Well, I think it's great for the Saints organization, the sooner the better, for Coach Payton to be available and work alongside Mickey Loomis. He's got to go find an offensive line coach. I think the timing of it makes sense, probably Roger Goodell had this in the back of his mind, that this is the time frame, throwing an olive branch of sorts, making peace with the Saints organization, and moving forward.
The timing is right, for the NFL...It doesn't take anything away from the playoffs or the Super Bowl, since this is the dead week. I think Goodell had this in mind the whole time.
You're still going to have some fans that are still not happy, "I forgive you but won't forget," that type of thing. Again, the timing of it, from a PR standpoint, can work to the NFL's benefit, just by having it before Goodell comes to town. Now, you're going to have some fans that will never forgive Goodell, but others want to move on. This is the final episode that needed to take place for the Saints to truly move forward. So I think a lot of fans are ready to move on and move forward, and look ahead to the 2013 season.
Now, will Goodell let Gregg Williams back into the league, and would anybody sign him? It will be interesting to see what the the Rams do. I know Gregg Williams' son is the LB coach, and they let him go right after the season. Their defense was successful, pretty aggressive...It will be interesting to see if he ends up back with the Rams, or if another team gives him a shot. It might be still in a number of the organizations' memory of Williams' involvement in the pay-for-performance program. If he's not back with the Rams, I don't see him with another NFL team, should Goodell also allow him to be reinstated.
He will be entering his tenth season in the National Football League this season in the same uniform that he began his career in back in 2004. The lone player that is still on the Saints roster from the previous coaching staff will get a new look at...
After a season in which the Saints did not have their head coach, in which the club limped through to a very disappointing 7-9 record, New Orleans will hit the field this week as off season practices get underway. The media will get to attend an OTA...
Yes, I know that all coaches and most players say it, but it's true! When it comes to football, championships are won in the off season. Saints Offensive Guard Ben Grubbs is also in that number.
"I believe that the road to the Super Bowl does...
A lot of special moments are expected this weekend as the #2 ranked LSU Baseball Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels. Head Coach Paul Mainieri told me and Bobby Hebert that even though his team has sewn up the SEC West, they are in no way going to relax...
Saints Head Coach Sean Payton joined Bobby Hebert and me for a chat following the team's rookie minicamp on Airline Drive.
Coach Payton told us the session went well.
"You have a short period of time to do that and the three days we had gave...
Saints safety Roman Harper has restructured his contract, according to a league source.
We don't know the numbers, but he took a pay cut, and they added a year to his contract. I'm told the new deal has less guaranteed money.
Harper was...
Saints safety Roman Harper has restructured his contract, according to a league source.
We don't know the numbers, but he took a pay cut, and they added a year to his contract. I'm told the new deal has less guaranteed money.
Harper was...
Kristian@wwl.com
The Payton factor: The media got their first look at the Saints during their third Organized Team Activity session this morning at the team's training facility on Airline Drive. Very few people have as strong a presence at their...
Kristian@wwl.com - In a new defensive alignment, Saints veteran Will Smith is starting Organized Team Activities today at outside linebacker.
"On paper it's outside linebacker, but it's still defensive end. I'm cool with it," Smith told...
Starting this Tuesday, the Black and Gold get underway with Organized Team Activities, which is a fancy phrase for "practice." These workouts are voluntary, but as in previous years under Sean Payton, attendance at OTA's are expected to be...