The Saints have a William Sherman and a Ulysses. Yes, they’ve heard the Civil War jokes.
Context:
The New Orleans Saints headline a lighthearted feature about guard William Sherman and running back Ulysses Bentley IV, who both share Civil War-era first names and have faced uphill climbs to secure NFL roles. The piece traces Sherman’s persistence from a sixth-round Patriots pick in 2021 to a 53-man roster spot with the Saints in 2025, and Bentley’s undrafted path to the Saints’ practice squad with his single NFL game to date. Both players embrace the nicknames and the inevitable jokes, while acknowledging the pressure to perform as the team readies for a home game against Atlanta. The narrative blends personal backstories with team context, highlighting resilience and camaraderie as the next game approaches.
Dive Deeper:
Sherman, nicknamed 'The General' after a famous Union general, has cultivated the moniker since college, and carries it into his NFL journey, where he now competes for a starting role after playing seven games in the prior season.
Bentley IV, a New Orleans native who went undrafted in 2025, joined the Saints’ practice squad this week following a stint with the Colts and has appeared in one NFL game, underscoring a similar grind as Sherman.
Both players acknowledge the running joke about their shared Civil War-era names, with Sherman noting he’ll verify the origin with his family while Bentley points to the name as a family tradition; neither considers themselves history buffs, but both tolerate the chatter.
Sherman’s career arc includes a long period of racketing between practice squads before signing with the Saints’ 53-man roster in December 2025, marking a turning point toward stability and on-field opportunities.
Bentley’s path involved climbing from undrafted status to the Saints’ system, and the piece sets their upcoming Monday game against the Falcons as a stage to reinforce their roles and prove their durability.
The article seats the duo within the broader Saints narrative of perseverance, character, and teamwork, framing their quest for a regular role as a microcosm of the team’s competitiveness this season.