04/19/24
April 23, 2012
ESPN Report Claims Saints' GM Eavesdropped on Opponents from 2002-2004: "There was a switch, and the switch accessed offense and defense," said the source. "When Randy was there, it was the Saints offense or defense, and when Mickey was there it changed over so it was the visiting offense or defense," the source said.
If Outside the Lines sources are solid, this is incredibly damning.
In order to benefit from the eavesdropping, could Loomis really relay anything to coaches without them knowing what he was doing? It would be hard for him to keep sharing "hunches" about halftime adjustments that proved correct all the time.
posted by rcade at 04:20 PM on April 23, 2012
Incredible.
Roger's arm is going to be sore from throwing the book at the Saints all offseason. Loomis is probably done in New Orleans after this one, whether he's guilty of relaying information from those speakers or not.
The goodwill fostered by this organization after Katrina is gone.
posted by NerfballPro at 05:21 PM on April 23, 2012
The allegations seem very specific for this to be made up. I suppose this taints the current regime somewhat inasmuch as Loomis is still the GM, but it predates the Payton and Brees era and the Saints' recent success. But damn (assuming this is true), the Saints sure are giving themselves black eye after black eye.
Mitigating factor here is that the Saints QB at the time was Aaron Brooks, so this was just leveling the playing field a bit.
posted by holden at 07:04 PM on April 23, 2012
The goodwill fostered by this organization after Katrina is gone.
If you're talking the NFL and the general fan, sure, you're probably right. If you're talking about the goodwill the Saints fostered in New Orleans, which is far more important, you couldn't be more wrong.
The Saints have a tremendous hold on the city. This latest accusation won't do anything but make it a more 'we against the world' situation. If anything the city has rallied around he Saints.
Short of a child prostitution ring nothing could make the Saints less important to the city of new orleans.
posted by justgary at 11:13 AM on April 24, 2012
Benson buying the Hornets to save bball in the city will surely more than outweigh this garbage.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:32 AM on April 24, 2012
The Saints are beloved from Louisiana down the Gulf Coast all the way to the Florida panhandle. Even though this is becoming a cheating scandal of massive proportions, I don't think their fans will abandon them.
posted by rcade at 11:35 AM on April 24, 2012
Even though this is becoming a cheating scandal of massive proportions
I have to say there's something weird about this one though: 8 years old and it's unclear how Loomis would have used the information to help the team at the time. That and they went 12-12 at home during the period in question.
posted by yerfatma at 11:52 AM on April 24, 2012
On the other hand, I'm amazed by the number of former and current NFL personnel coming out to say this is no big deal. I'm sure if it had been the Patriots, Bill Polian would still be saying it's meaningless.
posted by yerfatma at 01:41 PM on April 24, 2012
What. The. Fuck.
Is there an NFL death penalty?