Admitting Mistakes Crucial for Saints

TallySaint · 06-08-2006, 11:45 AM

Admitting mistakes crucial for Saints

Thursday, June 08, 2006
John DeShazier

The term "flea market" comes to mind with the Saints' most recent cleansing. The franchise gave away what once was considered top-quality merchandise for bargain-basement prices.

But so, too, should the word "correction," be used. That's what trading away defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan and linebacker Courtney Watson more accurately represents -- a major correction of error.

"I think those guys are two guys that are talented players that have underachieved," General Manager Mickey Loomis said. "Sometimes when you have that, those guys need a change of venue as much as we need a change."

So forget for a moment that two players who once were expected to be mainstays in the starting lineup were handed over to New England and Buffalo for a couple of backups (receiver Bethel Johnson and tight end Tim Euhus).

Focus on this: Based on the play of Sullivan, the ballyhooed and expensive first-round bust of 2003, and Watson, the hoped-for missing link who simply went missing after being drafted in the second round of 2004, the Saints were lucky to get much more than a truckload of shoulder pads and a year's supply of Gatorade.

Be glad the team was able to cut its losses, because knowing when to admit a mistake and to correct it always has been a critical characteristic that any successful organization must have.

"It's hard to cut bait too early, because you're basically saying to everybody that you made a mistake," Loomis said. "And I don't like to make mistakes."

But it happens, plenty. It's what a franchise does afterward that's critical.

Now, despite the addition by subtraction via the trades, there's no need to be develop blindness. Obviously, the Saints run the risk of looking pretty dumb.

There's a possibility that Sullivan and Watson could become good players. A chance that, though first-year Coach Sean Payton needed about six months into 2006 to decide they weren't going to fit, he might have been able to "coach 'em up" in training camp and get more out of them than did his predecessor, Jim Haslett.

Story continues...
http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index...l=1&thispage=2

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06-08-2006, 11:45 AM	#1
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	Admitting Mistakes Crucial for Saints Admitting mistakes crucial for Saints Thursday, June 08, 2006 John DeShazier The term "flea market" comes to mind with the Saints' most recent cleansing. The franchise gave away what once was considered top-quality merchandise for bargain-basement prices. But so, too, should the word "correction," be used. That's what trading away defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan and linebacker Courtney Watson more accurately represents -- a major correction of error. "I think those guys are two guys that are talented players that have underachieved," General Manager Mickey Loomis said. "Sometimes when you have that, those guys need a change of venue as much as we need a change." So forget for a moment that two players who once were expected to be mainstays in the starting lineup were handed over to New England and Buffalo for a couple of backups (receiver Bethel Johnson and tight end Tim Euhus). Focus on this: Based on the play of Sullivan, the ballyhooed and expensive first-round bust of 2003, and Watson, the hoped-for missing link who simply went missing after being drafted in the second round of 2004, the Saints were lucky to get much more than a truckload of shoulder pads and a year's supply of Gatorade. Be glad the team was able to cut its losses, because knowing when to admit a mistake and to correct it always has been a critical characteristic that any successful organization must have. "It's hard to cut bait too early, because you're basically saying to everybody that you made a mistake," Loomis said. "And I don't like to make mistakes." But it happens, plenty. It's what a franchise does afterward that's critical. Now, despite the addition by subtraction via the trades, there's no need to be develop blindness. Obviously, the Saints run the risk of looking pretty dumb. There's a possibility that Sullivan and Watson could become good players. A chance that, though first-year Coach Sean Payton needed about six months into 2006 to decide they weren't going to fit, he might have been able to "coach 'em up" in training camp and get more out of them than did his predecessor, Jim Haslett. Story continues... http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index...l=1&thispage=2 8)
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