From Payton Glory to NFL Purgatory! Saints Sign Mellott After Raiders Kick Him to the Curb

Hold onto your helmets, Saints fans, because the NFL universe just delivered a plot twist that even soap operas would envy.

Tommy Mellott, the Montana State quarterback who seemed destined for superstardom, has officially landed on the New Orleans Saints practice squad.

Yes, the same Mellott who once threw, ran, and basically carried his team to a record-breaking 33 wins, only to be waived by the Las Vegas Raiders before the regular season even began.

It’s a tale of triumph, heartbreak, and a career trajectory so bizarre you’d think Hollywood ghostwrote it.

 

Let’s start with the obvious: Tommy Mellott is a freak of nature.

At Montana State, he wasn’t just good—he was historically good.

33 wins.

5,810 passing yards.

53 passing touchdowns.

And don’t even get us started on the rushing stats: 3,523 yards and 43 touchdowns on the ground.

He was basically a Swiss Army knife in cleats, a quarterback who could do it all, make defenders cry, and probably do your taxes if asked politely.

No wonder he won the 2024 Walter Payton Award as the top FCS offensive player.

“Tommy wasn’t just playing football,” says fictional NFL analyst Brad ‘Stats-Master’ Henderson, nodding sagely while clutching a clipboard.

“He was rewriting the FCS record books, one touchdown at a time.

He could throw, he could run, he could probably sing the national anthem in Morse code while avoiding tackles.

He’s that good. ”

Yet somehow, despite these jaw-dropping numbers, Mellott’s NFL journey took a hard left turn.

Drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, many assumed he’d walk into a starting role or at least steal meaningful snaps in the preseason.

Instead, he was waived before Week 1.

 

Fans were left scratching their heads, analysts murmuring about ‘fit’ and ‘system,’ and Twitter exploding with the usual mix of outrage and confusion.

How could a Walter Payton Award winner, an FCS juggernaut, be tossed aside like yesterday’s tailgate burger?

“It was shocking,” says fictional ex-NFL scout Randy McCoy, adjusting his sunglasses dramatically.

“I mean, this kid is a dual-threat machine.

He’s like Lamar Jackson, if Lamar Jackson were a little less famous and a lot more tragic.

The Raiders’ decision baffled even the most cynical observers. ”

But just when it seemed like Mellott’s NFL dreams might be fading faster than your fantasy football team in Week 3, the New Orleans Saints came calling.

A practice squad spot might not sound glamorous to casual fans, but for Mellott, it’s a lifeline.

It’s a chance to prove the critics wrong, to develop under a respected coaching staff, and to bide his time until the moment he storms onto the field and makes everyone eat their words—again.

“Practice squad or not, this is huge for Tommy,” says fictional Saints insider ‘Coach Tony. ’

“This is where careers are made.

He’s going to learn, he’s going to adapt, and when his number’s called… watch out. ”

And let’s be honest, Saints fans are now collectively holding their breath.

After the Brady-to-Tampa Bay miracle, they understand the power of an underdog QB story.

Mellott fits that narrative perfectly.

 

From FCS hero to brief NFL exile to a chance at redemption in New Orleans, his career is already dramatic enough to rival a streaming series.

Netflix, are you listening?

Social media has been ablaze since the signing announcement.

“Tommy Mellott on Saints practice squad? Big brain move.

Saints culture is perfect for him,” one fan tweeted.

Another wrote, “Payton Award winner waived by Raiders.

Saints just stole a future legend.

Mark my words. ”

The memes practically write themselves.

One image circulating shows Mellott holding a football with the caption: “Waived in Vegas, practiced in New Orleans, next up: Hall of Fame?”

Critics, of course, are cautiously optimistic.

“He’s young, talented, and versatile,” says fictional analyst Sarah ‘Film Reel’ Johnson.

“But the NFL is a different beast.

The practice squad is his crucible.

Will he thrive? Will he flop? Stay tuned, because this story is far from over. ”

And therein lies the beauty of Tommy Mellott’s journey.

It’s messy, unpredictable, and just dramatic enough to keep fans invested.

He’s been a hero, a cast-off, and now, potentially, a redemption story in the making.

From breaking FCS records to dodging NFL rejection, Mellott embodies the chaos and romance of football careers.

“It’s poetic,” says Brad Henderson again, waving his hands like a man describing the fall of Rome.

“The kid who carried Montana State on his back, who broke every record in sight, who thought he might not even make it in the NFL… now he’s got a shot.

A real shot.

That’s the narrative Hollywood dreams of.

That’s why we love football. ”

 

The stakes are high.

Saints fans are watching every practice, every snap, every throw.

Analysts are overanalyzing film like archaeologists dissecting ancient hieroglyphs.

And Mellott? He’s probably somewhere quietly preparing, plotting his comeback, thinking two steps ahead while the NFL waits to see if lightning can strike twice.

“Practice squad or not, don’t sleep on Tommy,” Coach Tony insists.

“This kid has heart.

He has talent.

And most importantly, he has a chip on his shoulder bigger than the Louisiana Superdome.

He’s ready to prove everyone wrong. ”

And honestly, we can’t wait to see it.

Because if history has taught us anything, it’s that Tommy Mellott is not just another quarterback.

 

He’s a story.

A spectacle.

A reminder that sometimes the path to greatness is bumpy, confusing, and filled with dramatic twists—and that’s exactly what makes the NFL the most compelling theater on Earth.