Big Easy Believer
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DYSFUNCTIONAL? Saints Legends “Call Out” Team Management

By Gene Higginbotham

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After a disastrous start to the 2015 season, the New Orleans Saints currently sit at 4-6 and are at the bottom of the NFC South and 13th overall in the NFC just above the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys respectively.

The success that began in the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era caught traction almost instantly, culminating with a Super Bowl run in 2009 and what looked like sustained success for years to come.

But that success came to a screeching halt in 2014 and although what looked like a promising offseason and draft for the 2015 year, looks to be headed towards the same conclusion.

Pundits have picked the team to finish another disappointing 7-9 or 6-10 at the end of the season, which I had called a 7-9 season after viewing an ugly preseason and questions about the makeup of the team from several local media and analysts.

There has been speculation as to why the team hasn’t faired well over the last few seasons and seem lost at times on defense and out of sync on offense while looking like shades of the playoff contender they were just a short time back in some games.

Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Brandon Browner (39) and cornerback Delvin Breaux (40) on the bench during the first quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Everything from player effort (or lack thereof), coaching, and play calling have been put under the microscope along with the obvious handcuffs of poor free agent signing, even poorer draft selections, and bankruptcy inducing contracts that would make credit card companies jealous in hamstringing the Saints salary cap.

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But there is one thing that might be the underlying factor that carries as much weight as all these do which is simply the Saints have forgot who they are and where they came from.

The one thing that most Who Dats will tell you that have endured them to the team is the Saints blue-collar makeup and underdog status that even when the team was winning never got much credit.

The team that eventually won it all was made of a mismatch of underrated defensive players signings like cornerback Jabari Greer and a culmination of solid draft picks who became instant contributors.

But now that formula has given way to head-scratching draft choices over the past three seasons that haven’t panned out and overrated signings like cornerback Brandon Browner who has gotten more press for his post-game antics than on the field play.

Its a recipe for failure that has been cooked up and served in a hellacious all-you-can-eat buffet that the Saints organization seems to be going back for seconds on, as well as getting a to-go box.

Former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle has given his views on the Saints current struggles including the now infamous “cheap shot” by Browner in the games against the Washington Redskins.

Shanle also posted this tweet recently about the mantra the linebacking corps had when he played for the Black and Gold:

His hashtag “#respectgreatness” says a lot about the mentality of what the turnaround was for the team under Payton and also points to it’s downfall when former players like outside linebacker Junior Galette was allowed to disrespect members of the team who molded it into what it was like defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

It was also noted by beat writer Larry Holder that the poster that hung as Shanle said is now no longer displayed where it once served as a reminder of the expectations of how you should play.

Another former Saints player in running back Deuce McAllister hinted at a bit of “dysfunction” within the organization:

Usually players such as Shanle and McAllister don’t get too involved with calling out their former team on social media — so this should show that even they can’t hold back how they feel about their once proud franchise.

Indeed, the dysfunction that McAllister spoke of is evident from every aspect from the front office to the performance by players on the field.

The decision making making from top to bottom of the Saints has gone from ingenious wizardry to snake oil salesman tomfoolery destined to drag down an organization that many, including myself, thought could copy the blueprint of NFL titans like the New England Patriots.

On that note, forget the Patriots — we’re looking more and more like the Cleveland Browns who despite a plethora of draft picks and cap room can never seem to get it together.

Nov 8, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) celebrates with teammates after throwing a game winning touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during overtime of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Titans defeated the Saints 34-28 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

And to ping off the Browns “Factory of Sadness”, the once proud Mercedes-Benz Superdome that was a maelstrom of noise opposing teams feared has become the place for one’s like the lowly Tennessee Titans to find confidence and hope in a sure victory.

It has become so bad that the Saints who’ve never made coaching changes mid-season let go of Rob Ryan, oddly amidst the denials of Payton, their embattled defensive coordinator who in actuality was more a sacrificial lamb than main culprit in the current worst defense in the league.

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Frustratingly, personnel like linebackers coach Joe Vitt and defensive line coach Bill Johnson have escaped blame which rubs against Payton’s philosophy of “looking at the parents” if the players aren’t performing and doesn’t look like that will change unless Payton leaves or Vitt and Johnson decide to retire.

Payton has said one true thing this season that no one has to decipher from his usual fortune cookie-like rhetoric he gives during his press conferences…the fans deserve better.

Now whether they’ll get it or not remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t hold onto that sentiment for too long.

So, have the Saints lost sight of who they are?

In my opinion I’d say with a heavy heart yes, but that is something that can be fixed only if everyone in the building buys into 100%.

The only thing scarier than the Saints losing sight of who they are is losing sight of where they’re going, which if the current trend continues won’t be to hard to guess…

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