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The Decline and Fall of Payton's Empire | B&G

burningmetal

Right, we suck because we let go of dead weight. This is the NFL... It's rare you keep a team together as long as the Saints did with virtually the same players, and it sure can't last forever. Good franchises find ways to transition. Those players we let go weren't producing, and three of them barely could stay healthy. Only Sproles was remotely effective. So they got let go.

Now, if other franchises can make the transition why can't we? It's not about the players who left, and losing "leadership". There are enough veterans to lead. No one has done so.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

Danno

True, its not about the guys we let go nearly as much as it is about the guys that are currently on the roster that aren't living up to expectations on and off the field.

Rugby Saint II

The fall of the Payton empire will be his ego.

spkb25

One bad year does not mean we will not be good again

Danno

Aren't decline and fall kinda the same thing?

School of Redundancy School?

jeanpierre

Actually, 'decline' suggests a gradual degrade in strength...

i.e. 'This thing is going down hill'

Whereas, 'fall' suggests a rapid, acute, punctuated degrade...

i.e. 'This thing just went off the cliff'

hagan714

I will always back Williams. look at the roster he had to work with. when the saints started the change over it was with players taken from other teams that were not really starters much less stars. we were a retirement home for solid lunch pail toting football players. the youth movement was just getting started after he was let go.

There in is the issue IMO. this defense does not have those solid lunch pail toting football players at its core any more. it all flash and dash.

To Spazs credit he drafted Hicks and White.
ILB David Hawthorne was suppose to be steal. ILB Curtis Lofton has been solid. OLB Chris Chamberlain was a flop. DT Brodrick Bunkley overpaid but has pretty much been ok.

Now lets talk Rob Ryan. If i am going with the theme of the piece i have to say the players like him but they do not buy into what he is selling 100%. Then with all the players moved out may have lost some respect points with the players also.

All I know for sure is this defense has been on the skids for over a year now and Rob can not stop it. It is turning into a huge snow ball that in the end will eat him up alive unless he makes some adjustments. Blaming the players and flipping the roster will not change a thing.

There is you decline in the saints origination. For the most part SP is not to blame. The offense is getting burned out trying to put up points to keep up instead of putting up points to bury other teams.

Like Williams off the field or not he has yet to be replaced.

Besides remember one thing about bounty gate. the only thing that was ever proven was the saints stink at replying to emails. the rest was all about Roger and the control he has on the national media to save face no matter how bad the nfl gets it wrong.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

saintsfan1976

Rollercoaster.

That's how I'd characterize 2014.

Another "effort" like we saw vs Carolina and not only is the season over but....

Euphoria

I have to agree with some of it but some of it is just crap. I don't think people give much credit to Sharper as they should for that D. Turnovers is what did it for that D that year and he pretty much was the leader and if I recall lead the team with INT's and pick 6.

This D has no leaders to make the players around them better. Until they find that leader welcome to the cellar.