Payton's locker room presence

Agreed. Especially with the talent on the offensive side of the ball. I think we've been a little too accepting in the past with Mora and Haslett. We were so used to not being competitive that we've (and the front office) settled for simply being competitive.

I like competitive, no doubt! competitive is a good thing but you have to turn the corner into being a contender. We've been a contender only one year in the last 18 and that was in 2006. Partially because the NFC was so weak. I'd like to think that we were contenders in the late eighties and early nineties but the fact is that we couldn't even win a playoff game. We let the Vikings, Eagles, Bears and Falcons beat us when it counted. In 2006 we were actually in the NFC Championship and were threatening the Bear lead deep into the third quarter before missing that Field Goal.

Being contenders 1 year in 18 just isn't fair to the fans. Having said all that, I find myself believing that Sean Payton will get us over that hump....I don't have any basis other than blind faith right now....but I do believe!

Very good post, and I agree.
I don't agree with diat about us saying the same things about Haslett's teams. Many of us felt that Haslett's teams were undisciplined on the field and sometimes in the locker room as well. Many games were mailed in under Haslett.... I don't see our team under Payton not winning one of those last games in December 2002 to make the playoffs.