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The high-flying, yard-producing, NFC-South competing New Orleans Saints of the past decade do not accurately paint the picture of the Saints' franchise history.


Following their birth as an NFL club in 1967, it took the team 21 seasons to make their first playoff appearance in 1987, and another 14 to get their first playoff win. Prior to 2006, the black and gold won just two division titles and finished with a winning record seven times in 39 seasons, earning the nickname "The 'Aints."


In 2006, after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans, the Saints landed a pair of saviors in head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees.

Both men have made magic throughout their tenure together. The Saints won a division title in their first season together, and three seasons later won their first Super Bowl.

The biggest reason they work so well together is their combined willingness to take risks and an eagerness to pass the ball early and often. Brees has put up five of the 10 best single-season passing yardage performances in NFL history and led the league in passing six of the past 10 seasons.

Since their Super Bowl victory in 2009, the Saints have slowly been regressing and if they don't start to think about long-term success, they risk returning to the days of the 'Aints.

General manager Mickey Loomis has been in a salary cap mess nearly every offseason since winning the big game. That's rather expected though; it's only natural that players feel they deserve to be paid more once they've contributed to a championship team.

The issue that the Saints have found is now that they've tasted the sweet victory of the Vince Lombardi trophy, they want more.

Saints' impulsive moves risk them returning to being the 'Aints | theScore.com

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