RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the year???
 

Whatever....we lost the game. It's over and done with. Nothing positive came from it. We have a playoff game in two weeks. But I don't see how it's a "good loss". And if the COY goes to Mangini, I'd say he has a compelling case.

RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the year???
 

Bottom line.........

Brees, Deuce, Colston, Reggie, W. Smith, & the rest of the gang were not injured & will be playing on Jan. 13th in the Dome. I think it was a smart decision by Payton. It only goes to show that his mind is set on the playoffs & not the accolades such as Coach of the Year, etc..... We had absolutely nothing to gain by playing our starters in this game & a hell of a lot to lose by getting starters injured. Again....very smart move Coach Payton.

P.S.- Anyone else notice Zach Strief man handling Julius Peppers....the league's best DE?

RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the year???
 

Strief is a beast. I have no doubt he can start full time.

RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the year???
 

What do you mean by nothing positives? Hell man did you see how Jamie Martin looked out there today? He looked horrible, if anything we go in the playoffs healthy, that's as positive as it gets. Do you want to win a meaningless game and risk losing Drew Brees to a freak injury? Hell no! Do you want to go in the playoffs without Bush, Colston, McAllister, the defensive and offensive lines being healthy? Hell no! You have to look at the bigger picture here, a victory would have been nice, but a heathy team in the divisional round of the playoffs is a hell of a lot better. GO NFC SOUTH DIVISION CHAMPION SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :band: :monkey: :saintsfan: :party:

Re: RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the year
 

Yeah absolutely nothing positive came out of the game today. I challenge someone to find something positive other than noticing that if the game is left up to Martin we are toast.

I'm sorry I just don't subscribe to the substantial rest of players for risk of injury. I think he did it to rest his players, which is different. If Payton was wary of injury why even suit the guys up in the first place? One play is all it takes, right?

Fact is that injuries can happen anytime. Ask Carson Palmer.

Chargers had nothing to gain either by playing their starters, but they got everyone involved. No reason for LT to play but he did and got a good deal of carries. They got the win and are on a substantial roll going into the playoffs.

I don't think Payton was wrong for resting his starters, but I think he could have given them more time than 1 series. I don't buy people justifying it with hypothetical injuries that would have happened.

I think he did it to rest players, and I'm fine with that. But I don't think he's scared of injuries because that can happen at any time, anywhere.

Re: RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the year
 

Going into the bye with a healthy team. That's the most positive thing I saw.

What about the starters looking sharp on the first drive? Marched the ball right down the field and into the end zone.
It's true there's a risk reward factor there. Payton pointed out during the week that there are only 46 guys available. So someone had to suit up.
But limiting minutes limits the chance of something bad happening.

Or Brees. But you have to admit the longer a player is out there, the more likely the chance of something bad happening.

The point is that the game had no meaning in terms of playoff positioning. It was practice. So let the starters who were completely healthy practice a bit then get off the field.
Not true. Baltimore won today. San Diego lost to Baltimore 16-13 on October 1st. If they had ended up tied at 13-3, the Baltimore would have had home field.
They had a reason to play. So that argument misses the point.Not would have happened. Could have happened. Another missed point is that by giving the backups some minutes, they can be a bit better prepared to play in the payoffs if needed. Martin hadn't had a single regular season snap this year. So why not let him get some snaps in a game that has absolutely no impact.
But because it was a meaningless game the risk/reward profile changes.

SFIAH

Every one agrees we Want the Saints to win in the playoffs!

We just have different avenues as to how to get there.

What does CHI got to gain? Nothing, yet their starters are in, and they are down 13-0. They want that Home Feild Aura. They want people to FEAR coming into town. Losing 2 of 3 to non playoff teams does not exactly get you that.

Last, I heard the argument that momentum doesn't matter? C'mon.

Remember when we were on the verge of the playoffs when we beat Car a few years back, but got screwed by the DUMB ( I still say it SUCKS ) Nfl tiebreak procedure. All the talk about the town was NO one wanted to play the SAINTS!

They were The Hottest team going into the playoffs, and had all the MOMENTUM. But now momentum doesn't matter?

I disagree there. Either way we're in, let's get that Playoff win and get on the road to Miami!

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the
 

My overall point was that if he was scared of injuries, there's no reason to play Bush and Brees at all. If they were resting them, then that's one thing. But if they were doing it to avoid injury then no starter should have suited up at all.

Also Chicago has Grossman and most of the starters out there right now. I think if you played them one series you can afford to play them longer.

I just hate losing the game and the only thing that can make me feel better is if we whup on whoever we end up facing in a couple of weeks.

The reason I hope he's not thinking about getting players hurt is that I think that's a profile of a coach that's coaching scared. He's been a gambler thus far this season and it's reaped rewards. I hope he doesn't decide to tighten up now that we're in the playoffs.

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of the
 

Yo, people sit back and look at what was accomplished here. The 2006 season is over and we're still playing, not just playing, but we're the 2nd seeded team in the playoffs. We won our Division by a large margin, when was the last time that happen? NEVER that's when. We have a bye week for the first time in franchise history, we have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, and we're blessed to be going in to the playoffs almost completely healthy. Oh yeah, don't you think 2 weeks is long enough to rest his players? I think so. GO NFC SOUTH DIVISION CHAMPION SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Did that loss cost Payton coach of
 

I'm aware of what we've accomplished. I know everyone is very proud of the Saints and the season thus far and I hope my disappointment isn't misconstrued as bitterness. I just hate having the Panthers sweep us.

That NFC South title is in the rear view window and we have bigger aspirations now. No reason to rest on those laurels, no matter what our record was last year. I just hope in two weeks that Payton and the team comes with the killer instinct that we had last week in NY.