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Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

Sucking is not an option. And it's not because I'm jaded. It's because we deserve it as fans. We've earned it. It is no longer good enough to have a winning season and there is nothing wrong with having high expectations. We should demand more and not accept mediocrity. The organization is obligated to give it to us because we have made them all rich while being loyal, devoted fans for many decades. I'm a life-long fan but I'm not stupid or unrealistic. I won't be cutting them any slack for not performing.

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

I fear we're already there fellow Saints fans. With that being said, I damn sure ain't going anywhere. This is our team and New Orleans is our f'ing city and we are going to fight for her until the day the good Lord brings us home!

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI (Post 662997)

Amen

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

The Saints are at that stage that all good teams come to during salary cap era and that's how to manage the cap and keep the players together while drafting at the bottom of the draft.

The window is still open, but it is getting challenging and it appears that some bad decisions were made with overpaying certain vets. There is still time to right the ship, but the margin for error is slim.

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

I've suffered through John Mecom, JD Roberts , Hank Stramm, Bum Phillips and Mike Ditka. Watched them go 1-15. Seen them draft Jonathan Sullivan, Rick Middleton, Larry Burton etc.

Let's not even mention Erxleben. At one time half of the NFL records on books were set while playing against us. (lawrence McCuteon once owned the NFL single game rushing record. Guess who they were playing. Who the * is Lawrence McCuteon?)

So no, I'm not looking forward to it but if we have seen the end of the Golden Age, oh well. I'll still be in that number. After 48 years pulling for the Saints is like breathing, it just happens. I suspect I'll stop doing both at about the same time.

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boutte (Post 663076)

... After 48 years pulling for the Saints is like breathing, it just happens. I suspect I'll stop doing both at about the same time.

U Rock, Boutte. Hope you might pop up in the Quarter one
game day weekend.

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

Payton and Brees will be gone and the Saints will go into salary dump mode. I personally thought Payton lost the team a season ago. In meaningful, critical games last year, the team just didn't show up. The Saints have the talent to compete this season. If key injuries don't determine the season, it's all on Payton and Brees. Bottom line.

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtiger72 (Post 662122)

The NFL is cyclical. While no fan base wants to think about it, sooner or later a team is going to have a down cycle. The salary cap and draft are designed to make it happen.

I don't think the Saints are up for one as long as Brees is here. And depending how long it takes to find a quality QB and good young talent, the dip may or may not happen when he's gone- but somewhere in the future, the odds are the Saints will have a string of years where they aren't expected to contend.

But to answer the OP, I don't know about you personally, but the diehard fans will remain fans. A lot of the bandwagoners who may have jumped on ship in the years preceeding or just after the Super Bowl may fall away, but the die hard fans will remain.

With the cap rules, the league is really designed to be mediocre. The NFL calls it competitive balance, but frankly it's pretty watered down. A lot of teams go through cycles because they aren't very gifted in the art of foresight, while other organizations just aren't good at anything (Raiders, Jaguars, Browns, etc). But there are a couple of teams that have been good at managing the cap and sustaining success (Patriots, Colts). The Saints and Steelers are very similar over the last decade (decade plus, for Pitt) in how they fluctuate between being contenders and just being average, but they don't completely fall apart.

The Saints did well for a while with finding hidden gems that allowed them to keep the cost down and retain a certain core of players. But once guys started looking for a big pay day we over-payed on some players, and it's bit us in recent years. The offense keeps us competitive but we really haven't been able to keep up with the elite.

It really all boils down to finding the right QB when you make a transition, and building around him. Just look how quickly the Colts went right back to winning after one bad season.

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dude (Post 662109)

After being a contender for so long and winning a Super Bowl are we as fans going to be able to go back to enjoying watching games just to see them play and have a good time? I have been a Saints fan for over 30 years and used to love to watch or go to games just to see them play and have something to cheer for. They usually lost, but there was always a possibility something out of character would happen. We would be happy just to win the game, the playoffs were just an afterthought. Then we got to the playoffs and a higher bar was set. We still had down years but we still would enjoy them win or lose. After winning it all can we go back to that? Or maybe the question should be can you go back to that. Hopefully we can hold them to a higher standard now. Hopefully the organization will find a way to get us right back in there even after a slump. Something has definitely changed though. I don't think I will be happy just having a winning season anymore. Its going to be playoffs or nothing. I will still watch and cheer, but I expect more.

There's no question that my mindset completely changed after the Super Bowl run. It's a strange thing to get a grip on, but in a way it did kind of spoil the fun. I used to always look forward to game days, just to watch the Saints. I was never satisfied with losing, but it didn't stop me from being excited for the next game.

After they won the super bowl, there wasn't any higher goal to be achieved, so it was win or bust for me. There was more anxiety in the anticipation than there was of excitement.

But a lot of things, from all my teams, to everyday life are bringing me back to reality and I enjoy it more again. I still do have higher expectations, though, and I don't want this thing to run into the ground.

Re: So what if the Saints do start to suck

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 662341)

Great question, and a fun topic, DUDE. I'm glad you asked.

I sat out last year with my own off the field problems. There is something very wrong with me, when im not a raging fan, and sweating every down of Saints Football.

Well I'm back. Sept. 20. Tampa. I have a better seat than Tom Benson. If I had a million dollars, I would still sit in section 500 -- the best view for football in the Dome, with a little more elbow room, but you still get the craziness of Da Terrace. I BELONG in the Terrace. I am one with the Terrace. It is part of who I am. I love the people of the Terrace.

I've already scoped out the season, decided which games to go, which to watch w/ the Hou-Dats, here in Houston, and of course the big Blue Lot Tailgate, we're doing at the Texans. I've already budgeted a bunch of money, invested my calendar, and I, too, have thought, "What if we suck?"

The answer came easy. Just pretend it was any of the old years, when I was a Saints fan, and go crazy like I always have. When I take my kids to the Panthers game, whether we're 0-12 or 12-0, I'll be yelling for our Boys to take Cam Newton's head. And every game between, i'm raising 8 kinds of hell.

I'm hanging out with WhoDAt Nation this season, tailgating, drinkin like Lincoln, partying the Quarter, and having fun across Lousiana & Mississsipi, this year. Game One/ Cardinals, I'm coming back from Jackson on bizness, and I'll catch the Saints at some hole in the wall in MS. I WILL do at least one game in an Atchafalaya swamp bar.

Im gonna pick a GF, (currently running a platoon system) for the Giants game, and do a little New Orleans romance trip, maybe. I have no plan yet, but most likely will just bring the one w/ the one w the biggest boobs.... or whoever is most likely to take them out.

So F*** whatever our record is. I plan on this being a Rock and Roll Party from this thursday night on, even if Im the only one rocking. But this is New Orleans, and I wont be. If you're a WhoDat, you'll be in this number too.

Do you pay?