Saints head coach Kellen Moore introductory press conference, media updates, February 13, 2025 (33 Viewers)

[Dallas_Saint73]

I agree on the TE . My stance has been if Carter , T-Mac or Graham are gone by #9 I'd want to trade down to 13 and pick up a 3rd and take Warren. @ 13. Then hopefully Grant the DT is there for us in the 2nd.

TE's are used pretty heavily in Moore's offense IIRC. I see this as a position of need, along with RB. Especially if we plan to keep Carr around. Lessen the load, have TE's for check downs/3rd yard conversions and RZ targets. RB to compliment AK and reduce the throws needed to move the sticks.

 

[Saint KayBee]

I really hope to we can turn this team around in one season like Sean did in 2006.

Maaaaaaaaan hold up

Haslett (coming in off 3-13) and Payton (coming in off 3-13) had tons of cap space to work with. Haslett changed the team in free agency, Payton did it with trades and a strong draft.

Kellen Moore isn’t going to have the cap space to expect to pull it off just because the other guys did. A strong draft and some serious coaching up + health luck is the only path.

I’m just looking for them to play hard for 17 games. Whether they win 5 or 10 is inconsequential to me, but players not buying in will be.

 

[VPCajun]

Coach Kellen Moore Press Conference about Derek Carr Starts at 12:59.

This doesn't sound like it is open to interpertation!

And you call yourself a Saints Fan...

 

[Bayou_City]

Haslett (coming in off 3-13) and Payton (coming in off 3-13) had tons of cap space to work with. Haslett changed the team in free agency, Payton did it with trades and a strong draft.

Kellen Moore isn’t going to have the cap space to expect to pull it off just because the other guys did. A strong draft and some serious coaching up + health luck is the only path.

I’m just looking for them to play hard for 17 games. Whether they win 5 or 10 is inconsequential to me, but players not buying in will be.

I agree ..with a new coach, you look for a mentality or a culture. I can curve my optimism due to the situation but I'm willing to give Moore 5 yrs. By then Cam, DD, AK41 and others should be retired and he should well have the team he assembled.

This season I just wanna see competitive behavior.

 

[DSnfla]

I hear you. The cost to talent ratio analysis is a dynamic that changes based on performance. I don't anyone thought that the cost to talent ratio was an issue after the first two games of the season. I think if Carr and just half of the injured starters on offense don't get injured, then Carr's cost to talent ratio analysis looks a lot better than it does now.

I think if Carr starts under Moore, then his cost to talent ratio will look a lot better under Moore than it did last year.

Regarding Carr being too old to keep or too old to improve, as some argue. I see a lot of those same people being positive about Geno Smith as the Seahawks QB.

Geno Smith is a year older than Carr. He was just one year younger than Carr is now when he turned things around with the Seahawks. I don't see those people saying that the Seahawks should move on from Geno Smith, because he's not their long term solution. I'm not saying Carr will do what Geno did, but no one knows that he can't.

I think it's reasonable to think that Carr probably has 4 more years before his physical abilities start declining, so if Moore and Loomis want to go with Carr I could see them redoing his contract for 4 more years in a way that decreases his cap hit this year and next, has minimal dead money in years 3 and 4, and then is paid in full after the 4th year. It would give the Saints a lot more time time to work on getting the next starting QB sorted out.

I think if they were sold on Rattler as the long term solution, they would have already acted on that. I think Rattler is in consideration, but I don't think they are sold on Rattler. I think that's more of a press thing than a Saints thing. I could very well be mistaken on that.

It occurred to me today that a big part of why some insist on getting rid of Carr and have a lower opinion of him as a QB than the Saints and most of the front offices in the league do is because they can't stop associating him with being DA's guy. I think if Payton or Moore had brought Carr onto the team, some people would not dislike him like they do.

If Moore keeps and starts Carr, then Carr becomes Moore's guy and is no longer DA's guy. Maybe that would be an easier pill for some people to swallow.

Abso freaking lutly. I also think it's Brees Withdrawl Syndrome. People were looking to find negative things about Carr from the get go. Carr is guilty of not understanding the relationship Brees had with the city. He could have gone above and beyond the call and embraced all things New Orleans. Now you say that the fans did not embrace him like they should have from the beginning. All of that is moot now.

One thing that is a cure all is WINNING. If CKM decides to roll with DC and he wins 10 games and maybe the division, the only Carr haters will be left are the die-hard ones that would still find fault in him even if he won a SB

Make no bones about it DC is not the long term answer @QB but he can be a bridge guy that can with the right coaching and some help can get us to the playoffs until we find THE guy. Anyone that watched the 1st 4 games of the season when we were mostly healthy can see that. If you can't then you just don't WANT to see it

 

[DSnfla]

Moore said he had not had a chance to really speak to Carr yet both times he answered the two questions asking if Carr was the starter. The local media has ignored that in their tweeting and "reporting." The people who insist that Carr has to go are also ignoring it.

I wish the local media would have followed up by asking if Haener or Rattler was his starter. That's the logical follow up, but no one asked it.

The local media knew that Moore wasn't going to say yes or no to that question, no matter which QB they asked about. That's why they only asked about Carr. Get mo' clicks and mo' money with the story "Moore non-committal about Carr starting" than you do with "Moore non-committal on any QB starting."

Yup , the local media know that there is a lot of Carr hate out there. What better way to get clicks and subscriptions and likes than to pander to that crowd, so all of them can say " See , that guy says Carr has to go " and he's a reporter he must be right

I don't like the unfair vitriol of any player. And I don't think tearing down and an almost total rebuild ever really works, which is pretty much what we'd have to do to cut DC this yr. If we had a clear cut or even a pretty much typing franchise QB on the roster , I'd say yup lets move on from DC. But we do not. I don't even know if we had the #1 pick next yr you could say there's a Burrow or a Daniels in the class. But I do know whatever decision that CKM and the FO make I'm onboard

 

[DSnfla]

He was actually very cut and dry that Alvin would be a part of this team. He gave answers that were open for interpretation in regards to Derek.

You can keep spam quoting me, spam facepalming me, but the majority of people interpreted it this way, both fans and media. Go watch the Rich Eisen and Tom Pelissero video. Two of the most respected men in media.

Be it warranted or not there is a lot of Carr hate out there. Don't you think that all these reporters that depend on clicks and likes and subscriptions know that? And maybe , just maybe they know the easiest way to up their clicks and likes and subscriptions is to pander to those people. Don't you think that is quite possible??

CKM said and I quote "I am really excited to team up with him" How can you interpret anything other than I want to work with him? That he envisions anything other than he'll be on the team.

And the local media phrased it so he would answer it like that, They could have just said" Do you have your starting QB in the building?" But they didn't

 

[DSnfla]

Geno Smith is also playing on a $25 million a year contract. That would be a much more reasonable number than Carr's. I don't think Carr is even a story line at that contract. QB contracts have gotten so ridiculously top heavy and we got caught in a very poor position.

No way do I see Moore tying his coaching career to Carr's final years as a starter in the NFL.

Ok so , the only reason DC's cap # is what it is this yr is because we restructured him last yr AND because his 1st yr's cap hit was small. Had we paid him market value his 1st yr and not restructured him last yr his cap hit this yr would be a lot less.

 

[DSnfla]

Gayle Benson did call him Ellen Moore.

Yes , and that is a bit of a concern, Mrs. B is 78. Is that a prediction of her memory starting to decline?

 

[DSnfla]

What's the point of asking about Rattler or Haener? Should they have asked about each player on the team?

All the media had to ask was " Do you think your starting QB is in the building" and we would have our answer. But they want confusion, it gets clicks, likes and subscriptions

 

[DSnfla]

I think as well it comes back to WHY the questions were asked in the first place. Mike et al brought it up, and we’re all subsequently trying to interpret Moore’s answer, because of the previous report/“scuttlebutt”/slip of the tongue (however you want to take Russini’s comment) that implied Moore needed assurances that he wasn’t tied to Carr if he took the job.

The seed of doubt that Carr was a part if Moore’s plan was planted before he even took the job. I think ultimately it comes down to the fact that right now, on day 1 essentially, he does not know yet what’s possible with regards to Carr’s contract vs the cap situation vs the options at qb (either in house or outside of it). That’s why he talked about it all as a process that they would do together. Whether Carr is the QB or not, he will still be an active part of that process as it directly relates to his contract (restructure and keep him as QB1, try and figure out a trade situation, or figure out a way to do a post June 1 cut).

What CKM said should squash all of what Russini reported. She said that the scuttlebutt was that CKM didn't like the QB room and that could maybe make him turn down the job. He said definitely that he wanted the job from the interview that we did while he was in Philly. It was not in doubt

 

[St. Geezy]

I hear you. The cost to talent ratio analysis is a dynamic that changes based on performance. I don't anyone thought that the cost to talent ratio was an issue after the first two games of the season. I think if Carr and just half of the injured starters on offense don't get injured, then Carr's cost to talent ratio analysis looks a lot better than it does now.

I think if Carr starts under Moore, then his cost to talent ratio will look a lot better under Moore than it did last year.

Regarding Carr being too old to keep or too old to improve, as some argue. I see a lot of those same people being positive about Geno Smith as the Seahawks QB.

Geno Smith is a year older than Carr. He was just one year younger than Carr is now when he turned things around with the Seahawks. I don't see those people saying that the Seahawks should move on from Geno Smith, because he's not their long term solution. I'm not saying Carr will do what Geno did, but no one knows that he can't.

I think it's reasonable to think that Carr probably has 4 more years before his physical abilities start declining, so if Moore and Loomis want to go with Carr I could see them redoing his contract for 4 more years in a way that decreases his cap hit this year and next, has minimal dead money in years 3 and 4, and then is paid in full after the 4th year. It would give the Saints a lot more time time to work on getting the next starting QB sorted out.

I think if they were sold on Rattler as the long term solution, they would have already acted on that. I think Rattler is in consideration, but I don't think they are sold on Rattler. I think that's more of a press thing than a Saints thing. I could very well be mistaken on that.

It occurred to me today that a big part of why some insist on getting rid of Carr and have a lower opinion of him as a QB than the Saints and most of the front offices in the league do is because they can't stop associating him with being DA's guy. I think if Payton or Moore had brought Carr onto the team, some people would not dislike him like they do.

If Moore keeps and starts Carr, then Carr becomes Moore's guy and is no longer DA's guy. Maybe that would be an easier pill for some people to swallow.

I actually had a similar thought, that the best solution may indeed be to approach Carr about a small extension to ease cap burdens while giving him a little extra money upfront, but that would create an absolute fan mutiny of which we have never seen. There would need to be armed guards over on Airline Dr. if the words “Carr” and “extension” are ever meshed together.

Not saying it’s the right move, just saying it’s a thought process worth exploring. An “unorthodox restructuring” extension, so to speak.

Push off the decision, and hell, maybe even get his replacement in the building and end up later with the world’s most expensive backup, but I do think there is a way to do this without essentially voluntarily tanking an off-season with a new head coach trying to make his mark.

 

[St. Geezy]

After they restructure him, then say cut him in 2026, we'll be around 50 mil in the clear then. So you can chill about it. The whole roster is set up for one last hurrah this year then a fresh start. Part of that plan is restructuring Carr.

If you don't you put your self in an impossibly difficult situation this year for very minor gains next. A restructure is the only thing that makes sense.

Exactly…you’d be burning a year just for the sake of burning it when you’d essentially be arriving to a similar conclusion anyway.

We need to set our new coach up for as much success as possible. Do the restructuring with everyone to the max on an as needed basis as you sign the free agent targets you want. Give it “One last hurrah” with this group; then in 2026/2027 is when the major roster-turnover naturally occurs, with 2027 and 2028 being the huge cushion years you pull from as they approach, winding things back slowly.

No cold Turkey/“throw away a season or two” approach is necessary.

 

[MikeyF]

Yup , the local media know that there is a lot of Carr hate out there. What better way to get clicks and subscriptions and likes than to pander to that crowd, so all of them can say " See , that guy says Carr has to go " and he's a reporter he must be right

I don't like the unfair vitriol of any player. And I don't think tearing down and an almost total rebuild ever really works, which is pretty much what we'd have to do to cut DC this yr. If we had a clear cut or even a pretty much typing franchise QB on the roster , I'd say yup lets move on from DC. But we do not. I don't even know if we had the #1 pick next yr you could say there's a Burrow or a Daniels in the class. But I do know whatever decision that CKM and the FO make I'm onboard

The one issue with the "tear it down" people is that you are probably guaranteeing that your first season as a new HC will result in a very poor record.
If things don't go as planned & you start putting a couple of bad seasons back to back, you will be fired & you will be back to being an OC...

I really don't get all of the people wanting to cut Carr not saying anything about getting rid of the older players on our D that did nothing to help us win last year...

Carr isn't responsible for our horrible season last year. You can really blame it on DA for not have a descent backup that could come in & win games if Carr was injured... but I also understand that Carr had not missed many games in his career due to injuries.



It is disappointing that our moderators have allowed so many personal attacks on Derek Carr, which is supposed to be against SaintsReport.com Guidelines...

A quick refresher concerning our Posting Guidelines...

Training camp is upon us, and with it, the true start of the season is finally here. The NFL typically deploys referees to the various camps across the country, with the purpose of sharing certain points of emphasis in officiating for the upcoming season. We here at Saints Report wish to do...

saintsreport.com

 

[Nolan]

The one issue with the "tear it down" people is that you are probably guaranteeing that your first season as a new HC will result in a very poor record.
If things don't go as planned & you start putting a couple of bad seasons back to back, you will be fired & you will be back to being an OC...

I really don't get all of the people wanting to cut Carr not saying anything about getting rid of the older players on our D that did nothing to help us win last year...

Carr isn't responsible for our horrible season last year. You can really blame it on DA for not have a descent backup that could come in & win games if Carr was injured... but I also understand that Carr had not missed many games in his career due to injuries.



It is disappointing that our moderators have allowed so many personal attacks on Derek Carr, which is suppose to be against SaintsReport.com Guidelines...

A quick refresher concerning our Posting Guidelines...

Training camp is upon us, and with it, the true start of the season is finally here. The NFL typically deploys referees to the various camps across the country, with the purpose of sharing certain points of emphasis in officiating for the upcoming season. We here at Saints Report wish to do...

saintsreport.com

Can you point out any personal attacks on Carr? Might want to have your ducks in a row before you call out the mods for something that isn't actually happening.

In regards to people wanting Carr gone but not our older vets on defense? Do you actually know that? Why would guys like Mathieu, Davis, and Jordan be brought up as it relates to discussion about Carr? I personally would like to move on from all of them, and my post history would show that.