If social media sentiment was responsible for naming the Saints' next quarterback, a decision would have long since been made. But the team will be far more calculated, it appears.
Reports circulated Monday morning that coach Sean Payton was hopeful to decide on a starting quarterback by the team's final preseason game next week, but he wouldn't commit to that timeline after a 23-21 preseason victory over the Jaguars.
"I'll keep you posted," Payton said after the game.
The coach then elaborated:
"We’re not going to try to anticipate saying ‘hey, it’s going to be mid-week or next week.’ I think that’s the best way for us to handle it," he said. "It’s kind of how we’ve always handled something like this. But I was pleased with, not just the quarterbacks. I was pleased with how we played as a team for the most part.”
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Payton kept his analysis focused on the team, and opted not to deeply evaluate either Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston’s individual performance. Winston had a particularly impressive day, earning the start and leading two scoring drives that ended with long touchdowns to Marquez Callaway. He finished the day 9-for-10 passing for 123 yards.
Taysom Hill fame on relief this time around, starting slowly but hitting his stride a bit with a drive in the final minute of the first half that set up a 52-yard field goal by Aldrick Rosas. He came back out in the second half and led a long scoring drive that was capped with a touchdown to Lil'Jordan Humphrey. Hill finished the day 11-of-20 for 138 yards.
The Saints will have to cut down the roster to 80 players as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, and a week later will have to make their full cuts down to the final 53 after a matchup with the Cardinals on Saturday. Monday's game offered key evaluation data going forward, Payton said, and for a lot more than just the QB room.
“It’s a team game," Payton said. "We’re always updating our resume. We’re constantly, all of this film doesn’t disappear. You’re always trying to put that best foot forward and create that value for yourself.”
Only time will tell which quarterback ends up on the starting line.
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