These emotional outbursts by the owner are rare, but are the same ones many fans have been uttering since the Saints spectacular collapse out of the playoff race a few years ago. Being that Mr. Benson is currently in a tug of war with the State of Louisiana about the particulars of a deal to keep the Saints in New Orleans, you would think the comments were born of that frustration. But they aren’t. It was his honest assessment of a team that is going nowhere fast, are off and on more than a light bulb, and are playing to more and more empty seats each week. The bottom line is, the bad play of the team is finally going to start impacting Mr. Benson’s wallet, so changes can be expected this off-season.
Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks was the topic of another SportsCenter highlight, but again not for a good reason. Brooks’ ill-advised, under-handed pass while in the grasp of a Broncos defender was intercepted by linebacker Al Wilson and run in for a score, effectively ending any thoughts of a comeback.
Broncos running back Rueben Droughns was also able to scamper for over one hundred and fifty yards, including a fifty-one yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Broncos back was over one hundred yards before the second quarter was halfway completed. Quarterback Jake Plummer of the Broncos also had a decent day with two hundred and twenty-four passing yards and two touchdowns.
Donte’ Stallworth was one of the few bright spots for the Saints as he amassed one hundred and twenty-two yards receiving with a touchdown, but continued to be just as frustrating as the rest of the team when he dropped another long bomb from Brooks while wide open deep in the secondary.
Not much good can be taken from a 34-13 loss at home a week after jumping back into the playoff race in a weak NFC. After the owner’s comments though, coach Haslett and his crew have to feel the fire has been turned way up on them now. The team is not responding to them, and it must be assumed that sweeping changes will be made in the off-season. Empty seats in the dome is one loss the owner of the team will not accept.
