Ex-Saints Captain Blake Grupe Lands New Gig with Colts After Tough Season in New Orleans

In a surprising turn of events, Blake Grupe, the former captain of the New Orleans Saints, has found a new home with the Indianapolis Colts after a difficult season in New Orleans. Grupe, who served as the Saints' kicker throughout the

2023 season, was released after struggling in the first 11 games of the year. His replacement, Charlie Smyth, has since made key plays, including a 56-yard field goal
and a successful onside kick in a win over the Miami Dolphins.

Grupe's tenure with the Saints began with promise but quickly soured as he struggled to make his kicks. By the time he played his final game with New Orleans, Grupe had made just

18 of 26 field goals—a performance that included a 1-for-3 effort against the Atlanta Falcons. This marked the end of his stint with the Saints, as New Orleans looked for more consistent kicking play.

Despite his struggles, Grupe wasn’t left without a job for long. Just days after his release, he caught the eye of Indianapolis Colts officials, who moved quickly to sign him to their practice squad.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Grupe impressed during his workout and, soon after, the Colts made the decision to add him to their roster.

"Blake Grupe has shown great dedication and commitment to this team. While we’ve had to make this tough decision, we believe it’s the best move for the future. We’re grateful for his contributions, and we wish him all the best as he continues his career with the Colts,"

said Kellen Moore, Offensive Coordinator of the New Orleans Saints.

Now part of the Colts’ practice squad, Grupe will be working to earn his spot on the active roster. He is expected to be available for games starting this week, giving him a fresh opportunity to showcase his talent. With the

Colts not facing the Saints for the rest of the season, Grupe will not get the chance to face his former team this year.

Grupe’s story in New Orleans was one of

unexpected beginnings and eventual challenges. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Grupe outperformed former Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz during training camp to earn the job as the Saints’ starting kicker. However, as the season wore on, the pressure mounted, and the team's decision to part ways with Grupe came after several missed opportunities.

While Lutz has since found a new home with the Denver Broncos, making 80 of 90 field goals (88.9%) and 102 of 104 extra points (98.1%), Grupe’s performance, while not on par, was still respectable with

75 of 94 field goals (79.8%) and 86 of 88 extra points (97.7%).

Despite the setbacks, Grupe is now embarking on a new chapter with the Indianapolis Colts, and the

Saints' loss is very much the Colts' gain. It’s a story of resilience and proving that, even when things don’t go as planned, there’s always another opportunity around the corner in the NFL. Grupe is looking to continue his journey and make the most of his fresh start, and with his history of perseverance, there’s no doubt he’s ready for the challenge.

Rangers’ head coach Mike Sullivan sounds off on Vladislav Gavrikov’s offense

The New York Rangers’ blueline took a massive hit when Adam Fox suffered a long-term injury. It’ll be production by committee for New York in the defender’s absence, as the blueline will need to try and fill that hole. While Vladislav Gavrikov might not have much of an offensive past, Rangers’ head coach Mike Sullivan is liking what he is seeing from their offseason addition.

“Well, I don’t know that we thought 20-something games in he’d have five goals. Obviously, his core competency is his ability to defend,” Sullivan said. “He’s hard to play against. He’s one of the better defending defensemen, we think, in the league. Having said that, we believe he has the ability to help our offense.”

Gavrikov’s offensive output might be the product of a bit more shooting luck, but Sullivan sees some significant offensive tendencies in the defender. It’s possible that his past head coaches didn’t recognize his potential or do anything to unlock it, which is ironic given some of Sullivan’s past issues with offensive defensemen. Nevertheless, the head coach is singing Gavrikov’s praises.

“Whether it be with outlet passes or joining the rush or being active off the offensive blue line,” Sullivan continued. “I won’t lie, I’m surprised with how effective he’s been just with his instincts. In particular, the way he jumps off the offensive blue line.”

The coaching staff isn’t looking for Gavrikov to become the next Fox in his absence. However, in an up-and-down year for the Rangers, any bit of offense will help them move forward.

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