The "FIRST" thing the Saints need to do is fire the long haired (hey look at me) defensive coordinator.
The guy has proven he's nothing but a hotdog who can't produce a defense worthy of a difference maker.
Ryan has lived off his father and brother....guarantee you the top teams in the SEC wouldn't hire him!
The guy has proven he's nothing but a hotdog who can't produce a defense worthy of a difference maker.
Ryan has lived off his father and brother....guarantee you the top teams in the SEC wouldn't hire him!
http://www.sunherald.com/sports/nfl/new-orleans-saints/article49457065.html
December 12, 2015
What does Benson see when he looks at Saints' forgetful season?
<img data-preload="http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/4us4kj/picture49457050/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/1213_bisp_Saints%201.jpg" style="max-height: 536px; max-width: 780px;" alt="New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson talks on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)" title="New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson talks on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)">
<img data-preload="http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/30ez9d/picture49457060/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/1213_bisp_Saints%203.jpg" style="max-height: 536px; max-width: 780px;" alt="Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert (35) carries as New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) tries to tackle in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)" title="Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert (35) carries as New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) tries to tackle in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)">
Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert (35) carries as New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) tries to tackle in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman) Jonathan Bachman A
NEW ORLEANS
As the New Orleans Saints head into the final quarter of a disappointing 2015 season, I can't help but wonder what is going through the mind of owner Tom Benson.
Because I am not privy to his inner most thoughts, I have to assume the 88-year-old multi-billionaire is unhappy with his team's current 4-8 record, its last place standing in the NFC South and the depths to which the defense has sunk the past few seasons under head coach Sean Payton.
I know for a fact Mr. Tom hates losing, at least he did during healthier and happier times.
He is neither a picture of health nor can these be particularly joyous times around the Benson domicile because of the litigious actions taken against him by three estranged members of his extended family.
I, too, believe that Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis want to succeed. Let's make that abundantly clear. Both indeed are in this business to win it, though the past few seasons of sub-.500 football, unrewarding roster moves and mishandling of the salary cap might suggest otherwise.
Here's where I'm going with this: When the curtain comes crashing down on this season, and the team misses the playoffs for the third time in four years, who will evaluate the entire football operations? (In my book, Payton doesn't get a pass for 2012 because he was forced to serve a season-long suspension for his role in Bounty gate.)
Mr. Benson? His wife, Gayle? Club president Dennis Lauscha? A board of directors? A battery of lawyers? All of the aforementioned?
According to a typical business model, the GM oversees the football operations. For the sake of this discussion, let's say Loomis is part of the problem. Let's say Loomis and Payton are both part of the problem. Somehow, I don't see Loomis firing Payton with two years left on a five-year, $40 million contract, then falling on the sword and voluntarily tendering his resignation to Benson.
"Tom," so Loomis says in my dream, "you can do much better than Sean and myself. Therefore, we both are stepping down and you don't owe us a dime!"
I can't picture that. Can you?
So again, I ask: What exactly is Benson seeing these days when he looks at his football team? And who has his ear outside of the football operations? Who does he seek when he wants an unbiased evaluation/opinion of his NFL franchise that now is valued in excess of $1 billion by Forbes Magazine?
Does Benson see a glass half full? Half empty? Is he satisfied with the job Loomis and Payton are doing? Or, does Benson expect more bang for his buck from both? From one? Or the other?
Would wins against Tampa Bay (6-6), Detroit (4-8), Jacksonville (4-8) and Atlanta (6-6) and finishing 8-8 indicate to Benson that the team is headed in the right direction going into the offseason? Would Benson see 14-carat gold or fool's gold in a season-ending four game winning streak? Would victories over four mediocre NFL teams override the fact that his team missed the playoffs again with a soon-to-be 37-year-old quarterback in Drew Brees who will count approximately 20 percent against a projected $153 million salary in '16?
Would 8-8 and out of the playoffs justify a ticket increase in 2016?
This inquiring mind wants to know what Tom Benson is thinking.
More importantly, Who Dat Nation wants to know.
In due time, perhaps we will.
Brian Allee-Walsh, a long-time Saints reporter based in New Orleans, can be reached at Sports@sunherald.com.
December 12, 2015
What does Benson see when he looks at Saints' forgetful season?
<img data-preload="http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/4us4kj/picture49457050/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/1213_bisp_Saints%201.jpg" style="max-height: 536px; max-width: 780px;" alt="New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson talks on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)" title="New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson talks on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)">
<img data-preload="http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/30ez9d/picture49457060/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/1213_bisp_Saints%203.jpg" style="max-height: 536px; max-width: 780px;" alt="Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert (35) carries as New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) tries to tackle in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)" title="Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert (35) carries as New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) tries to tackle in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)">
Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert (35) carries as New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) tries to tackle in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman) Jonathan Bachman A
NEW ORLEANS
As the New Orleans Saints head into the final quarter of a disappointing 2015 season, I can't help but wonder what is going through the mind of owner Tom Benson.
Because I am not privy to his inner most thoughts, I have to assume the 88-year-old multi-billionaire is unhappy with his team's current 4-8 record, its last place standing in the NFC South and the depths to which the defense has sunk the past few seasons under head coach Sean Payton.
I know for a fact Mr. Tom hates losing, at least he did during healthier and happier times.
He is neither a picture of health nor can these be particularly joyous times around the Benson domicile because of the litigious actions taken against him by three estranged members of his extended family.
I, too, believe that Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis want to succeed. Let's make that abundantly clear. Both indeed are in this business to win it, though the past few seasons of sub-.500 football, unrewarding roster moves and mishandling of the salary cap might suggest otherwise.
Here's where I'm going with this: When the curtain comes crashing down on this season, and the team misses the playoffs for the third time in four years, who will evaluate the entire football operations? (In my book, Payton doesn't get a pass for 2012 because he was forced to serve a season-long suspension for his role in Bounty gate.)
Mr. Benson? His wife, Gayle? Club president Dennis Lauscha? A board of directors? A battery of lawyers? All of the aforementioned?
According to a typical business model, the GM oversees the football operations. For the sake of this discussion, let's say Loomis is part of the problem. Let's say Loomis and Payton are both part of the problem. Somehow, I don't see Loomis firing Payton with two years left on a five-year, $40 million contract, then falling on the sword and voluntarily tendering his resignation to Benson.
"Tom," so Loomis says in my dream, "you can do much better than Sean and myself. Therefore, we both are stepping down and you don't owe us a dime!"
I can't picture that. Can you?
So again, I ask: What exactly is Benson seeing these days when he looks at his football team? And who has his ear outside of the football operations? Who does he seek when he wants an unbiased evaluation/opinion of his NFL franchise that now is valued in excess of $1 billion by Forbes Magazine?
Does Benson see a glass half full? Half empty? Is he satisfied with the job Loomis and Payton are doing? Or, does Benson expect more bang for his buck from both? From one? Or the other?
Would wins against Tampa Bay (6-6), Detroit (4-8), Jacksonville (4-8) and Atlanta (6-6) and finishing 8-8 indicate to Benson that the team is headed in the right direction going into the offseason? Would Benson see 14-carat gold or fool's gold in a season-ending four game winning streak? Would victories over four mediocre NFL teams override the fact that his team missed the playoffs again with a soon-to-be 37-year-old quarterback in Drew Brees who will count approximately 20 percent against a projected $153 million salary in '16?
Would 8-8 and out of the playoffs justify a ticket increase in 2016?
This inquiring mind wants to know what Tom Benson is thinking.
More importantly, Who Dat Nation wants to know.
In due time, perhaps we will.
Brian Allee-Walsh, a long-time Saints reporter based in New Orleans, can be reached at Sports@sunherald.com.
