Are the Saints in trouble in powerful NFC?

The New Orleans Saints have generally looked like either the second or third best team in the NFC all season long and a team that could very well challenge either Seattle or San Francisco for conference supremacy in the NFC portion of the playoffs.

Unfortunately, New Orleans hasn't looked very good in dropping three of their last four games, to Frisco, St. Louis and a suddenly scary Carolina team while not topping 16 points in the process.

The Saints lost control of what appeared to be a sure-fire division title a few weeks back and now will have a tougher road to hoe once the postseason rolls around. I’m not too sure that anyone should have expected the Saints to get back into title contention this season following the now-infamous Bountygate scandal two years ago, so maybe we should all give Drew Brees and company a bit of a pass if they flame out earlier than expected this postseason.

The again, when you’ve got a quarterback like Drew Brees, I believe it’s quite possible New Orleans could get on a red-hot postseason roll like the New York Giants did in winning each of their last two Super Bowls.

While I’m certainly not going to count Brees and the Saints out at this point, I will say that the Saints’ postseason outlook appears to be tenuous at best. 

Vilma, ‘Bountygate’ Saints teammates are scum of the earth!

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma (L)
tried to injure several of his NFL counterparts in order to collect a cash bounty reward.

As a former athlete that has played myriad sports in a multitude of competitive settings, I’d like to take the time to say that New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma – along with the other New Orleans Saints players that participated on their now-infamous bounty program – are absolute scum of the earth!

Okay, okay, I may be going a bit overboard with the ‘scum’ comparisons, but really, these guys are low-life athletes that I would never want to have on my team.

I mean, really, what athlete goes out looking to injure – and possibly end – the career of their counterparts?

Pro football is such a fast-paced, high-impact game these days that even the players themselves know that each and every play could very literally be their last, which is why no one tries to intentionally injure another player – because it can happen so easily in the natural course of a game.

Vilma also allegedly tried to injure gifted
Carolina Panthers rookie signal-caller Cam Newton. 

For Vilma and any of the other alleged 22-27 other players involved to want to intentionally injure another player tells me that these guys would compromise their own morals just to get a victory on the football field.

Whatever punishment commissioner Goodell doles out to the players involved – I’ll fully support his decision – because there is no place in sports for trying to intentionally hurt or end the career of an opposing player.

I’m actually hoping the no-nonsense commish slams Vilma and company with some serious suspension time so that others will get the message from here on in … trying to injure another player is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any shape, form or fashion.

Maybe then, that’ll teach scum like Vilma and his ‘Bountygate’ involved teammates to actually play by the rules. 

Warner’s right … good for Goodell!

Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner 

was one of four quarterbacks the Saints 

offered a bounty for. The now retired legend 

agreed with commisioner Roger Goodell's 

punishment of the Saints.

As one of four quarterbacks targeted in the New Orleans Saints bounty program, Future Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Kurt Warner shared his thoughts on how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handled the situation – and I agree with the Christ-loving Warner one million percent.

“I’m shocked like a lot of people, but not fully surprised,” Warner said. “One thing we realize about the commish is this has been primary from day one … he was going to protect our players. I am shocked at Coach Payton being suspended for a year and the various other things, but this is what Commissioner Goodell has done from day one. I love that he is trying to make statements to protect our game for the long-term.”

‘Puh-leeze’ … save the apology Payton, Loomis

Saints head coach Sean Payton (L) and GM 

Mickey Loomis, tried to apologize for their 

roles in Bountygate, but 

Eye On Sports says - save it fellas'. 

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis issued a joint statement on March 6, in which they each took full responsibility for the bounty program in New Orleans.

“We acknowledge that the violations disclosed by the NFL during their investigation of our club happened under our watch,” they said in a statement. “These are serious violations and we understand the negative impact it has had on our game. Both of us have made it clear within our organization that this will never happen again, and make that same promise to the NFL and most importantly to all of our fans.”

The only problem I have with their joint apology us that it comes long after they were told to out an end to their, then alleged bounty program – and they didn’t.

When you break the law – and then do so repeatedly – I don’t want to hear how sorry you are for your crimes. Basically, Payton and Loomis were apparently going to allow the illegal bounty program to continue as long as they weren’t caught.

Now that they have been – and the s**t’s hitting the fan, I don’t want to hear an apology when you could have ended the career of another player.

Serves ‘em right … Saints get hammered!

The New Orleans Saints paid for their foolish 

bounty program in unprecedented fashion!

If players, GM’s and coaches across the NFL thought that commissioner Roger Goodell was playing around when he said that he was going to protect his league’s players from undue harm – they may want to think again after seeing Goodell lay down the hammer on the suddenly-dysfunctional New Orleans Saints on Wednesday.

Goodell body-slammed the Saints in an unprecedented – and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (now with the St. Louis Rams) for their respective participation in a bounty program, that awarded players cash for injuring opposing players.

The league’s investigation showed that the Saints placed monetary bounties on four of the game’s best former and current quarterbacks – Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner.

Goodell suspended Saints head coach Sean Payton without pay for the entire 2012 season while also banning general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games and assistant coach Joe Vitt for the first six games of the season.

New Orleans also has to pay a whopping $500,000 fine while forfeiting its second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013.

For his part in basically organizing the entire bounty program, Williams has been suspended indefinitely with Goodell stating that he will reevaluate his standing at the end of the 2012 season.

Williams’ suspension started with the league’s announcement while Payton’s will begin on April 1. Loomis’ suspension will begin following New Orleans’ final preseason game.

“We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game,” Goodell said in a statement. “We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities. No one is above the game or the rules that govern it. Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will not be compromised.

“A combination of elements made this matter particularly unusual and egregious. When there is targeting of players for injury and cash rewards over a three-year period, the involvement of the coaching staff, and three years of denials and willful disrespect of the rules, a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game.”

All I can say Eye On Sports football fanatics is that I’m absolutely ecstatic to see commissioner Goodell lay down the hammer in an effort to clean up a sport that has seen an increase in cheap shots – and concussions – in recent seasons.

The Saints got just what they deserved after implementing the bounty program – and then foolishly allowing it to continue – even after being warned by the league last season.

The NFL also required every other franchise to confirm that they did not have bounty programs in place. 

It’s a Brees … but not for screwed-up Saints

The New Orleans Saints need to sign 

franchise quarterback Drew Brees 

to a long-term deal - immediately.

You know Eye On Sports NFL fans, some things in life are so simple that they require absolutely no thinking whatsoever.

Of course, I always say that sports mirrors everyday life in myriad facets and one of the age-old truths is that, when you have a true, Hall of Fame-caliber superstar that is equally as phenomenal off the playing field as on it, that you give him whatever he wants to remain the face of your franchise until he decides to call it quits.

Having said that pro football followers, it’s clear that the New Orleans Saints are absolutely ludicrous – and no – I’m not talking about their insane bounty-laden locker room.

I’m talking about the fact that the Saints want to keep pinching pennies when it comes to paying franchise-quarterback Drew Brees what he rightfully deserves.

When it comes to NFL quarterbacks, Brees is easily one of the top three signal-callers in the game today, joining the ranks of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady as the game’s best triumvirate. Paying Brees an average of what Brady and soon-to-be-former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning make, is an absolute no-brainer, that the Saints should have taken care of a long time ago.

Now, they’ve used their franchise tag on Brees and he will make an average of about $16 million per season if he signs the deal. If not, he will hold out fr more money – and money I say he rightfully deserves after leading the formerly sad-sack franchise to its first Super Bowl title just a couple of years ago.

Now, in addition to having a mountain of bounty-related issues swirling about, the Saints have angered their team and community leader – and that was just ludicrous of GM Mickey Loomis and owner Tom Benson.

If the Saints don’t win more than eight or nine games in 2012, then don’t be surprised!

Packers, Saints, Both Defenseless!

Okay Eye On Sports faithful, after seeing both, the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints – and their explosive offenses – get beat this past weekend, I’m thinking maybe somebody on both teams’ front offices should actually think about acquiring some competent defensive players! 

I’m just sayin’… the way both teams won with overpowering offenses- and mediocre defenses at best – is clearly not the way to win a Super Bowl title. 

Reggie Bush Now Elite!

‘Little guys’ unite!

 

After five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, veteran running back Reggie Bush has finally turned into the player many thought he would be when he came into the league as one of the highest profile running backs in NFL history, just over a half-decade ago.

After seeing him struggle and be used mostly as a third-down ‘situational back’ most football pundits thought Bush would always be too small – and too fragile – to ever become an every down back in the league. However, thanks to the Miami Dolphins and former head coach Tony Sparano, Bush got his chance to shine – and shine he did!

Bush has the best yards-per-carry average of any running back in the league with at least 200 rushing attempts and has shown an ability to make plays both, rushing the ball and receiving it.

Now, let me just say that the Dolphins had better make it their business to extend the two-year deal he’s currently on before he thinks about taking is talents to South Beach.

Oh damn, he’s already in Miami … sorry LeBron!

Brees Making Life Easy in Underrated NFC South

NFC South

The New Orleans Saints look as explosive as ever on offense under Drew Brees this season. Unfortunately, I’m no big believer in New Orleans’ Swiss Cheese-like defense.

Let’s just repeat the previous comment on the Saints, except I’m going to substitute Brees’ name for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

No matter what kind of record the Carolina Panthers finish with from here on out, you’ve got to be absolutely thrilled to see how this franchise performed in the very first season of their rebuilding campaign under first-year head coach Ron Rivera and gifted rookie signal-caller Cam Newton.

Rivera has gotten the Panthers to play hard in every single game this season no matter the opponent – and Newton proved in his very first season as the No. 1 overall draft pick that he’s already better than two-thirds of the quarterbacks in the league!

If you’re a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, then you’ve got to be very disappointed in how the Bucs have underachieved this season. Frankly, for a team that won 10 games last season and looked like one of the league’s best up-and-coming franchises, Tampa Bay has gone backwards in a big way this season – and so have head coach Raheem Morris and young quarterback Josh Freeman in the process.

Drew Brees is a Magician!

Forget Criss Angel and David Copperfield, for my money, I’m going with Drew Brees and his own special brand of sleight of hand.  Brees and all of magical-like greatness were on display for the entire world to see on Monday night.

The former Purdue signal-caller sliced and diced the New York Giants into tiny little pieces before sweeping them up and discarding them in the trash!

The best for me though – and one that Tim Tebow lovers can revel in – is the fact that Brees is not your prototypical NFL quarterback.

Sure, Brees has always been a gifted thrower, but the fact of the matter is that he stands just 6-feet tall and fell to the 32nd pick of the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft simply because of his lack of height.

In essence, Brees has scored one for un-prototypical quarterbacks everywhere, even if NFL pundits everywhere never mention this fact!