Former President Trump on Monday insisted he does not want to “terminate” the Constitution, responding to broad backlash after he said over the weekend its rules and laws should be disregarded so he can return to the White House.
Trump, in a pair of posts on Truth Social, responded to the fallout from his comments on Saturday that the 2020 election should be redone or he should be put back in office. The former president weighed in after internal Twitter communications showed company officials deciding to limit the spread of posts about allegations against Hunter Biden, President’s Biden’s son, in the closing weeks of the 2020 campaign.
“The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to ‘terminate’ the Constitution. This is simply more DISINFORMATION & LIES, just like RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, and all of their other HOAXES & SCAMS,” Trump wrote Monday afternoon, saying he meant that “steps must be immediately taken to RIGHT THE WRONG.”
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In a separate, all-capitalized post, Trump wrote that “if an election is irrefutably fraudulent, it should go to the rightful winner or, at a minimum, be redone. Where open and blatant fraud is involved, there should be no time limit for change!”
Trump two days earlier had posted about the Twitter controversy, saying, “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.”
The comments drew pushback — including from key GOP figures such as former Vice President Mike Pence — though many Republicans have stayed silent following the remarks.
“I must tell you that I think that everyone that serves in public office, everyone that aspires to serve or serve again, should make it clear that we will support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Pence said on a South Carolina radio show on Monday morning.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who defeated a Trump-backed challenger in November, said suggesting the termination of the Constitution “is not only a betrayal of our Oath of Office, it’s an affront to our Republic.”
Trump has for years claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him and that Hunter Biden colluded with his father over his business dealings, though there is no proof of either. But his calls for the Constitution to be ignored so he could be returned to power marked a new level of incendiary rhetoric.
The White House condemned Trump’s comments in a statement of its own.
“The Constitution brings the American people together – regardless of party – and elected leaders swear to uphold it,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said. “Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation, and should be universally condemned.”
Cristiano Ronaldo will not wear a Manchester United uniform again. Just two days before the Portugal captain begins his World Cup campaign, United terminated their star forward’s contract in a move that they described as mutual.
The club had begun a process that could have led to Ronaldo being sacked following an explosive interview with Talk TV earlier this month in which he had accused the club of “betraying” him and said he had “no respect” for his head coach Erik ten Hag. Instead of his employers unilaterally forcing him out of the club, the 37 year old has agreed to terminate his contract.
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“Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect,” said the club in a statement. “The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.
“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”
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Legal experts believe that the club could have ultimately concluded that Ronaldo was guilty of gross misconduct within the terms of his contract, allowing them to terminate the deal. However that may have opened the door to a lengthy appeal process; in securing the player’s agreement United are able to swiftly move on from what has proven to be a trying saga for Ten Hag and the hierarchy.
In a statement Ronaldo said: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early. I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”
United have not confirmed whether they will pay any of the remaining sum on the contract, which was valued at in excess of £500,000-a-week. Ronaldo’s deal had been due to expire at the end of the season but he will now be searching for his fourth club in a little over four years. The record goalscorer in men’s international football had rejected a sizeable offer from a Saudi Arabian club but CBS Sports revealed in the summer that a rival suitor in the country would be interested in his services if he departed Old Trafford in January. That is understood to still be the case.
In spite of insistence to the contrary by, among others, his former team mate Roy Keane, no top European clubs made a serious attempt to sign Ronaldo when he told Manchester United in the summer that he wanted to leave to join a club offering Champions League football. It is hard to see how the events of recent months — which have also included him leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle and refusing to be substituted on against Tottenham Hotspur — will have changed many minds. However one club that stands out as a source of potential intrigue is Chelsea, whose owner Todd Boehly was interested in a move for Ronaldo only for then head coach Thomas Tuchel to argue vociferously against the transfer. The German has since left the club.
It says for everything about the damage Ronaldo has done to his legacy at Old Trafford — where he emerged as one of the brightest stars of the global game in the late 2000s before joining Real Madrid — that his departure will bring with it a sigh of relief for Ten Hag and club supporters. Though he was United’s top scorer last season, he did not prove to be the missing piece in a side that had finished second in the Premier League before he arrived. Instead, the goals dried up for his team mates, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, Ralf Rangnick almost immediately undermined and United had to scrabble to qualify for the Europa League.
For now, Ronaldo will follow in the footsteps of Jay DeMerit, Gary Breen and six members of Canada’s 1986 squad in playing at a World Cup as a free agent. Portugal face Ghana in their opening game on Thursday and their captain insists that his incendiary comments will not have an impact on their performances in Qatar. “I don’t have to think about what other people think,” said Ronaldo. “I speak when I want. The players know me really well for many years and know the type of person I am.
“It’s an ambitious group that is hungry and focused. So I’m sure it [the interview] won’t shake the changing room’s concentration and focus.”
As the dust settles at Old Trafford following the first shockwaves of Cristiano Ronaldo’s highly-critical interview, club executives have been busy examining their options for the next step in resolving an increasingly toxic situation.
On the day the first installment of the Talk TV interview with presenter Piers Morgan is broadcast, Manchester United’s owners the Glazer family, chief executive Richard Arnold and director of football John Murtough, along with manager Erik ten Hag, will be in dialogue with their lawyers as they wait to see the full extent of the player’s comments over the next 24 hours.
So far, in extracts also published by the Sun newspaper and video clips watched over 11 million times on social media, Ronaldo has accused his employers of betrayal and disrespect, taking swipes at Ten Hag and the club’s hierarchy. Here’s what we know so far.
But what options are available to the club? How might they go about making a constructive step forward in the wake of the embarrassing polemic from the 37-year-old superstar?
What is the biggest consideration for United based on what they know?
The most important thing for United is to establish to what extent Ronaldo is in breach of his contract through his comments and what they are then able to do as a result.
All top-flight players sign a Premier League employment contract with their clubs.
Under that agreement, they are obliged to “comply with and act in accordance with all lawful instructions of any authorised official of the club” and are not allowed to “write or say anything which is likely to bring the club… into disrepute… or cause damage to the club”.
Jamie Singer, a partner at sports law specialists Onside Law, feels Ronaldo may already be in breach of his standard contract.
“Under the contract, there’s a specific provision that talks about not saying anything which brings the club into disrepute or damages the club’s reputation,” he says. “The content of the interview immediately puts him in breach.
“The standard terms also cover, wherever possible, informing the club about interviews you’re doing in advance. He could have informed the club so I would think that was probably another breach.”
It is understood United were made aware of the interview by Ronaldo’s camp on Sunday, shortly before Morgan’s first tweet to publicise it, so it could be open to interpretation whether that qualifies as reasonable notice in advance.
“As I understand it, the standard contract doesn’t prohibit players from doing interviews,” adds Singer. “But it obliges them to try and help the club by telling them they’re doing it in advance and making sure they’re joined up.”
In this case, Ronaldo is no different from any of his team-mates, or players at the Premier League’s 19 other clubs.
“It’s a standard Premier League contract that every Manchester United player will have signed and every club is obliged to use,” says Singer. “He (Ronaldo) will have signed up to those provisions.
“That includes implied terms about confidence, loyalty and obeying reasonable instructions.
“There can be little doubt that what he’s done puts him in breach of the standard contract. From what I’ve seen, accusing the club of betrayal, not honouring commitments, it’s pretty easy to say he’s brought the club into disrepute and damaged the interests of the club.”
What might happen if United decide Ronaldo has breached his contract?
Ultimately, the club could terminate the Portuguese’s deal.
Having initially re-joined United in August 2021 on a two-year contract with an option for an extra year, his current terms would be due to expire in August 2023 — assuming that extra year was not agreed.
However, if United’s hierarchy feel the player remaining at the club is impossible and want to try and get rid of him even in the face of appeals or further damaging publicity, there is a process they can follow.
The most important thing for United is to establish to what extent Ronaldo is in breach of his contract through his comments (Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
“If he’s in breach of contract, it’s one thing,” adds Singer. “But if it’s such a fundamental breach of contract that can bring termination, that’s another level.
“You can’t prejudge from a few clips and out-of-context snippets so it makes sense for United and their legal team to know exactly what is said and then take a judgement call.”
United may be best advised to follow the set process as they would with any potential breach of contract, and consider all their options.
“There’s a disciplinary process and if someone is in breach of contract by doing something they shouldn’t have done, the club has the scope to fine the player and impose a penalty,” explains Singer.
One high-profile precedent is former United forward Romelu Lukaku.
The striker gave an explosive interview to Sky Italia last season, lambasting Chelsea’s behaviour when failing to play regularly. Thomas Tuchel, then Chelsea head coach, said Lukaku would face “some discipline action” for the interview but, unlike Ronaldo, this was a player signed for £90million just a few months earlier.
Lukaku, who also apologised for his interview, is now on a season-long loan back at Inter Milan, the club he had left for Chelsea.
“If it’s serious or the player disagrees, you go into the disciplinary procedure where the player has the opportunity to defend themselves,” says Singer. “The club will say what it is they think he’s done wrong, he can argue he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong and then it goes up to the board of the club to decide what the penalty should be or if there’s a penalty at all.
“In this situation, it would be an internal hearing and potentially get to a situation where he’s committed gross misconduct and they can terminate the contract.
“Or if they believe there’s so much here, they could shortcut it and say they don’t need a disciplinary process. They might argue it’s so clear and obvious it’s gross misconduct that they’d go straight for termination with a 14-day notice.”
Are there any examples of players having their contracts terminated?
In August 2011, Hull City terminated the contract of record signing Jimmy Bullard following an incident on a pre-season trip to Slovenia.
Bullard had a lucrative deal until the end of the 2012-13 season and it led to a legal dispute between him and the club. The former midfielder was eventually reported to have accepted a settlement and both parties signed confidentiality agreements.
In 2014, Nicolas Anelka was sacked by West Bromwich Albion for gross misconduct. Anelka — who was given a five-match ban and an £80,000 fine by the Football Association for the quenelle gesture he made at West Ham — had announced via Twitter that he was terminating his playing contract, which had three and half months to run.
Anelka was sacked by West Brom in 2014 for gross misconduct (Photo: John Walton – PA Images via Getty Images)
The club had suspended the Frenchman on full pay following the FA’s verdict and were planning to complete their own investigation. West Brom had initially said his Twitter statement was “highly unprofessional”.
Three hours later, the club revealed they had written to Anelka giving him 14 days notice of termination as required under his contract. They said Anelka had failed to apologise for “the impact and consequences of his (quenelle)gesture” or accept a substantial fine, which would have resulted in his suspension being lifted.
Singer believes United would be best advised to go through the full process, however angry they might feel about the interview.
“The safer route is to go through the process of a disciplinary hearing, we’ll set it out and you can defend yourself,” he says. “Then we decide on the sanction.
“If they do find him guilty of gross misconduct, which is very rare, the player can still appeal that to the Premier League. What makes it unusual is that typically the value of a player’s registration is so significant. It’s unusual that a club would terminate the contract of a player’s registration because of the value of his registration.
“But here they’re paying him however many hundreds of thousands a week and they’ll be unable to sell him for a big transfer fee. That does change the dynamic quite a lot.
“To save themselves £400,000 a week, it might be worth going down that route. There’s enough incendiary stuff in what we’ve seen that probably does justify gross misconduct.
“They’d probably want to go through a disciplinary process to protect themselves against any claims it hadn’t been a due and fair process. Knowing that Ronaldo would probably challenge them, they’ve got another layer of protection then.”
So what might the eventual outcome be?
Despite the possibility of tearing up his contract, United may opt to do things amicably and on the quiet.
Along with criticising the facilities at United’s training ground and a string of other damaging observations about its culture, Ronaldo has accused the club of showing a lack of “empathy” when his young daughter was hospitalised in July.
Simon Leaf, head of sport at law firm Mishcon de Reya, believes that settling the matter privately could be the best way for the club to limit any more embarrassment.
“The club are caught between a rock and a hard place,” he says. “(A) termination right is subject to Ronaldo’s right to appeal — especially as he seems to be suggesting that United are in breach of its own duties to take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of its employees, which may extend to allowing Ronaldo time off in such difficult circumstances.
“There is no easy answer to this particular legal wrangle, and, from experience, one suspects, that given the sums involved in terms of wages and a potential transfer fee that may be forgone, both Ronaldo and the club will now try to resolve the issues as amicably as possible in private with a view to both parties saving face.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a meeting of the Council of Legislators at the Federal Assembly in Saint Petersburg, Russia April 27, 2022. Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Kremlin via REUTERS
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Putin begins Russia’s bite-back over Ukraine sanctions
Gives wide powers to cut raw material, produce exports
Forbids transactions with sanctioned entities
Retaliatory moves could wreak chaos across markets
Who will be on sanctions lists will now be key
LONDON, May 3 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin put the West on notice on Tuesday that he could terminate exports and deals, the Kremlin’s toughest response yet to the sanctions burden imposed by the United States and allies over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Putin, Russia’s paramount leader since 1999, signed a broad decree on Tuesday which forbade the export of products and raw materials to people and entities on a sanctions list that he instructed the government to draw up within 10 days.
The decree, which came into force with its publication, gives Moscow the power to sow chaos across markets as it could at any moment halt exports or tear up contracts with an entity or individual it has sanctioned.
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The Russian government has 10 days to draw up lists of those it will sanction beyond the Western politicians it has already.
Putin explicitly framed the decree as a response to what he cast as the illegal actions of the United States and its allies meant to deprive “the Russian Federation, citizens of the Russian Federation and Russian legal entities of property rights or the restricting their property rights”.
The decree sets out “retaliatory special economic measures in connection with the unfriendly actions of some foreign states and international organizations”.
Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine prompted the United States and its allies to impose the most severe sanctions in modern history on Russia and Moscow’s business elite, steps Putin casts as a declaration of economic war.
The West’s attempt to economically isolate Russia – one of the world’s biggest producers of natural resources – has propelled the global economy into uncharted waters with soaring prices and warnings of food shortages.
Putin, 69, has repeatedly warned that Moscow will respond in kind, though until Tuesday the Kremlin’s toughest economic response had been to cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria and demand a new payment scheme for European buyers of gas.
Tuesday’s decree forbids the export of products and raw materials to people and entities that the Kremlin has sanctioned. It forbids any transactions with such people or entities – even under current contracts.
Putin tasked the government with drawing up the list of foreign individuals and companies to be sanctioned, as well as defining “additional criteria” for a number of transactions that could be subject to restrictions.
“This is a framework decree,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a non-resident scholar at Carnegie Moscow Center and founder of the R.Politik political analysis firm.
“Now all the specific lists should be developed by the government. That’s the main thing and we need to wait for.”
Since the West imposed sanctions on Russia, the $1.8 trillion economy has been heading for its biggest contraction since the years following the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union, amid soaring inflation.
A significant transfer of Russian assets has begun as the Russian state gains even more influence over the economy, many major Western investors – such as energy giants BP (BP.L) and Shell (SHEL.L) – exit, and oligarchs try to restructure their business empires.
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Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Mark Heinrich
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Matthew Lawrence asks judge in divorce case from Cheryl Burke to terminate spousal support to either party … and says split is result of ‘irreconcilable differences’
Lawrence, 42, responded on Friday to Burke’s February divorce filing
The Mrs. Doubtfire actor asked that the court uphold a prenuptial agreement
The Dancing with the Stars personality, 37, filed for the split February 18, saying the couple had separated January 7
The former couple dated in 2006 before rekindling romance in 2017
They announced their engagement in 2018 and married in May of 2019
By Adam S. Levy For Dailymail.com
Published: | Updated:
Actor Matthew Lawrence has asked the judge in his divorce case from Cheryl Burke to terminate spousal support for either party in a response to her February divorce filing.
Lawrence, 42, asked in docs filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court that the court’s ability to order spousal support for either party be terminated, and that a prenuptial agreement they agreed to be upheld, People reported Monday after reviewing court docs in the case.
Lawrence said in legal docs that the divorce is the result of ‘irreconcilable differences’ in his relationship with Burke, 37.
The latest: Actor Matthew Lawrence, 42, has asked the judge in his divorce case from Cheryl Burke, 37, to terminate spousal support for either party in a response to her February divorce filing
The Dancing with the Stars personality initially filed for the split February 18, saying the couple had separated January 7, the outlet reported after reviewing court docs.
The Mrs. Doubtfire actor and Burke first met in 2006 when his brother Joey Lawrence, 45, participated on the ABC ballroom competition.
They dated for a year and broke up before rekindling the relationship in 2017, announcing their engagement in 2018 and marrying in May of 2019 in San Diego at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar.
The Mrs. Doubtfire actor and Burke first met in 2006 and dated for a year; they were snapped in 2007
The former couple was seen at a gala in Beverly Hills, California in April of 2018
Burke on February 24 took to Instagram with a statement on the end of the marriage.
‘I know I have always said that I’m an open book with you guys, I do strive to be, and in writing this I’ve realized there isn’t really an easy way to announce that my marriage is ending,’ the San Francisco native said. ‘I hope you can understand that I will not be commenting any further at this time and am asking for understanding and privacy. Thank you all for all the kind words & support you’ve given me – love you all.’
Burke opened up about her state of mind amid the split in a March 6 statement on the social media site.
‘I’ve realized that whenever I am at a point in my life where I have some big emotions to process, the best thing for me to do is to spend some time alone – other than being with [my dog] Ysa of course, but I truly feel like she is a part of me, so she doesn’t count,’ Burke said. ‘If I’m being honest, really feeling my feelings is new to me.’
Burke and Lawrence were seen at an event in Santa Monica, California in 2018
Burke said she’s spent her ‘entire life up to this point trying to numb’ her feelings, and she’s ‘learning that really going through them is A LOT harder.’
She added: ‘I guess all of that is to say, to truly experience my feelings, whatever they may be, being alone for a few days has been the best thing for me. I would highly encourage anyone else out there to try it and not feel guilty for needing that space.’
A source told Entertainment Tonight of the split: ‘Cheryl and Matthew have been having issues for a while. Cheryl has been leaning on her close girlfriends and trying to stay busy and go out and spend time with loved ones.’
Another insider told the outlet that the split was ‘a long time coming,’ and that the former couple had ‘been living separate lives for a couple months now.
‘They have a lot of history together, and while they hoped this time around would be different, it proved otherwise.’
Jan 29 (Reuters) – (This January 29 story corrects blog name)
T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS.O) will fire corporate employees who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by April 2, according to an internal company memo posted on the blog The T-MO Report.
The blog said T-Mobile’s new policy was announced on Friday in an email from its human resource chief to all staff. It follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Jan. 13 that blocked President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing mandate for large businesses.
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“Employees who have not yet taken action to receive their first dose and upload proof by February 21 will be placed on unpaid leave,” the blog quoted the memo as saying. “Affected employees who do not become fully vaccinated … by April 2 will be separated from T-Mobile.”
The memo, addressed to “all employees (excluding international),” stated that the vaccine rules do not apply to field technicians and most in-store retail roles.
In a statement on Saturday, T-Mobile said “we are requiring office workers (with limited exception for certain roles, locations and legally mandated accommodations and exemptions) to be fully vaccinated by April 2.” It added that “badge-controlled offices continue to be accessible only to those who are vaccinated against COVID-19.”
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Reporting by Vanessa O’Connell; editing by Grant McCool
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
T-Mobile US Inc will fire corporate employees who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by April 2, according to an internal company memo posted on the independent blog TMOnews.com.
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The blog said T-Mobile’s new policy was announced on Friday in an email from its human resource chief to all staff. It follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Jan. 13 that blocked President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing mandate for large businesses.
“Employees who have not yet taken action to receive their first dose and upload proof by February 21 will be placed on unpaid leave,” the blog quoted the memo as saying. “Affected employees who do not become fully vaccinated … by April 2 will be separated from T-Mobile.”
DESPITE SCOTUS RULING, CITIGROUP STANDS BY FRIDAY VACCINATION DEADLINE
The memo, addressed to “all employees (excluding international),” stated that the vaccine rules do not apply to field technicians and most in-store retail roles.
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In a statement on Saturday, T-Mobile said “we are requiring office workers (with limited exception for certain roles, locations and legally mandated accommodations and exemptions) to be fully vaccinated by April 2.” It added that “badge-controlled offices continue to be accessible only to those who are vaccinated against COVID-19.”
(Reporting by Vanessa O’Connell; editing by Grant McCool)
A contract between the Biden administration and Emergent BioSolutions, a vaccine contractor who has struggled with production failures during the pandemic, has been canceled.
During an Emergent call with investors Thursday, company executives said their contract with the federal government, which was worth $600 million, has been terminated, The New York Time reported.
The contract was signed at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, but the administration stopped payments after the spring of this year when issues at the company’s Maryland plant were disclosed.
This March, the plant was found to have ruined millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by contaminating it with the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
Production was halted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after the contamination, but the plant was allowed to reopen after an inspection in August.
The company said they had agreed to forego $180 million of the contract’s $600 million total, per the Times.
A company spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill that Emergent proposed ending the contract in October, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agreed.
The spokesperson said the contract was terminated Nov. 1.
However, a senior official for the Biden administration told the Times that the federal government — not Emergent — initiated the termination of the contract.
Documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission say Emergent and the HHS “mutually agreed” to cancel the agreement.
Another contract between the company and the federal government that began in 2012 was also canceled years before its end date, Emergent chief executive Robert Kramer said on the call with investors, according to the Times.
Per the contract signed in 2012, which was meant to improve the country’s pandemic preparation, Emergent agreed to expand its vaccine production in return for $163 million from HHS.
Kramer said on the call that the goal “as it was contemplated back in 2012, was a good idea at the time, but unfortunately it didn’t work out as it was anticipated,” according to the Times.
In an op-ed for The Baltimore Sun, Kramer directed blame for the failures of the contracts toward the government.
“The original intent of this partnership was to create a facility that could produce 50 million dose-equivalents of influenza vaccine drug substance in four months in the event of a pandemic,” Kramer said. “Facility expansion was only a first step. To build and maintain a state of readiness, continued investment is a necessity. The government maintained that they would provide us with the necessary drug development work to build and maintain those capabilities. That didn’t happen”
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has terminated the contract of punter Thomas Morstead.
Morstead, 6-4, 235 pounds, spent the last 12 seasons in Black and Gold after being selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of SMU. A team captain since 2013, he made an immense contribution both on the field with the organization and with the local community.
Morstead appeared in 190 career regular season games, ranked fourth in team record books and punted 692 times for 32,190 yards for a 46.5 gross punting average and a 41.6 net, ranked second in NFL record books since the statistic was first recorded in 1976. 251 of his punts landed inside-the-20-yard line, tied for the 33rd-highest total since the stat was recorded in 1976 and the most in club record books. Morstead served as the club’s primary kickoff specialist from 2009-14 and 259 of his 532 career kickoffs have sailed into the end zone for touchbacks (48.7%). His most famous work from a kicking tee occurred as a rookie in Super Bowl XLIV, when he successfully executed an onside kick at the start of the second half that was recovered by New Orleans and led to a touchdown, nicknamed “Ambush”. Morstead was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2012, when he was also a consensus All-Pro. Throughout his career, he has been selected as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week five times.
Morstead also appeared in 15 postseason games for New Orleans, second in club record books and punted 54 times for 2,405 yards with a 44.5 gross punting average and a 41.0 net with 19 dropped inside-the-20.
In 2020, Morstead appeared in all 16 regular season games, for the 11th time in his 12-year career and punted 62 times for 2,674 yards with a 43.1 gross punting average, 41.7 net with 23 dropped inside-the-20 yard line. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week following the season-opening win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he booted six punts for 264 yards with a 44.0 gross/net, five inside-the-20 and also successfully hit a kickoff that was fumbled by Tampa Bay and recovered by New Orleans to set up a touchdown.
Off the field, Morstead and his wife Lauren made extensive contributions to the Gulf South Community, leaving a lasting legacy through their “What You Give Will Grow” foundation, established in 2012. The team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2013, Morstead focused the majority of his efforts in the region on cancer-related and child-related initiatives, as well as stepping up to assist those in need during holiday seasons as well as when natural disasters affected the region.
“Thomas Morstead has been the epitome of the consummate pro since the day we selected him in the 2009 NFL Draft,” said Loomis. “He has been a remarkable punter and an outstanding leader in the locker room and eight-time team captain. His work in the community has been nothing short of remarkable. We know that as we approach the beginning of the NFL calendar year that very difficult decisions have to be made and this certainly falls into this category. We appreciate the dedication and professionalism that Thomas has brought to our organization from the moment he joined our team and sincerely wish both he and his family the best.”
“Thomas has been a very important part of the New Orleans Saints organization and our community since 2009,” said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. “It has been an honor to have coached him and to have witnessed his growth as a player and a person. He has been a great leader and mentor to many younger players throughout his career and his Pro Bowl level of play year-in and year-out has been remarkable. I know that Thomas will be highly successful in the future and am grateful to have had the opportunity to coach him.”
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has terminated the contracts of tight ends Josh Hill and Jared Cook .Hill, 6-5, 250 pounds, filled various roles for the Saints as a receiver, blocker, fullback and special teams contributor after making the team in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State. Hill appeared in 117 regular season games with 62 starts for New Orleans and posted 116 receptions for 1,071 yards with 15 touchdowns and posted 27 special teams tackles. In nine postseason games with four starts, he posted 15 receptions for 166 yards with one touchdown.In 2020, Hill played in 14 games with seven starts and posted eight receptions for 46 yards with one touchdown, one season after posting career-highs in catches (25) and receiving yards (226) in 2019.”He is a true professional,” Loomis said of Josh Hill. “He has done so many things that very few people noticed but his coaches and teammates certainly were aware of his contribution to the team’s success over the better part of the last decade. He played with tremendous heart and determination and personified the characteristics that we highly value. He certainly earned our respect and admiration throughout his time in our program.””Josh joined us an undrafted free agent in 2013 and has been a model of consistency throughout his eight seasons with us,” said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. “He has been reliable, selfless and filled numerous roles for us, oftentimes on the fly and in the middle of games, filling each role at a very high level. We appreciate everything he has done for our team and know he will have continued success as he moves forward.”Cook, 6-6, 254, was signed by New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent in 2019 and is a 12-year NFL veteran who was originally selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans out of the University of South Carolina. He has appeared in 178 career games with 89 starts, posting 505 receptions for 6,673 yards (13.2 avg.) with 41 touchdowns.Since joining New Orleans in 2019, Cook, played in 29 games and recorded 80 receptions for 1,209 yards (15.1 avg.) with 16 touchdowns, tied for the second-highest scoring grab total at the position during that period. After being named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, recording 43 grabs for 705 yards (16.4 avg.) with nine touchdowns, Cook played in 15 games in 2020 and led the tight ends group with 37 catches for 504 yards (13.6 avg.) and a team-best seven touchdown receptions.”Jared consistently displayed the playmaking skills that attracted us to him as a free agent two years ago,” said Payton. “He made a lot of big plays for us and was a positive influence on his teammates. Jared is a consummate professional who is dedicated to his craft and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”
NEW ORLEANS —
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has terminated the contracts of tight ends Josh Hill and Jared Cook .
Hill, 6-5, 250 pounds, filled various roles for the Saints as a receiver, blocker, fullback and special teams contributor after making the team in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State. Hill appeared in 117 regular season games with 62 starts for New Orleans and posted 116 receptions for 1,071 yards with 15 touchdowns and posted 27 special teams tackles. In nine postseason games with four starts, he posted 15 receptions for 166 yards with one touchdown.
In 2020, Hill played in 14 games with seven starts and posted eight receptions for 46 yards with one touchdown, one season after posting career-highs in catches (25) and receiving yards (226) in 2019.
“He is a true professional,” Loomis said of Josh Hill. “He has done so many things that very few people noticed but his coaches and teammates certainly were aware of his contribution to the team’s success over the better part of the last decade. He played with tremendous heart and determination and personified the characteristics that we highly value. He certainly earned our respect and admiration throughout his time in our program.”
“Josh joined us an undrafted free agent in 2013 and has been a model of consistency throughout his eight seasons with us,” said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton. “He has been reliable, selfless and filled numerous roles for us, oftentimes on the fly and in the middle of games, filling each role at a very high level. We appreciate everything he has done for our team and know he will have continued success as he moves forward.”
Cook, 6-6, 254, was signed by New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent in 2019 and is a 12-year NFL veteran who was originally selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans out of the University of South Carolina. He has appeared in 178 career games with 89 starts, posting 505 receptions for 6,673 yards (13.2 avg.) with 41 touchdowns.
Since joining New Orleans in 2019, Cook, played in 29 games and recorded 80 receptions for 1,209 yards (15.1 avg.) with 16 touchdowns, tied for the second-highest scoring grab total at the position during that period. After being named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, recording 43 grabs for 705 yards (16.4 avg.) with nine touchdowns, Cook played in 15 games in 2020 and led the tight ends group with 37 catches for 504 yards (13.6 avg.) and a team-best seven touchdown receptions.
“Jared consistently displayed the playmaking skills that attracted us to him as a free agent two years ago,” said Payton. “He made a lot of big plays for us and was a positive influence on his teammates. Jared is a consummate professional who is dedicated to his craft and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”
