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When it emerged that it would be Taysom Hill and not Jameis Winston, questions arose. From those who know Sean Payton well to those in the NFL: Wait, what?
Why shouldn’t the backup be the backup?
After conversations with several people involved in the situation, an explanation became clear as to why the handyman Hill’s handyman should start QB against the Falcons.
“Sean just wants to know,” said a source with extensive knowledge of Payton’s thinking.
That’s it. Of all the factors, this is the main one. It doesn’t matter that Hill is, in fact, considered the save on the depth map.
The Saints have featured Drew Brees as a starter since 2006. They gave Hill a two-year, $ 21 million contract this offseason thinking he was the future, but no one knows for sure. And they won’t do it until the lights come on.
So Payton, who identified Hill’s talents immediately after the film from his time with the Green Bay Packers, wants to know if Hill is his starter for 10 years or not. The process begins today.
As for Brees, he was placed on the injured reserve on Friday and is out for at least three weeks. Treating several fractured ribs and a puncture in his lung, Brees is expected to return in 3-4 weeks. The Chiefs’ Week 15 game is a realistic return date, although Brees is hoping it will be a week sooner against the Eagles, according to sources.
Until he returns, it will be Hill, unless things go particularly badly this week. If that happens, Payton could turn to Winston again.
Hill took first and second team reps in training this week, with the Saints making sure he fully prepared for the biggest start of his life. Although training went well and Hill appeared prepared, he struggled with nerves at the start of the week. At one point, it seemed like the enormity of the situation might overwhelm him.
But he settled in and had a good week. Expect Hill to find Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas early on on short passes to put him in a rhythm and find success.
It’s the biggest day in Hill’s career, which the Saints claimed in 2017 after his release from the Packers. He was quickly identified as a player the team might want to claim. Payton, in particular, took a liking to him and believed there was potential.
Three years later, Hill has his chance. How it goes could have a major impact on the next decade in New Orleans.
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