BakoSaint

Both the Saints and Pelicans have suffered some of the worst injury histories in their respective leagues for many years. There are many arguments for why this is, but I tend to believe the argument that New Orleans just cannot attract the top surgeons and specialists compared to bigger markets like LA, NY, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, etc. The pay is not as high. There are not as many wealthy clients. Its not rated #1 for schools. The humid weather isn't for everyone and there is no beach or ski lift. There are not the most prestigious universities. The hospitals themselves may not be seen as cutting edge. Its a small market that can't draw the best doctors, so the Saints and Pelicans are left in the care of minor league doctors.

So we can get the best doctors that are already in New Orleans, but they don't match up probably. Or we can fly the best doctors in, or fly our players out for surgery, but then their day to day care is second rate because doctors based out of town won't be able to fully oversee their care. They never get to fly out for surgery if our local doctors diagnose a fracture as a sprain.

So, I had another idea. Would it make financial sense to just throw money at this problem? I don't know how much top sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon doctors typically make, but google seems to think they could make something like $400,000-$700,000 a year. What if the Saints/Pelicans ownership group put together a budget of $10 million a year, convinced LSU or Tulane medical center to create an International Sports Medicine Surgery Center, and endowed 5 positions for leading sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon positions at $2 million per year each, and then went out and headhunted top highly regarded young doctors from bigger markets. I could be wrong, but I think $2 million per year guaranteed, on top of whatever else they make with other clients, is more than many excellent sports surgeons could afford to turn down, and the Saints and Pelicans could get the kinds of doctors that bigger markets usually have. The cost of $10 million a year would be the same as the contract of Juwan Johnson, a TE who I feel would be second string for half the league. $10 million is about 2.5% of the combined Saints and Pelicans payrolls and perhaps 0.125% of the combined value of the franchises. And the money would be mostly tax deductible as a university donation and not count against the cap. Honestly even if I am underestimating the cost, this type of venture could make sense even at $20-30 million a year because right now the Saints and Pelicans combined are spending about $400 million a year on players who are mostly hurt.

I don't think any other team has tried this, but if that money would be enough to lure excellent doctors, it could be worth it. The Saints/Pelicans could be the perfect candidate to try it because they are in a small market that needs better doctors, have a bad injury history that demonstrates the need, and with two franchises under the same ownership with the same problem they can double their benefits. It would also help attract free agents, benefit the region, and attract other good young doctors to work at this newly created prestigious center. Perhaps eventually it could grow organically, with New Orleans becoming a destination for top sports medicine doctors, where players from other cities fly in for care, once the infusion of cash generates reputation and prestige that draw in talent on their own.

AsylumGuido

BakoSaint

Good thing no developments have strengthened my case since you laughed off my argument for better doctors:

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profoo...equire-surgery