METAIRIE, La. -- Standing pat in October could leave the New Orleans Saints standing at or near the front of the 2008 NFL draft line in April for the second time in three seasons.
“The not-so-smart thing to say is that everything is going to be all right,” Coach Sean Payton said Monday afternoon, one day after digesting a mistake-filled 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers a day earlier.
Three straight weeks of watching film of three blowout losses is one thing. Watching a game the Saints funneled down the drain stung the worst for Payton and his players.
“It’d be easier to be openly frustrated and point fingers if everybody didn’t care about each other on this team,” left guard Jamar Nesbit said. “If we had a bunch of guys who were selfish or out doing the wrong things and getting in trouble and not caring anything about the team, it would be a lot easier.
“We don’t have those types of guys here and everybody is in it to work hard. That’s what makes it even more frustrating because everybody here is trying.”
The players still aren’t pointing fingers. But saying every single position group for the Saints has underperformed this season isn’t a stretch. Some players agree whole heartedly with any sort of change to conclude their ghastly start to the 2007 season.
Ask Drew Brees.
“I wouldn’t be surprised at all because at times that’s what you need and this might be that time. . . . A lot of us aren’t playing the way that we need to be playing,” said the quarterback who’s thrown one touchdown and nine interceptions this season. “Us, collectively as a group need to be playing better. Some more so than others. At times when you need a spark, the head man makes those kind of decision.”
Ask Scott Fujita.
“Right now, I’m on board for a shake-up,” the linebacker said. “Whether it needs to be an across-theboard shake-up, it’s one of those things obviously it’s Sean’s decision. I trust him. But I think sometimes making people a little uneasy is healthy.”
Ask Nesbit.
“We need to change some things we do,” Nesbit said.
With the NFL trading deadline a week away, the possibility to explore for talent on other rosters is out there. Typically the NFL’s deadline draws nowhere near the scuttlebutt like that of other sports leagues.
The Saints will host group of players today at the practice facility, but Payton suspected if any one of those were signed that they’d be more along the practicesquad level.
Personnel-wise, the Saints are forced to stand pat.
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