With Taints in disarray, the NFC South is there for our taking!

[panthersphan]

If we put together a capable defense in the off-season, Mr. Breesy and Co. will be making way for the Cam and the Swag Train . . .

[Herbert The Love Bug]

choo choo

[Brandon]

Still have to beat the Falcons...

[PhillyB]

hopefully the falcons offense will continue to digress under matt ryan, but they have owned us the last couple of seasons. with the saints imploding and the bucs looking shaky it will most likely be a fight between us and atlanta.

[Udogg]

Did graham and sproles leave the team? If Brees is there we are still in trouble. Spagnolo is a good DC. Anyone here think the Saints aren't going to rally around the us vs them talk is crazy. I'm all down for optimism but you guys penciling in the NFC South title is to put it nice premature. We could very well lose twice to NO and ATL again next year.

[JawnyBlaze]

Well, I'm for being realistic and all, but they're likely to lose a couple key pieces in free agency (Nicks, Colston). If not both, at least one. Even not considering how Bountygate could effect them, those losses and a potentially disgrunted Brees and we damn near beat them in Charlotte last year means right now it's a pre-season toss up in my opinion. The likely loss of Payton for at least 1/4 of the season (maybe up to the whole season, but I think half is the most realistic possibility) and the damn near guaranteed significant loss of draft picks (I'm thinking 2nd and 3rd this year, 1st next year) and they're climbing an uphill battle on a mountain they got too comfortable on.

[TNPanther]

Don't get too giddy yet, because nothing has happened as far as the Aints* punishment and the Brees situation.

Plus, we still have to beat them and ATL twice. In my opinion, we don't need to worry about tampa, as they will probably be the worst team in the league next year. But even with the Bountygate implications, taking this division will be no easy task.

[Snake]

The fact is Brees has one more year in NO. That's going to be a worse punishment than anything else.

[bleys]

Did graham and sproles leave the team? If Brees is there we are still in trouble. Spagnolo is a good DC. Anyone here think the Saints aren't going to rally around the us vs them talk is crazy. I'm all down for optimism but you guys penciling in the NFC South title is to put it nice premature. We could very well lose twice to NO and ATL again next year.

who is Spags going to rally if majority of his starters on defense get suspended?

[Wyank]

Don't get too giddy yet, because nothing has happened as far as the Aints* punishment and the Brees situation.

Plus, we still have to beat them and ATL twice. In my opinion, we don't need to worry about tampa, as they will probably be the worst team in the league next year. But even with the Bountygate implications, taking this division will be no easy task.

This time last year, Bucs were saying the same thing about us. We got to worry about every game.

[MHS831]

If Shawn Peyton is suspended, I am guessing 4 to 6 games. How do you suspend the GM for games?

Right now, the best thing that can happen to the Saints is for Brees to hold out and for Benson to continue to say dumb things like, "I am behind my GM and coach 110%"

That is STOOPUD.

[Udogg]

who is Spags going to rally if majority of his starters on defense get suspended?

Their defense still might be better than ours :). The Saints may lose 3 people on offense, but the other 8 that had a record breaking season will be back including the most important piece. Schiano might pull a Harbaugh down in tampa. Atl as a whole still might be better than us. I know it's blasphemy but Cam might regress or worse hurt his throwing shoulder at the KOD. Just saying there seems a lot of people penciling in V's. You never know.

[Mr. Scot]

It was there for the taking if we did the right things anyway, regardless of the Saints upheaval.

[bleys]

Their defense still might be better than ours :). The Saints may lose 3 people on offense, but the other 8 that had a record breaking season will be back including the most important piece. Schiano might pull a Harbaugh down in tampa. Atl as a whole still might be better than us. I know it's blasphemy but Cam might regress or worse hurt his throwing shoulder at the KOD. Just saying there seems a lot of people penciling in V's. You never know.

if they have 20-27 guys suspended half the year (who knows, could be possible), their defense is going to be in shambles.. I mean, think about what that would look like..

as for Falcons and TB, I'm not making many predictions.. I can see TB dropping off the face of the earth or maybe surprising everyone.. I could also see ATL with no run game, 2 receivers, and a mediocre QB (if Gonzo and Turner hit the wall).. it has to happen eventually, is it this upcoming year? the following year?

but I was just talking about Spags rallying the troops.. they may not have any troops to rally...

and we'll have to see how Cam does in his 2nd year, sophomore slumps have happened before..