes the coaches notice him?

I’m also interested in seeing Oscar Delp. Tight end could be an important part of this offense, and preseason is exactly where a young player like Delp can start showing whether he’s ready to contribute.

Then there’s the defense.

I want to see the young defensive linemen, the secondary and especially the guys fighting for those final roster spots. Preseason games aren’t always pretty, but somewhere on that field today there’s probably a player most Saints fans haven’t talked much about who has a chance to make us remember his name.

That’s what today is about.

Not the final score.

Execution. Effort. Competition.

Show me who’s learned the offense.

Show me who can tackle.

Show me who wants that roster spot.

And show me some signs that this young Saints team we’ve been talking about all offseason is headed in the right direction.

The games don’t count yet.

But the evaluation starts today.

It’s Game Day in New Orleans.

WHO DAT!

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank
WhoDatNation.com

• 

When Drew Brees arrived in New Orleans in 2006, he quickly discovered that this city doesn’t just welcome people with words—we show up with food.

In his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech, Drew recalled neighbors bringing crawfish étouffée to his new home. The next day it was jambalaya. Then came gumbo.

“It was the perfect representation of what New Orleans is all about,” Drew said.

In honor of Drew’s induction—and the neighbors who helped make New Orleans feel like home—we’re sharing three respected Louisiana recipes for the dishes he remembered.

🦞 Crawfish Étouffée — Emeril Lagasse
Crawfish tails smothered with butter, onion, celery, bell pepper, bay leaves and Louisiana seasoning, then served over hot rice.
See Emeril’s recipe

🍚 Seafood Jambalaya — Chef Paul Prudhomme
A deeply seasoned Louisiana jambalaya combining seafood, tasso, vegetables, rice and layers of spice.
See Chef Paul’s recipe presented by Chef Kevin Belton

🥘 Chicken and Sausage Gumbo — Chef Isaac Toups
Chicken thighs and smoked sausage simmered in a dark roux with the Louisiana trinity, garlic, stock and a splash of amber beer.
See Chef Isaac Toups’ recipe

Three dishes. Three neighbors. One unmistakably New Orleans welcome.

Congratulations, Drew—and thank you for reminding the world what Who Dat Nation is all about.

⚜️ Read Drew Brees’ complete Hall of Fame speech:
NOLA.com transcript

WhoDatNation.com

• 

Drew Brees gave New Orleans more than wins, records, and a Super Bowl championship.

When he arrived in 2006, our city was still hurting and fighting to rebuild after Katrina. Drew and the Saints gave us something we desperately needed: hope. Every Sunday, they reminded us that New Orleans could rise again—and when they brought home the Lombardi Trophy, it felt like the entire city had won.

Drew didn’t just play for New Orleans. He believed in New Orleans, invested in New Orleans, and became part of who we are.

Congratulations, Drew. Canton is where your career belongs, but New Orleans will always be home.

⚜️ Forever our quarterback. Forever a Saint. Forever part of this city.

— WhoDatNation.com

#DrewBrees #WhoDatNation #NewOrleansSaints #WhoDat #HallOfFame #NewOrleans

For months, Saints fans have heard the rumors.

Trade Alvin Kamara.

Release him.

Make Travis Etienne the featured back.

Well, it looks like the Saints have made their decision.

According to multiple reports, Alvin Kamara is staying in New Orleans after agreeing to a reworked contract, keeping the franchise’s all-time leading rusher in black and gold. Both Kamara and the organization reportedly shared the same goal: finishing his career as a Saint.

Personally?

I think it’s the right move.

This Was Never About Choosing One Running Back

Some people acted like adding Travis Etienne meant Kamara had one foot out the door.

I never saw it that way.

Etienne brings speed, explosiveness, and youth.

Kamara brings experience, leadership, and the ability to change a game with one touch.

Why wouldn’t you want both?

This offense doesn’t have to choose between them.

It has the chance to become one of the most versatile backfields in the NFL.

Kamara Still Matters

Is Alvin Kamara the same player he was in 2018?

No.

Very few running backs are at 30 years old.

But he’s still one of the smartest players on this roster.

He’s still one of the best receiving backs in football.

And more importantly, he’s one of the leaders this young offense needs.

With Tyler Shough entering a critical season and rookies like Jordyn Tyson and Oscar Delp learning the NFL game, having Kamara in that locker room is worth more than what’s printed on a stat sheet.

The Bigger Picture

This move tells me something about where the Saints think they are.

They’re not tearing everything down.

They’re trying to win now while building for the future.

Kamara doesn’t have to carry the offense anymore.

He just has to help lead it.

And if Etienne can take some of the workload off his shoulders, we may actually see a fresher, more efficient Alvin Kamara this season.

Tony’s Take

I know some fans wanted to move on.

I understand the salary cap concerns.

But legends don’t come around every day.

If Alvin Kamara truly finishes his career as a Saint, I think that’s exactly how it should be.

Now let’s see what he and Travis Etienne can do together.

That backfield has a chance to be a lot of fun.

Who Dat.

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

Every year, the “experts” release their rankings.

And every year, somebody gets overlooked.

This year, it feels like it’s the New Orleans Saints.

One national ranking has the Saints sitting near the bottom third of the NFL, basically saying this team isn’t ready to compete.

Honestly?

I think they’re missing the bigger picture.

Let’s be clear—the Saints haven’t earned the benefit of the doubt. They won six games last season, and nobody is handing them a division title.

But are they really the 24th-best team in football?

I’m not buying it.

Look at what’s changed.

The offense is better.

Tyler Shough isn’t walking into his first NFL season anymore. He has meaningful experience under his belt and another offseason in Kellen Moore’s system.

The Saints added Travis Etienne to bring explosiveness to the running game.

They drafted Jordyn Tyson, who has already impressed during rookie minicamp.

They added Oscar Delp at tight end and continued building around a young offense instead of standing still.

That’s not a team that’s rebuilding.

That’s a team that’s trying to take the next step.

The NFC South isn’t exactly unbeatable.

Nobody ran away with this division last year.

Every team has question marks.

If the Saints get solid quarterback play and stay healthier than they were a year ago, why can’t they be in the mix?

In fact, NFL.com recently ranked New Orleans as its No. 1 candidate to go from worst to first in its division, pointing to improvements on offense, Tyler Shough’s development, and the team’s offseason additions.

That’s a very different outlook than simply writing them off.

My Take

Maybe the rankings are right.

Maybe they’re not.

But I remember when people counted the Saints out before.

This fan base has seen enough football to know that games aren’t won in June.

They’re won between September and January.

If the Saints prove the doubters wrong this fall, don’t act surprised.

Sometimes being overlooked is exactly the motivation a football team needs.

I’ll take being underestimated over being overhyped any day.

Who Dat.

— Anthony “Tony” from the Westbank

A Super Bowl Champion, Saints Hall of Famer, team captain, and one of the greatest defensive ends to ever wear the Black & Gold.

Will wasn’t just a great football player—he was a leader, a teammate, and someone who represented New Orleans with class on and off the field.

Gone far too soon, but his legacy will live on forever in the hearts of the Who Dat Nation.

Happy Birthday, #91. We’ll never forget you.

⚜️ Who Dat!