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Now that it’s finally behind them, the Saints can look back and say the calendar year of 2012 was one they wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Not even those Dirty Birds from Atlanta.

The nightmare started Jan. 14 with a gut-wrenching divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers and mercifully ended 351 days later as the Saints became the worst defense in NFL history.

In between was a bounty scandal and myriad distractions that went with it — unprecedented suspensions of the head coach, interim coach and general manager (30 games in all) and an 0-4 start on the field that they never really recovered from in finishing 7-9.

Going into a new season, with Sean Payton back calling plays on offense and a new defensive coordinator and scheme, there’s a feeling the 2013 Saints are going to be more like the 2009 to 2011 teams that cranked out 41 victories — including a Super Bowl title.

But Payton will be the first to say it’s not that simple.

Their offseason work and preseason nearly complete, Payton says the Saints are building their own persona in a bid to return to the playoffs and make another run at the Super Bowl.

Obviously, he thinks they can get back to contender status quickly.

“Our players and coaches are wanting to be successful,” said Payton, who immediately started erasing the horrid images of the 2012 season when he fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and replaced him with Rob Ryan.

“This team is entirely different than the 2012 team or the ’11 or ’09 teams, and that’s a positive sign because it gives you a chance. If you don’t have that (mentality), then you don’t really have a chance. But the work ethic of this team throughout the offseason and their approach to training camp has been excellent.”

Read more: Saints leave fog of 2012 | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

halloween 65

2012 that was painful.

westbankdaze

God I can't believe Payton's last game coaching the Saints was that 49ers playoff game. Seems like ages ago now!

Mardigras9

Just glad to be moving forward from last year no matter what the outcome.

Halo

I think it was January 2012 in the 2011-12 playoffs.
Seeing him 2 weeks ago at Head Coach during preseason gave me goose bumps.
He was sorely missed. I tried to tell people on here his absence would equal losing 3 to 4 games, but people insisted we'd go undefeated. NFW.

Anyway, great to have him back. One of the all time favorite coaches I've had the pleasure of rooting for because he coaches one of my teams.

SmashMouth

Here's to FIFTY BURGERS courtesy Drew Brees for all of our opponents' defenses this year!

Rugby Saint II

There was no fog.............that was smoke from the fires we were trying to put out!

homerj07

No that's wrong. I would wish this on the Fail-Clowns. Let them be trashed on national TV for 10 months. Let them lose their coach for the whole year.

IN FRIPPEN FACT....

How about every gosh darn team in the entire league suffer that fate. Then & only then will the year that was 2012 be forgiven.

SloMotion

We've seen how the fans react to a key losses, imagine the Youtubes you'd see if something like that happened ... heck, they'd move the team to L.A. and change their names, .