NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

• According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL is reviewing allegations of vandalism against Buccaneers WR Antonio Brown, which is standard procedure for incidents they weren’t previously aware of. Brown allegedly destroyed a security camera and threw a bike at a guard shack in his gated community. 
• Pelissero adds the NFL is also monitoring a civil case against Brown where he’s accused of rape, though the next hearing in that isn’t until January 11, 2021. 
• Brown’s eight-game suspension this year was for his felony battery charge and sexual misconduct, but Pelissero notes the NFL has left the door open for further punishment based on potential evidence from the civil case. 
• Over The Cap’s Nick Korte goes over the changes to the compensatory pick formula and how the projected picks have played out in 2020. He notes the Buccaneers could get a sixth-round comp pick depending on if Patriots DT Beau Allen‘s contract qualifies at that level despite him missing the entire 2020 season. It would also have to be under the 32-pick cutoff.

Falcons

Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris said WR Calvin Ridley has been running with trainers and the team will see how he looks Wednesday when deciding if he’ll play this week. 

“We should have a better feel for him on Wednesday, getting him in here, getting him into individual drills, getting him into a little bit of team work and see how he goes, talking him through it and just seeing where he’s at little by little, step by step in order to get him to Sunday and see if we can get him going,” Morris said via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

• Over The Cap’s Nick Korte goes over the changes to the compensatory pick formula and how the projected picks have played out in 2020. He notes the contract Cardinals LB De’Vondre Campbell signed is now projected to net the Falcons a fifth-round comp pick instead of a sixth. 
• The Atlanta Falcons are bringing in WR Devin Gray for a visit, according to Albert Breer.
• The Falcons hosted RB Tony Brooks-James for a visit on Tuesday. (Aaron Wilson)

Panthers

• Over The Cap’s Nick Korte goes over the changes to the compensatory pick formula and how the projected picks have played out in 2020. He notes the contract Bills DT Vernon Butler signed is now projected to net the Panthers a fifth-round comp pick instead of a sixth. 

Saints

After finding a tepid free-agent market, QB Jameis Winston elected to sign with the Saints for basically the minimum in order to learn from one of the best in Drew Brees. Winston has tried to be Brees, attaching himself to the future Hall of Famer’s hip in meetings, film watching and practice to soak up all he can. Now Winston will have the chance to be Brees on the field for however long he’s out. 

“I was excited that I had a marvelous opportunity. And I just knew that my main job was to go in there and do what Drew would do — just protect the football and try to lead us down there and score,” Winston said via ESPN’s Mike Triplett. “I try to give everybody my all. I try to be right there with Drew along the way, watching film with him, preparing with him. So I felt like I went out there and I was prepared to lead this team.”

• NFL Media’s Michael Silver says the Saints had planned for Winston and QB Taysom Hill to have a legit competition for the starting job in 2021 if Brees retired. Now Winston has an earlier chance to audition. 
• ESPN’s Ed Werder reports Brees is having his scans sent for a second opinion. Tests Sunday indicated he had five fractured ribs and a collapsed lung but there’s some fear he could have more broken ribs. 
• The second opinion will help determine how much time Brees misses, which could lead to him being placed on injured reserve.