BillyC

Teammates back Brooks

Horn, Ambrose say the Saints' troubles not all QB's fault


Tuesday December 09, 2003


By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer

Wide receiver Joe Horn and cornerback Ashley Ambrose came to the defense of quarterback Aaron Brooks, whose three lost fumbles led to the Saints' demise Sunday against Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers halted a three-game losing streak against the Saints with a 14-7 victory at the Superdome.


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"I believe in Aaron Brooks," Horn said Monday. "Many people don't know he's playing with an injured left knee. It's pretty bad off. He's probably under a lot of pressure because the whole town is down on him. It's not all AB's fault. He's a good quarterback.

"I was kind of (mad) at him during the year. I had some issues with him. I was kind of blaming him a little bit (for not getting me the ball enough), and that wasn't fair. I called him and apologized to him for that. It was stupid and selfish of me."

Horn dropped a potential 28-yard touchdown pass from Brooks with 1:49 remaining in the first half and the Saints leading 7-0.

"Then, here I go and drop a pass that I had right in my arms," Horn said. "That was totally embarrassing for me.

"I tried to find his house last night and go over and comfort him, 'cause I know a lot of people are down on him. I looked for his house for about 45 minutes, but I couldn't find it."

Said Ambrose: "People want to point the finger at him because he had a lot of fumbles yesterday. But it's not just Aaron's fault. This is a team game, a team sport.

"We're behind Aaron. He's a starter in this league. He can play good football and help us win games. I know everybody's behind him."


click on link for rest........


http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...3048309630.xml

saint5221

Interesting and impressive comment from Joe.


I like the one at the end of the article as well, I\'d say the odds are about the same.

\"It\'s like the lottery. I still buy lottery tickets. You never know. I could win that $60 million, $70 million. Someone has to win it. So that\'s how I feel about our chances to make the playoffs.\" -- Horn.

BillyC

I like Joe Horn and wouldn\'t want him to go anywhere. Joe is a class act and has been since day one. But, since fans want Brooks gone and are blaming him for blowing our playoff hopes, I have a hypothetical question.

If the touchdown pass that Joe dropped would have been on the last play of the game to tie the score -- Would any of you blame Joe for blowing our playoff hopes? And, would you want to cut him because of his inconsistant play this year.

In essence, Joe did drop the the touchdown that would have at least tied the game and if he had made the TD catch, we would have probably gone on to put Tampa away early in the game. Yeah, Joe made many catches in the game besides the dropped pass, but that drop was crucial.....

saint5221

The differences between Joe and Brooks are many. Yes Joe is haveing an off year and that one drop was huge. But most importantly Joe is and has been a far more consistant player over his carrer than Brooks has . Joe has struggled through injuries this year and has put himself on the line in ways Brooks could learn from. A lot of it is attitude, Joe plays with fire and emotion and makes it clear he will do anything to win. Joe also has a sence of accountability for himself Brooks does not seem to posses. If Horn makes a mistake he does not spread the blame, he sholders it like a man and you see him pick up the intensity to overcome it.

BillyC

I agree with you that Joe has been more consistant over his career.

I also think you hit the nail on the head about a lot has to do with attitude. I firmly believe that a lot of fans don\'t like Brooks because of his personality and things he has said in the media. I think if another QB that was a fan favorite would have made some of the mistakes Brooks has made, they would be more tolerable. But that\'s just what I think.

lynwood

AB has not been consistant since last season. Sure his numbers may look good but look at his support. Bottom line: when the game or playoffs is on the line don\'t count on Brooks. It\'s time for Todd or JT or a Bum off the street. At least we\'d know what to expect from the bum instead of wondering which AB will show up for the game.

JKool

Surely you\'re being silly.

I would prefer a streaky QB to a bum off the street. Sure, my heart would break more often, but at least our QB wouldn\'t just plain suck.

Joe Horn for QB!!!

JKool

Seriously though, I think this says something that many people on this board have alluded to. Coaching\'s personel decisions have been questionable, at best.

If Brooks\' knee is so bad that his teammates note it as a serious problem and the playoffs are on the line, why didn\'t Bouman get a start. Now, I\'m not down on Brooks (though maybe I should be), but if he is hurt, then we should start the back up - especially when so much is at stake. Certainly AB is not such a big baby that he cannot understand why he may have to sit a game or two. I\'m in favor of playing through the pain and that is what most players want to do, but that is why it is the coaches call. We saw this with the shoulder injury last year. Why can\'t Haz sit Brooks? What is his deal, yo?

Perhaps this is an answer to my own question, but let me know what you think: after Brooks started hot, people (i.e. coaches) expected him to regroup after some poor play. No need to put Bouman in. And if we had started Bouman, then we wouldn\'t have got that spectacular first quarter?

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

ADIOSHAZ/BROOKS

Dude, how does it feel to actually live ? You are so far up you have pizza\'s delivered there? Dude, you are a great american and anyone who says that Brooks isn\'t the MAJOR part of our problems is not only deluded, but just plain wonderful!

[Edited on 10/12/2003 by JOESAM2002]

BlackandBlue

True that, about as dumb as a loser that cannot take the hint that he isn\'t wanted on B&G, not once, but twice