METAIRIE - Gone are the days of the bag-headed fans. Gone are the days of the "coulda, woulda, shoulda" speeches and the first-round playoff losses. Gone are the days of the laughingstock coach and the questionable trade and the wedding dress and the obscene gestures.
These are different days for the New Orleans Saints. And for the sake of those once long-suffering fans, hopefully better.
Once perennial losers in the mid- 1980s, and with numerous embarrassing moments in the late 1990s, the Saints, under fourth-year coach Jim Haslett, could be on the way to something they hope will resemble greatness - something that will end with confetti dropping from the rafters and champagne burning their eyes - something that will end like the other great parties in the Crescent City - with a parade through downtown.
The Saints aren't the favorite to win the Super Bowl. But after three years of reshaping the team to fit his philosophies, Haslett's teams are annual playoff contenders, biding their time for the opportunity to win a championship.
"I think we're just at that point right now," Haslett said. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I like the makeup of our team."
He should.
Of the 90 players on the preseason roster, only two - center Jerry Fontenot and reserve defensive lineman Willie Whitehead - are left over from the Mike Ditka era. Cornerback Ashley Ambrose played under Ditka for a season before leaving when Haslett was hired, only to return this season to help strengthen the secondary.
None of the 16 draft picks selected during the Ditka regime remain. Neither are high-profile disgruntled players Willie Roaf, Ricky Williams and Kyle Turley. Also gone are Pro Bowl safety Sammy Knight, often injured tight end Cam Cleeland and guard Chris Naeole, none of whom fit in Haslett's plans.
"Nothing against the players that we let go, because a lot of them are good football players, but these are 'our' players," Haslett said.
"We are at the point where all the players that we have drafted since I have been here in 2000, starting with Darren Howard, are the guys that we are relying on to win a lot of football games for us over the next few years. There are no draft picks left from the 1990s. That tells you the age of your football team. It tells you that your team is something that you have built."
Apparently the fans like what they are seeing from the Haslett regime. They have flocked to the ticket office for season tickets at a record pace - 53,587 at last count - practically assuring that every game will be a sellout this season.
"We have had some fairly decent teams here over the last three years," Haslett said. "I think it goes hand in hand. People can see what we are trying to do on our side, and they have done a good job over on their side. It helps when you are at home if you can have 70,000 people behind you."
"The Dome is a hard place for visiting teams to come in and play," added General Manager Mickey Loomis. "We have been fortunate to sell out for the last three years. This kind of assures that it is going to continue and we are not going to have many visiting team fans in there as well. It is nothing but positive."
It's also indicative of how high expectations are for the Saints, who last season beat the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice last season before faltering down the stretch.
The Saints return 10 of 11 starters from an explosive offense that scored a team-record and NFC-leading 432 points last season. Included in that number is Pro Bowl running back Deuce McAllister, Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn and star quarterback Aaron Brooks.
The optimism for the Saints, who have won only one playoff game in the franchise's 37-year history, all stems from an off-season defensive overhaul designed to add speed to a unit that gave up at least 20 points to all but one opponent a year ago.
"We're trying to build a team and an organization that can sustain success," Loomis said.
In the wake of consecutive nose dives, Haslett, who signed a five-year, $15 million contract extension last year, knows his team can't afford to falter again.
He has his players. He has a new contract. He has a new indoor practice facility.
Now the fans will await a championship.
"We're not going to make excuses," Haslett said.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/html/656C6F8C-5543-4BD0-8988-0C35537D536D.shtml
These are different days for the New Orleans Saints. And for the sake of those once long-suffering fans, hopefully better.
Once perennial losers in the mid- 1980s, and with numerous embarrassing moments in the late 1990s, the Saints, under fourth-year coach Jim Haslett, could be on the way to something they hope will resemble greatness - something that will end with confetti dropping from the rafters and champagne burning their eyes - something that will end like the other great parties in the Crescent City - with a parade through downtown.
The Saints aren't the favorite to win the Super Bowl. But after three years of reshaping the team to fit his philosophies, Haslett's teams are annual playoff contenders, biding their time for the opportunity to win a championship.
"I think we're just at that point right now," Haslett said. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I like the makeup of our team."
He should.
Of the 90 players on the preseason roster, only two - center Jerry Fontenot and reserve defensive lineman Willie Whitehead - are left over from the Mike Ditka era. Cornerback Ashley Ambrose played under Ditka for a season before leaving when Haslett was hired, only to return this season to help strengthen the secondary.
None of the 16 draft picks selected during the Ditka regime remain. Neither are high-profile disgruntled players Willie Roaf, Ricky Williams and Kyle Turley. Also gone are Pro Bowl safety Sammy Knight, often injured tight end Cam Cleeland and guard Chris Naeole, none of whom fit in Haslett's plans.
"Nothing against the players that we let go, because a lot of them are good football players, but these are 'our' players," Haslett said.
"We are at the point where all the players that we have drafted since I have been here in 2000, starting with Darren Howard, are the guys that we are relying on to win a lot of football games for us over the next few years. There are no draft picks left from the 1990s. That tells you the age of your football team. It tells you that your team is something that you have built."
Apparently the fans like what they are seeing from the Haslett regime. They have flocked to the ticket office for season tickets at a record pace - 53,587 at last count - practically assuring that every game will be a sellout this season.
"We have had some fairly decent teams here over the last three years," Haslett said. "I think it goes hand in hand. People can see what we are trying to do on our side, and they have done a good job over on their side. It helps when you are at home if you can have 70,000 people behind you."
"The Dome is a hard place for visiting teams to come in and play," added General Manager Mickey Loomis. "We have been fortunate to sell out for the last three years. This kind of assures that it is going to continue and we are not going to have many visiting team fans in there as well. It is nothing but positive."
It's also indicative of how high expectations are for the Saints, who last season beat the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice last season before faltering down the stretch.
The Saints return 10 of 11 starters from an explosive offense that scored a team-record and NFC-leading 432 points last season. Included in that number is Pro Bowl running back Deuce McAllister, Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn and star quarterback Aaron Brooks.
The optimism for the Saints, who have won only one playoff game in the franchise's 37-year history, all stems from an off-season defensive overhaul designed to add speed to a unit that gave up at least 20 points to all but one opponent a year ago.
"We're trying to build a team and an organization that can sustain success," Loomis said.
In the wake of consecutive nose dives, Haslett, who signed a five-year, $15 million contract extension last year, knows his team can't afford to falter again.
He has his players. He has a new contract. He has a new indoor practice facility.
Now the fans will await a championship.
"We're not going to make excuses," Haslett said.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/html/656C6F8C-5543-4BD0-8988-0C35537D536D.shtml
