3 former New Orleans Saints players we’d like revenge on this season
By Kristen Wong
Former Saints players we want revenge on – No. 2: Emmanuel Sanders
The Saints signed veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders last year to supposedly help Drew Brees win his second world championship. Sanders’ pairing with Michael Thomas was supposed to be unstoppable. In a season with a lot of “supposed to’s,” Sanders’ tenure with New Orleans was cut short, and he went to the more promising pastures of Buffalo.
In his sole year with the Saints, Sanders had 61 receptions for 726 yards and five touchdowns, which was one of the poorer statistical seasons of his 11-year NFL career. He started off strong with a 12-catch, 122-yard effort (and a new personal record) against the Chargers early in the season. “Whew, I’m tired,” he said, half-jokingly in the post-game press conference. He had no idea what was coming for him.
Sanders contracted COVID-19 mid-season, struggled to recover, and caught just three passes or fewer in half the games he played. With Thomas sidelined by an ankle injury, Sanders never found his stride in the top pass-catcher slot. He proved he could be a dangerous downfield threat on Denver and Pittsburgh, but with Brees’ declining arm (and that shaky Hill-Bridgewater revolving quarterback situation) Sanders and the Saints’ offense just never really clicked.
He’s another cap casualty for a receiver-bare Saints team who have yet to find his replacement. On his shiny new Bills team, Sanders has apparently been telling teammates he came here to win the Super Bowl, which seems like just a bit of shade thrown at the Saints. Not cool.
When the Bills fly into New Orleans this season, the Saints should be prepared to show Sanders what he’s missing: a bonafide championship-contending team. No, we don’t have Josh Allen, but yes, we can still beat you.