Sullivan Demoted!
 

-- Sullivan Demoted --
Sat Jul 31, 2004 --from FFMastermind.com

NewOrleansProFootball.com reports Saints DT Jonathan Sullivan has been demoted to second team during practices. Sullivan has, for now, paid the price for weighing in approximately 25-30 pounds over his optimal playing weight of 315 pounds. DT Kenderick Allen, a second year player who joined the Saints last season and saw significant time in the interior line rotation, has moved up to first team alongside DT Brian Young. Sullivan struggled in Saturday morning's practice and cramped up at times but was not as bad as Friday afternoon's practice.

This guy needs to get it together soon or get kicked to the curb. He was brought to the sidelines today by a trainer during practice and Haz said it was only to have his ankle taped. Maybe he needed some air.

Sullivan Demoted!
 

First, there is no way Sullivan is going to get kicked to the curb. This guy has enormous talent, which was the reason he was taken with the 6th overall pick. So, there\'s NO chance Sully will be cut or anything like that.

Now, to Haslett\'s credit, I think he\'s handling this the right way. By demoting Sully to the second team, he\'s sending a strong message to not only Sully, but to every player on the team.

The question I have is will Haslett stick to his guns. Will he truly sit guys on the bench who aren\'t giving it their all? I think he needs to and I think it will send the wrong message if he doesn\'t backup his words with action.

Sullivan Demoted!
 

I would agree with you that he is not going to get kicked to the curb yet, but when the season starts and Sullivan is no more than meat on the field for opposing teams, we could have anyone do that, would\'nt you agree?

When is he going to start showing all that talent everyone keeps talking about or maybe some heart?

Sullivan Demoted!
 

If Haslett sticks to his guns about the best player\'s playing, then my signature will come true. I liked what he said about Green, and am now looking forward to seeing him play.

Sullivan Demoted!
 

Let\'s psykomoanalize the situation:

1) Sully has gone from being a man among boys to being a young player among equally talented and more skilled players. It\'s a transistion to step it up.

2) The guy does have talent. It\'s just a matter of cutting through the side items to get to it.

3) He has competition. Green and Leslie will push him. As will Pease, Howard, Grant, and Young.

4) Haslett\'s doing the right thing. Work him like a dog to get him in shape.

Give it some more time. Or we may be making the mistake of giving up on a perenial Pro Bowler out of frustration for his fitful start.

SFIAH

Sullivan Demoted!
 

Ok SaintFan I can wait another year at least, I\'m a Saint\'s fan ain\'t I, been waiting for sometime for alot of other things, that I actually think will happen this year, so maybe, just maybe Sully will surprise me.

I really hope he does.

Sullivan Demoted!
 

I was there saturday and the only reason why he wasn\'t as bad saturday becuase the tempurature was great with a nice over cast, about an hour and a half into the practise he was bend over and useless. You know I watch these old guys like Fotenot and Gandy put it on the line and they look great, this 22 year old kid couldn\'t last an Hour and a Half under cloudy skies.

Sullivan Demoted!
 

Apparently Sullivan is the only one who arrived overweight - or massively overweight - to training camp. If he really looks as bad out there as the reports and Chuck say (and I don\'t doubt it), this is no indication of Haslett taking a tough approach.
He simply isn\'t fit enough to be a starter right now and it\'s an easy decision to demote him. If he loses some weight, is still over his ideal weight and gets his spot back, I wouldn\'t think of that decision as Haslett being weak.
He is in the doghouse now, but I think Haslett will do anything to help this team win this year. If Sullivan can play 20 downs and is useless after that, he will play 20 downs.