Exactly. People are starting to question Smith's character as a reason why we're looking to trade him. Well, I still see him being productive in games. I don't see or hear anything about him being a T.O. type. He was on a Super Bowl winning defense with the Bucs, who I've seen mentioned would like to get him back, so I don't buy that he's a bad character guy.

Bottom line to me is that he's doing it on the field, and I don't hear anything off the field about him, so what's the problem???

I would like to see Smith remain a Saints but I heard today on ESPN radio that Payton doesn't care for him for whatever reason it is, this is Sean's team and believe he's doing what's best for the Saints..
Who knows maybe the two of them can sit down and talk about and hoping Smith will stick around for another year, I think Sean is setting an example and that's he only wants the very best hard workers he can get..
I say let Payton do his thing believing he'll turn the team around for the better..
For now I'm enjoying Bush being drafted by the Saints..

I just don't think it's a good idea to get rid of a productive player that hasn't caused any trouble in the lockerroom, and hasn't been in the news off the field since he's been here just because the HC might not like him.

Wait now...I'm not a huge Loomis fan, but Mueller brought in some real punk-asses too. only 2 of the guys he brought in are still on the team and only 4 made a name in some way. Remember Sedrick Hodge?

I think Haz wanted to have Parcells -type ability...shop for the groceries stuff, and Loomis deferred to him. Unfortunately that deference cost us b/c Haz was also loyal to his guys, but alot of those guys weren't real work-horses....not a bad quality, but I feel it got the best of him.

Loomis and Payton have a new deal going. We will have to give the honeymoon time to wear off, then pass judgement.

And I'll be sad to see Smith go too, but it is what it is. He is a real productive guy and he helped solidify our secondary, but I'm not there everyday to see what dude is like inperson. It could also be a ploy to get him to step up and be a bigtime leader (thin, I know...but like I said, I don't want to see him go)

This is how Loomis see it, 1+1=2, OT Jon Stinchcomb over CB Rasheen Mathis. Now you must weigh the balance, do you want a GM to keep us under the salary cap or A GM with a plan and a since of direction how and who to build the team around? We had both with Mueller but Benson ego was too big.

But isn't that part and parcel to the arguement? It seems to me that it wasn't until Benson just recently started being willing to pay did we actually start benefitting in that way.

Mueller was a good GM,and his rebuilding of Miami will prove that. But Loomis, free from Haslett and now with a Benson that is willing to pay guys fair value, could be a good guy too...I just thinkwe have to wait and see

Loomis should have his own mind set in the direction he want to go. Look at the situation we are in sign Smith draft a safety in 2nd rd Bullock resign Gleason all last year, This year sign Stoutmire trade Wayne Gandy for Bryan Scott and then use another 2nd rd pick for another safety that was projected a late 3rd or 4th rd pick. I don't care how Payton dislike a player as a GM you should try to sit the coach down and tell him if the problem don't resolve next year he would consider trading Smith. Now we thin @ OT didn't draft a lb and have too many safties to fit the roster. The only way you can blame Benson for this is that he didn't demote Loomis and find a real GM. Benson if you reading this thread it is time for you to put buisness before friendship and demote or let loomis go. Loomis been here 3 yrs and each year we decline from playoff birth to 2nd overall pick. Muelleur brought us from 5th overall pick to 1st playoff win with his aggressive dealing in his 1st year and in last year he drafted Stallworth, Grant, Bentley, Mel Mitchell, J.T oSullivan which happens to be our last good draft.

Mueller doesn't have the same control in Miami that he had here. Saban's doing a lot of the talent evaluation, and bringing those guys in.

Loomis can't have his own mind set in making those desicions. He's the GM. The coach has his fair say, and in the case of a more non-football centered guy, like Loomis, the coach has more juice it seems. Those choices last year were made with Haz at the helm, and now it seems to be Payton cleaning up the mess. It's apparently his prerogative and that is ceded to him, in part, by loomis. He did the same thing for Haz, and Haz got non-quality guys. Spread that blame out where it is due b/c Haz ended up screwing us just as much. In the end the product onthe field is the head coach's responsibility. Loomis didn't hold on 1st and 10 or jump offsides on 4th and 1.

I'm not saying that Loomis is the same caliber, but now that Benson actually wants to pay guys, we may be more competitive when you couple that with our having a coach with a far more solid personnel mantra than Haz who liked those could be great guys vs. the want to be great guys we seem to be collecting.

And no, I can blame Benson for the most of it. Has hemade strides inrehabbing his image? yes. But his ego is what let a real smart GM get away. He's full of himself and it has hindered our team for quite a while.

Again, I am not a huge Loomis fan. I understandthe frustration b/c Benson, for some reason, is loyal to guys that don't really prove themselves, so I see your point. But my point is give it a bit under a new formula and lets see if this works. Hell, if it doesn't Loomis is the next logical guy out the door anyway.

Even if Smith and last year pick are mistakes (which I disagree) you don't go drafting and signning every safety available. IMHOP that is a slap in Smith face and he wasn't the problem on defense we just had poor lb's but they didn't address that in the draft.