Week 17 of last season...

[top dawg]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

Actually  doesn't sound like you have a clue.

Sure, Scot! 

I'm glad to see a lot of the older heads in here actually putting the foolishness in check! IMO, that's the way it should be.

[Waldo]

16 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

So if you blame anyone it was Newton's fault he was only injured enough to screw up his passing and caused up to drop in the draft. And how do you blame someone who is giving his all and trying to play despite significant pain. No there was little we could have done particularly when MRIs done at the time revealed little to no damage. Your anger is misplaced as you look to blame your usual scape goats.

Nope, we have had this debate. I stand by the fact we should have sat Newton for a game to see if he could heal up. You are a complete mediocracy pusher and excuse maker for a pack of people with enough history to actually hold them accountable for who and what they are.

[Proudiddy]

As a competitor, you always play to win the game, when the game matters.  But, when you're out of the playoffs and have nothing to gain, your version of "winning" is actually losing...  I keep seeing people complaining about that mindset, but the Saints have been kicking our butts for 2 years in a row and it didn't bother them one bit to lose Week 17, knowing they had nothing to gain...  it's not playing to lose, it's gamesmanship.  Instead of going for the jugular in the first 2 qtrs like we did, we should've just played it conservative then pulled our starters after the first, and the players all kind of get it...  the Saints sure did.

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, top dawg said:

Sure, Scot! 

I'm glad to see a lot of the older heads in here actually putting the foolishness in check! IMO, that's the way it should be.

This isn't an agenda thread. It's a discussion thread. Hence, why the OP is worded as it is.

[WarPanthers89]

It’s hard to tank when the Saints were calling plays like it was the preseason with a ton of backups playing. I am mad we don’t have the 9th pick as well (who wouldn’t choose 9 over 16) but we can’t change that so it’s not worth complaining. 

[Mr. Scot]

6 minutes ago, hepcat said:

The Saints intentionally tanked that game to hurt the Panthers draft stock.

I've seen that theory a lot on here.

It's an interesting question.

[Toomers]

3 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

As a competitor, you always play to win the game, when the game matters.  But, when you're out of the playoffs and have nothing to gain, your version of "winning" is actually losing...  I keep seeing people complaining about that mindset, but the Saints have been kicking our butts for 2 years in a row and it didn't bother them one bit to lose Week 17, knowing they had nothing to gain...  it's not playing to lose, it's gamesmanship.  Instead of going for the jugular in the first 2 qtrs like we did, we should've just played it conservative then pulled our starters after the first, and the players all kind of get it...  the Saints sure did.

And philosophically I agree with all that. But with an equally apathetic team on the other side, what do players do? Fumble on purpose? Fall down? Could you imagine the backlash of players trying to lose in an obvious fashion? 

  We were 6-2. This should have never been an issue. That game is the least of our worries. 

[Proudiddy]

3 minutes ago, WarPanthers89 said:

It’s hard to tank when the Saints were calling plays like it was the preseason with a ton of backups playing. I am mad we don’t have the 9th pick as well (who wouldn’t choose 9 over 16) but we can’t change that so it’s not worth complaining. 

Like I said, it's gamesmanship.  Sure, we would've had to "out-lose" them, but we could have if Ron didn't go in there with the mindset that it was a meaningful game from the outset.  He and Norv called the game to win from the opening kickoff.  Payton didn't.  Hell, I'd tell Allen to toss a few up into coverage if need be...  but, nope, Ron wanted the cheap, meaningless win.

[Toomers]

Just now, Proudiddy said:

Like I said, it's gamesmanship.  Sure, we would've had to "out-lose" them, but we could have if Ron didn't go in there with the mindset that it was a meaningful game from the outset.  He and Norv called the game to win from the opening kickoff.  Payton didn't.  Hell, I'd tell Allen to toss a few up into coverage if need be...  but, nope, Ron wanted the cheap, meaningless win.

Haven’t watched the game so you may be right about game plan. 

[hepcat]

3 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I've seen that theory a lot on here.

It's an interesting question.

They started all their backups and had an obviously vanilla game plan. It was like they were playing a pre-season game. 

[Proudiddy]

1 minute ago, Toomers said:

And philosophically I agree with all that. But with an equally apathetic team on the other side, what do players do? Fumble on purpose? Fall down? Could you imagine the backlash of players trying to lose in an obvious fashion? 

  We were 6-2. This should have never been an issue. That game is the least of our worries. 

Agreed with all of that.  Like I said, we would've had to "out-lose" them, but it was possible...  and if anything, they would've come out looking worse because it was at their house.  And as far as the criticism that may come, like I said, the Saints clearly came in there to lose for competitive reasons in 2019, and no one is ripping them apart.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, Proudiddy said:

Like I said, it's gamesmanship.  Sure, we would've had to "out-lose" them, but we could have if Ron didn't go in there with the mindset that it was a meaningful game from the outset.  He and Norv called the game to win from the opening kickoff.  Payton didn't.  Hell, I'd tell Allen to toss a few up into coverage if need be...  but, nope, Ron wanted the cheap, meaningless win.

There's one big factor that makes me question this idea:

Bridgewater.

That game was ostensibly an audition to be either Brees' successor or a starter somewhere else. Looking awful in that game was definitely not in his best interest.

[Carl Spackler]

I don't think I'd want anyone as a friend who didn't want to beat the Saints every chance they got. Speaks a lot to your character when you'd rather have a slightly better lottery scratch-off than the satisfaction of beating whoever the Saints trotted out that way -- which, in this case, was a guy playing for his job at QB. And we kicked his ass. 

I also don't understand the "woe is me, we set the team back at least 5-10 years because we dropped 7 spots" when look at who we got in the first round last year (and with a pick even worse than 16! Whoda thunk it?!??)

[luke nukem]

It sucks but as one poster said what else could we have done? The saints managed to tank just a little bit harder and a couple guys like peppers and khalil were playing in there last games ever.