Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated

Crusader · 12-04-2015, 05:51 AM

I’ve been here before, with an undefeated team in December, but this 2015 Panthers squad is different from the 2009 Saints—younger, more unified on the field, but still learning how to handle success. We may not go 16-0, but it’s what happens in Santa Clara in February that matters.

The Panthers are 11-0, something I’m proud to have a small part in. At 32, I’m no beacon of wisdom in the NFL, though our team is so young and my hair is so gray my young defensive backs are calling me Uncle Rome in the locker room. These days guys are beginning to realize how rare it is to go undefeated for this long. As a veteran of the 2009 New Orleans Saints, a team that started 13-0 and won a Super Bowl that season, I get asked about success, and winning, and what an undefeated team looks like.

The short answer is I don’t know.

I thought I knew, before I joined these Panthers two offseasons ago. Now I’m not so sure. Back in 2009, after our 11th consecutive win, a fellow defensive veteran and I had our fair share of drinks on Sunday night to celebrate. After our 11th win in Carolina, I celebrated by playing two-man spades with defensive back Kurt Coleman.

Carolina Panthers safety Roman Harper: Why We

I recommend this read. I enjoyed it.

SloMotion · 12-04-2015, 06:09 AM

Good perspective on Harper's part ... reminds me of an ol' infantry sergeant I once knew,

.

Mr.Riaton · 12-04-2015, 06:50 AM

Good read.

73Saint · 12-04-2015, 08:03 AM

Great read, but wasn't it a Saturday night that Dallas beat us?

K Major · 12-04-2015, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by SloMotion

Good perspective on Harper's part ... reminds me of an ol' infantry sergeant I once knew, .

Agreed. Experience and football I.Q. goes a long way in this league.

SaintsBro · 12-04-2015, 08:38 AM

I think about all the things we did in New Orleans that wouldn’t fly in today’s world; rookies dancing shirtless in the club, players including myself partying during Super Bowl week and showing up late to team picture day. Today regular people can be newsmakers with a cameraphone, or agitators with a Twitter account. One bad night can change the perception of you team’s culture, which in turn actually changes your team’s culture. People we never would have had any consciousness of 10 years ago end up in your Twitter mentions with hopes that we pay attention. And for some reason, some of us do.

Are you listening, Payton, Junior, Cam, Loomis, Benson? One of the biggest problems with this year's team was, the "10 players in the club at 4 AM" before the season even started. This team spent far too much time partying and living out a real-life episode of "Ballers" down at Republic and the champagne room of the strip joint, and not enough time preparing or prepping. And just like last year, they believed their own hype and thought they were the bees' knees.

Read that paragraph by Harper carefully again, folks. I'd say he is definitely talking in an oblique way about Payton and the current locker room culture of the Saints. He is still friends with a lot of those guys here, and loves them.

Danno · 12-04-2015, 10:16 AM

Fantastic read. Thanks for posting that Crusader.

I liked this part...

I told people this is the most talented Panthers team I’ve seen in 10 seasons in the NFL. The credit goes to Dave Gettleman for assembling a roster with just the right amount of young guys coming into their own and a sprinkling of veteran leadership. If you don’t miss big in the draft and you sprinkle in the right free-agent pieces (ahem), you have a Super Bowl team.

Its the recipe for success that we need to get back to.

Rugby Saint II · 12-04-2015, 05:09 PM

Every team in our division was built to beat us.

Guess What? Mission accomplished!

WillSaints81 · 12-04-2015, 06:35 PM

If carolina wins the sb it will bother me to stay a fan of football.

WillSaints81 · 12-04-2015, 06:42 PM

And they are nothing like our 2009 season.

12-04-2015, 05:51 AM	#1
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated I’ve been here before, with an undefeated team in December, but this 2015 Panthers squad is different from the 2009 Saints—younger, more unified on the field, but still learning how to handle success. We may not go 16-0, but it’s what happens in Santa Clara in February that matters. The Panthers are 11-0, something I’m proud to have a small part in. At 32, I’m no beacon of wisdom in the NFL, though our team is so young and my hair is so gray my young defensive backs are calling me Uncle Rome in the locker room. These days guys are beginning to realize how rare it is to go undefeated for this long. As a veteran of the 2009 New Orleans Saints, a team that started 13-0 and won a Super Bowl that season, I get asked about success, and winning, and what an undefeated team looks like. The short answer is I don’t know. I thought I knew, before I joined these Panthers two offseasons ago. Now I’m not so sure. Back in 2009, after our 11th consecutive win, a fellow defensive veteran and I had our fair share of drinks on Sunday night to celebrate. After our 11th win in Carolina, I celebrated by playing two-man spades with defensive back Kurt Coleman. Carolina Panthers safety Roman Harper: Why We I recommend this read. I enjoyed it. QBREES9, SmashMouth, SloMotion and 2 others like this.
	W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.

12-04-2015, 06:09 AM	#2
SloMotion 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 6,776 Blog Entries: 15	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated Good perspective on Harper's part ... reminds me of an ol' infantry sergeant I once knew, . RailBoss and K Major like this.

12-04-2015, 06:50 AM	#3
Mr.Riaton 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Broussard,La. Posts: 1,264	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated Good read.

12-04-2015, 08:03 AM	#4
73Saint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NOLA Posts: 2,336	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated Great read, but wasn't it a Saturday night that Dallas beat us?

12-04-2015, 08:19 AM	#5
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,619 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated Originally Posted by SloMotion Good perspective on Harper's part ... reminds me of an ol' infantry sergeant I once knew, . Agreed. Experience and football I.Q. goes a long way in this league.

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12-04-2015, 08:38 AM	#6
SaintsBro Site Donor Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: in line with my ridiculous CLEAR PLASTIC BAG Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated I think about all the things we did in New Orleans that wouldn’t fly in today’s world; rookies dancing shirtless in the club, players including myself partying during Super Bowl week and showing up late to team picture day. Today regular people can be newsmakers with a cameraphone, or agitators with a Twitter account. One bad night can change the perception of you team’s culture, which in turn actually changes your team’s culture. People we never would have had any consciousness of 10 years ago end up in your Twitter mentions with hopes that we pay attention. And for some reason, some of us do. Are you listening, Payton, Junior, Cam, Loomis, Benson? One of the biggest problems with this year's team was, the "10 players in the club at 4 AM" before the season even started. This team spent far too much time partying and living out a real-life episode of "Ballers" down at Republic and the champagne room of the strip joint, and not enough time preparing or prepping. And just like last year, they believed their own hype and thought they were the bees' knees. Read that paragraph by Harper carefully again, folks. I'd say he is definitely talking in an oblique way about Payton and the current locker room culture of the Saints. He is still friends with a lot of those guys here, and loves them. RailBoss, OldMaid and SloMotion like this.

12-04-2015, 10:16 AM	#7
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated Fantastic read. Thanks for posting that Crusader. I liked this part... I told people this is the most talented Panthers team I’ve seen in 10 seasons in the NFL. The credit goes to Dave Gettleman for assembling a roster with just the right amount of young guys coming into their own and a sprinkling of veteran leadership. If you don’t miss big in the draft and you sprinkle in the right free-agent pieces (ahem), you have a Super Bowl team. Its the recipe for success that we need to get back to. RailBoss, Rugby Saint II, dizzle88 and 1 others like this.

12-04-2015, 05:09 PM	#8
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,052	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated Every team in our division was built to beat us. Guess What? Mission accomplished!

12-04-2015, 06:35 PM	#9
WillSaints81 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4,267	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated If carolina wins the sb it will bother me to stay a fan of football. OldMaid likes this.

12-04-2015, 06:42 PM	#10
WillSaints81 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 4,267	Re: Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated And they are nothing like our 2009 season.

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