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OT: The most recent Saints scandal

  • I completely realize that there are conflicting reports right now about whether or not Mickey Loomis was actually eavesdropping on the opposing coaching staff during games. My post isn't focusing on whether or not it actually happened, because I have no idea.

    What I found somewhat ridiculous, though, was the way some of the folks on ESPN immediately defended the action (if true) as being no big deal. Trey Wingo mentioned that the Saints only went .500 at home during those years, so it obviously didn't help too much. But who's to say they wouldn't have gone .250 or even worse? And Bill Polian, and I believe Mark Schlereth (but it could have been someone else), both said that even if this did happen, it wouldn't have given the Saints a competitive advantage. Their reasoning was that no GM could understand the verbage of the opposing play calls in time to pass it along to the Saints coaches before the ball was snapped. First of all, that's completely incorrect. He may not know what the exact play is, but most legit GM's would be able to decipher if it's a run or a pass, which way the run is going, and what type of pass it is (bootleg, 3-step, 5-step, etc.).

    Secondly, the communication wouldn't have been limited just to the play calls. It would have been every word the coaches said over the headsets for the entire game - who's injured, whether to fake a punt, whether to kick an onside kick, which Saints player they're trying to expose, plays that they want to run later in the game, adjustments they're making between series, etc.

    I was honestly stunned that Polian and the rest of the crew blew it off like they did. Maybe they're close with Loomis, and are just trying to stick up for a friend, but then they shouldn't be doing the job they're doing. Anyone else as baffled by their commentary as I was?

    Recruiting Analyst for Voice of the Hawkeyes. Email: tworly@yahoo.com; Twitter: @ToddWorly247

    Todd Worly

  • I stopped being baffled by ESPN years ago, nothing they do (or don't do) surprises me anymore.

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    Go Blue and Go Titans!

    CorchBlue

  • blue2468 said...

    I stopped being baffled by ESPN years ago, nothing they do (or don't do) surprises me anymore.

    lol Good point.

    Recruiting Analyst for Voice of the Hawkeyes. Email: tworly@yahoo.com; Twitter: @ToddWorly247

    Todd Worly

  • Polian started off his comments by specifically saying that he and Mickey Loomis are friends, so I'm not at all surprised about his attitude. It's not surprising though, given the fraternity of front-office men in all the major sports, I'd expect nothing less than a "Thin Blue Line" mentality.

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    CMXI

  • There was a point last season when I had to just stop watching the ESPN football programs because the garbage they were saying grew intolerable. It really undermines their professionalism when they downplay an issue like this before even seeing any evidence. How many games it helped them win or if Loomis could understand the terms being used are both irrelevant to how serious the offense may be.

    UMFB

  • I don't think Polian really cares about anything. The rest of the NFL crew don't really know what they're talking about. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are draft "experts" but anyone of us here could be one too and make predictions. Some "expert" said that when GB drafted Brian Brohm, he would be better than Aaron Rodgers. Really, the only good NFL show they have is the one with Jaws and Wingo. MNF is a joke, I don't know why Gruden is with those guys. Mark Schlereth and the other "experts" are just former players who say anything, it's not really analysis at all. Everyone else in the league realizes that if the accusations are true, then the Saints will be in some deep poo and that the 2002-2004 seasons and maybe the seasons after that will all be tainted. /done

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    wolverineblue

  • Todd Worly said...

    Anyone else as baffled by their commentary as I was?

    Yes! I am.

    The Saints attempting to gain an unfair competitive advantage is the issue at heart and NOT whether those illegal attempts yielded positive or negative results.

    Initially, I thought that their comments were reasonable. But having read your post, I now know what I suspected: none of them were forthcoming.

    This post was edited by Frank C on 4/25/2012 at 5:31 PM

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    Frank C