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Yesterday we looked at the success rate of receiver transactions within the season. This morning, The Athletics‘s Mike Sando went one step further in his review.

As for today’s newsletter, let’s start in New Orleans:

Sean Payton returns as Rattler and Nix takes center stage

The Broncos visit the Saints tonight at 8:15 PM ET on Prime Video.

While Drew Brees will be inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame, Sean Payton will also return to the Caesars Superdome. He doesn’t expect “a lot of warm fuzzies.” As the best coach in Saints history, he deserves a standing ovation. Payton’s experience in New Orleans has also shaped his approach in Denver.

Once the game starts, all eyes will turn to the first rookie quarterback matchup of the 2024 season – especially with Pat Surtain II, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed all inactive tonight. The biggest questions:

Can Spencer Rattler improve after his shaky debut? Despite playing behind a patchwork team and losing his best receiver, Rattler made plenty of encouraging throws, especially this third-down pass. But after halftime, the Buccaneers focused on keeping Rattler in the pocket while applying pressure. The rookie imploded, passing for just 103 yards and two interceptions while taking five sacks. If Denver emulates this approach, it could be a long night for the fifth round.

Will Bo Nix achieve his goals? Nick Kosmider’s report explains that Nix’s accuracy in the field is his biggest concern. On passes of five or more yards downfield, his overall completion percentage is (41.1). 13.7 percent lower than expectedthe worst of all qualified passers, according to TruMedia. We should not be surprised; Nix rarely threw downfield in college, averaging 6.3 air yards, which ranked him 119th out of 125 FBS quarterbacks in 2023 according to ESPN Stats & Info.

With the Saints allowing 594 yards and 51 points last week, Nix has fewer excuses than Rattler. Tonight will tell. Full preview here.

Changes in Detroit, Pittsburgh

Week 7 contains more important questions. Happy, The Athletics‘s beat reporters have answers for us:

How do the Lions fill their Aidan Hutchinson-sized void? A broken tibia and fibula will cost their star pass rusher four to six months, with his best return coming a week after the Super Bowl. He’s gone. Colton Pouncy shared their options. External:

“Maxx Crosby is from Michigan and says he would like to play for the Lions if he ever leaves the Raiders. But he is not realistic. One player that makes a lot of sense is Cleveland’s Za’Darius Smith, who has a one-year contract. In New Orleans, Chase Young is intriguing, as is Harold Landry in Tennessee.”

If the Steelers stick with Russell Wilson, what happens to Justin Fields? After HC Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Wilson will be “in contention” to possibly start Sunday night against the Jets, we collectively started writing off Fields. But as Mike DeFabo writes, this is far from the end for Fields:

“Maybe the competition has only just begun. For the first time since the OTAs, Wilson will get extended playing time with the first team. Wilson doesn’t have the mobility of Fields, and an injured and inexperienced offensive line increases the risk of sacks setting the Steelers back. Even if Wilson’s arm keeps him as a starter, Pittsburgh could find ways to play Fields even more as a runner. By consistently using the Fields package, the Steelers would make it more challenging to play against them.”

What Dianna Hears: What will the Jets do with Mike Williams?

Davante Adams plays for the Jets. Now Mike Williams could be on his way out. The Jets are acquiring the veteran wide receiver.

Williams was the subject of Aaron Rodgers’ criticism following Monday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. Rodgers said Williams was in the wrong spot on a late-game interception. Regardless, with Adams now on the roster, Williams is likely fourth in the Jets’ pecking order, behind Adams, Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.

According to sources, the Chargers, Steelers and Saints are among a number of teams reaching out to the Jets about WR Mike Williams.

🎧 The last of the “Scoop City podcast” on YouTube: Mike Silver joins in to discuss the background to the Adams trade (three minutes in).

Back to you, Jacob.

Behind the scenes: Manning, Manning and… Belichick

While watching Monday’s ManningCast, I couldn’t help but laugh as infamous grudge holder Bill Belichick responded to Peyton Manning’s comment that it was too early for the Jets to fire Robert Saleh:

“That’s pretty much what it’s been there for the Jets: barely winning more than 30 percent in the last decade. The owner is the owner, just ready, fire, aim,” said Belichick, who later added, “You know what Peyton, I’m not a big Jets fan.”

History: Remember, Belichick joined the Bill Parcells-led Jets in 1997 as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. When Parcells resigned in 1999, Belichick was expected to replace him. Instead, he made NFL history when – during his welcome press conference – he resigned as Jets head coach, citing “several insecurities… (of) the team’s new ownership” (yes, that means current Jets owner Woody Johnson).

Today: The media-savvy Belichick is invaluable for the perfect viewing experience. It’s year 4 of the “ManningCast,” with Eli broadcasting from his basement in New Jersey while Peyton films from a friend’s garage in Denver.

For a look behind the scenes, The Athletics‘s Zak Keefer and Dan Duggan spent a week with the “ManningCast” when Belichick came from Philadelphia (“The place of unbrotherly love,” he said. “I said I was on the ‘ManningCast’ and got booed”). The full story is worth it, but space is limited here. Two notes:

• In 2020, Peyton co-founded Omaha Productions with Jamie Horowitz. After years of turning down analyst jobs, Horowitz asked if Peyton would be interested in calling games from his own home, without any travel, perhaps even with his brother. Peyton was there and easily sold Eli: “It’s like we’re on the couch watching a game.”
• The morning after each broadcast, the Omaha team has a meeting to review their performance. Much like their playing days, both quarterbacks receive the following assessment: “You never want to stop being coached, right?” says Peyton.

The coaching is working: ESPN recently signed Omaha to a nine-year extension that runs through 2034. The backstory is incredible.

Around the NFL

For Saquon Barkley returns to New York as an Eagle, Giants fans shared their thoughts: “I won’t forgive the Giants brass for giving (Daniel) Jones a big contract before Barkley.”

49ers first round pick WR Ricky Pearsall recently returned to practice after being shot just six and a half weeks ago. Despite being unable to fully lift his right arm earlier this week, Pearsall should return soon. “He’s built differently, man,” George Kittle said. Mike Silver has more.

Bears OC Shane Waldron helped spark the Bears’ offense. During an interview with The AthleticsWaldron shared how, “The biggest lesson…is don’t skip steps, whether it’s a rookie quarterback or an experienced quarterback, it still comes back to great fundamentals.”

The Packers signed K Brandon McManus, against whom charges of sexual abuse were filed this summer. McManus called the lawsuit “resolved.”

Most clicked yesterday: The Athletics‘s QB Stock Report, in which Drake Maye debuted at No. 23, ahead of Bo Nix, Daniel Jones and Andy Dalton.

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(Photo: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)