New Orleans Saints linebacker Stephone Anthony was back in the locker room of the team that once used a first-round pick on him Wednesday.
However, much like the team’s roster, the practice facility has undergone some major renovations since he was last there.
“It’s changed a lot,” the 27-year-old who signed with the Saints Wednesday said.
Overall, Anthony was glad to be back on the roster.
“It’s just a blessing,” Anthony said. “I needed a job and they called and I’m here. It’s simple as that.”
The Saints drafted the former Clemson standout with the 31st overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He lead New Orleans with 112 tackles that year but switched positions prior to the start of his second season and saw his role decrease.
Anthony was traded by the Saints to the Miami Dolphins in 2017 and spent his next two seasons there. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2019 but was released early in training camp. He quickly signed with the New York Jets and was released August 31. He joins a Saints team that’s looking for depth at linebacker after Alex Anzalone and rookie Kaden Elliss landed on inured reserve in consecutive weeks.
“It’s a pleasure,” he said. “It’s an honor. Every chance you get to play this game is a blessing.”
Anthony reunites with his former Dolphins teammate Kiko Alonso, who the Saints traded for earlier this season, and his former special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi.
His current focus is getting up to speed and being ready to go Sunday night when the Saints host the Dallas Cowboys.
“We’ll go step for step and game for game,” he said.