The Dude

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.

jeanpierre

One thing that annoys me is this thinking that we have to win while we still have Drew; with all due respect, F*** Drew...

Was a big Jimmy Graham fan, but if that trade wins us games (and with Unger and Stephone Anthony in return), so be it...

I'm a Saints fan, if we traded Brees tomorrow and spent another year developing and then came back on a decade run like the Pats have had, I'd be thrilled...

Before Payton and now, I've always wanted and pulled for the Saints to win the whole thing every year; irregardless of Drew, I want to win this year and every year...

If you're not playing to win, then why play the game?!?

And the two most indispensable people to the team right now are Sean Payton and Jeff Ireland...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

QBREES9

Well said.

The Dude

Exactly. They could replace every single player and coach on the team tomorrow and as long as it puts us in a position to win more games and become a better team I'm all for it. What I don't want to see is Payton keeping Brees on the field 4 years from now taking us nowhere when we have the QB of the future on the sidelines. (Or waste a draft pick for the same reason)

|Mitch|

Why worry about what may happen in the future, especially when you can't change anything!

Saints football starts Thursday and we actually have a secondary that is more efficient than a screen door on a submarine! Offense will be in the tops like always and we have 3-4 very good press corners!

The Dude

Not worried, just a thought. I wondered where you were. Have not seen you around the board much lately.

vtiger72

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.

RailBoss

As long as the team remains competitive and hopefully wins the division and is still playing past the regular season. Would be very hard digging through the pantry for paper bags again. Especially since all the grocery bags are plastic these days.

WillSaints81

Personally, if we were to be grateful for the sb win alone, then we should not have made the playoffs the next year. However, you can thank Atlanta for that. Atlanta and their fans ruined our time when we were having our run, and it seemed every offseason they would act like they're going to win the sb. I am so thankful Atlanta does not have a sb. Because if they did, they would use Ryan's age against us for bragging rights. It just seemed we didn't really get to relax and enjoy our moment. Green Bay has shut Chicago up, New England did the jets and they probably will the dolphins too, Indy is doing to Houston, and did it to Jacksonville as well under Manning. We didn't quite shut Atlanta up until we ourselves were in a rut and now they're making noises of coming back.

It would be hard if we fall off while Atlanta and Cam are winning. That would be hard pill to swallow.

44Champs

When we won the SB, I was seriously thinking we could win a couple more with these players, or that we could at least repeat the next year. Honestly, I was thinking possible dynasty. Then Goodie 2 shoes Goodell screwed that up. When the time comes for Drew and possibly SP to move on, it will be a sad time but with change always comes new hope.

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