Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

I was positive about the season early on, and we sure did look like front runners in the offseason. Made some good moves, got some youth, made one decent draft pick. In spite of it though the season did not completely off guard.

After reading about the tardiness to meetings and flights, it solidified my belief that a big problem with this team was not only discipline but mental toughness.
I think they missed some of the veterans a lot more than they expected. Not because of their play but because of their veteran locker room attributes. They didnt have as much of a veteran presence to hold the young guys accountable for their actions. Yes coaching is a BIG part of that, but sometimes getting ribbed by your peers hits a lot closer to home than by a figure of authority.
I think it was also foolish to think we would pick up where we left off last year on defense. Going from worst ever to overall number 4 just doesn't happen. Yes, I did think we would be in the middle somewhere but again I wasn't totally surprised.
Many of the games we lost we lost late in the 4th and could have easily gone our way, we just couldn't finish. Again veteran presence could have helped here. And finally and maybe most importantly, we gave up. Mid way through the season we were basically done. The fire was out. It is hard to stay positive and overcome the diversity of losing, and losing hard like the way we did. Again veterans were missed.
We had to get rid of them, I don't fault the team for that, most weren't worth their production. I just hope Payton finds a way to inject some accountablilty, discipline, and mental toughness in the offseason. I have a feeling its going to be a very interesting one.

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

I'm going to be honest, I think Brees may have quit on the team some. Idk why I feel this way but I think he holds Graham in the same regard as him, which is stupid. I feel Brees wants him and Graham both to be at their best for the team to win. I just don't like that. Graham will probably bounce back next year but that is due to a TE friendly schedule.

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

This is PURELY speculation on my part but I really do believe Payton may have some serious off the field issues too. He likes to party.

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

You guys are funny.
Our interior offensive and defensive line were terrible this year. We couldn't tackle.
Graham was playing with one arm.
Our defense as a whole was terrible.
Our second best WR played 10 games.
And we still almost made the playoffs.

This has nothing to do with Brees.
"quit on the team,"
You're a joke.

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

The Bengals game there was no fire
No will to fight

This started last year on the road

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

i never drank from the 2014 kool aid bowl. in no way did i see a complete melt down coming either.

defense i saw it coming and had a good idea what we had as the season started. but to this point? injuries happen but no excuse for the lack of effort?

offense. as Drew goes so do the saints. once Zach got the chest injury i knew we were in a world of trouble. the saints as usual play to games with the OL that protects the teams biggest investment. add in the continued decline of the defense the offense had to press it

Then to read the late arrivals and all it makes sense no matter what SP says. If they can not make the effort to get to a meeting what makes you think they will feel inclined to give 100% on the field for a game?

now i understand why players are sticking up for coaches and all. they are soft and too busy being buddy buddy with their players.

if SP does not bring the hammer down and make sure the players know they are just employees and the coaches are the boss this team will never get its head on straight and you will lose the few players that treat their jobs like professionals.

there is a cancer on this team. UNPROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE

It is all making sense now. the inmates are running the assymlem

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

I think some of you are looking for drama where it doesn't necessarily exist. Locker room cancer? Unprofessional attitude?

We might have some issues with immaturity among the younger guys who don't understand what it takes to win. I'll grant you that. But the way some of you talk there is nothing good left here. I refuse to believe that the same roster so many experts said was top 3 in the NFL before the season started and was 11-5 last year translates to dumpster fire thereafter.

We had a crap year. It happens. It happens to teams like the Patriots and Steelers even. Do they throw in the towel and blow up the whole organization? No. They're smart enough to realize that when it's bad, it's never as bad as it seems and the same when it's good. Let's see what happens in 2015. Maybe they simply needed to be humbled a bit and have some issues brought out into the light in order to get better.

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

I don't mind what he does off field. Rally don't In fact I reckon many wouldn't mind patrtying in the valleys of West Virginia.
He can do whatever partying he wants PROVIDED THAT he delivers the goods when in the Saints organisation.

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

I have to disagree with Payton doing whatever he wants off the field. He should be leading by example, if he were a player (Johnny Manzell) he would be hearing it like Manzell does. I realize he is human but he is the head coach of a professional football team(ours) and if players see him laxxing they will lax(monkey see monkey do). All of our hopes are on his shoulders to put a team together that are contenders and as a head coach it's on him if we are not. I don't want to look at Payton as a Mike Martz(Rams greatest show on turf) and then able to do nothing else after, I want to look at him as a Lombardi,Knoll,Laundry type. I think Payton needs to take a good look in the mirror to find out what he is missing within his self. He really don't look like the Payton of old thats for sure.

Re: Some reasons why I was not completely suprised this season
 

Losing those close games out the gate I believe also had an effect. I've noticed teams that lose close games at the start seldom recover from it. There is also a very small gap between us being a 10 win team and a 7 win team. We could not close that gap no matter how hard we tried. Frustration sets in and then poor attitudes along with it.