One day after Drew Brees officially retired from the NFL and announced that he’s joining NBC Sports as an analyst, the New Orleans Saints re-signed free-agent quarterback Jameis Winston, who’s expected to compete with Taysom Hill for the starting job.
And the Winston/Saints scoop didn’t come from Ian Rapoport, Adam Schefter, Jay Glazer, Jeremy Fowler, Dianna Russini, Tom Pelissero, or anybody known well for breaking NFL news. Instead, an NBA insider had the scoop: Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Charania tweeted on Monday night at 9 p.m. ET, “Breaking NFL Free Agency news: Free agent QB Jameis Winston has agreed to a deal to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints, per sources.”
Breaking NFL Free Agency news: Free agent QB Jameis Winston has agreed to a deal to re-sign with the New Orleans Saints, per sources.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 16, 2021
Four minutes later, Schefter tweeted that it’s a one-year deal worth up to $12 million.
Jameis Winston reached agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $12 million with the Saints, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2021
While Schefter didn’t acknowledge Charania, Rapoport did.
Rapoport quote tweeted Charania at 9:05 p.m. ET: “Stick to basketball. But yes, this is true. Jameis back to the #Saints.”
Stick to basketball. But yes, this is true. Jameis back to the #Saints. https://t.co/4ABUlmg45p
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2021
Charania breaking the Winston news was funny enough in itself, but especially funny after that Rapoport response.
Now, breaking big NFL news isn’t a completely new thing for Charania, even though it’s rare. Last April, Charania tweeted (out of “NBA boredom”) that the Miami Dolphins were drafting Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
NBA boredom: Miami is drafting Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 pick in the NFL Draft, sources say.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2020
Charania told Awful Announcing after getting the Tagovailoa scoop, “It came across my phone and I couldn’t help myself, I fell back to my instincts.” He added, “It was just in the middle of the draft, getting some information and went back to my normal instincts. You gotta do your job.”
So, don’t be surprised if Charania has another NFL scoop or two coming on the free agency, trade (a Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson trade scoop would be particularly hilarious), and draft front in the coming weeks.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.