The New Orleans Saints are only a few weeks away from the start of training camp, but that doesn't mean the work has stopped.
Saints QB Tyler Shough has taken it upon himself to organize a passing retreat with his wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. It'll happen over the course of next week in San Diego, and the second-year QB will be footing the bill for all his teammates' travel, lodging and meals, according to a report from NOLA.com columnist Jeff Duncan.
"We’re spending a lot more time off the field together," Shough said recently on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, discussing the retreat. That time off the the field has included dinners at multiple players' homes, a sushi event and barbecues while the team was in attendance for the recent offseason workouts. It's all part of the process of bringing an NFL team closer together so they can have the most success on the field. The passing retreat is the next step in that.
Shough has said previously that former Saints QB Drew Brees, who is expected to be in attendance for at least a portion of the event.
A throwing retreat isn't exactly a novel concept, but this one would look to be a sign of a young QB embracing a necessary leadership role. Picking up the tab is notable mostly due to the fact that the player footing the bill is currently earning a modest salary by NFL standards. It might be a drop in the bucket for any of the 18 NFL's starting QBs with a deal that averages north of $20 million per season, but Shough's rookie deal, as the No. 40 overall pick in 2025, is worth $2.7 million per year. For perspective, rookie WR Jordyn Tyson, the No. 8 overall pick in the most recent draft, signed a 4-year deal worth $32.4 million, or $8.2 million per year.
Call it an investment in bonding, which Shough has reported as ahead of schedule. There is also plans for the group to hit the beach and some other sights in southern California before reporting to camp in sweltering south Louisiana.
"I think we’ve done a really good job of that as a team, and we’ve gotten closer," Shough said after the first day of minicamp. "That’s kind of the main thing. We’ve just highlighted in the team meeting room, all the fun things that we’ve done this whole offseason and this is probably the tightest bunch that all of us have been around.”
Click here for the full report from NOLA.com
