NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints

Buccaneers

Buccaneers OL Ali Marpet said he’s okay with the league adding a 17th game if there is a reduced amount of practice time or contact in training camp. 

“I’m ok with the 17th game if there’s the same or less football in general, right?” Marpet said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “So if we’re reducing our practice time or reducing how much hitting we’re doing in training camp, think that’s what’s relevant. So I’m not opposed to a 17th game, as long as that means we’re not, you know, doing a lot more football than we would be. So again, we just have to scale it back considering we have a 17th game, during training camp and throughout the week.” 

Falcons

• Falcons’ salary cap and contracts analyst Emily Badis announced on Twitter that she is moving to the Vikings as football administration coordinator. (Seth Walder)

Saints

In his new role at NBC as a TV commentator, former Saints QB Drew Brees shared his thoughts on the quarterback competition in New Orleans to replace him. He predictably didn’t give a favorite to win between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill but he did drop an interesting nugget about how much both might play together regardless of who starts.  

“Both guys have such a love for the game … and you can see it in the way they play. Taysom has an infectious love for the game. There is not a guy who is more respected for that and for what he brings to the team,” Brees said via NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico. “Jameis was such a joy to be around. He also loves the game and loves to work at it. You can tell that football consumes his thoughts. He wants to be a great player and continue to improve. Whatever happens, in terms of whoever is the starter, I do think there is a scenario where both of them are playing. If Jameis is the starter I think Taysom is seeing a lot of action at quarterback, maybe even moreso than he did with me.”

• According to Nick Underhill, the Saints still plan to hold an open competition at quarterback this summer, despite some recent buzz surrounding either Hill or Winston as an early favorite to open the season as their starter.