Saints punter Thomas Morstead figured he had a good command of his value after nine NFL seasons Authentic Eric Staal Jersey , and he had no interest in playing or living anywhere but New Orleans.
Morstead said Friday that he has signed a new five-year, $20 million contract with the Saints.
He told The Associated Press that his new contract begins in the current league year, replacing the final year of his previous contract that was due to expire after next season. The deal guarantees $9 million over the first two seasons and includes the possibility for additional bonuses, Morstead said.
The 32-year-old Morstead served as his own agent on what is his third NFL contract since being drafted in 2009 and helping New Orleans capture its only Super Bowl championship as a rookie.
The Saints "approached me about doing (a new contract) and we love living in New Orleans," said Morstead, who is raising a family in the city. "They extended me early after my third year and they extended me again after my ninth. And I didn't have any feeling in my body that the grass is greener elsewhere. We love New Orleans. We love our neighbors. I love playing for (Saints coach) Sean (Payton). There's a tremendous amount of stability and we were thrilled at the chance to stick around."
Morstead has averaged 47 yards per punt during his career. That ranks third all-time in the NFL, less than a yard behind the averages of the two players ahead of him, Shane Lechler and Johnny Hekker.
Last season, Patriots coach Bill Belichick raved about Morstead before facing the Saints in Week 2 Cheap Saquon Barkley Jersey , saying the only way to prepare for the Saints punter is to "take the JUGS machine, crank it up on high and shoot the ball about 65 to 70 yards downfield, a yard from the sideline like he does most of the time. ... There are not many guys who can punt the ball like him."
Morstead said he made the goal of striving for elite consistency ever since retired quarterback Peyton Manning spoke to the Saints during training camp and urged players to think about how they want to be remembered.
"I started kind of outlining qualitative goals about what people would say about me," Morstead said. "There's a lot of value in having a specialist that there's not a lot of ups and downs with."
"It's not just about hitting bombs, hitting high punts," Morstead added. "It's good distance with good hang time in a corner that pins guy with quick get-off. I'm really proud of the standards that we've set."
Morstead also has enjoyed a surge in popularity in Minnesota 鈥?if not nationally 鈥?since he volunteered to return to the field from the locker room, despite having injured his ribs, so Minnesota could formally complete its dramatic, last-second playoff victory over the Saints by running a required point-after attempt. Morstead was the first Saints player out of the locker room. The Vikings took a knee http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-anthony-averett-jersey , not needing to score on the play.
Afterward, Morstead noticed a surge of donations from Minnesota to his What You Give Will Grow foundation, which benefits children undergoing hospital treatment for serious illnesses. Morstead returned to Minneapolis during the Super Bowl to present a check for a little more than $221,000 to Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. He also donated $120,000 to similar efforts in Louisiana.
Morstead's deal is one of a handful of moves by New Orleans since the beginning of free agency on Wednesday. Those include the signings of cornerback Patrick Robinson to what his agent, Ron Butler, said was a four-year, $20 million deal; linebacker Demario Davis to a reported three-year, $24 million contract; and defensive end Alex Okafor to a two-year extension for a reported $10 million.
The Saints have also added veteran quarterback Tom Savage as a potential backup to Drew Brees http://www.giantsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-nate-solder-jersey , who signed a two-year, $50 million extension the day before free agency started.
The Washington Redskins signed former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson to a five-year deal in the hopes that he provides them the outside speed threat they lacked last season after the departure of DeSean Jackson.
Richardson had 95 catches for 1,302 yards and eight touchdowns in four seasons with the Seahawks after they drafted him in the second round in 2014. He had 44 receptions for 703 yards and six touchdowns last season.
The 25-year-old said he can ”beat guys downfield, take the top off the coverages, challenge people downfield.” He’ll be tasked to do that after his breakout 2017.
”Stretch the offense, stretch the defense,” senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams said Thursday.
”When the defense knows that you don’t have the speed, they all come up and just cover you up and make you throw the ball underneath and it kind of kills the offense. Now they’ve got to respect Paul Richardson.”
According to multiple reports, Richardson’s deal is worth $40 million. Richardson joins a Redskins receiving group that also includes Jamison Crowder Jets Game Jerseys , 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson and Brian Quick, who was re-signed this week.
The Redskins will look very different in the passing game with recently acquired quarterback Alex Smith replacing Kirk Cousins and receivers Ryan Grant and Terrelle Pryor and tight end Niles Paul gone. Richardson said he looks forward to developing chemistry and trust with Smith.
”I want him to know I’m always available,” Richardson said. ”Just throw it. It don’t matter where it is. I’m going to go get it. And I’m going to turn him into a believer.”
On Thursday, Washington wrapped up a three-year deal with linebacker Zach Brown, who led the league with 127 tackles through Week 15 before his season was cut short by injury.
”We’re glad to have Zach back,” coach Jay Gruden said. ”To have him in his second year in this system is very important. He’ll be a lot more comfortable. To get him back here for another year is important for our defense.”
Washington also signed former Dallas Cowboys punter Sam Irwin-Hill, according to a tweet from his agent. The 27-year-old figures to be training camp competition for established punter Tress Way.
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