It’s unfortunate and sad...
 

In the NFL downtime I’ve been thinking/reflecting on the Payton/Brees era. The obvious sadness is they could not get a second SB. But, to me, it is unfortunate that Brees did/could not come back for one more year. I say this not from the view that he can or cannot lead the Saints to another SB. I say it because it would give him the chance to retire the way he should have retired.

The COVID pandemic wasn’t planned (probably), but Drew, the league, and us NFL fans are deprived of the chance to see and show him our love and appreciation one last time as he went on his farewell season. It would have been nice to do that. Had he returned this year each crowd at each road stadium would have given him a standing ovation. But, as his nature, he didn’t need that. I’m thinking selfishly of my self of course.

Re: It’s unfortunate and sad...
 

Agreed. But... I think when most (because there is always THAT guy) Saints fans think of Brees, they will have positive memories of a guy who gave everything to the franchise and always made us feel like there was hope. Memories of a guy who helped turn a perennial loser into a Super Bowl team and a regular playoff participant. Memories that make them happy.

That's a hell of a legacy.

Re: It’s unfortunate and sad...
 

Indeed it is. It’s hard to explain. But here is an example of how I feel as a fan. I am a big baseball and big Mets fan. As a kid growing up I hated Dallas Cowboys and I hated the Braves too because they called themselves “America’s team”’ when Turner owned the team and they were broadcasting every game on TBS and Horner and Murphy were playing. My number one player I hated the Mets to face all time was Larry Jones. Hated playing against him. But I appreciated him so much as a player. I remember him getting a standing ovation when he played his last game at the mets. It was rare to see a guy you detested playing against so much but still appreciated for his greatness and class.

Anyway, that’s how I would have liked to see Drew gone out. Like I said, just me being selfish!

P.s. Larry Jones appreciated playing against and the passion of Mets fans that he named one of his kids Shea !

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As a Braves fan, I know that Larry goes by Chipper. But I'd bet no one outside of Braves and Mets fans would have no idea who Larry Jones is.

SFIAH

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The guy was an ultimate professional.

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You would think there planing the Brees retirement game in Nola I hope it’s before a the Rams game in the super dome or minnesota or San Fran


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Re: It’s unfortunate and sad...
 

Chipper was gold.


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Honestly I'm glad he was able to go out gracefully, while still playing at a pretty high level for us. Not throwing ducks like the last few Marino years (red faced yelling at his receivers) or like Farve and Rodgers spitting in the face of the Pack after the team did so much for and with them. For that matter I wouldn't have wanted to see him playing in another uniform like Manning or Brady. His exit was perfect with the exception of another ring first, but what the hell I never thought we'd get to one much less win one.

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It was a shame the last of Brees was during the COVID year, but the Brees era did run its course and it went as far as it could go. The memories of Brees will be mostly positive, but there will always be discussion as to why the Saints could only win 1 championship with one of the greatest QB's of all time.

Re: It’s unfortunate and sad...
 

Could not agree with you more!!! Brees was robbed:bng::brood:

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Chipper was one of my all-time favorite players.

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I've been a Braves fan since they were still in Milwaukee. Them and the Reds.

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How many did Marino win? Or Jim Kelly? Or Fran Tarkenton? Getting one even is a great accomplishment.

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That's how I always respond to people who say championships are all that matters. By that logic, Trent Dilfer was a better QB than any of those guys you just mentioned. I'm not buying that.

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The applause for Drew when he walks out on that field next year will be thunderous

The scene of him looking back as he enters the tunnel knowing it is his last game is so gripping

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Just remember that we were fortunate to have him and Sean turn this franchise around in our life time. There were some sad years before '06. It's too bad that Covid and injuries severely hampered his last couple of years. We had the team to win it all. I'm fortunate to have talked to him at training camp and have his autograph on what would be collector items.

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For me Smoltz, helluva a pitcher that became a helluva reliever.

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Totally agree. What makes it worse is the fact that if we hadn’t had historically bad defenses in Drew’s prime we would have seen several Brees vs Brady Super Bowls.

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I lay that squarely on DA's shoulders.

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I've never been a fan of his scheme.

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I love Sean Payton but he and Loomis held on to some subpar coaches for far too long before Allen even returned to New Orleans.
Ironically, in my opinion, the Saints offensively-minded Head Coach is the reason that the defense has struggled all these years.

I'm sure most of us have a disdain for Gregg Williams but Payton was very hands-off when Williams was the Defensive Coordinator and we all got to see the Saints win a Superbowl. Maybe Sean should mind his meat and stick to offense.

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Everything has to work like clock work just for us to have a decent defense. If we're missing one player or god forbid two players then we have a deep hole to dig out of. Remember all those lousy defenses Drew gave a Herculean effort to win and we kept missing out on the Lombardi? That still upsets me for Drew because I'm sure he doesn't fret over it as much as I do.

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When Sean took his thumb print off the defenses we played better. I guess that he thought if he could beat a great defense then he could build one and that cost us dearly. It was great that Ireland seemed to get control of that situation and give the DC what they needed not what Sean wanted.

I love him but he needs to stay out of the defensive meetings and let the scouts and Ireland do the drafting. It's worked pretty well lately for both sides of the ball.

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Re: It’s unfortunate and sad...
 

No chit.

Too bad Sean Payton's ego can't co exist with another proven Heavyweight coach but it appears Dennis the Menace is about all you are going to get @ DC. Holding on to below avg coaches - >Vitt, McHahon, Johnson held this defense back for years .. all while Brees was balling.

I will say, I'm glad Kris Richard is now on board. We need different ideas, strategies, dawgs on the back end.

Re: It’s unfortunate and sad...
 

The past is the past. Time to look forward. A hard concept for some. :D