The World of Sports

New on Sports Illustrated: Where it All Went Wrong for France at the Euros

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/30/france-euro-2020-failure-rabiot-mbappe-pogba-deschamps">
<p class="subtitle">The reigning World Cup champion has enviable talent, squad depth and a blueprint for success. So how did its Euros wind up with a last-16 exit to Switzerland?</p>
<div><em>View the</em></div>
original article</a> to see embedded media.
<p>It didn't take much to see that Group F at Euro 2020 was unequivocally the competition's <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/23/france-portugal-germany-hungary-euro-2020-group-death-ronaldo">Group of Death</a>. Yet none of the sides in it have reached the <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/29/euro-2020-bracket-matchups-quarterfinals-semifinals-times-dates-results">quarterfinals of the tournament</a>, which might be taken as evidence that in football, as William Goldman said of show business, nobody knows anything.</p>
<p>Except we did know Hungary was game for a challenge despite its limitations. And we did wonder about the integration of this Portugal side, even if nobody expected <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/19/germany-portugal-euro-2020-gosens-kimmich-ronaldo-own-goals">the complete capitulation against Germany</a>. And we’d seen Germany fall apart at the last World Cup and in some significant, subsequent losses; that Joachim Löw should not have been allowed to continue as coach after Russia 2018 had been increasingly apparent with each passing week. Both the 2016 European champion and the 2014 world champion had the potential to be less than the sum of their parts.</p>
<p>But France's failure was the real shock. This is an extravagantly gifted squad. It probably should have won the last Euros, losing in extra time in the final on home soil. It did rebound <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/07/15/france-wins-world-cup-croatia-final-mbappe-pogba-deschamps">to win the World Cup</a>. It has such strength in depth that there was no place in the squad for Man City defender Aymeric Laporte (<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/05/14/aymeric-laporte-fifa-switch-spain-france-euros">who decided to declare for Spain instead</a>) or new <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/02/15/dayot-upamecano-transfer-bayern-munich-rb-leipzig">Bayern Munich center back Dayot Upamecano</a>. Under manager Didier Deschamps it had developed an understated style of play that seemed obsessed with doing just enough to win. This, it seemed, was the formula for international football: a solid block plus an array of stars who could produce a moment of magic when it was needed.</p>
<p>The outcome was the oddest of things: a team that was frequently boring to watch (for neutrals, anyway) but that every now and again became involved in a high-scoring classic. But by and large it won. <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/28/france-switzerland-euro-2020-pks-benzema-mbappe-sommer">At least until Monday</a>.</p>
<p>So what went wrong against Switzerland? How could this strongest of favorites go out to a team of journeymen, to a nation that hadn’t reached the quarterfinal of any major tournament since the 1954 World Cup that it hosted—to a nation that had never beaten France before outside of friendlies? And how, specifically, could it squander a two-goal lead with nine minutes to go?</p>
<figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAwOTcxMTA1NTU5Njgz/pogba-rabiot-france-switzerland.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
<p>The best answer, perhaps, <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/france-fra/story/4423733/france-loss-to-switzerland-sees-spat-between-adrien-rabiots-momkylian-mbappes-dad-sources">was to be found in the stands</a>, where Adrien Rabiot’s mother became involved in a heated row with the families of Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé. She reportedly raged about the way Pogba had given the ball away in the buildup to the Swiss equalizer and told Mbappé’s father that he should teach his son to be less arrogant.</p>
<p>This is not a happy camp—<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/05/05/france-2010-world-cup-2018-domenech-deschamps">this is not a new phenomenon for France</a>—and Paris Saint-Germain seems to lie at the heart of it. Rabiot, whose mother is also his agent, clearly still feels aggrieved by the manner of his departure from PSG for Juventus in 2019. Mbappé remains a brilliant footballer and is still only 22, but it feels as though his progress has stalled a little recently as <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/03/18/erling-haaland-kylian-mbappe-stats-dortmund-psg-debate">the astronomical expectations for him</a> soar. Playing for a club that, even if it somehow failed to win the league this season, is way richer and way stronger than any of its rivals, perhaps does not encourage a player to stretch himself.</p>
<p>Mbappé’s future remains unclear, with his contract set to expire next summer, and that may be playing on his mind, but he has shown only flickers of his extraordinary talent since the return from the COVID-19 hiatus, and he went scoreless in this competition. He perhaps wasn’t helped at this tournament by being asked to play from the left rather than the right—an indication, perhaps, of the struggle France had covering for the phasing out of Blaise Matuidi. Nobody should be scapegoated for missing a penalty, but Mbappé was notably more rushed in taking his than the four French players who had gone before him. Perhaps he felt the pressure.</p>
<figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAxMTg1NTg1NDg5MjI0/kylian-mbappe-france-out-euros.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
<p>Deschamps’s <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/05/18/karim-benzema-france-return-euros-deschamps-real-madrid">decision to recall Karim Benzema</a> may still draw criticism given the history there, but he did score four goals—including the <a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/28/france-switzerland-euro-2020-video-benzema-lloris-gavranovic">two vs. Switzerland that appeared to turn the tide</a> in France's favor—and the suggestion is that he was a response to a pre-existing problem in the forward line rather than the cause of the problem.</p>
<p>Then there’s Pogba. Unconvincing in the first half vs. the Swiss, he was much improved as the shape changed to add an additional midfielder in the second, and he scored a sensational goal and played four exquisite forward passes. But then he also gave the ball away sloppily, giving Switzerland the possession from which it scored its goal to force extra time. Not only was that a basic error, especially for a deep-lying midfielder, but it cast his absurdly extended goal celebration in a poor light. Had he thought the game was done? Had he allowed his concentration to slip? Perhaps nothing is ever quite so simple, but when you celebrate like that and then make a mistake like that, it doesn't come off well.</p>
<p>Worse, the incident seemed to encapsulate a wider issue within the French squad of hubris. It was as though it had come to believe it would always manage to do just enough to get by, as though Deschamps’s functionality had mutated into complacency. </p>
<figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAxMjc3MzkwNDE0OTc5/deschamps-kante-france-euros.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
<p>Questions must be asked of Deschamps, too, not only about the atmosphere in the squad, but about the ill-conceived switch to a back three for the last 16. It is true France was a bit hobbled, with Lucas Digne and Ousmane Dembélé both out injured and a hurt Lucas Hernandez unused on Monday, but then if any team was built to overcome some absences, it was this France. It's also true that France was a couple of inches away from skating by again on a brilliant moment, with Kingsley Coman's volley at the death of regular time, after Pogba picked him out, clanging off the crossbar. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, Deschamps had the best squad in the tournament, and he blew it. Being solid and having good players was enough at the World Cup, but it turns out management is about more than that. And whoever is the French's manager—whether Deschamps remains in the role, or whether the French federation makes a move for Zinedine Zidane or someone else—will always have to deal with the PSG issue.</p>
<p><strong>More Euro 2020 Coverage:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/29/england-germany-euro-2020-sterling-grealish-kane-southgate">Wilson: England's Approach vs. Germany Winds Up Being Perfect</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/28/france-switzerland-euro-2020-pks-benzema-mbappe-sommer">Wilson: The Most Stunning Finish to the Most Stunning Day at the Euros</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/28/spain-croatia-euro-2020-own-goal-morata-luis-enrique">Wilson: Spain Puts Its Pitfalls, Potential on Display in Thriller vs. Croatia</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/06/27/belgium-portugal-euro-2020-thorgan-hazard-cristiano-ronaldo-de-bruyne">Wilson: Thunderbolt and Thunderdome: How Belgium Ended Portugal's Reign</a></strong></li>
</ul>

New on Sports Illustrated: Where it All Went Wrong for France at the Euros

The reigning World Cup champion has enviable talent, squad depth and a blueprint for success. So how did its Euros wind up with a last-16 e...

New on Sports Illustrated: 2021 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Team Outlook: Lack of QB Talent, Not Starter Uncertainty, Is the Problem

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/06/30/new-orleans-saints-team-outlook-taysom-hill-jameis-winston">
<p class="subtitle">A fantasy football breakdown of the New Orleans Saints by high-stakes legend Shawn Childs</p>
<h3>Coaching</h3>
<figure><img height="345" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTcxNTA1MTMxMzYyMjY0NTQ3/sean-payton-saints.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
<p>Over the last 15 seasons with Sean Payton as the head coach (suspended in 2012) and Drew Brees at quarterback, the Saints finished first or second in the NFL in offense yards nine times. Payton has a 143-81 record with one Super Bowl title (2009) and nine playoff appearances (8-7). They’ve won 11 or more games in each of the past four years. Payton enters 2021 without Drew Brees, who retired after an excellent career.</p>
<p>New Orleans scored 482 points (5th), 24 points more than 2019 (458). The Saints regressed to 12th in offensive yards gained, which was their fourth season of decline. From 2006 to 2017, they finished in the top five in offensive yards every year except in 2010 (6th).</p>
<p>Pete Carmichael returns for his 12th season as the offensive coordinator. New Orleans added him to their system in 2006 when Payton took over running the team.</p>
<p>The Saints’ defense climbed to fourth in yards allowed while giving up 337 points (5th). The last time New Orleans had a top-five defense came in 2013.</p>
<p>Dennis Allen gets a seventh season with the Saints’ defense. He held the same position for the Broncos in 2011, leading to a head coaching job for the Raiders from 2012 to 2014, where he struggled to have success (8-28). Allen has 18 years of NFL coaching experience.</p>
<h3>Free Agency</h3>
<p>The Saints lost TE Jared Cook to the Chargers. His catch total in 2019 (43) and 2020 (37) for the Saints didn’t make an impact, but Cook scored 16 touchdowns over 29 games while gaining 15.1 yards per catch. He’ll start the year at age 34.</p>
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/">More New Orleans Saints Coverage from SI</a>
<p>New Orleans lost DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Sheldon Rankins, and LB Alex Anzalone to free agency.</p>
<h3>Draft</h3>
<p><strong>DE Payton Turner</strong></p>
<p>Turner gives the Saints another player with strength and range defending the run on the outside. His game isn’t where it needs to be when attacking the quarterback with power, but he’ll create havoc when flipping to the inside. Turner gets off the ball quickly while not fully developed.</p>
<p><strong>LB Pete Werner</strong></p>
<p>Werner brings an excellent fit to a team with strength on the defensive line. His vision grades well with a foundation to fill holes in a hurry against the run and attacking the quarterback position. He gets in trouble when facing big bodies in traffic. Werner needs to get stronger while adding more pop to his tackles.</p>
<p><strong>CB Paulson Adebo</strong></p>
<p>Adebo opted out of 2020, leaving him as a wild card in their year’s draft class. He projects as a lockdown press cover who gains value as the field shortens. His playmaking style can leave him at risk when playing off the ball and facing a speedy receiver with double moves. His technique in mirroring pass patterns needs work, but his feel for the ball creates an edge, especially against teams with a short passing window. Adebo has questions about his value in run support, which may be helped by patient decision-making.</p>
<p><strong>QB Ian Book</strong></p>
<p>His dual-threat ability falls in line with the recent success of Taysom Hill. He lacks an elite arm with questions with his size (6.0” and 210 Lbs.). Book offers a good feel for the pocket with a chain mover feel when asked to run on RPOs. His accuracy diminishes with the length of throws while needing improvement taking care of the ball under duress.</p>
<p><strong>T Landon Young</strong></p>
<p>Young gets off the ball well after the span while relying on his strength to create wins. His forward lean creates imbalance and missed timed blocks. He battles speed in the pass rush, and jumpers crossing his face can lead to pressure on the quarterback.</p>
<p><strong>WR Kawaan Baker</strong></p>
<p>Baker has the tools to reach a high ceiling once he shows he can win against NFL talent at cornerback. His early quickness and acceleration set the tone for wins with the wheels to turn a short pass into long touchdowns. Baker gets off the line well against press coverage. However, his success falls on the development of his hands.</p>
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<figure><img height="99" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTc2MTY0NzMxNzE3OTUyOTM3/si-button-join-the-club.png" width="620" /></figure>
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<h3>Offensive Line</h3>
<p>The Saints climbed to 6th rushing yards (2,265). New Orleans scored 30 touchdowns while gaining (4.6 yards per rush with 14 runs over 20 yards. New Orleans averaged 30.9 rushes compared to 25.3 in 2019.</p>
<p>New Orleans slipped to 20th in the NFL in passing yards (3.945) with 28 touchdowns and eight touchdowns. They only had 44 completions over 20 yards while gaining yards per pass attempt (7.6). Their offensive line allowed 29 sacks.</p>
<p><strong>LT Terron Armstead</strong></p>
<p>Armstead was one of the best players at his position while playing at an elite level again last year in pass protection. His run blocking rebounded while also providing an edge over the league average. Armstead has never had over 1,000 snaps in a season in his career.</p>
<p><strong>LG Andrus Peat</strong></p>
<p>Peat improved to closer to the league average in the run game after two disappointing seasons. His pass protection has been a problem over the past three years despite getting drafted in the first round in 2015.</p>
<p><strong>C Erik McCoy</strong></p>
<p>Over two seasons after getting drafted in the second round, McCoy made 32 starts with success in both run and pass blocking. His game is built on power and strength, allowing McCoy to handle bull rushers. His range is limited, but he does protect his space quickly after the snap. His challenge will come when asked to defend a more significant piece of the field in pass protection.</p>
<p><strong>RG Cesar Ruiz</strong></p>
<p>The Saints expect Ruiz to upgrade their run game thanks to plus strength and the ability to win quickly after the snap. Ruiz uses his hands well, but his range may be limited. His challenge will come vs. power in the pass rush. New Orleans drafted him in the first round in 2020. He didn’t allow a sack last year, but defenders did apply plenty of pressure on the quarterback while showing weakness against the run.</p>
<p><strong>RT Ryan Ramczyk</strong></p>
<p>Ramczyk played well in all four seasons in the NFL after the Saints drafted him in the first round in 2017. Ramczyk is very skilled in the techniques needed to have success at his position while adding athletic ability. He has been an asset in all years in run and pass blocking.</p>
<p><strong>OL Snapshot</strong></p>
<p>New Orleans has a top offensive line, but a change at the quarterback position changes the game flow and passing window. The Saints will run the ball well again while having the same coaching staff who wants to put the ball in the air.</p>
<h3>Offense</h3>
<figure><img height="56" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAxMTU0NzE1NDc3MzIw/image1.png" width="620" /></figure>
<p>The Saints ran the ball 48.6 percent of the time in 2020, helped by Taysom Hill (87/457/8) making four starts. Their passing attempts (32.6) fell below the league average for the fourth season.</p>
<h3>Quarterbacks</h3>
<p><strong>Taysom Hill</strong></p>
<p>In his four starts in 2020, Hill passed for 834 yards and four touchdowns while adding a high floor on the ground (39/209/4). His success led to 102.7 fantasy points (25.68 per game) in four-point passing touchdown leagues, which would have ranked seventh if Hill repeated his success over another 12 contests.</p>
<p>He finished with a high completion rate (72.7) while gaining 7.7 yards per pass attempt. In addition, Hill was active in the run game (87/457/8) even when not playing quarterback.</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: New Orleans will rotate two quarterbacks in 2021. Hill played well with Drew Brees out last year, giving him a window to prove he belongs as their number one quarterback. His game management skills added to his value in the run game should play well with the lead, but the Saints should hook him when a game gets out of hand, and New Orleans has to throw. His cloudiness ranks Hill as the 31st quarterback drafted in 12-team leagues in late June. For a fantasy owner looking to play matchups, Hill is a value as a QB3.</p>
<p><strong>Jameis Winston</strong></p>
<p>Over 70 career starts, Winston went 28-42, with his only winning record coming in 2016 (9-7). In 2019, Winston led the NFL in passing yards (5,109) with plenty of touchdowns (33) and attempts (626), but his incredibly high number of interceptions (30 – seventh-highest all-time) keeps his opponents in games too often.</p>
<p>His career completion rate (61.3) is well below the top quarterbacks in the game, but his stats in this area aren’t padded by an active receiver in the passing game at running back.</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: In his first season with the Saints, Winston went 7-for-11 with 75 yards and no touchdowns. Winston would be on a path for 5,000 combined yards with over 30 touchdowns if given the keys to run New Orleans' offense for an entire season. On the downside, he could hold a clipboard for a significant portion of the year. Possible wise guy target for a fantasy owner wanting to cheat the quarterback position, and the training camp news slants toward him starting in Week 1.</p>
<p><strong>Ian Book</strong></p>
<p>Book gained 10,466 combined yards over four seasons at Notre Dame with 89 combined touchdowns and 20 interceptions. His best success came in 2019 (3,580 combined yards with 38 touchdowns and six interceptions. Book has a winning resume, but he does need time to develop as a passer.</p>
<p><strong>Other Option</strong>: Trevor Siemian</p>
<h3>Running Backs</h3>
<p>Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray combined for 2,520 yards with 20 touchdowns and 106 catches. The running back position gained 25 percent of the Saints’ passing yards while catching over 30 percent of their completions.</p>
<figure><img height="155" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAxMTU0NzE1NDExNTg3/image3.png" width="620" /></figure>
<p><strong>Alvin Kamara</strong></p>
<p>Over his four seasons with the Saints, Kamara delivered a high floor in each year (81/826/5, 81/709/4, 81/533/1, and 83/756/5) in the passing game. He’s still looking for his first season over 1,000 yards rushing (career-high in 2020 – 932 yards). Kamara has 43 rushing touchdowns over 60 games. He led the league in running back scoring (378.00) in 2020 in PPR leagues.</p>
<p>Last year, Kamara rushed for over 100 yards in one matchup (22/155) while scoring an incredible six touchdowns. His best success catching the ball came in Week 3 (13/139/2). He scored over 30.00 fantasy points in four contests (38.40, 44.70, 34.80, and 56.20). The Saints gave him 18 touches per game.</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: Other than 2019 (six touchdowns), Kamara has consistently delivered yards, touchdowns, and catches. He continues to compete with Latavius Murray for touches, and Taysom Hill could be more of a problem if he wins the starting quarterback job. On the flip side, Kamara has the tools to push even higher if given 325-plus touches, which would require an injury to Murray. He ranks third in the early draft season while offering a 300-point fantasy floor.</p>
<p><strong>Latavius Murray</strong></p>
<p>The Saints gave Murray 349 touches over the past two seasons, which works out to 11.25 per game. He finished 28th and 34th in running back scoring in PPR leagues in 2019 (157.20 fantasy points) and 2020 (136.80 fantasy points). Last year, a healthier Alvin Kamara led to Murray receiving 17 fewer targets and a step back in opportunity in the passing game (23/176/1). He missed Week 17 and most of the postseason with a quad injury.</p>
<p>Murray offered the best fantasy value in Week 4 (83 combined yards with two touchdowns and one catch) and Week 12 (19/124/2 with one catch for two yards). He scored under 10.00 fantasy points 10 times in PPR leagues, making him tough to time in the fantasy market.</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: Murray starts the year at age 31 with the resume to receive 150-plus touches off the bench for the Saints. He works as a bridge filler or bye week cover while also owning top 12 running back upside if given a full-time starting job. Murray looks to be easier to handcuff with Kamara based on his late June ADP (144). I won’t fight for him on draft day unless I’m trying to roster both New Orleans’ running backs.</p>
<p><strong>Other Options</strong>: Dwayne Washington, Ty Montgomery, Tony Jones, Stevie Scott</p>
<h3>Wide Receivers</h3>
<p>Much of the wide receiver production for the Saints, with Drew Brees throwing the ball, came close to the line of scrimmage, leading to a higher catch rate (65.4) over the previous three seasons. Their downside comes from regression in their yards per catch (11.35). Injuries to Drew Brees and Michael Thomas led to a sharp decline in wide receiver touchdowns (13 – 20 in 2019) and fade in catches (195 – 219 in 2019) and receiving yards (2,213 – 2,617 in 2019).</p>
<figure><img height="180" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAxMTU0NzE1NDExNzg0/image2.png" width="620" /></figure>
<p><strong>Michael Thomas</strong></p>
<p>In 2019, Thomas set the NFL record in catches (149) while scoring almost 100 more fantasy points (375.5) than the 2nd ranked wide receiver (Chris Godwin – 276.1) in PPR leagues.</p>
<p>At the end of Week 1, he suffered a doomed high ankle sprain with minimal time left in the game. His injury led to six missed weeks and two empty starts (5/51 and 2/27 on 13 combined targets). From Week 11 to Week 14, Thomas has posted three playable games (9/104, 9/105, and 8/84) before suffering a hamstring injury.</p>
<p>In the first week of the playoffs, he scored his only touchdown (5/73/1), followed by a zero on four targets against Tampa.</p>
<p>In mid-January, Thomas had shoulder and ankle surgeries.</p>
<p>When at his best from 2017 to 2019, Thomas caught 378 passes for 4,375 yards and 23 touchdowns on 481 targets. His catch rate (78.6) over this span was elite while gaining 11.6 yards per catch. He averaged 7.9 catches for 91 yards and 0.48 touchdowns per game or 20.03 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues.</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: The questions on who starts at quarterback for the Saints and a down season by Thomas led to him sliding to the third round in PPR leagues in most early drafts in the 12-team high-stakes market. His ADP (31) has a breakaway layup feel. In 2018 and 2019, only six running backs outscored him within each year while ranking second behind Christian McCaffrey in combined fantasy points (857.20 to 693.00).</p>
<p>Thomas had 30 catches for 343 yards on 37 targets over his four starts with Taysom Hill behind center in 2020., Over this stretch, New Orleans passed for 834 yards with 82 completions. Thomas finished with 36.6 percent of the team’s team completions and 41.1 percent of their passing yards in these four games.</p>
<p>At a minimum, the Saints will attempt 34 passes per game, leading to an average of 22.2 completions. Thomas should have a floor of seven catches per game for 80 yards and a score every other week. My easy math comes to 18.00 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. If New Orleans starts Jameis Winston for 17 games, Thomas gets a 10 to 20 percent bump in value.</p>
<p><strong>Tre’Quan Smith</strong></p>
<p>The ceiling of Smith remains a mystery. He has 80 catches for 1,109 yards and 14 touches over 40 career games. Last year, he set a career-high in catches (34), receiving yards (448), and targets (50) while missing three games (including the playoffs) with an ankle injury. Smith averaged under three targets in his three years in the league. His best value came in Week 2 (5/86), Week 13 (3/42/1), and Week 19 (3/85/3).</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: Smith has the stats to support much more upside if he can find a way to stay healthy and push his targets to six per game. The fluid dynamics at the quarterback position push him into the deep sleeper category with an ADP of 220. At the very least, Smith has the potential to be a fourth-year breakout with a 60/900/6 type season. His higher ceiling/opportunity comes with Jameis Winston starting.</p>
<p><strong>Kawaan Baker</strong></p>
<p>Over his final three seasons at South Alabama, Baker caught 119 passes for 1,727 yards and 15 touchdowns. He flashed big-play ability in 2018 and 2019 (15.0 and 16.4 yards per catch) while transitioning to a possession guy last season (51/659/8 – 12.9 yards per catch). Baker also has some experience running the ball (92/376/11), highlighted by his success in 2018 (59/251/9).</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: I'm intrigued by his scouting report while also understanding Baker needs time to develop. If Drew Brees started in 2021, he might have moved quickly up the Saints’ depth chart. But, for now, only a player to follow over the summer. In my head, my thought is a poor man’s Jarvis Landry with a flavor of Golden Tate with the ball in his hands. New Orleans should try to get him the ball on jet sweeps similarly as the Rams do with Robert Woods.</p>
<p><strong>Marquez Callaway</strong></p>
<p>In his rookie season over 11 games, Callaway caught 21 of his 27 passes for 213 yards with one contest of value (8/75). New Orleans signed him as an undrafted free agent last April. Callaway battled knee and ankle injuries over the second half of 2020.</p>
<p>From 2017 to 2019 at Tennessee, he caught 91 of his 164 targets for 1,633 yards and 13 touchdowns while working as a deep threat (17.9 yards per catch).</p>
<p>Other Options: Deonte Harris, Juwan Johnson, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Jake Lampman</p>
<h3>Tight Ends</h3>
<p>The tight end catch opportunity in the Saints’ passing game has been about the same over the past three seasons. They receive about 16.5 percent of the team’s completions and close to 20 percent of their passing yards. New Orleans does look for the tight end position in the red zone (20 touchdowns in 2019 and 2020).</p>
<figure><img height="180" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAxMTU0NzE1NTQyODU2/image4.png" width="620" /></figure>
<p><strong>Adam Trautman</strong></p>
<p>As the TE2 for the Saints last season, Trautman caught 15 of his 16 targets for 171 yards and one touchdown. His only playable game came in Week 9 (3/39/1).</p>
<p>Over four seasons in Dayton, Trautman caught 178 passes for 2,295 yards and 31 touchdowns. His play improved in 2018 (41/604/9) and 2019 (70/916/14).</p>
<p>Trautman comes to the NFL with a pass-catching skill set. He does some things well in his route running while also having questions with his release and blocking.</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Outlook</strong>: Based on ADP (169), not many fantasy owners fight for Trautman on draft day. He projects as a backend TE2 in PPR leagues with the talent to become a 50/50/5 player in his second year in the league. For someone looking to cheat the tight end position, Trautman is a must-follow this summer as he could very well emerge as the Saints’ third option in the passing game.</p>
<p><strong>Other Options</strong>: Nick Vannett, Ethan Wolf, Dylan Soehner</p>
<h3>Kicker</h3>
<p><strong>Wil Lutz</strong></p>
<p>Over his five seasons with the Saints, Lutz made 86.6 percent of his 164 field goals. His kicks started to fade over the past two years from 50 yards or more (4-for-9), lowering his career percentage to 56.5 percent (13-for-23). Lutz has seven missed extra points in his 260 chances.</p>
<p>In 2020, New Orleans had a five-year high in extra points (58) at the expense of their field-goal tries (28 – averaged 34 from 2016 to 2019). The Saints run the ball well in close, which hurts their scoring in the kicking game.</p>
<p>Fantasy Outlook: Lutz ranked 8th, 4th, 2nd, and 13th in kicker scoring over the last four years. I expect a bounce-back this year. He ranks 12th at the kicker position in the early draft positions, pointing to a value.</p>
<figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTY5MDU5NzQ4MjQ1Njc3OTYy/demario-davis-saints.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
<h3>Defense</h3>
<p>New Orleans remains fourth in rushing yards allowed (1,502) with 11 touchdowns and eight runs over 20 yards. They gave up 3.9 yards per rush, with opponents attempting 24.4 rushers per game.</p>
<p>The Saints jumped to fifth in passing yards allowed (3,472) with 28 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Quarterbacks gained 6.7 yards per pass attempt with 49 completions over 20 yards and nine catches over 40 yards. Their defense finished with 45 sacks.</p>
<p><strong>DT David Onyemata</strong></p>
<p>In his fifth season in New Orleans, Onyemata posted career-highs in tackles (44) and sacks (6.5) while adding an interception and two defended passes. Most of his playing time comes on early downs against the run, where his game tends to shine. However, he does need to improve his tackling.</p>
<p><strong>DE Payton Turner</strong></p>
<p>New Orleans protected their pass rush on the outside by adding Turner in the first round of this year’s draft. His game hasn’t reached its ceiling, so playing behind Cameron Jordan should help his development.</p>
<p>The second defensive tackle position for the Saints is an area of weakness. As a result, they signed multiple undrafted players to add to their already below-bar options.</p>
<p><strong>DE Marcus Davenport</strong></p>
<p>Davenport picked 53 tackles and 11.5 sacks over his first two years in the NFL with success defending the run while playing in 26 games. In 2020, he missed the first four games with an elbow injury, leading to a step back in his stats (21 tackles and 1.5 sacks). Nevertheless, Davenport remains a top player at his position.</p>
<figure><img height="349" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTc3NjU5MTY3NDY3NjQ0NTIw/cameron-jordan.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
<p><strong>DE Cameron Jordan</strong></p>
<p>Jordan has been a top player at his position for five straight seasons. His value vs. the run remains high, but he finished with a fade in his sack production (7.5 – 40 over his previous 48 starts). The Saints drafted Jordan in the first round in 2011.</p>
<p><strong>LB Demario Davis</strong></p>
<p>Davis has over 100 tackles in six of his nine years in the NFL while never missing a game in his career. Over the previous three seasons, he had played at an elite level vs. the run while delivering 13 combined sacks. However, quarterbacks did pick on him in the red zone, leading to too many touchdowns allowed.</p>
<p><strong>LB Pete Werner</strong></p>
<p>The Saints expect Werner to move into the starting lineup after getting drafted in the second round in 2021. His style of play should excel on the right side of New Orleans defense.</p>
<p>The strongside linebacker position for the Saints needs an upgrade via a late signing. All current options have minimal resumes while lacking top-tier draft pedigree.</p>
<p><strong>CB Marshon Lattimore</strong></p>
<p>The theory of Lattimore being a top coverage cornerback left the building in his rookie season. He held receivers to a reasonable catch rate over the past two years, but Lattimore allowed too many big plays, and touchdowns were a problem in 2020.</p>
<p><strong>CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson</strong></p>
<p>New Orleans shifted Gardner-Johnson to slot cornerback in 2020 after seeing action at safety in his rookie season. He held receivers to short yards per catch with neutral value in his catch rate.</p>
<p><strong>S Marcus Williams</strong></p>
<p>Over four seasons, Williams has 246 tackles, 30 defended passes, and 13 defended passes. He’s a beast in run support, but Williams did give up multiple long plays in coverage last year.</p>
<p><strong>S Malcolm Jenkins</strong></p>
<p>In his first year back with New Orleans, Jenkins played well against the run, which was the case over his six seasons in Philadelphia. He likes to keep receivers in front of him, leading to low yards per catch. Jenkins is a league-average player.</p>
<p><strong>Fantasy Defense Snapshot</strong></p>
<p>New Orleans has three glaring issues on defense – defensive tackle, outside linebacker, and left cornerback. They might get away with the defensive lineman, but the other two positions will get exposed by good teams. The Saints put pressure on the quarterback and slow down the run. Both Payton Turner and Pete Werner add playmaking to the defense. New Orleans needs Marshon Lattimore to play much better in coverage this year. In fantasy land, this defense should rank as a low-end DST1.</p>
<p><strong>More Fantasy Team Outlooks:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/05/11/team-outlooks-hub">All 2021 Team Outlooks</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/06/28/atlanta-falcons-team-outlook-kyle-pitts-calvin-ridley">Atlanta Falcons</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2021/06/29/carolina-panthers-team-outlook-sam-darnold-christian-mccaffrey">Carolina Panthers</a></li>
</ul>

New on Sports Illustrated: 2021 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Team Outlook: Lack of QB Talent, Not Starter Uncertainty, Is the Problem

A fantasy football breakdown of the New Orleans Saints by high-stakes legend Shawn Childs Coaching Over the last 15 seasons with Sean Pa...

New on Sports Illustrated: Trail Blazing Arrogance

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/30/trail-blazers-arrogance-billups">
<p class="subtitle">Portland had a chance to address the allegations against Chauncey Billups head on. Instead the team insulted its fans.</p>
<figure><img height="413" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTgyMTAwOTgxMDM3NjcxNzUy/gettyimages-1233724885.jpg" width="620" />
<figcaption>Olshey and the Blazers introduced Billups at a press conference on Tuesday.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Trail Blazers had two options for handling Chauncey Billups’s candidacy for their head-coaching position. One was to hire somebody else. The second was to hire Billups, then explain that while they feel secure in their vetting of the 1997 sexual assault allegation against Billups, they understand that some fans have questions and concerns and might not want Billups, and they respect that. The Blazers created and then chose a third option: hire Billups and tell everybody to shut up.</p>
<p>The Blazers did not say those exact words, of course. But they came shamefully close. Billups said the incident shaped his life, but when somebody asked him how, the Blazers’ PR staff shut down the question. Longtime general manager Neil Olshey, who should know better, said the team’s investigation was “proprietary. … You're just going to have to take our word that we hired an experienced firm that led us to the results we already discussed."</p>
<p>What a disgraceful reply. It’s 2021. “Take our word” is not a remotely satisfactory answer. It’s insulting to fans who have legitimate questions, and it makes the whole investigation look like a sham, whether it is or not. Billups looked ready to answer that perfectly legitimate follow-up question, too. The Blazers should have let him speak.</p>
<p>This is a broad outline of what we know about the allegation: A woman said Billups, then Celtics teammate Ron Mercer and a third man forced her into sex acts. She went to a hospital and showed signs of being assaulted. The players said the acts involving them were consensual. No charges were filed. They settled a civil suit.</p>
<p>People can reach their own conclusions from that. It is also O.K. to <em>not</em> reach a conclusion from that. Because the case did not play out in court, there was no verdict—but also, we did not get the evidence and testimony that would inform opinions about what happened. There are pieces of the story that are missing. That doesn’t mean those pieces prove Billups’s guilt or exonerate him. It just means they are missing.</p>
<p>If people think the Blazers made a mistake in hiring Billups, then that’s a reasonable opinion. And that is exactly what Olshey should have said: <em>We respect those opinions.</em> It’s not that hard! Show some compassion for those survivors of sexual assault who may find it painful to consider that their team’s coach might have committed such an act. Say that you are comfortable with hiring Billups, and you think the fan base will grow to love him, but you know there is some initial consternation, and you respect that. And share everything you have found that you can legally share instead of claiming it’s “proprietary.”</p>
<p>And let Chauncey Billups speak. If you don’t think he can handle these questions, you shouldn’t have hired him to be the coach.</p>
<p>There is no way to know exactly how the accusations against Billups and Mercer would play out today. In the 1990s, especially, though, signing a settlement was a fast track to making allegations go away, whether you were guilty or simply did not want the cost and public embarrassment of a court case.</p>
<p>This is, of course, precisely what happened. The story faded away. Billups bounced around and then became a star in Detroit. He played in almost every kind of market—L.A., Minnesota, Denver, New York—and the allegation almost never came up. He retired and did high-profile TV work, and it still didn’t come up. In 2017, the Cavaliers offered Billups a five-year contract to run basketball operations—a bigger job than head coach, and one in which this allegation is even more relevant because he would have supervised more employees. I recall no media firestorm around offering the job to Billups at that time. He turned it down, figuring he would have another opportunity he preferred at some point.</p>
<p>The world has changed for the better in the last four years. The allegation is a story now, especially in Portland, a market that sees its team as a reflection of the community. But the notion being spread in Portland that Olshey just hired Billups because he’s an old friend is not based on reality. Most of the NBA views Billups very highly.</p>
<p>I covered Billups for most of his prime and enjoyed talking to him, which doesn’t say much; he was a favorite of almost everybody who knew him. I used to tease him about being the mayor of the NBA because he had close friends on every team; part of the joke was that he had played with half the league before going to the Pistons. And in regard to the 1997 allegation, everything in this paragraph means absolutely nothing.</p>
<p>People we like, or think we know, do terrible things all the time. I do look back and wish I had pressed him and others about this case back then. At the time, we viewed it as old news. We shouldn’t have.</p>
<p>I do not presume to know exactly what happened on that night in 1997. But I knew there would be backlash this week. Everybody knew it. The allegation against Billups was discussed at length in Portland before he was introduced. The Trail Blazers had plenty of time to discuss how they would explain their decision. They opted, instead, to arrogantly proclaim: <em>trust us,</em> and that is why so many people won’t.</p>
</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Trail Blazing Arrogance

Portland had a chance to address the allegations against Chauncey Billups head on. Instead the team insulted its fans. Olshey and the Bla...

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Spectator Who Caused Tour de France Crash Arrested

<a href="https://www.si.com/more-sports/2021/06/30/tour-de-france-fan-crash-arrest">
<p class="subtitle">The spectator who held a banner along the side of the road at the Tour de France on Saturday and caused a major collision has reportedly been arrested.</p>
<p>The spectator who held a banner along the side of the road at the Tour de France on Saturday that made contact with cyclist Tony Martin and caused a major collision has been arrested,</p>
</a><a href="https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/chute-dans-le-tour-de-france-la-spectatrice-responsable-placee-en-garde-a-vue-7900050886">according to the French newspaper <em>RTL</em>.</a>
<p>The accident happened during the first of the race’s 21 stages, in the municipality of Saint-Cadou. Martin's fall and the subsequent fall of dozens of other riders held up the race for several minutes. </p>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/PolicyRelevant/status/1408792736313090048"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<p>Over the weekend, Tour de France deputy director Pierre-Yves Thouault told the <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210626-spectator-to-be-sued-after-tour-de-france-crash">AFP news agency</a> they plan to sue the woman "so that the tiny minority of people who do this don't spoil the show for everyone. "</p>
<p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/LeTour/status/1408796177777278979?s=20">Tour also took to Twitter to say:</a> "We're glad to have the public on the side of the road on the #TDF2021. But for the Tour to be a success, respect the safety of the riders! Don't risk everything for a photo or to get on television!"</p>
<p>Wednesday marks the fifth stage in the 21-stage, 23-day event.</p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Spectator Who Caused Tour de France Crash Arrested

The spectator who held a banner along the side of the road at the Tour de France on Saturday and caused a major collision has reportedly be...

New on Sports Illustrated: Tom Brady Lands Endorsement Deal With Subway, Which He Wouldn’t Eat in a Million Years

<a href="https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/06/30/tom-brady-subway-sandwiches-endorsement-deal">
<p class="subtitle">Subway sandwiches aren’t part of the TB12 method.</p>
<h2>Footlong BMT, hold the nightshades</h2>
<p>Although Tom Brady’s dietary philosophy could generally be described as “eat fresh,” anyone familiar with his incredibly restrictive TB12 diet knows he wouldn’t be caught dead in a Subway. And yet,</p>
</a><a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/SB-Blogs/Newsletter-Marketing/2021/06/29.aspx">according to Terry Lefton of <em>Sports Business Journal</em></a>, Brady has signed on to be the newest pitchman for the sandwich chain.
<p>Brady has already shot a Subway ad, which is expected to debut in about a month, Lefton reports, but it won’t feature him holding a sandwich.</p>
<p>Bringing the notoriously health-conscious Brady on board makes sense for Subway as it tries to rebuild its image as a healthier alternative to other fast food. The chain is dealing with a couple of unsavory controversies over the content of its food. A <em>New York Times</em> analysis earlier this month found that Subway’s tuna <a href="https://www.cnet.com/how-to/subway-tuna-sandwich-dna-results-the-controversy-explained/">contains “no amplifiable tuna DNA”</a> and Ireland’s Supreme Court ruled last year that its loaves <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/10/03/919831116/irish-court-rules-subway-bread-is-not-real-bread">contain too much sugar to be legally considered bread</a>.</p>
<p>Brady obviously isn’t going into Subway and ordering a footlong maybe-not-tuna on toasted not-legally-bread. Lefton even cited a source as claiming that Brady “has never been inside a Subway.”</p>
<p>It would be one thing for Brady to appear in an ad for a fast food joint he’s never even been to, but Brady’s actual history with Subway makes this situation even funnier. Brady used to love Subway, but now he can’t even stomach the thought of it.</p>
<p>Brady appeared <a href="https://www.happyscribe.com/public/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/tom-brady">on actor Dax Shepard’s podcast <em>Armchair Expert</em></a> in September to promote his TB12 Method and talked about how, in college, he would go to Subway and “eat like 18 inches of sandwich, of meatball.”</p>
<p>“And at the time, if I went healthy, I was going only one slice of cheese all the way across instead of two slices,” he said.</p>
<p>Later in the episode, Brady walked through his dietary evolution and how he came to embrace his current diet.</p>
<p>“Over time, what I’ve noticed is that my taste buds change,” Brady said. “I went from, I loved Subway and Burger King and all those types of things, to now, it’s like, the thought of that is like no way! No way!”</p>
<p>Somehow I doubt that the tagline of Brady’s commercial will be “Subway: No way!”</p>
<h2>The best of SI</h2>
<p>How Omaha <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2021/06/29/how-omaha-became-college-world-series-host">became the home of the College World Series</a>. ... The Hawks <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/30/hawks-blowout-bucks-in-game-4">showed off their depth in beating the Bucks without Trae Young</a>. ... Who helped and hurt <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/29/nba-draft-combine-prospects-stock-watch">their stock at the NBA combine</a>? ... Here is Jon Wertheim on the <a href="https://www.si.com/tennis/2021/06/29/serena-williams-retires-wimbledon-injury">unfortunate injury that forced Serena Williams to pull out of Wimbledon</a>. </p>
<h2>Around the sports world</h2>
<p>ESPN has announced its <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/nhl-on-espn-coverage-team-announced.html">full roster of broadcasters for its new NHL package</a>. ... British cyclist Mark Cavendish, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/29/mark-cavendish-cements-comeback-with-emotional-win-at-tour-de-france-cycling">whose career was in doubt after being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus, won a stage at the Tour de France</a>. ... The fan who caused the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/spectator-who-caused-tour-de-france-crash-arrested-bfm-tv-2021-06-30/">big Tour de France crash has been located and arrested</a>. ... Meet the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/the-marlins-fan-in-finland">biggest (probably the only, if we’re being honest) Marlins fan in Finland</a>. </p>
<h3>How many more stars are going to go down before the playoffs end?</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/bleacherreport/status/1410055472556625923"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>It was that kind of night for the Hawks</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/nbaontnt/status/1410064847350362112"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>Whoops</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1410023873609834499"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>Every no-hit bid has that clutch defensive play</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/mlb/status/1410067511488520196"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>That’s three homers in two games at Yankee Stadium for Ohtani, and he’s going to hit for himself when he pitches on Wednesday</h3>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RMUp1ahmrqk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h3>Give me the Ohtani Cam</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/joonlee/status/1410072968223498244"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>The only hitter hotter than Ohtani right now is Kyle Schwarber</h3>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ekNgeJGaOPc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h3>Injuries left the Mystics with just six players available (they got blown out)</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/kareemcopeland/status/1410005264137326592"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>He’s the first, but how many more will there be?</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1409950444818997250"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>Larry Brown!</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/garyparrishcbs/status/1410048965433868290"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>Refusing to allow him to answer this (totally fair) question is not the way to stop reporters from asking these questions</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/DylanMickanen/status/1409959541568016390"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>What a grab!</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/JackLuttrell/status/1409274330928889856"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h2>Not sports</h2>
<p>Ground temperatures soared <a href="https://gizmodo.com/ground-temperatures-reached-an-astounding-145-degrees-i-1847193318">as high as 145 degrees during the Northwest heat wave</a>. ... A Picasso painting and another valuable work <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/06/29/1011250907/a-greek-construction-worker-has-been-arrested-for-the-theft-of-a-picasso-masterp">were found hidden in a dry river bed, nine years after they were stolen from a museum</a>. ... A TikTok user and her friend didn’t realize <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzdkw/tiktok-smelled-devils-breath-flower-hallucinogen-scopolamine">that the flower they couldn’t stop smelling actually contained a very powerful hallucinogen</a>. ... Rapper Pooh Sheisty was arrested after <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article252442193.html">the serial number on a $100 bill found at the scene of a robbery matched one he had posted on Instagram</a>. </p>
<h3>It somehow looks less life-like than the animated version</h3>
<div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1409867918255525900"></a></blockquote>
<script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<h3>I can’t decide what to think of the <em>Sopranos</em> prequel movie</h3>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rAFfeGRbWLQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h2>A good song</h2>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EPFPDaksc_o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<p><em>Email dan.gartland@si.com with any feedback or</em> <a href="https://twitter.com/Dan_Gartland"><em>follow me on Twitter</em></a> <em>for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week.</em> <a href="https://www.si.com/tag/hot-clicks"><em>Bookmark this page</em></a> <em>to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request</em> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0KhJJa6nSLoPreU3oJpmMZ?si=jLW6kicrT0e9w5slye4SiA"><em>I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here</em></a><em>. Visit our</em> <a href="http://si.com/extra-mustard"><em>Extra Mustard page</em></a> <em>throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.</em></p>

New on Sports Illustrated: Tom Brady Lands Endorsement Deal With Subway, Which He Wouldn’t Eat in a Million Years

Subway sandwiches aren’t part of the TB12 method. Footlong BMT, hold the nightshades Although Tom Brady’s dietary philosophy could genera...

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New on Sports Illustrated: 2021 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Team Outlook: Lack of QB Talent, Not Starter Uncertainty, Is the Problem

New on Sports Illustrated: Trail Blazing Arrogance

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Spectator Who Caused Tour de France Crash Arrested

New on Sports Illustrated: Tom Brady Lands Endorsement Deal With Subway, Which He Wouldn’t Eat in a Million Years

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