New Orleans Saints T Jon Stinchcomb Legends Microsoft Teams Video Call with New Orleans Media Tuesday, July 14, 2020
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New Orleans Saints T Jon Stinchcomb Legends Microsoft Teams Video Call with New Orleans Media Tuesday, July 14, 2020 Jon talk about your transition to the Saints preseason tv broadcast booth and the success of members of the Super Bowl team in the media post playing career? “What’s first and is important to note is that there were so many guys on that super bowl team that liked to talk and liked to hear themselves talk. It’s impressive that they should ways to get paid for that very endeavor. I often tease Zach Strief that if people knew how much he enjoyed talking then he would offer his opinion for free. That there’s no need for them to pay him. But obviously he’s not alone I think it speaks to the exceptional group of men that Mickey Loomis, Coach (Sean) Payton and that entire organization was able to put together. It was a special group and I enjoy watching (Jonathan) Vilma and hearing Roman (Harper) and Deuce (McAllister) has done such a good job for such a long time. So not only as a teammate, but a fan of those individuals it’s fun to see and hear them. Still to this day there’s a lot of guys from that team that we don’t get to keep up with or keep in contact with as much or as well. But just to hear them on a recurring basis is fun to watch and it extends to Lance (Moore) is doing some stuff and obviously Reggie (Bush). There’s just a number of guys. For me when I transitioned away from the game you’re trying to look at ways to stay connected with something that you’re passionate about. A field that you feel committed so much of your life too and have enjoyed. We all enjoyed the game and it’s been good to us. Being able to announce is just one way for me that I felt like I could stay connected and specifically with the Saints (on) some of the media stuff I do, obviously Saints preseason. But I also partnered with a local group, Dawg Nation, that reports on Georgia Bulldog football. So I am a total homer. I try to offer only a slightly basis report when you’re talking about both those teams. They are near and dear to my heart and I’m just grateful for those opportunities.” What do you make of what the Saints were able to do this offseason? “I continue to think there are wizards that work in that second floor over in Metairie. Because it always seems like the storyline at the beginning of free agency or whatever it is (is) how cash-strapped the Saints are and there one of the teams that has the least mobility because of the salary cap and where they’ve allocated funds. But yet they seem to find pieces that compliment that roster and what they have returning and do it in such an extraordinary way. I think part of it is the culture that’s been created in New Orleans is one where it’s desirable to play for the Saints. Guys want to play for Coach (Sean) Payton. Guys want to be on the same team as Cam Jordan and Drew (Brees) and Michael Thomas. Just that culture, notorious and well known across the league for being something special in New Orleans that they’re able to draw guys and they’ve been able to pick and choose some of the ones (they sign). You look at this roster returning from last year to this (year) and there’s not a lot of holes. I think they did really well in the draft and you were able to address some needs and really some wants. (You) Got to be excited about that first round pick (Cesar Ruiz) and (giving) more stability up front. Again, the way this organization’s set up, it is not like they’re chasing after some of these big contract guys in hopes of renovating and jumpstarting something that is not already preexisting. The Saints right now are in the discussion in the beginning, middle and end of the year as a Super Bowl contender. I think that speaks volumes to how they’re built from the ground up.” How quickly can a team come together, especially with no offseason program. How quickly can they assemble and find a rhythm? “That’s tough, it usually takes all offseason to get to know guys and understand personalities and try and meld them together. But if I am thinking back to our Super Bowl year we had some new pieces that came in that weren’t exactly sure how they we’re going to fit. It comes to mind a guy like Darren Sharper, obviously had some great years in his career, but was really expected to be more towards the back end. I think there was another Saints safety (Malcolm Jenkins) that was added to the roster this offseason that might fit that bill and be able to draw some similarities. Hopefully they are restricted to what happens on the field and in the locker room and not extracurricular (activities). It seem like they have taken some different paths. But there are times where you have to get to know and assimilate with one another in a short amount of time and kind of learn on the fly. And you know what helps to do that? Is when you have exceptional talent and great core leadership and that’s what the Saints have that other teams just don’t. I would really, if you’re a first year coach, if you’ve got a lot of turnover at key positions they are up against it. And I’m sure they are recognizing the challenge that was preexist under normal circumstances, but I think there is a real advantage to look at a roster like the Saints and say there is so much carry over and great leadership that you’re built to kind of withstand some of the outside the distractions that other teams aren’t.” What do you make of the current Saints offensive tackle duo that they have? “It’s the best in the league. The only question is how many games can you keep Terron Armstead healthy each year. Because they are the two best. In my opinion they’re the best left tackle, right tackle combo there is. There are some really good ones out there, but (Ryan) Ramczyk I told him when I ran into him in the locker room this past season. I told him he plays the game the way I wanted to play it. He has the ability and the mindset and the execution. He’s a perennial All-Pro for a reason. The guy is solid, he is consistent. They are the anchors for that team and have provided such opportunities. You look at some of these guys and they excel in the run game or they are really good at pass protection and both Terron and Ryan are both great in both aspect of that team and that approach. They are really good in pass pro, athletic, move well and create holes in the run game. Real strengths and you compliment that with some young talent and two first round draft picks that continue to stabilize the interior of that line. Man it’s exciting to watch. You look at the Saints era under Coach (Sean) Payton and Mickey Loomis and that’s been a hallmark, is the investment in guys up front and they continue to find combos and this is probably the best the NFL has to offer right now.” Was there a moment in your career that you look back on that makes you realize how Drew Brees can still be playing in 2020 at 41 years old? “He’s special. The guy, you talk about work ethic, approach to the game and understanding that there’s more to it for him than just playing his position. We recognized it every day we came to practice, every day you went on the field with him. That he is just different. His approach to the game and approach to life (and) what he puts into it and his focus, I mean honestly, by what was it 2010, that’s five years into Coach (Sean) Payton’s system, for a lot of us it was a struggle to takes notes on plays we’ve been running for five years and you look over and you see Drew’s folder and he is on page 52 of notes and it’s stuff you know he knows backwards and forwards and can teach and knows every detail. But that is his focus level and his ability to stay engaged at 110 miles per hour consistently. He’s different and you could recognize that, who knew that it would still be (happening) in 2020. But the way the game is set up now and the amount of resources that are available that guys tap into on a 365 day basis. You can see some of the careers of these quarterbacks extend well into their 40s. Having watched him play these last few years, I do not see a lot of drop off. Whether or not he’s in the twilight years that we’ve come to expect from these quarterbacks that stick around for a year or two too long and they are just holding onto the rope, Drew wasn’t anywhere close to that last year.