鈥?The value Saints coach Sean Payton sees in Benjamin Watson has little to do with the career-best receiving numbers the veteran tight end put up the last time he played for New Orleans in 2015.Watson wasn’t a featured receiver then Taven Bryan Jersey Elite , and won’t likely be this season, either.Payton figures he can count on Watson being an exemplary leader in the locker room, a willing role player who’ll rarely blow an assignment 鈥?and someone who remains skilled enough at age 37 to help Drew Brees punish defenses that pay too much attention to star play-makers such as receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara.Recalling a 2015 game in which Watson caught 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta, Payton said, “I don’t know that the game plan called for that. It’s kind of just how it unfolded.”“With Ben, you know he’s someone that has versatility and he’s a super teammate,” Payton said. “He’s been a real dependable player. … You know exactly what you’re getting and there’s a value in that.”Similarly, Watson said it would be too simplistic to view his 2015 receiving numbers 鈥?74 catches for 825 yards and six touchdowns 鈥?as a main reason for his return to New Orleans after two years with Baltimore.“I don’t know what to expect. Every year is different,” Watson said after a voluntary offseason practice on Thursday. “Even when I was here the last time … I was here three years and my role was different every single year.“You contribute in different ways. You’re healthy or not healthy. Another guy’s healthy or not healthy. You may be strong in one position and weaker in other positions,” Watson said. “There’s just this mix that happens every single year and you really don’t know what it is, really Bears Elite Jerseys , until the end of the year.”While Watson joined the Ravens in 2016, he missed that season because of a right Achilles tear. He came back last season, playing in all 16 games and catching 61 passes for 522 yards and four TDs.“I proved last year that I can be dependable, that I can play the game and that I can contribute in a number of different ways,” said Watson, who signed a one-year, $2 million free agent contract with the Saints in late March. “That’s why you sign guys to your team.”Watson has attended two of three voluntary practices open to media so far this offseason and doesn’t seem to have lost the chemistry he’d developed with quarterback Drew Brees, whom Watson calls “No. 9.”Watson does not describe himself as the type of dynamic play-maker who’ll be Brees’ No. 1 option on a lot of plays called, but added, “When you got a guy like No. 9 who can identify mismatches and knows what the coverage is going to do before it does it, then you get the ball.”Watson began his career with New England Alex Cappa Color Rush Jersey , which made him a late-first-round draft choice out of Georgia in 2004. He was a Super Bowl champion as a seldom-used rookie, but hasn’t won a ring since establishing himself as an NFL regular.Watson views his return to New Orleans as a chance to join a contender, something the Saints weren’t when he last played for them in 2015.Last season, boosted by a core of rookies and second-year players in prominent roles, the Saints came one play away from advancing to the NFC championship game.“It’s about going places where not only do you have some familiarity 鈥?you enjoyed being there 鈥?but also giving yourself an opportunity to win,” Watson said. “Winning is a big deal. It doesn’t happen for a lot of players over the course of their career.”With the Saints, Watson said, “You have the coaching staff, you have the front office, you have the fan base, you have the quarterback. … That’s definitely made coming to New Orleans very attractive.” Panthers quarterback Cam Newton posted a photo of himself earlier this week on Instagram sitting at a card table with a stack of poker chips in front of him that read: "I'm BETTING EVERYTHING on ME!"

It's just one of several recent posts by Newton Youth Christian Kirk Jersey , most of which include him working out or showing off his chiseled six-pack abs.

The league's 2015 MVP enters his eighth NFL season anxious to push the Panthers deeper into the playoffs after an 11-5 regular season ended with a first-round playoff loss to New Orleans last season.

Newton was in a jovial mood Thursday night as the team held its first training camp practice at Wofford College as new owner David Tepper looked on from the sideline. The quarterback led "the wave" with the crowd and laughed it up with teammates during breaks in practice.

"It's just nice to see him be Cam and have a lot of life and have a lot of energy and enthusiasm," Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said on check-in day on Wednesday. "When he's like that, he's at his best."

It helps that Newton doesn't have to worry about rehabbing an injured shoulder as he did last summer.

Newton missed all of minicamp and OTAs in 2017 after rotator cuff surgery on his throwing shoulder following the 2016 season. He was back to throwing at training camp last year, but developed soreness after five practices.

Not wanting to chance any setbacks, the Panthers only allowed Newton to throw two passes in the preseason games.

Newton made it back for the start of the regular season and played in all 16 games. He struggled statistically, completing just 59.1 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, but it's difficult to pin that on Newton or his shoulder.

Injuries to the offensive line and wide receiver position often left the former Heisman Trophy winner running from defenders after being flushed out of the pocket, desperately trying to find an open option.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney addressed the need for playmakers at the wide receiver position this offseason by trading for Torrey Smith, signing free agent Jarius Wright and drafting rookie D.J. Moore in the first round.

"I thought you saw a lot of energy out of our offense in minicamp," Hurney said. "You just don't know, but you want to see it come together."

Newton is also adapting to a new offensive scheme after the Panthers fired Mike Shula and replaced him with Norv Turner. Running back Christian McCaffrey said Turner and Newton "have really bonded" so far this offseason.

"Cam's been throwing it really well. He has been making great reads and I think he's just as excited as anybody for the season Guillermo Heredia Seattle Mariners Jersey ," McCaffrey said.

Coach Ron Rivera said what excites him the most about Newton is the simple fact that he's healthy and, as Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess said, "is ready to rock."

That has allowed him to work through some of the intricacies of Turner's offense during OTAs and minicamp.

"Going into this camp, I think we're already ahead with him," Rivera said.

Newton didn't talk to reporters following the completion of the team's first practice at Gibbs Stadium, instead spending time signing autographs before heading in for team meetings. But he did post "you know I'm ready" in a recent Instagram video.

"I think that's the understatement of the year to say that him being out there makes a big difference, right?" said Olsen, who missed more than half of the 2017 season with a foot injury.

"Just his presence on the field. Having a full OTAs and minicamp with him and then getting some work done with him this summer and just seeing how good he's feeling and moving around and training and throwing a lot, and now being able to do a full training camp 鈥?those are all stark contrasts with where we were at this point last year. One would hope that that's a good sign for us."

Newton is betting on it.
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