Pasquarelli: Chronic underachievers
 

There are few teams that squander more chances, or waste more talent, than the Saints. On the flip side, there may be few franchises, at least among the group at or below the .500 mark, as poised for a second-half comeback. Yeah, we know, these are the same Saints players who mailed in their December schedules each of the last two seasons. And despite a better talent base than some clubs currently with winning records, New Orleans statistically ranks in the middle of the pack on both sides of the ball, 17th on offense and No. 18 defensively. But there is abundant talent on offense, where tailback Deuce McAllister is certainly establishing himself as a premier all-around player, and enigmatic quarterback Aaron Brooks is still capable of lighting up a secondary.