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FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons players, who were around during the team’s infamous 2007 season, have no sympathy for the New Orleans Saints, who are trying to battle through their Bounty Gate season.

In 2007, the Falcons’ season was over before it started under first-year coach Bobby Petrino. They would see quarterback Michael Vick go to jail on federal dogfighting charges and his job handed to Joey Harrington.

With three games left, Petrino would toss his hands in the air and leave for a college job at Arkansas. It was the most bizarre of NFL seasons, until this year.

With the NFL emphasizing player safety, the Saints were found to have a pay-for-play bounty program, and harsh penalties were imposed that included player, coach and executive suspensions and fines.

Coach Sean Payton was suspended for a year, and general manager Mickey Loomis returned Tuesday from his eight-game suspension. Former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma is playing while he appeals his suspension.

“You just have to deal with it,” said Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who was with the team in 2007. “Every season isn’t perfect; 2007 was probably one of the worst seasons that we’ve had around here.”

The Saints opened this season losing their first four games. They have won three of their past four to pull to 3-5 at the halfway point.

In 2007, the Falcons finished 4-12.

“We just had to deal with the adversity that came around that year,” Babineaux said. “We managed to make it through that and from there on; there’s been nothing but forward progress.”

It may be tough to quantify what losing Payton has meant to the Saints, who have won the NFC South title in two of the past three seasons and won the Super Bowl after the 2009 season.

“I don’t know how (tough) it’s been,” White said. “He did a lot of play-calling with the offense. It may affect them on offense.”

Read more: Falcons have no ‘Bounty Gate’ sympathy for the Saints | Atlanta Falcons

dizzle88

Do we really care what the falcons think of us regardless?

Roddy white has to cheat to get past DB's, he's hardly a credible source to ask about it

SaintnDE

Why would they...they are probably salavating over it. Gives them a shot to win.

Shoe.

I'm glad they don't have any sympathy.

That way when we win we don't have to be gracious either.

lumm0x

Isn't there a rule that once you're a Falcon your opinion is worthless?

RaginCajun83

I don't give a rats arse if the Falcons have any sympathy for the Saints, I know I thought it was hilarious when Vick got busted for his dog fighting ring because the Falcons couldn't buy a win that season

lee909

The don't have any sympathy,the don't have any rings.
What do they have in Clown town.

SapperSaint

Dreams. Dreams that they beat us. But then, out of now where, Steve Gleason pops up and ruins it!

TheEnigma

We won't have any sympathy for them when they choke in the playoffs again.

Rugby Saint II

I'm sorry world.