NFC South Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Falcons

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman told reporters on Thursday that he’s “100” percent in regards to his health following groin surgery.

Freeman added that it has “felt good just to be out here running around and having fun.”

“It felt good just to be out here running around and having fun,” Freeman said, via the Associated Press. “This is fun. Just having fun running around brought back memories of when I was a kid, playing in the middle of the field. It was fun.”

• Mike Florio of PFT reports that the Falcons have promoted Steve Sabo to director of player personnel. Sabo will essentially serve as second in command under GM Thomas Dimitroff.

Panthers

Panthers new C Matt Paradis said he is “ahead of schedule” in his return from a broken leg that ended his 2018 season. 

“The leg is coming along real well. We’ve just got to ease into it,” Paradis said, via Panthers.com. “I think we’re ahead of schedule.”

Saints

Saints DL Cameron Jordan says he isn’t worried about getting top-of-the-market money in a new deal and would prefer to finish out his career in New Orleans. 

“All that can take care of itself. Honestly, I just want to be a Saints lifer. I want to go after this record by Rickey [Jackson],” Jordan said, via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.  “I would love to say, ‘Hey, I want a megadeal.’ I don’t really. I just want to be secure in my job. Now to be sure, do I need to be updated? No doubt. But do I want to be like, ‘Hey, I want to break Aaron Donald bank or go after Khalil Mack money even though I have better than Khalil Mack numbers in most categories?’ No. For me it’s all about just being around my team, making sure that my family and my team is gonna be my family and my team for as long as I can play.

“When it comes down to it, I feel like to miss out on training camp two years out is just no point. I feel like the Saints and I have a phenomenal repertoire, so why would I want to damage that? For me it’s not even about money; it’s about solidifying a legacy. It’s about pushing and furthering what I’m doing. And I love our team to the fact that I want to continue doing what we’ve been doing. We’ve gone through some 7-9 seasons, but we’ve gone through some great times as well.”