skymike

good points, great post, BF'27. but easy on the language there, young lady. I dont want the boys here to think of you as "easy," or "loose." (hahaha, jk... Remember last year, when I was the protector of your virtue?) I really like the avatar of yourself. I'm big on self avatars, as you know, because I think they show us as real people, and that tends to make us act real. (my honeybadger is just a gag for today.)

For all the interesting debate we're having, bear in mind, there doesnt necessarily have to be a good guy or a bad guy here.

My children dont have a concept of how I put a roof over their head. They dont understand how bills get paid. Likewise, I wonder if the average fan appreciates how the Hunts, Halas'es, Rooneys, and yes, Bensons make this whole thing possible in the first place. My kids rage against the machine, not realizing without the machine, they'd be sleeping outside in the Gulf Coast heat without air conditioning.

Benson screwed up big time after the Storm, and understandably, he'll never win some people back. I personally think he lost his mind after the Storm. I really do. But without Benson, we would have lost the Saints in '85. Benson hired Mickey Loomis & brought us Sean Payton. He also hired Jim Finks. And he stays the hell out of football operations, unlike Jerry & Al.

If I didnt love the players, I wouldnt be on this site. I wouldnt drive 6 hours to N.O. to watch the games. or buy tix. or do training camp in MS. or have a Wall O' Saints for a hallway. My truck, wardrobe, and living room would look vastly different.

I am consistently Reggie Bush's biggest apologist here, and also Devery Henderson's -- look it up. I cant stand to hear negative talk about any of my Saints, and dont participate in trade threads. I always like whoever plays for my team, except Dave Wilson & some kickers. I stood up for Richard Todd. Thought Ray Zellars was going to be the next "Bus." Still think Hebert is the most underrated QB in history.

When somebody criticizes a players performance, I often feel like ClintSaints expressed-- "You cant play the game yourself, so STFU." And Im rabidly against an 18 game schedule. It would be brutal to players, who already deal with pain, injuries, and having to exercise twice a day in a way that would make you or me puke. I dont hate anyone for getting paid.

I do disagree with the union's stance. The gravy should go to back to the ones who took the risk, maintain the expenses, and have to pay YOU.

This is my job. This is what it pays. I am always free to look for another job, since my sport paid for my college education, and now I have a degree most people cant afford.

If we're going to share the gravy, lets share it with the localities who built the stadium-- like Louisiana. Lets invest that gravy into a fund for former players who had to work offseason jobs. And lets invest that gravy for a rainy day, while the real world deals with tsunamis, war, & terror.

Somebody smart said, yesterday, that if we stop loving the players, both sides lose.
-- which takes me to Mrs. Brees'27s very relevant statement:
Please do. and soon.