NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints

Buccaneers

Buccaneers’ UDFA CB Cameron Kinley will not get a chance to play in the NFL this season, as his commitment to the Navy will require military service at this time.

“I was given no explanation and I was told that there is no appeal process,” Kinley said on The Dan Patrick Show. “I just want to get my story out there because I feel like it needs to be heard. That’s kind of the business that we’re in in the military. I’m not owed an explanation. The acting secretary of the Navy, it was up to his discretion. I’m speechless. I felt like I had a piece of me taken away.”

Kinley does want to serve in the Navy but says that he was hoping to be afforded the same benefit that other Navy athletes have had in the past.

“The common misconception is that I don’t want to serve and that’s never been the case,” Kinley said. “I just felt like I had the opportunity to do both and I don’t see why I’m not able to.”

Falcons

Falcons HC Arthur Smith believes spring practice can be misleading in evaluating players and thinks football in the preseason provides a better look. 

“You can get a lot of false narratives by evaluating just spring,” Smith said, via Scott Bair of the team’s official site. “It’s just a part of the process, the morning phase. Really, until we play real football in the preseason or have some real practices, I can give you a better evaluation.”

• Recently traded WR Julio Jones said there was a mutual agreement between the Falcons and himself to part ways this offseason: “Me and the Falcons, we had an agreement at the end of the day…we just made a decision.” (Michael Giardi)

Saints

Saints DC Dennis Allen said he’s glad that former DBs coach Aaron Glenn got the opportunity to be the Lions’ defensive coordinator but believes they found an ideal replacement in Kris Richard.

“I thought Aaron Glenn did a great job with the secondary, and I’m happy for him that he had an opportunity to move on and call the defense,” Allen said, via John DeShazier of the team’s official site. “I think it was a well-deserved opportunity for him, so I’m excited for him and that opportunity.”

Allen praised Richard’s body of work with the Seahawks from 2010-2017 and Cowboys in 2018-2019

“But I think Kris Richard is a guy that, obviously, I had a lot of respect for. I’ve admired his work. He was part of that Legion of Boom (secondary in Seattle) and getting that set up. And then, the two years there in Dallas (in 2018-19), we had a couple of defensive battles in terms of those games. Both were really low-scoring games and having an opportunity to watch them go to work.”

“He’s highly competitive. He’s extremely intelligent. He brings a pedigree with him – a championship pedigree with him – that gives him instant credibility within that room. Just being around him for the last few months, and then really the last couple of weeks with the majority of our players, it’s really been fun for me to be around him. And look, we kind of come a little bit from different backgrounds in terms of scheme and so, I’m learning from him, hopefully there are some things that maybe he might be picking up from me. I think it’s going to be a good addition to our coaching staff.”

Saints WR Marquez Callaway stressed the importance of quickly learning the playbook now entering his second year with the organization. 

“It goes by fast,” Callaway said. “And everybody is a lot bigger and stronger than in college, I learned that quick. Other than that, it goes by fast. You’ve got to hurry up and learn, the playbook goes by fast. You’ve got to jump on board, or the ship’s gonna leave without you.”

Callaway said he’s received guidance from their older players on the roster and pointed out that Saints RB Alvin Kamara has been a “big part” of his development. 

“That’s when the olders guys kind of took me under (their wings) – even more under than what were already doing,” Kamara said. “I know (running back) Alvin (Kamara) was a big part of that. He used to tell me, every game, right before we’d go out there, just be myself, go out there and make a play. He’d tell me that every game – make a play. Go make a play. So that’s what I do, go out there, if I make a play with the ball or without the ball, just doing something to change the course of the game.”

Allen said DE Marcus Davenport is beginning to show signs of being a veteran now that he’s entering his fourth year in the NFL. 

“We were just commenting today that he looks like he’s a four or five-year vet out there. You’re beginning to see the light bulb go off,” said Allen, via Katherine Terrell.