Logo

Just 24 Hours After Signing With the Colts, Former Saints Kicker Blake Grupe Shocks the NFL by Declaring He Will Never Return to New Orleans — And the Story Behind It Has Saints Nation Furious

Indianapolis, Indiana – 12/05/2025

It took only one day after signing with the Indianapolis Colts for Blake Grupe to become the most controversial figure in the NFL this week. A kicker released by the New Orleans Saints for poor performance suddenly ignited a firestorm with a statement that sent shockwaves through the league — and unleashed the fury of Saints Nation.

Joining the Colts — a team leading the AFC South and pushing toward the playoffs — Grupe appeared to land on his feet quickly. But instead of offering humility or focusing on his fresh start, he immediately thrust himself into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. In his first media availability, Grupe spoke about “finally playing meaningful football” and being “part of a team working toward something real” — comments Saints fans and analysts quickly recognized as a direct shot at New Orleans.

Article image

And then came the line that stunned everyone:

“There are doors that, once you walk through, you know you’ll never go back… and I walked through that door in New Orleans; sometimes you have to leave to find where you truly belong, and the Colts gave me that feeling within hours; I don’t regret the decision — if anything, it says more than people think.”

For a kicker who finished dead last in the NFL in field goal percentage among players with at least 20 attempts, the remark wasn’t just bold — it was viewed as outright arrogant. Saints Nation erupted instantly. Former players, reporters, and fans all pointed out the same truth: Grupe wasn’t “held back” in New Orleans — he was cut because he couldn’t perform. Several internal sources even noted the team worked extensively to support him, but he failed to meet the fundamental expectations of the position.

“He talks like he was rescued from somewhere,” one Saints staff member (who requested anonymity) said. “But the reality is, we just made the decision every team makes when a kicker keeps missing.”

Meanwhile, the Colts have remained composed, believing a change of scenery might help Grupe regain confidence. But in the eyes of Saints Nation, the damage is done — and any bridge back to New Orleans has been obliterated.

A kicker leaves.
A careless statement follows.
And an entire fanbase erupts.

The NFL has seen its share of drama, but few have burned a bridge faster than Blake Grupe — all within 24 hours.

1 views
MVP Aaron Rodgers Speaks Out to Defend Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa After Wave of Criticism for “Embarrassing the Dolphins Community” – 15-Second Controversial Clip Sparks NFL Uproar
Miami Gardens, Florida – 12/17/2025 It took just a 15-second clip to ignite a firestorm across the NFL. Video of Tua Tagovailoa laughing and chatting with Jalen Ramsey on the field after the game spread rapidly on social media, triggering heavy backlash from a segment of the Dolphins fanbase. To those critics, the moment felt “inappropriate,” with some accusing Tua of “embarrassing the Dolphins community” in the wake of a frustrating loss. In the clip, Tagovailoa — still wearing his white headband and Dolphins uniform — is seen engaging warmly with Ramsey, a former Miami teammate whose exit from the organization was anything but smooth. The optics only heightened emotions: black-and-gold-clad fans in the stands, a visible victory backdrop for the opponent, and a quarterback appearing relaxed when many expected visible anguish. In the social-media era, every gesture becomes evidence. TRENDING: #Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is under heavy criticism from fan for hanging out and laughing with his former teammate Jalen Ramsey after the game.😬😬Ramsey did not get along with Miami head coach Mike McDaniel and was a diva in the locker room.pic.twitter.com/Cdy6vbpF5T — MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 17, 2025 That’s when Aaron Rodgers, a multi-time NFL MVP, stepped in. Rodgers publicly defended Tagovailoa, arguing that the criticism had crossed a line and exposed the unrealistic emotional standards often imposed on quarterbacks. “We expect players to follow a scripted emotional response after every game,” Rodgers said. “You can hate losing. You can be disappointed in yourself. But that doesn’t mean you stop being human or cut off personal relationships. Tua didn’t do anything wrong by showing respect to a former teammate.” Rodgers’ comments immediately fueled further debate. Supporters argued he voiced what many players feel privately inside NFL locker rooms — where the line between rival and friend is far more complex than social media suggests. Critics countered that a franchise quarterback, as the face of the team, must be more conscious of optics in emotionally charged moments. The context surrounding Ramsey only added fuel. The former Dolphins cornerback was widely reported to have clashed with head coach Mike McDaniel and was labeled a “diva” in the locker room before his departure from Miami. For some fans, seeing Tua smiling with Ramsey felt like a betrayal of timing, if not allegiance. Rodgers, however, emphasized that NFL relationships cannot be reduced to a few seconds of video. In a league where every frame is scrutinized, Rodgers’ message was unmistakable: leadership isn’t defined by a postgame expression, but by what happens behind closed doors when the meeting-room door shuts. And perhaps the bigger question raised by this controversy isn’t who Tua smiled with — but what fans truly expect from players who perform under the most relentless pressure in sports.