Originally Posted by Saintsfan4ever (Post 188947)

I guess everybody has their own opinions about whether or not to sit key players in this last game that has very little meaning other than the morale boost-momentum argument. But put yourself in Sean Payton's shoes for a minute. How dumb would Sean Payton look if this sunday Julius Peppers took Brees down from a blindside hit and crushed his right shoulder? Would you honestly still be in the "momentum camp" and justify Payton's call to go all out in a meaningless game even though it ruined our superbowl chances?
C'mon Man!!

Originally Posted by QBREES9 (Post 188928)

Mark Brunell will start Sunday for New Orleans Saints; Drew Brees will be third QB
By Nakia Hogan, The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints will start Mark Brunell at quarterback on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, with Drew Brees serving as the team's emergency third quarterback.

The Saints will activate Chase Daniels from the practice squad and he will be Brunell's backup.

The 13-2 Saints have already secured the No. 1 see in the NFC playoffs

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL (Post 188963)

Excellent! That's a move that a smart organization that understands the ultimate goal makes. A organization that understands what an irrelevant games really means.

Playing your All Pro QB in a meaningless regular season game when the playoffs are looming is like throwing a ball across your body back into the middle of the field... in both cases only bad things can happen.

Play every backup and young player. Play only starters that cannot be replaced (receivers for example) or who have not played in the last month (Greer).

Heck, the Saints may still win the game. You never know.

But you do know that your starters will be ready come the weekend of January 16th.

Smart move SP. Smart move.

SFIAH

Originally Posted by G504 (Post 188938)

I think the old gun got a few bullets left. Watch Brunell pull it out! And this guarantee Brees gets the pass completion record, right? The other sliver lining, defense needs MAJOR practice playing without a 3 touchdown cushion. It's on you now, D!

Originally Posted by strato (Post 188998)

Smart move...its a meaningless game in the grand scheme of things..

Originally Posted by Saint (Post 188996)

but I would like to see the Saints beat Carolina with a practice squad QB!

Originally Posted by exile (Post 189004)

Well to be fair the Panthers are on the backup QB as well.

Originally Posted by PFT

Quarterback Drew Brees knows that he's on pace to set the single-season completion-percentage record. As Rosenthal pointed out the other day, Brees knows this because he looked up all the records when he was a rookie with the Chargers.

With Brees at 70.62 percent and former Bengals coach (and current Steelers quarterbacks coach) Ken Anderson holding the all-time mark at 70.55 percent, Brees will break the 27-year-old record by not playing on Sunday.

Brees undoubtedly is upset by the decision to put him at No. 3, behind Mark Brunell and Chase Daniel, against the Panthers. As a reader points out, Brees wears No. 9 in honor of Ted Williams, who opted to play on the final day of the 1941 baseball campaign, putting his .400 batting average at risk. (Williams finished with a mark of .406.)

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II (Post 189034)

Sit everybody and activate the entire practice squad.;)

Originally Posted by exile (Post 188974)

3 game losing streak going into the playoffs? oy vey :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by exile (Post 188974)

3 game losing streak going into the playoffs? oy vey :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 188983)

Wow, its gonna be very enjoyable to beat the Panthers with our B-team.

Originally Posted by WarEagle (Post 189025)

I can see the logic behind it, but I just hate to give up the chance to get some momentum back for the starters. Just seems like a bad way to start what we all hope is a deep playoff run...

The truth is, we will only know whether this was a good decision in hindsight. If the Saints lose the first playoff game, it was the wrong choice, if the Saints go all the way, the move was the right call.

Originally Posted by QBREES9 (Post 188937)

Peter King just tweeted that Drew Brees

Will be the 3rd string quarterback on Sunday behind Brunell and Daniel.

So much for keeping his start streak alive.

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 188983)

Wow, its gonna be very enjoyable to beat the Panthers with our B-team.

Originally Posted by strato (Post 188998)

Smart move...its a meaningless game in the grand scheme of things..

Originally Posted by G504 (Post 189064)

I'm with you on that. Let's not forget, Carolina got B-team in there too. You think Pep messing up his Pro Bowl selection just to try and get a lick on Brunell & risk his ankle getting rolled upon? We have nothing to play for, but they REALLY have nothing to play for. The Panthers are infamous for phoning it in. They're NY win was their "moral victory." The thoughts of "why am I freeze my azz off for this meaningless game?" will on their bench more than ours.