saintz08

I ran this article a year ago .

Rather amusing now ..... or is it ????

posted on 30/12/2002 at 11:00
One PFW columnist writes :

I couldn’t be more pleased that the Saints missed the playoffs. There isn’t a team around that was less deserving of a spot in the postseason than New Orleans, and they really got what they deserved. Losing to the Vikings two weeks ago was bad enough, but losing last week to the Bengals was outright embarrassing. Then, needing a win just to stay alive for a playoff spot, the Saints came out flatter than Gwyneth Paltrow vs. the Panthers.

This is the second straight season the Saints have gone into the toilet in December, although this year’s bunch didn’t have the soap opera drama of the 2001 version. At some point, you can’t just blame the players anymore. Head coach Jim Haslett has to take some of the heat, because he just didn’t have his boys ready to play the last three weeks. Haslett has been bad-mouthing Saints fans recently because of all their negativity. He said that people need to spread the blame around more than just dumping it on QB Aaron Brooks.

Well, Jim, what do they have to cheer about? And how about shouldering some of the blame yourself?

Haslett should be embarrassed with the way his team finished the season. He’s a former linebacker, and he should know that defense wins championships. But the Saints never got their act together when it counted this season, and Haslett has to take some of the heat. Maybe it’s time to find someone else who can motivate the players. Maybe it’s time for Haslett to realize that he allowed his team to peak at the wrong time of the season — namely the first half of the season.

The Saints are sending five players to the Pro Bowl, but no one to the playoffs. That kind of individual talent has to be molded into a team, but Haslett didn’t know how or simply couldn’t turn the trick. And now it might be time for New Orleans to look elsewhere for a coach.