Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

So I was wrong. Or not totally right. Brees was obviously able to play, but affected by injuries. As did and was Michael Thomas. But what does that have to do with the Saints coming into the game dealing with several significant injuries which you seem to totally dismiss as being no factor in the loss? I don't get your point.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

ALL teams INCLUDING Tampa Bay had injuries. Let’s look at a final injury report for that game:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...go/ar-BB1cNmyQ

Neither Brady, nor Brees were on that list, Godwin was but CGM wasn’t, but clearly all four were hampered by injuries. Bottom line, both team’s were beat up. All teams at that time of the year are, it’s the exception to the rule, the extremely rare exception, to find a starter who isn’t beat the heck up when going into wild card/divisional/championship weekend. Heck Tom Brady had knee surgery immediately following the season’s end.

Jared Cook was listed on that injury report. Do you believe he deserves a break for his fumble bc of a back issue? Many here intimate that Cook is responsible for the Saints loss, as the game swung on that fumble, so to speak. While simultaneously ignoring the first turnover of the game, the Drew Brees int that wound up on our own 4 yard line. Followed very quickly (4 seconds of game time later) by a TB TD.

I don’t understand the distinction. Why does Cook get the blame..., while DB#9 gets a “pass”. Turnovers, all four of them combined, were the deciding factor.

Re: Saints release veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders in cap-saving maneuver | Luke Johnson
 

Woohoo! Brady had surgery after the season. A dozen players on every roster have some sort of surgery after the season. Just as all injuries are not equal, neither are all surgeries. Was Brady's to his throwing shoulder as was with Brees'? No. His knee. Big difference there.

Does Brees get a pass? No. His passing was obviously severely hampered by that torn rotator cuff. Payton no doubt was aware of Brees' limitations, but logically felt he still gave the undermanned Saints team their best shot at winning. I put the blame on Brees' injured shoulder as much as I do Cook's fumble, and both Taysom and Murray being relegated to the sideline, and Harris' injury early on in the game, and Michael Thomas' leg and ankle injury. They were all deciding factors as much as Brees' injured shoulder that could have contributed to a couple of the turnovers.

Yes, every team is beat up, but but one team was FAR more beat up than the other. Explain to me how the "beat up" Bucs went on to beat the Packers in Green Bay the following week. Was it turnovers there too? The Bucs had more turnovers than the Packers.

Explain to me how that "beat up" Bucs team went on to defeat the reigning Super Bowl Champs in the next game. They were healthier and more complete than were the Saints and the managed only nine points against the "beat up" Bucs.