The New Orleans Saints' run of difficult offseason news continued on the day the team was set to kick off training camp practices.
All-Pro return man and wide receiver Deonte Harris was arrested earlier in July for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The news was first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football.
Few details are yet known about the circumstances of the arrest, including where and what day it occurred. Regardless it is likely to mean yet another key Saints player misses time, with the typical suspension for such a violation sitting at two games.
The news comes less than a week after it was first revealed that star wide receiver Michael Thomas would likely miss the start of the season as he recovers from ankle surgery in June. Both Saints GM Mickey Loomis and Saints coach Sean Payton addressed the media Wednesday, expressing that they would've liked to see it happen sooner, in hindsight.
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The Saints signed veteran Chris Hogan, but Payton said wide receiver was not yet at the top of his "pressing" concerns, because other positions were currently ranked higher, though he didn't mention Harris' situation. The team will have to decide its new quarterback, and learned earlier this offseason that it'd be without defensive tackle David Onyemata for six games after he tested positive for a banned substance. Marshon Lattimore could also face discipline over an offseason arrest in Cleveland, though Loomis said he has not yet heard anything from the NFL on that front.
A typical suspension in drunk driving arrests has been for two games, though other factors can play into the length of such punishment. Current Saints defensive back PJ Williams was suspended two games to start the 2019 season due to a drunk driving arrest, to which he later pleaded to a lesser charge of reckless driving. Previously former Saints WR Willie Snead was initially suspended four games, though it was later dropped to three, over a drunk driving arrest before the 2017 season.
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Regardless of the length of discipline, the Saints will now enter training camp knowing it's likely to be without its stars in both the return game and the passing game. Harris, in his second year out of Assumption, caught 20 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown as he was worked more into the offense throughout 2020. Saints WR Tre'Quan Smith will likely get the first bite at the apple for a featured role in the passing game, while the Saints could -- and likely will -- be active in evaluating free agent options.
Second-year wide receiver Marquez Callaway was another UDFA success story last season, and could potentially serve in that return role and as a valuable pass-catcher in 2020. Callaway returned 11 punts and four kickoffs in spot duty while filling in for an injured Harris. He was sure-handed and showed burst in those opportunities.
Check back for updates.
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