stockman311

From the Times Picayune


KEY MATCHUP

Saints WR David Patten vs. Falcons WR Joe Horn. An unorthodox choice given that this is customarily an offensive versus defensive player. But it's appropriate given the circumstances of Horn's blubbering one day before the game about his departure from New Orleans in the offseason. Horn finally came clean about the way he felt when Payton essentially decided the Saints no longer needed the services of an aging, injury prone receiver, opting to go after Patten in the free-agent market. "I just don't think Sean Payton wanted me back," Horn told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I asked to be released because I felt betrayed by a head coach who wanted to prove he could win without Joe Horn." Horn's first catch of the night, a 4-yarder in the third quarter, was unsuccessfully challenged by Payton with the Saints holding a 31-7 lead. Patten had seven catches for 100 yards in the first half and finished with nine receptions for 122 yards. Horn finished with two catches for 8 yards. "Sometimes when you're the head coach you have to make tough business decisions," Payton said of Horn's comments, adding that Patten's "numbers were pretty good tonight. I'm proud of the way he played. What were Horn's numbers? I like the trade-out."


I like the trade out too Sean!!!! : )

JOESAM2002

Patten has been wonderful for us. One of the best if not the best offseason pickups we made. I gotta admit, i didn't like it when I first heard we signed him, but boy was I wrong. Good choice.

maximkat

haha, that's classic. well said.

biloxi-indian

Payton asks Hash to deliver message to Horn

December 11, 2007 2:11 AM


Saints coach Sean Payton didn't particularly enjoy being trashed in the newspaper by Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn on Sunday. And shortly after Monday's 34-14 victory, he asked the Hashmarks editorial staff to send a message to his former wide receiver.

"Tell Horn to look at [David] Patten's numbers next to his," Payton said. "And also tell him to compare salaries."

Moments earlier, Payton attempted to temper his remarks during a postgame news conference. He said releasing Horn after last season was a "tough decision," but noted that Patten had done a good job replacing him.

"I like the tradeoff if you're asking me," Payton deadpanned.

On Monday, Patten had nine catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Horn had two catches for eight yards. In a classic moment, Payton challenged Horn's 5-yard catch that gave the Falcons a third-and-3 at their 27-yard line. The Saints were already up, 31-7, at the time.

In the Atlanta Journal Constitution story Sunday, Horn was quoted saying, "I just don't think [coach] Sean Payton wanted me back. I asked to be released because I felt betrayed by a head coach who wanted to prove he could win without Joe Horn."

Actually, Payton sort of proved that last season. Horn had only 37 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns for the Saints. But that didn't prevent him from throwing Payton under the bus.

"Sooner or later, I don't care what profession you in, when you get power and you know you have power and you act like you're The Man, it will come back and bite you in the ass," continued Horn. "So basically, it's the chicken coming home to roost. That's what it is. I'm talking about that genius that they hired in New Orleans."

Told of the message Payton asked us to deliver to Horn, Patten said, "That's some deep-seeded animosity between those two. Sean's young and still has some fire in his belly."

And for the record, Horn signed a four-year contract with the Falcons that guaranteed him $7.5 million over the first two years. The Saints signed Patten to a one-year deal worth the veterans' minimum of $820,000.

For the season, Patten has 40 catches for 627 yards and two touchdowns. Horn has 24 catches for 211 yards and no touchdowns.

I stopped by the Falcons locker room to deliver the message to Horn, but he was already gone. Fortunately for Payton, Horn reads Hashmarks on a daily basis.


http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks...html?post=true

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over, over, and over again...and expecting a different outcome!

QBREES9

That was great !!! In your Face Joe Horn.

MatthewT

I love Joe Horn, but he was let go at the right time. He playing level has noticeable dropped off in the past couple years. I am almost willing to bet that he will be released this off season, and I doubt he will catch on with another team. Father Time appears to have caught up to him.

G504

"Tell Horn to look at [David] Patten's numbers next to his," Payton said. "And also tell him to compare salaries."
I bet Patten goes into his salary negotiations wearing this quote on a tee-shirt this off-season.

hagan714

If I was the GM and Joe Horn was sitting across me in 2008 as a FA. Here would be my offer.

First off we will always be thankful for all that you have done for for this team in the past. The past is the past and today this is your net worth.

contract $ divided by a weighted avg. of # catches, yards per catch and TDs = Investment

Sorry Joe even if I weighted the QB to adjust for the poor QB play you had, you have an investment value equal to the league min maybe.

If you want to come back as a #4 WR we will be more than happy to take back. But you have to prove you can stay healthy, So a 1 year contract is all that can be offered. I will throw in performance bounces because of all you have done in the past. Like I said we have not forgotten what you have done for this team.

Take it our leave it.
If you take it you better sign right now because the offer may not be on the table tomorrow.
If you leave it, do not let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.
You have to the end of the working day to decide.

Thanks for stopping by.

NEXT!

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins