Rating: (0 votes - average)

Spagnuolo has won a Super Bowl ring as defensive coordinator, too, with the New York Giants.

So although that fact absolutely should carry freight with Saints fans, and his hiring looks like a steal for Coach Sean Payton, it remains a significant footnote that the defense hasn't yet done anything under his tutelage, and he's replacing a guy who demanded an attitude that resulted in a championship.

Yes, the new leader of New Orleans' defense overwhelmingly is being celebrated in Who Dat land. "Spag-nola," Saints fans believe, will be a more effective director than was Williams, who looks a lot more flawed in Saintsland today than anyone ever imagined he might after New Orleans won Super Bowl XLIV.

But in some ways, almost no greater compliment could be paid to Williams in New Orleans than having Saints fans want to fling him out of town, all the way to St. Louis, one frustrated heave at a time.

Stay with me here.

Williams did such a magnificent job with the first Saints defense he orchestrated in 2009 that he and the unit set a standard that probably bordered on unrealistic. And the fact that his swagger never dipped below arrogance (for those who disliked the Saints) or supreme confidence (for those who liked the Saints), allowed him to become a humongous target when his schemes, and his unit, sputtered or caved.

New Orleans Saints had some super times with recently departed Gregg Williams - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com