Tyler Shough is still very early on in his time as a New Orleans resident, but he feels like the city has already welcomed him in -- and he means that literally.
That's because while he was driving to Tulane for a workout with his new Saints teammates earlier this month, he drove straight into a pothole and popped a tire.
"I had to get new tires on my truck, which was sick, but I’m good now," Shough said, laughing after his second rookie minicamp practice. "Hopefully they’re sturdy, but yea, I feel like I’ve gotten fully ingrained already.”
It was just one example of several moments that have seen the rookie quarterback introduce himself to the city and Saints fans, even as he adjusts to a level of humidity he's never before encountered -- and has been informed will only get worse. Those moments have included the decision to walk from his hotel to Drago's Seafood Restaurant for one of his first meals in the city, greeted being quickly by restaurant owner Tommy Cvitanovich who invited the new Saints signal-caller to dine with him and his party.
The meal included all the staples, including duck gumbo, alligator and, of course, char-grilled oysters. The review? "It was gas," he said (and yes, that's a good thing).
Related
"It ended up turning into a really cool dinner," Shough said. "But yea, it was awesome to just kind of get here and get acclimated early.”
There was another chance encounter for Shough as he worked out at Tulane, noticing an older fellow getting in some impressive lifts at the facility. That man ended up being former Saints punter Thomas Morstead, who still calls New Orleans home despite not playing for the Saints since 2020. He's currently a member of the New York Jets.
Morstead imparted wisdom on navigating the city and fanbase, where to live and things of the like. He also encouraged the young QB to take No. 6 as his jersey number, Morstead's old Saints number, as Shough embarks on his career in black and gold. It was a suggestion Shough ultimately took, giving fans a first look at him in that jersey during this week's practices.
Related
It all boils down to simple facts that the second-round pick understands well. There's a long and difficult road ahead to becoming the Saints quarterback of the future, and one that begins immediately with a true competition after the surprise retirement of Derek Carr. Saints fans will be asking a lot, and Shough fully intends to do the work and deliver.
"I resonate with it completely. I think that’s kind of what I want to play with is that passion," Shough said. "I understand what the Saints is, and I got a little taste of it in the Senior Bowl, just because the passion, even in Mobile and this whole area in the bayou and New Orleans and Baton Rouge, it’s Saints football and obviously really cool to be a part of.”
Good luck, kid. Let's see what happens, and remember to swerve them potholes.