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It's obvious the Saints will greatly miss the on-field leadership and offensive creativity of Sean Payton during his suspension for the bounty scandal that has enveloped his team over the last month. After all, we're talking about a Super Bowl-winning coach who has led his team to the playoffs in four of his six seasons at the helm.

But what impact will the Saints feel from GM Mickey Loomis' eight-game suspension? Make no mistake -- his absence will hurt in many tangible and intangible ways.

Loomis has been New Orleans' executive vice president and general manager since 2002. He was the key figure in the hiring of Payton for his first head coaching position in 2006. Shortly after, he engineered the risky six-year, $60 million deal that brought Drew Brees to town. Both of those moves were franchise altering. He was named NFL Executive of the Year after the 10-6 Saints made it to the NFC Championship Game in that momentous 2006 season. Loomis led the resurrection of a franchise coming off a 3-13 season and the staggering effects of Hurricane Katrina.

By the time his suspension begins after the final preseason game in early September, it would seem that the most important work for Loomis will have been completed. But a GM is more than just a figurehead for an NFL team, and during the first half of the regular season the Saints will be missing one of their major leaders, one who is responsible for the club's entire football operations.

Full article below.
Mickey Loomis' intangible impact on Saints will be missed most during suspension - Jeff Diamond - SI.com

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."