neugey

Another year of off-season lip service to the running game, this time worse than ever. Payton should have been updating his running schemes but it seems like he spent more time playing golf with Johnny Manziel and going to Kenny Chesney's beach-side parties.

This is 0% AP's fault. Treating AP like any old running back was not what was needed.

Euphoria

Yeah I think Sean handled it perfectly. Just look to make eye contact like yeah I see you... I got you... and ignore it.

The real problem isn't with AP or who ever is at RB the problem is the O line is crap. They can't protect a hall of fame QB and they certainly can create lanes for the RBs.

skymike

you nailed it. If Peterson had 30 carries, he would have had 60 yards with this line. We're driving a Mercedes body on a prius motor.

jeanpierre

Great Post! Well, the offensive line was the concern for many...

The management of injury to C Max Unger going back to last season when Payton thought he still had a chance to get into the tournament with three games left...

The stars were perfectly aligned to get the best guard in the game in Kevin Zeitler and Loomis completely whiffed on the Saints' offer settling on Warford who's just another overpaid Grubbs who can't get out into space and be effective in the screens the Saints have made their bread...

Drafting Andrus Peat only to try and move him to Right Tackle where he was unable to unseat Zach Strief, then to Left Guard where he clearly isn't happy and hasn't been as effective as he was last season at his natural position of Left Tackle when Terron Armstead was injured then...

Terron Armstead who more than justified his draft status as one of the most athletic Tackles in the game, yet has been able to stay healthy for a full season since his rookie year; and should have been moved this past offseason for a high draft pick...

And to the underrated, griizzled veteran Zach Strief who finally seems to be crashing at the end of an unexpected, terrific career who's likely out for a minimum of four weeks, more likely eight weeks...

For me, the problems started when Payton drafted a LT, Peat, when we clearly had a LT and continued his insanity with his mass and @ss spin the salvage signing of Warford to cover the failure to secure the services of Kevin Zeitler - the same BS we heard when we let Nicks get out of the building for Ben Grubbs...

When we picked up Peterson, and put these big, slow massive guards in place, it seemed he was actually moving to a power running game to extend and transition for the end of Brees' career - the play calling in the second half doesn't sync with the personnel moves made...

AP has always been the focus of the offense in his NFL career and my concern was him accepting his role - and with only one week of adversity, we've got what looks like social media dissension in the ranks....

Irregardless, of Payton's counterintuitive personnel management/game management, AP looks like he wants to get out of New Orleans, because he will not win the heart and mind of Sean Payton when it comes to airing it out in media...

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

Cruize

Bad fit. Cards and Giants need a back. I would like to see him go to Denver. I think he would thrive.

jlaw8920

I agree. I still think AP has plenty left in the tank, but as others stated, we aren't the type of team to give one back 20+ carries to get going.

I would love to see them trade him to Cards/Giants and try to get secondary help or draft picks. Not sure what those teams have available.

Its nothing against AP, it just we have two guys that can play well at RB already and need help elsewhere, and he is the logical choice to cut out of the equation.

The Dude

I agree it can't be tolerated but given the situation I'll give him a pass now. He was fired up and was full of emotion. You could tell he wanted to hurt Minnesota. Bad. It was a huge game for him personally. There was also no audio. They could have been arguing about Gatorade. I'll give him the benifit of the doubt. This time.

K Major

Agreed. Kind of reminds me of a few years back when Dez was yelling at Romo on the sideline and the media fed off of what they "assumed" as a confrontation. When they finally got the audio, Dez was simply fired up and telling his QB "believe in me, I got you. We can beat these boys but I need to be involved!" (I'm paraphrasing). AP was no different last night.

Here is basically what was said ...

Let's be clear...I said we need to run the ball up their Donkey. Nothing more. I'm passionate but respect my coach at the same time

— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) September 12, 2017

Over reaction by the media.

burningmetal

I don't know what the conversation was about. Peterson claimed that he just suggested they run up the middle. If that's true, I don't see anything wrong with a suggestion. We've seen Brees get animated talking to Payton before. I didn't see Peterson actively pouting, otherwise I'd be upset. I think this is being blown up because people automatically assume that Peterson can't handle sharing the load. Maybe he ultimately will prove that he indeed cannot handle it, but he chose to sign here, and this is not an offense you want to play in if you are a selfish running back. You will not get what you want, and he had to already know that.

One last thing I want to point out is that I've seen a lot of people mentioning that Ingram is hands down our best back, and suggesting we should have featured him more. I don't agree that Ingram is our best back, for one thing, but just looking at the stats from last night, Peterson technically had the "best" night. 6 carrries for 18 yards for AP, 6 carries for 17 yards for Ingram and 7 for 18 for Kamara.

Nobody beat anybody out at the position last night, let's be honest. Nevermind all the talk about who fits where. Nobody had any room.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

Beastmode

I would trade him, but nothing to do with this situation. If we need an good OL go get one. We are still fine at RB and several teams are hurting at RB. AP will also not be here next year regardless. Way more value in a OL than AP right now.