The convenient thing about facing a former punter: You can genuinely tell them you're hoping they spend the whole game on the field.
And that's exactly what "The Saints" did. Morstead, now the Atlanta Falcons' punter, shared a photo of a king cake -- it was Randazzo's, for the record -- his former team sent to celebrate the start of Carnival.
That message came with a note that read: Wishing you and your family a happy Carnival Season! Here's to hoping you set a career high in punts on Sunday, old friend!"
It was a fun gesture, and also one that illustrates the oddity of what's about to happen. Morstead began his career with the Saints and won a Super Bowl in 2009, the author of what's likely the most well-known onside kick in NFL history. After more than a decade in New Orleans, he can say he's done just about everything in the NFL. But Week 18 represents a rare new first.
He's never been a Saints opponent before.
“It’s going to be an emotional thing for me," Morstead said. "That’s all I can really say, because I care about a lot of guys that are on the other sideline.”
The 35-year-old has a rollercoaster season of his own after his release last offseason, with the team going with a younger leg in Blake Gillikin. Morstead wasn't on a roster to begin the season, but eventually latched on with the New York Jets. From there he signed with the Falcons, performing at a high enough level to be named the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Month for December. He's kicked 20 punts since joining the Falcons with an average of 46.1 yards, and half have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
Gillikin is another winner of that award, with his coming in October. Morstead doesn't hold a grudge for his team betting on a young player with a lot of talent, and both the team and he can genuinely say they're in a positive situation.
"Maybe the change was what’s best for everybody and we’re all where we’re supposed to be right now," he said.
Related
He's on the other side of a Saints-Falcons rivalry now, and the focus has to be there. He's not the first longtime Saints player to have a late-career run with Atlanta, and he probably won't be the last. Hall of Fame kicker Morten Andersen did the same thing with Atlanta, and it was from that sideline he witnessed Steve Gleason's iconic blocked punt. Even WWL Radio's own Bobby Hebert played his final few seasons in Atlanta.
So yes, you can go home again. But Morstead joked that he's still wary of hijinks and hasn't shared any of his king cake with his Atlanta teammates yet. Could there be ex-lax in the icing, or some other elaborate form of sabotage?
"Maybe I’ll save it for postgame," he said.
And if you were wondering, Morstead's career high in punts in game is xxx.