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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

Seer1

Blah, blah, blah. With the changes finally being made in the higher ups, we aren't even the Saints of two years ago. Historical stats in football is pretty much crap.

dizzle88

So building a young nucleus of players is a bad thing?

I'm pretty sure we had the most rookies on our team last season, 25 out of 53 players were rookies. If they develop as they should and we look at life after Brees, there's no reason we can't be successful.

B_Dub_Saint

This narrative is so old and stale. They act like after Brees is gone there will never be a future QB to lead us to the superbowl ever again.

So what is it, get rid of Brees now and suck forever or get rid of Brees later and suck forever. So damn hypocritical

RaginCajun83

vpheughan

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.

Brees and Morestead are the only Superbowl Vet's remaining aren't they?

RaginCajun83

Streif too, so 3 are left from 2009

AsylumGuido

The supposed "writer" that penned that story is an idiot.

First of all, the new contract was a given and the franchise tag was simply a placeholder until it was finished. The ordeal with the tag was because the NFLPA wanted to challenge the designation of TE opposed to WR.

Secondly, the trading of Graham had nothing whatsoever to do with the Saints' ability, or inability, to pay him. The Saints had approached Seattle about trading for center Max Unger and offered up Kenny Stills as part of the deal. The Seahawks countered with Graham and ponied up a 1st rounder in addition. The transaction actually INCREASED the cap hit because Unger was due more than Graham that coming season.

Crusader

And below ideal return? A starting Center, one of the most important positions on the offense, and a first round pick that was turned into a starting LB. I'd say that is a pretty good haul for a TE.

jnormand

Larry!!!!!