Re: Sean Stays
 

I know he didn't win a playoff game. But use a little perspective. Free agency, as it exists today, did not come about until 1992. That meant it was extremely difficult for the Saints to sign the top players. What would Sean's resume look like without Drew? We'll never know.

I don't even like Jim Mora, because of how he left, but the bottom line is that he took what was maybe the worst franchise in sports and made it into a team that was consistently winning or in the hunt.

From '87 to '93 he went 12-3, 10-6, 9-7, 8-8, 11-5, 12-4, and 8-8 before going 7-9 the next two years and quitting in the middle of '96.

That's extremely consistent for a team that grew in the shadow of all the old dynasties that used to rule the NFL. Those teams all had hall of fame QB's, like Sean does. Jim had nothing close to that.

Re: Sean Stays
 

I don't disagree that Mora pulled us out of the dark ages and that it was a different time. But so did Payton from the Ditka/Haslett era. We were a team with no home poised to become a 2-14 laughing stock again with the wrong coach. Sure he hit it lucky on Drew but he also developed one of the best and most consistent offenses in the past 10 years.

It's apples to oranges but I will always argue anyone who claims Payton is an overrated coach. At the absolutely worst it's a tie between the 2.

Re: Sean Stays
 

It was all over ESPN and NFL Radio that Payton was definitely leaving. It was mostly talk radio and TV hacks. They are the worst because any tiny verbalized thought quickly becomes fact because they are all too lazy to do their jobs and do a small bit of research.

Re: Sean Stays
 

Thanks. You saved me the trouble of making the same response.

Re: Sean Stays
 

No one said there was anything malicious. We actually agree on this subject. By saying that Payton was on his way out, or even considering leaving, was not a lie. It was simply a total lack of reporting on actual fact instead of stating as fact baseless speculation by blogging hacks.

Gullible fans then freak out and think the worst for no reason whatsoever. I repeat what I said earlier that it is stupidity to believe what you hear on talk radio and opinion pieces from many so-called insiders.

Re: Sean Stays
 

Well let me be clear that I'm not calling Payton overrated. I do think he's the best coach in our history, but I don't hold him in as high esteem as others. I believe that sometimes things change and sour, for whatever reason, and the team fails because of it. In that event, I think you have to move on and let go of prior accomplishments.

That's my argument. But my opinion has held steady that Payton should have stayed for at least another year to see what he can do with these young players. It was good to see him show some life at the end of the season. I don't know where that fire has been, but I hope it stays lit, because he's an elite coach when he's into it. I didn't get the sense over the past couple of seasons that he was the same guy.

Re: Sean Stays
 

Right, and that's what we should expect from them. When I say "definitely" leaving, I mean someone actually reporting that Sean has agreed to leave. This was just a case of people being convinced in their own minds that something was happening, because that gives them something to talk about. It's foolish, it should be embarrassing to them, but we know they don't care. So it surprised me to see the reaction on this board.

Re: Sean Stays
 

With this I took issue at saying someone was stupid for believing Sean would want to leave. Simply because, as I said before, we don't really know. It's a business. He could have gotten more, maybe, maybe not.

Whatever happened, or didn't happen, he decided it was best to remain here. That's different from people going on national television and stirring the pot. People can have opinions, but reporting without knowing is irresponsible.

Yet, again, it wasn't as if these people were reporting a deal that never happened. This is why I don't really watch sports news, I just watch games.

Re: Sean Stays
 

I kinda wish all the hand-wringing was on a different thread.

My personal feeling about Sean Payton's announcement is this:

http://www.wired.com/wp-content/uplo...9dab73bf_b.jpg

Re: Sean Stays
 

I respectfully have to disagree. We beat the Giants and they didn't have half the injuries we did. They didn't make the playoffs either. Much respect for Coughlin but I wouldn't take another coach in the world over Payton.