WhoDat!656

New Orleans Saints: The Bountygate debacle is over, finally, and no longer hanging over them (and excuse me if I am still completely hazy about what exactly allegedly went on there and why this franchise deserved the unprecedented penalties). That alone is a huge lift. Sean Payton is back, and thus standards will be raised and all of the uncertainty and distractions from 2012 are behind them (who will be suspended? Can Vilma play this week? What latest appeal was filed? Remember all of that crap?)

Payton's presence alone will get Drew Brees back to his MVP form and away from the interception-happy ways that helped doom New Orleans. Payton is the best playcaller in the game, and this team will be a monster on offense. And losing their left tackle won't be a big deal; Brees is so good and so quick getting rid of the ball that he can bolster the line.

The issues in this case are on defense, where the team was historically bad a year ago. Mere continuity will help here -- no more position coaches shuffling to head coach -- and while I am not a huge Rob Ryan guy, there is nowhere to go but up for this group. They'll manufacture a pass rush and scheme a few things up and this team is poised to be a factor again. Remember, they have Brees and Payton extended, long-term, which is massive.

Rams and Saints will surprise, but don't believe Dolphins hype - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy

"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."

Rugby Saint II

We'll surpise anyone that's not paying attention.

homerj07

A very good point that all the uncertainty will be gone.

Why did they screw us? Was this just make sure we weren't in the Super Bowl?

SloMotion

Why is it such a 'surprise'? Take away any team's H/C for a season and see if they don't flounder. Restore the H/C and see if they don't return to form. I think the surprise this season would be if the Saints don't win the Division and return to the playoffs more than anything.

I agree with Rugby, the only people that should be surprised are the ones not paying attention.

dizzle88

I think Payton learned a very tough lesson in 2008, we had the number 1 ranked offense in the league, with the inability to close out games due to a prevent defense and no running game

In comes 2009 and both had addressed and rectified, SB!!

Payton knows how important our running game is to drew's efficiency, we start churning Ingram and PT and getting sproles mixed in, thats when the players like Joe Morgan get their real chance to shine, because the defense will forget about them and key on stopping the run

Look for SP to get on the O line early and often

Your bonehead creator picked a fine chapter to omit from your memory bank....let me ask you, does a machine like yourself ever experience fear? - Vegeta, DBZ