Saints Random thoughts as our Saints season ends (1 Viewer)

[ndcc]

(…steps on soapbox)

* Been a Saints fan since ‘67. Met John Gilliam as a kid when he visited the school where my mom taught (in the Lower 9th Ward). Gilliam’s wife was on staff there. That solidified me as a fan.

* This has been one of the most gut-wrenching seasons as a Saints fan… because of our missed opportunities. Only the 2002 season (when we were 9-4 and could have clinched a playoff spot with 1 more win), where we lost 3 in a row to teams with LOSING records was worse than this season. At least we finished strong in ‘23, winning 4 of our last 5.

* The 1980 season when the Saints went 1-15 was embarrassing, for sure. That was the year that the late Buddy Diliberto came on his sports segment (on TV) with a paper bag …and lampooned the team by calling them the “Aints.” Yet, even in that horrific season, as a fan …I was cheering loudly when the Saints played the NY Jets on the road (in light snow) to get that lone victory that season! I was proud of the HEART our team showed


For the record: I’ve NEVER worn a paper bag as a Saints fan.

I have tried to be supportive of Dennis Allen throughout this season, giving him the benefit of the doubt when fans were coming after him with lanterns, pitchforks, and lighted torches! I’m a retired military E9, and from what I’ve seen from Dennis Allen, he is NOT an inspirational leader. He has finally LOST my respect.

His last action of going on TV and apologizing to the Falcons (because of the “victory formation” play) while NOT standing up for his players, was inexcusable. IMO, DA has to either grow a pair, or step down as Head Coach.

No matter how frustrating a Saints season may get, I’m never going anywhere. I’m a WhoDat until I’m six feet under.

The way the team finished was encouraging… especially the way we DOMINATED the Bucs & Falclowns to close out the season. On to the offseason, and may our future be much brighter.

(…steps off soapbox)

WhoDat!

 

[Lendro Furioso]

Wow. Your usual unbridled optimism giving way to the same apathy most of us have felt for a while is telling, ndcc. May we soon be rid of this pretender of a HC and hope for the future. As a fan base, we stand united.

 

[MarylandWHODAT]

Dennis Allen and only Dennis Allen can spoil a victory like he did on Sunday. With that said, Sunday’s game was a fun one! That was the Saints that we are used to. Now, one game does not a season make nor should we be prisoners of the moment and think that this team is good. No, this is probably the worst 9-8 team on record.

How do I feel? Bittersweet and disappointed. This team showed what they could do but when it was too late. Derek Carr showed that he can thread the needle and have some fun but it was too late. The defense was fired up and beat up the Falcons but it was too late. Dennis Allen is Dennis Allen and that’s been too long. I firmly believe that he has lost this team. He is not a leader by any stretch. The team does not respect him. They don’t listen to him. And the kicker is that I don’t believe that he has made any effort to embrace any of these guys and it showed throughout the season.

This was a tough, tough season because they had the easiest opponent record to face, played a slew of back up QB’s, just shelled out $150 million for a veteran quarterback and had a killer roster all for them to fall on their face. There was hope and it was taken away by poor coaching which looks to return next year. And why the hell we are trying to emulate the Raiders that DA coached before is beyond me. With the killer schedule coming up, he may just repeat his third year with the Raiders here in New Orleans and get fired after going 0-4.

I’m sad to see the season end but relieved too, in a weird way. Dennis Allen took the fun out of watching Saints football. It looked like last Sunday’s game, the fun was coming back…….right up until he apologized to the Falcons and threw his team under the bus. So, it’s bittersweet. Happy, not happy it’s over.

 

[Super]

Not a reference to anyone above, but My random thought is too many around here now act more like cowboy fans than Saints fans Something I never thought I’d see.

 

[TenTwo]

(…steps on soapbox)

* Been a Saints fan since ‘67. Met John Gilliam as a kid when he visited the school where my mom taught (in the Lower 9th Ward). Gilliam’s wife was on staff there. That solidified me as a fan.

* This has been one of the most gut-wrenching seasons as a Saints fan… because of our missed opportunities. Only the 2002 season (when we were 9-4 and could have clinched a playoff spot with 1 more win), where we lost 3 in a row to teams with LOSING records was worse than this season. At least we finished strong in ‘23, winning 4 of our last 5.

* The 1980 season when the Saints went 1-15 was embarrassing, for sure. That was the year that the late Buddy Diliberto came on his sports segment (on TV) with a paper bag …and lampooned the team by calling them the “Aints.” Yet, even in that horrific season, as a fan …I was cheering loudly when the Saints played the NY Jets on the road (in light snow) to get that lone victory that season! I was proud of the HEART our team showed


For the record: I’ve NEVER worn a paper bag as a Saints fan.

I have tried to be supportive of Dennis Allen throughout this season, giving him the benefit of the doubt when fans were coming after him with lanterns, pitchforks, and lighted torches! I’m a retired military E9, and from what I’ve seen from Dennis Allen, he is NOT an inspirational leader. He has finally LOST my respect.

His last action of going on TV and apologizing to the Falcons (because of the “victory formation” play) while NOT standing up for his players, was inexcusable. IMO, DA has to either grow a pair, or step down as Head Coach.

No matter how frustrating a Saints season may get, I’m never going anywhere. I’m a WhoDat until I’m six feet under.

The way the team finished was encouraging… especially the way we DOMINATED the Bucs & Falclowns to close out the season. On to the offseason, and may our future be much brighter.

(…steps off soapbox)

WhoDat!

I have been reading your posts for decades and I didn't know you were an E9. I thought you were getting into politics. When did you retire?

To live with you on the "bright side", there is a certain decent feeling knowing you played your best football in the last game of the season. Sucks we didn't get to carry that momentum. Making the playoffs and winning a playoff game could have really changed peoples minds about this team. But that didn't happen.

 

[ndcc]

I have been reading your posts for decades and I didn't know you were an E9. I thought you were getting into politics. When did you retire?

You’re right on BOTH counts. I served 27 yrs, then retired in Jan ‘02. I ran for Congress in ‘10 and ‘12.

I am no longer a candidate for public office.




In this SECOND video, I speak about being raised in New Orleans. I also go into an incident in my run for Congress where one of my campaign signs (in North Carolina) was vandalized with the letters “KKK.” Vid shows a very brief pic of the vandalism.

 

[TenTwo]

You’re right on BOTH counts. I served 27 yrs, then retired in Jan ‘02. I ran for Congress in ‘10 and ‘12.

I am no longer a candidate for public office.

Thanks for sharing! You sounded like a strong candidate! Now we have a voice to go with your words. Very cool

 

[Crawdaddys]

Nice Bill! I was also in the Navy. E1 was the highest I could achieve. This 18 year old kid back in the 80s could sure slap on some haze grey and sweep some decks though.

 

[ndcc]

Nice Bill! I was also in the Navy. E1 was the highest I could achieve. This 18 year old kid back in the 80s could sure slap on some haze grey and sweep some decks though.

Thank you for your service.

 

[Saint Taysom]

Dennis Allen took the fun out of watching Saints football. It looked like last Sunday’s game, the fun was coming back…….right up until he apologized to the Falcons and threw his team under the bus.

Nailed it.

The biggest chance DA had to get the fan base behind him and enter the offseason on a high note (regardless of making the playoffs or not)

…and that dork completely blows it, embarrassed himself, and lost almost any other Saints fan that was hanging on.

Then after Mickey Loomis does an entire press conference smacking gum like one of the Pink Ladies from “Grease”… I just feel hopeless as ever

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

You’re right on BOTH counts. I served 27 yrs, then retired in Jan ‘02. I ran for Congress in ‘10 and ‘12.

I am no longer a candidate for public office.




In this SECOND video, I speak about being raised in New Orleans. I also go into an incident in my run for Congress where one of my campaign signs (in North Carolina) was vandalized with the letters “KKK.” Vid shows a very brief pic of the vandalism.

That is too cool. I’ve always seen you as a very level headed fan, and definitely on the optimistic side. Thanks for your service and thanks for sharing. Very cool.

 

[ndcc]

That is too cool. I’ve always seen you as a very level headed fan, and definitely on the optimistic side. Thanks for your service and thanks for sharing. Very cool.

You’re welcome, and thanks for your gracious words.

It’s sad that some will dislike you simply on the basis of party affiliation. The second video has changed the opinion of some… but not all.

We’re divided along party lines, and don’t take the time to discover that we share many of the same values.

**sigh**

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

You’re welcome, and thanks for your gracious words.

It’s sad that some will dislike you simply on the basis of party affiliation. The second video has changed the opinion of some… but not all.

We’re divided along party lines, and don’t take the time to discover that we share many of the same values.

**sigh**

I agree with you. Lifelong independent here. It’s all very sad. Way too much hatred in the world these days not nearly enough love empathy sympathy and compassion. I’m very glad to be retired on 1,000 acres in the woods, I see more deer horses and turkey than people nowadays, wife works from home. We are very blessed and thankful.


Back to your service…..
I’ll admit I’m not too up on E9 for the Navy but I know how bad arse they are in the Army (I was a Medic in the Army). So I’m quite sure E9 is a bad arse in the Navy too.


Who Dat.

 

[madsaint1967]

Not a reference to anyone above, but My random thought is too many around here now act more like cowboy fans than Saints fans Something I never thought I’d see.

What? Because some of us have went thru the insane amount of losing for far too long, got used to winning, and now demand better? I won't apologize for demanding a better product than what we have seen these last 2 years. We should have taken this sorry Division both years. Playoffs used to be the minimum expected and I'm not going back to the years where we aren't even mentioned to be a contender.