A month ago the Saints were the "softest team in the playoffs"...

[Woodcookedbbq]

Let's talk about something else.

[DaCityKats]

the saints are still pussy

[PanthersFanInGA]

Oh how I wish the Colts blow out the Saints!

:iagree:

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

I figure Fox or better Meeks was all about pressure on the quarterback and good pass defense. It worked too considering our defense finished higher than yours. You make it sound as if we are against good tough football. If you knew the Panthers then you know we have a history to taking out other team's players. We value a pass rush and a good blitz. I am old Jim Johnson devotee so I certainly can appreciate an opportunistic pressuring defense. You mistake concern about intentionally hitting a guy from behind at the knees where he can't see it or even prepare for it with hardnosed hitting football. The goal is to sack him, to knock down the pass, and if he is too slow in releasing the ball, hit and try and jar it loose. But when the desire to win overrides fair play and sportmanship, the game's credo changes to "the end justifies the means", no matter the cost to the opposing players. That takes you down a slippery slope where the predominant caveat is to not get caught.

I believe that you play the game to win, but within the rules. Otherwise it cheapens the victory and taints the prize. You play hard, you take advantage of your gameplanning. You try and get to the quarterabck. But you let up after the pass is gone. You tackle him instead of spear him or roll up on him with the expressed intent to hurt him suficciently enough to knock him out of the game. Sometimes it happens but that is a far cry from what the Saints are doing. Breaches occir when a players individually crosses the line. Regretable but part of the game. It becomes a problem for me when it taught, embraced and encouraged. The coach has to uphold the game and the rules or it negatively reflects on the team.

In football there is a long tradition of dirty players and dirty teams. So this is nothing new. I just don't think winning is the only thing. Williams obviously does. If I remember correctly, Lombardi himself said the same. Problem is that when Lombardi said it, playing within the rules was implcit and didn't have to be spelled out like today. He was a taskmaster but fair. He was driven to succeed.

William's attitude would be understandable given how a superbowl win takes on legendary status. With its almost instant credibility, it is hard not to decry morality and seize the prize at all costs.

Problem for Williams is that he has always lacked scruples. Long before he came to the saints. It is who he is. Being old school I disagree with his methods and his beliefs. But perhaps it is me. Perhaps my views may be in the minority. Certaiinly down in the bayou.

Respectable post; positive rep for you. I agree with about everything you write here. The only thing I have an issue with is that people are saying our team is dirty based on one game. I didn't hear any mention of this prior to this Viking game, in which we were guilty of a late hit by McCray on Favre and a blow to Favre's knees by the same player and (supposed) lift and drive to the ground by Anthony Hargrove. Then the next day Williams comes out and says when you coach football, you have to tell your players to go all out and not worry about penalties. Now some of you think this means he's advocating late hits. I disagree. If he's in fact telling his players to hit QB's late, he is a complete moron because that is illegal and 15-yard penalties are huge, especially in the playoffs. I don't know Williams' reaction to the McCray late hit, but Payton's reaction was to curse McCray out and bench him for the rest of the series so I don't think that's something the team preaches. Regardless, I don't think Manning will be bothered/motivated in any way by Williams' words considering (as you said) every one knows about Williams' aggressive style.

[Wither]

I did hear the interview and there was no baiting going on. They were all joking and laughing about the hits and thought it was great. The context when he said I know that you guys want me to say that I hope when he goes down, he doesn't get up referring to Manning were after they were all laughing and agreeing that they thought it was great that his team played aggressive and tried to take out the opposing quarterback. He was simply sayingt he was going to tell them what they obviously wanted to hear. He wasn't being cautious at all, he was bragging about it and was fine with it. Early in the interview was telling them how when you kill the head ( the quarterback) the body dies) etc. he was talking about how he didn't apologize for the hits and didn't worry if his players got penalized or flagged since that would make the (warrior) hesistant to do his job. He even talked about his son and how proud he was that he had the same philosophy.

Just a bunch of good ole boys talking and laughing about how they were going to beat up Manning anyway they could and enjoying themselves. At one point he even boasted about how the defense liked to beat the crap out of their own offense in order to make them tougher and better.

Thanks for the interview, it confirms what I already believed about Williams over the years.

It sounded like he was mostly joking and not trying to get any illegal hits on the QB or injure them. However, I think it's natural to assume that any DC (and the rest of the team) would love to see the other QB go down for the rest of the game, but probably wouldn't want to see them seriously injured.

[pantherj]

I didn't say anything about the Saints being the softest team in the playoffs. I predicted the Saints vs Colts in the SB.

[panthers55]

Respectable post; positive rep for you. I agree with about everything you write here. The only thing I have an issue with is that people are saying our team is dirty based on one game. I didn't hear any mention of this prior to this Viking game, in which we were guilty of a late hit by McCray on Favre and a blow to Favre's knees by the same player and (supposed) lift and drive to the ground by Anthony Hargrove. Then the next day Williams comes out and says when you coach football, you have to tell your players to go all out and not worry about penalties. Now some of you think this means he's advocating late hits. I disagree. If he's in fact telling his players to hit QB's late, he is a complete moron because that is illegal and 15-yard penalties are huge, especially in the playoffs. I don't know Williams' reaction to the McCray late hit, but Payton's reaction was to curse McCray out and bench him for the rest of the series so I don't think that's something the team preaches. Regardless, I don't think Manning will be bothered/motivated in any way by Williams' words considering (as you said) every one knows about Williams' aggressive style.

This is no surprise or different from Williams over the past few years. But I disagree that Williams or Payton wouldn't trade 3 or 4-15 yards penalties in order to take Manning out of the game. That wouldn't cost them that much but would get rid of Manning who is the heart of the Colts. Without Manning the Colts don't score 14 points all game. They would gladly give up 100 yards of penalties and an ejection or two to get rid of Manning. Don't fool yourself. As for McCray, was he benched for the late hit or getting penalized. As long as they get away with it like they did with taking out Favre's knees I expect it wouldn't even create a harsh word. Payton was mad it cost them a penalty not whether or not it was a illegal hit.

I wonder how the Saints will feel if the Colts try and take out Brees.

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

This is no surprise or different from Williams over the past few years. But I disagree that Williams or Payton wouldn't trade 3 or 4-15 yards penalties in order to take Manning out of the game. That wouldn't cost them that much but would get rid of Manning who is the heart of the Colts. Without Manning the Colts don't score 14 points all game. They would gladly give up 100 yards of penalties and an ejection or two to get rid of Manning. Don't fool yourself.

I disagree with that. Don't think it's ever worth it to intentionally commit penalties in order to hurt a QB. The reason is because you might hurt a QB doing this, but the chance of actually knocking him out of the game are so minute. Hey, in that case, maybe somebody should go at his knees while he's giving out the call in the huddle...LOL

As for McCray, was he benched for the late hit or getting penalized. As long as they get away with it like they did with taking out Favre's knees I expect it wouldn't even create a harsh word. Payton was mad it cost them a penalty not whether or not it was a illegal hit.

Well, if you want to technical about it, no player is probably ever scolded for a non-penalty, no matter what they do on the field.

[Saint J]

Well, it looks like we won't need much help taking Freney out of the game. He's got a torn ligament and prob. won't play.

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

Well, it looks like we won't need much help taking Freney out of the game. He's got a torn ligament and prob. won't play.

I agree...don't see any way he plays with a grade 3 sprain, which is a complete tear of the ligament.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Doesn't matter how he said it. You can bet your ass, especially since they MISSED one against Farve, that the Refs are going to have a keen eye out for "Williams Aggressive Tactics"

You better hope you take him out the 1st time you hit him. Their defense will get enough stops against Brees. Manning is going to tear N.O. a new one.

O'BTW so this is the 1st time New Orleans took a cheap shot huh? Forget about your cheap shot artist LBer Scott Fucheata diving at Steve Smith legs a couple years back. And you still employ the prick!!!!

Your boys got their rocks off cheapshottin K. Warner on the pass interception that they figured why not Farve.

Good Luck With Manning.

One more thing. Wait till next season when you have to play the Vikings again. I can bet there will be a bounty on Brees's head. HHHMMMM maybe that shoulder he had repaired needs some attention.

Go COLTS

[N'wahlinsCayenne]

Question: Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwin just said on Sirius that if Freeney plays, we should run right at him and keep pulling guards in his direction. i would assume some of you guys would call that "dirty" because we'd be intentionally trying to get a player knocked out of the game.

[Sultan33g]

go colts

[Cheetodude]

I just realized that we were applying the "soft" label to the wrong group of people. Maybe the team itself is soft, it's debatable, but more accurately the FANS are soft. Check out this "i-report" from CNN.com.

Note the title "Male New Orleans Saints Fans parade in dresses Pt. 1" I'm guessing several of our no-life Saints posters are among those pictured. I'll leave it up to you to point them out.