Nick Underhill: Saints Might Not Move on from DA
Nah, I think Nick has looked to rationalize the scenario and make sense of it. He's as much of a fan of the team as we are, but he's also privy to knowledge that we aren't. We do know that Mickey is patient, and he's digging deeper into that w/ his latest article. He's also fighting against what the historical data is saying w/ regards to losing 6 in a row..etc.
He's where most of us are - caught between angst and acceptance
You make a lot of sense, as usual. But I differ on ONE detail...i think very few of us are inclined to acceptance. Most of us are caught between angst and resignation...I say resignation because we refuse to accept this reality, and angst because we recognize that SOMETHING needs to be done, but we are powerless to do anything about it. We have no say. Won't stop me from saying it though.
ML, on the other hand, absolutely has a say. And the fact that ML seems to be so accepting is making him a target also. Rightly so, IMO. His job is to field a "winner" on the field; if his guy (DA) can't do that after 3 seasons (and 3 "practice" seasons prior to this one), he needs to find a new guy. We all wanted DA to succeed, but the team seems to get worse each year, not better, IMO. Seemingly insurmountable evidence is suggesting the ONLY way that will happen is a "perfect storm" of a season with no adversity and nothing goes wrong. How often does that happen? Is that honestly what we're waiting for in order to determine if DA is the right coach for this team?! In the absence of that perfect storm, we just want ML to do HIS job. If ML won't do his job, we want HIM replaced too. Out of 23 seasons as GM, ML has had only THREE(!) winning seasons without CSP; and only ONE playoff appearance (Hakim dropped the ball, Hakim dropped the ball!!!). Maybe it's a good thing this is playing out like it is. After 22+ seasons of singing his praise (Loomis it, Micky!), I'm honestly SHOCKED at MLs record as GM without CSP. I honestly think ML is part of the problem, and CSP camouflaged it.
And my opinion on THAT matter counts about as much as my opinion on the HC situation... Won't stop me from saying it though. I'll refrain from the name-calling, mud-slinging, and manhood-questioning, because none of that is relevant. What IS relevant is that neither ML nor DA seem to be able to get results, from a team that DA inherited that missed playoffs on a tie-breaker. Without CSP at the helm, ML record as GM is almost as pitiful as DAs record as head coach. If ML isn't trying to find the next HC to turn things around, I have every reason to believe that the Saints fortunes will continue to trend along ML's historic record as Saints GM and DA's historic record as HC (hint...they are similar!). And ML has publicly stated, every chance he gets, that he will continue to be patient with DA. Publicly, I have no problem with his declaration of support....that's what he SHOULD do....that's what "good" organizations do. But in the offseason, he actually follows through with it. Patience and hope are not sustainable strategies for success in the NFL.
Time for MLs seat to get hot, IMO. Too hot to sit in, if possible. Promote him....retire him...make him a consultant....his 23 years of loyal service is not to be forgotten. But that GM position needs to be filled by new blood and a fresh body. And I've only recently come to this conclusion because of MLs recent statements about DAs tenure....telling us we're not seeing what we actually, in fact, saw! Caused me to start looking into MLs tenure. Without CSP....it's not very impressive. I honestly think ML is a big part of the problem. And I don't think it's reasonable to expect that he'll catch lighting in a bottle (a CSP type hire) TWICE. Not impossible, but unlikely. JMO...(see above regarding importance of my opinion)