Yes he did. Did you notice that the ST coach had the punting team ready to go punt, then Payton had Hartley go out and kick the 55 yarder? This is just my opinion, and I don't have any proof of this, but I think that 55 yarder was Hartley's career. I think Coach sent him out to sink or swim. He misses it, we never see Hartley again. He makes it, he plays again next week. Lucky for him, he made it. And he made the 43 yarder, both of them right down the middle. We'll see Hartley again next week, thanks to that 55 yarder.

JMO!

I am sure this will enrage and infuriate many people here, but I think it showed confidence, that Payton believed in Hartley enough to yank the punt team and put him out there to try a career long. After he missed the early one, Hartley was right over there on the sideline, talking quietly to Payton about it....Payton didn't "ice face" him or go into IGNORE MODE, like he does when other minor players make mistakes or wear the wrong cleats....Payton talked it out with him....unfortunately for those who dislike Emo Kid Hartley, that type of body language and attention from a coach is NOT how you treat a kicker that you're going to cut on Monday.

That doesn't infuriate me. I personally gave up on the dude in 2011 after a shankfest, and I've said my peace about that. That said, not going to harp on him, and as a Saints fan, I hope the dude makes every kick he attempts and pray he jumps from a mid 60% kicker to 85% plus!

Like Ingram, I wish the kid just rack up the points and scapegoating him doesn't do jack if the team still employs him. If SP's gesture gives him confidence, AWESOME! Just MAKE THE KICKS!

We had problems yesterday and if Hartley made the early FG, the game approach and momentum would have been different. BUT from what I saw, we had chances to win that game besides Hartley's miss. The reasons we failed to capitalize on those chances concerns me more than a missed FG at this point.

....Still dont like the dude....