The New Orleans Saints are set to roll with fourth-round rookie quarterback Ian Book on Monday night when they take on the Miami Dolphins on ESPN. While that plan is set in stone now, there was a time when team officials reached out to future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees about a comeback. That’s not all, they also inquired about pulling Philip Rivers, 40, out of retirement, as well as Josh McCown, who is 42.
Not only did they attempt to lure the now-retired vets off the couch, they reportedly expected them to play this week, being that they had a little extra time to prepare with it being a Monday Night Football game. It’s a big ask on such short notice.
Not surprisingly, with it being the week of Christmas, the Saints were unsuccessful in all three attempts. They then decided to sign former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles to act as Book’s backup for the week.
Book was selected 133rd overall out of Notre Dame and has yet to take a snap in the NFL. His first taste of action comes against a team that has won six straight games in the Dolphins.
New Orleans Saints down to fourth QB
The Saints are without their first three choices at quarterback, with Jameis Winston out for the year from a torn ACL, and with Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian both being on the COVID reserve list.
It’s understandable for the Saints to turn over every stone as they are still alive in the playoff race at 7-7. In a three-way tie with the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles for the seventh seed, if the season ended today, the New Orleans Saints would miss the playoffs.
The final three games on the schedule are Monday night against the 7-7 Dolphins, Week 17 vs the 5-9 Carolina Panthers, and at the Atlanta Falcons, who are 6-8.