Saints sputter in last trip to Tampa

Dear Coach,

Don’t get us wrong – we really appreciate the fact that you have brought the Saints up to a competitive level. We sat through many a 4 – 12 season wishing we had a coach and a quarterback that could mount a passing attack. It's ironic and rather funny to listen to Bobby Hebert pontificate after games when he and Jim Mora masterminded so many first half wins that turned into coulda shoulda woulda's by playing Rush Limbaugh second halves. No one can accuse you of that. You've got that gas pedal floored going into the curve.

The problem is that it’s not a video game. It’s real football and it’s sometimes played in real weather. I just don’t understand a couple of things. First, you’re from Chicago. So I know you must know what it takes to win in slop. Secondly, you coached with Parcells who certainly believed in smash mouth football and wearing the other team down.

You really believed you could throw the football 50 times in that rain last weekend and win? If ever a game called for Deuce up the middle this was it. Some speculate he’s finished. I don’t know how anyone can tell. When he goes in the game it’s the Stecker effect all over. Everyone knows he’s going to get the football. He can’t be effective for 10 plays a game. Neither can Pierre. Neither can Reggie. I know you’re enamored of all the weapons you have, but maybe you need to land on one.

Speaking of Reggie, it’s time to commit to Pierre. The next hole Reggie hits will be his first. He’s dancing with the stars and he’s going to end up just like the 2 players he reminds me of – Barry Sanders and Gale Sayers. They never won a championship either. Scatbacks don’t win championships. Big backs do – John Riggins, Larry Csonka, Jerome Bettis, need I go on? So think long and hard before you put Deuce out to pasture. The big ones are hard to find and he still moves the pile. I know you’ll still find use for Reggie and he’ll scare the other team as much as he scares me.

So, I’m sure you’ve heard the word “balance” about a million times this week. Ask me who’s going to win any game and I’ll tell you about 80% of the time it’s the team that’s running the ball in the 4th quarter. Maybe that’s why that come from behind stat has gotten so much play. Just remember that you can’t run the ball in the 4th quarter if you haven’t run it in the first 3.

The Giants and Steelers wear people down. They’ve got it. We want it.
Let’s put the controller down and play some football.