Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune January 08, 2009 11:22PM

Saints tailback Reggie Bush said he was surprised to see how much of a stir was created by the news of his recent knee surgery.

Both he and Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis insisted the surgery was less serious than perceived because of the negative connotation associated with the term “microfracture.”
Bush said he was off crutches less than two weeks after he had the arthroscopic procedure performed in mid-December, and he already is working out.

“I feel like I’m right on track,” said Bush, who expects to fully participate in the team’s offseason training program, beginning in mid-March.

Bush said the surgical procedure, performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., was a chondroplasty, which is a cartilage repair. Bush and his agent, Joel Segal, described it as a “clean-up” procedure to smooth out some cartilage.

Although some microfracture techniques were used, it wasn’t a full-blown microfracture surgery, which is typically used to cure exposed bone. Bush said there was no exposed bone in his knee.

Loomis this week first described the surgery in vague terms, labeling it as a microfracture procedure but stressing that it wasn’t the most serious type of microfracture.

“I wouldn’t want to call it minor, because he’s got a pretty significant period of rehab time,” Loomis said earlier this week. “But at the end of it, he shouldn’t have any issues.”

However, Bush said he is taking seriously his recent rash of injuries to his left knee, and he plans to do whatever it takes this offseason to prevent future setbacks.

Over the past 14 months, Bush has suffered four separate injuries to his left knee — each one of them minor. But together, the trend is unsettling.

“I think it has been unfortunate mishaps these last few years, but it’s definitely something I can’t ignore,” said Bush, who has missed 10 of the Saints’ past 20 games, dating back to December 2007. “I need to focus on strengthening my knee to the point where it doesn’t happen again. I’ll work with the doctors, trainers and weight staff, doing everything possible to get ready for this season.

“This is my job, this is what I love to do, so it’s frustrating. It’s nobody’s fault, but I won’t allow it to happen a third time. Two times is enough. I’ll do everything possible to make sure I’m 110 percent. I’ll push my butt more this year than I ever have, because of the injuries, and because I owe it to the city, I owe it to the team. I don’t feel like I’ve lived up to the expectations that I have in my own mind.”

Bush first tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December 2007. He missed the final four games of the season, but the injury healed soon afterward without surgery.

Then he began experiencing swelling and soreness in the knee during training camp this past summer — a condition described as a “bone bruise,” which was aggravated by a hard hit against Tampa Bay in Week 1. He later suffered a torn meniscus at Carolina in Week 7, which required arthroscopic surgery and sidelined him for four games. Finally, he suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in Week 15 at Chicago, which landed him on injured reserve for the final two weeks of the year.

“The toughest thing for me is that I’ve never been injured before, where I’ve had to miss games, until the last two years,” said Bush, who turns 24 in March. “I’ve always prided myself on being a durable back, being a durable player. I honestly believe it’s just been two minor procedures, and thank God it hasn’t been anything major. Up to this point, I’ve always felt it’s something I can get past as long as I rehab properly.”

Bush’s durability always has been something of a question mark, simply because of his build. At 6 feet, 203 pounds, he’s built more for speed and elusiveness than for the every-down pounding of a prototypical tailback.

He also puts a good deal of stress on his knees because of the quick, sharp cuts he makes in the open field, both on offense and as a punt returner.

But so far, he has shown an ability to bounce back from each of the previous knee injuries. He was playing at perhaps the highest level of his career through the first seven weeks of this past season, leading the Saints with 660 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns.

He was consistently rattling off breakaway runs and receptions of 20-plus yards, and he returned three punts for touchdowns — one at Washington in Week 2 and two against Minnesota in Week 5. He was well on his way to All-Pro status as a return specialist and likely would have made his first trip to the Pro Bowl as a return man if he hadn’t been injured.

Both Loomis and Coach Sean Payton have expressed their high hopes for Bush in the past two weeks, saying they expect him to continue to be a featured attraction in the Saints’ top-ranked offense.

Posted by Mike Triplett and Teddy Kider, The Times-Picayune January 07, 2009 3:24PM

Scott Threlkeld/The Times-Picayune

The Saints fired Defensive Coordinator Gary Gibbs on Wednesday, 10 days after finishing the 2008 regular season ranked 23rd in the NFL in total defense.

“This was a very difficult decision to make,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said in a statement. “Gary Gibbs is a fine man and football coach who has worked diligently during his tenure with the Saints. I thank him for the many contributions that he has made to this team and wish him continued success in his career.”

Gibbs joined the organization three years ago, when he followed Saints Coach Sean Payton from Dallas to New Orleans. And Gibbs’ defense ranked 11th in the NFL during his first season with the team.
But Gibbs’ unit fell to 26th in the league in 2007, allowing 348.1 yards per game, and while the Saints finished with the No. 1-ranked offense in 2008, the defense saw little improvement.

Gibbs’ defense allowed 339.5 yards per game in 2008, struggling to cope with injuries and constantly giving up big plays in the secondary. The Saints also never seemed to find the production they were looking for from their defensive line, which has two highly paid defensive ends in Will Smith and Charles Grant but struggled in pressuring opposing quarterbacks.

Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune January 06, 2009 11:00PM

Michael DeMocker, The Times-Picayune

Reggie Bush’s knee surgery was more serious than the Saints initially indicated last month, but General Manager Mickey Loomis said the team still expects the running back to be ready for minicamp in early June.

Loomis said Bush had a microfracture procedure performed on his left knee after he was placed on injured reserve in mid-December. Bush’s injury initially was reported as a sprained medial collateral ligament, which doesn’t usually require surgery, but Coach Sean Payton indicated last week that Bush had an arthroscopic procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

Loomis did not give details about the surgery, but he said it was not a “major” procedure.

“I wouldn’t want to call it minor, because he’s got a pretty significant period of rehab time, ” Loomis said. “But at the end of it, he shouldn’t have any issues.”

Bush was not reached for comment.

It’s hard to predict a recovery timetable on microfracture surgeries, because some are more elaborate than others, but they have become more common and effective in recent years. Typically, several small holes are drilled into the knee to promote cartilage growth.

Saints tailback Deuce McAllister had a microfracture procedure performed on his right knee in September 2007 while also undergoing an anterior cruciate ligament repair in his left knee. McAllister, who was on the field for the start of training camp in July, indicated that his right knee recovered faster than the left. The left knee continued to swell at times throughout the season.

Bush has had a series of issues with his left knee the past two seasons. He missed the final four games of the 2007 season with a torn posterior cruciate ligament, which required a couple months of recovery.

Then, he experienced swelling and soreness in the knee in training camp this past summer — a condition described as a “bone bruise, ” which was aggravated against Tampa Bay in Week 1. Bush then suffered a torn meniscus at Carolina in Week 7, which required arthroscopic surgery and sidelined him for four games. Finally, he suffered the latest injury in Week 15 at Chicago.

None of the injuries were too serious, but the repeated trauma to the knee is concerning, especially for a player who relies so much on his speed and explosiveness.

Loomis expressed high hopes for Bush while discussing the team’s general outlook Tuesday. He said the Saints were “clearly” close to tapping into Bush’s full potential before he suffered the injury in Week 7.

At that point, Bush led the Saints with 660 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns, including three punt returns for scores. He was effective, but inconsistent, after returning from the injury in Week 13.

“He made some spectacular punt returns and some spectacular explosive plays on offense, and that’s what we envisioned for him, ” Loomis said. “And he was feeling good about his season, we were feeling good about his season, then he had a setback with this injury.

“But the good news is that the injury has been repaired, and he had a good repair surgically, and the prognosis going forward is very positive. So, our expectation is he’ll have a good offseason and pick up where he left off at the beginning of next year.”

Asked if the Saints had figured out the best way to use Bush, Loomis said he thinks the third-year running back’s unique role will continue to evolve. He was paired more often with tailback Pierre Thomas this season.

“I don’t want to say that. I don’t want to limit ourselves to that, because maybe there’s some new things we can do, ” Loomis said. “Maybe as he develops, he brings some new wrinkles to his game. I wouldn’t want to limit him.

“I think what Reggie has proven is that on the football field there’s not too many things he can’t do, although clearly he hasn’t been the traditional tailback that many people want to judge him by.”

NO DECISION ON COACHING STAFF: Loomis and Payton remained non-committal on the future of defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs and the rest of the coaching staff Tuesday.

“Sean and I will talk about all our coaches’ evaluations this week, offensively and defensively, ” Loomis said.

The entire coaching staff returned to work Tuesday to begin thorough player evaluations after assistants were given the week off. Loomis and Payton also took some time off during the past week.

Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune January 06, 2009 11:24AM

Rusty Costanza, The Times-Picayune

Drew Brees’ prolific passing season earned him the Associated Press’ 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday. The Saints quarterback received 22 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the league.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who won the league MVP award last week, tied with Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson for second place with nine votes apiece.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Brees, who became just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards this season.
Brees was shut out in last week’s MVP balloting because of the Saints’ disappointing 8-8 record. But voters recognized his historical achievement with the top offensive honor. Brees threw for 5,069 yards – 15 yards shy of the single-season record set by Miami’s Dan Marino in 1984.

“When (I heard the news), I guess I was a little shocked, because when you looked at the MVP deal, no votes,” Brees said. “And hey, I can swallow that because we were disappointed we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish.

“Obviously there were so many other guys that were very deserving of the award as well, so many guys that had great seasons, especially the fact that we didn’t make the playoffs. But I think really it’s just a testament to what we were able to accomplish this year. Certainly it’s an award that so many people were a part of, from the coaching staff to the offensive line to the receivers to the skill position guys – and the defense and special teams have to set us up with opportunities. It really is a team award.

“We led the NFL in just about every offensive category. As disappointed as we are when we look back on the season, having gone 8-8 and not making the playoffs, this is something we can look back and say we did accomplish something.”

Brees also broke his own team record with 34 touchdown passes – tying San Diego’s Philip Rivers for the league lead. He threw 17 interceptions and finished fourth in the NFL with a passer rating of 96.2.

Brees is the first Saints player ever to win the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award. He finished second in both the MVP and Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2006, when he led the Saints to the NFC South title in his first year with the team. He finished behind friend and former San Diego teammate LaDainian Tomlinson in both categories that year.

Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune January 02, 2009 12:43PM

David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune

Welcome to the final installment of the weekly regular season mailbag. This was by far the longest edition of the season. I want to thank everyone for your participation in this first year of the Saints Insider format. It’s clear Saints fans have passion for their team and the NFL game.

Forgive me if I got a little long-winded in my responses this week. After two days of watching bowl games on the couch, I was a little stir crazy and needed an outlet.
As expected, there were plenty of questions regarding the Saints’ offseason, their plans in free agency and the draft. Among the other topics: the chances of Deuce McAllister returning in 2009, Jammal Brown moving to right tackle and the Saints switching to a zone blocking scheme on offense.

Starting next week, I’ll continue to take questions from readers, but will run the mailbag only on a bi-monthly basis, or as news merits. The exceptions, of course, will be during Senior Bowl week, free agency, the Combine and NFL Draft, when I’ll run weekly installments.

Now on to the Q&A:

Q: I am in the military, currently deployed to Pakistan. I’m a resident of Louisiana, however, I’m stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. Due to my deployment, I didn’t get to see all of the Saints games, but I did follow them closely. My question is this, what’s your take on the Deuce McAllister situation? I think if Deuce was utilized more earlier in the season, i.e. Washington and Denver, the Saints may have been able to establish a power running game and perhaps win those games. It looked like to me, when Deuce did get the ball, he was productive. I think if the Saints utilize Deuce more between the tackles and Bush on the outside, the Saints again could have the top running back duo in the league. Kevin J. Knox, U.S. Embassy, Pakistan.

A: Kevin, first and foremost, thanks for your service to our country. I’m not sure anyone knows the total answer to this season’s Deuce McAllister conundrum other than Sean Payton. For some reason – injury, running style, the emergence of other backs – Payton was not keen on playing McAllister. There’s no doubt Deuce has lost a step. He admits it. His days of breaking off 50-yard runs are over. But he still has great vision and understanding of the running game and can be a productive between-the-tackle runner. He reminds me of an aging veteran basketball player, who no longer gets by on athletic ability but uses fundamentals, technique and court smarts to produce. It was no coincidence that the Saints offense start to click once Payton stuck with Deuce solely in the backfield during the second half against Carolina rather than platooning him with Mike Bell. McAllister is terrific in the passing game. He’s an excellent and willing blocker in pass protection, a skill the Saints’ other backs are still trying to master. When McAllister is back there Brees can concentrate on finding the open man rather than dodging defenders. We’ve asked Payton a million times about McAllister’s role or lack thereof this season and he masterfully sidesteps the issue or double-talks the answer. My best guess is that he doesn’t think Deuce’s running style fits his offensive system. Payton prefers a quick, versatile back in his offense rather than a pounding power back, which, at this stage of his career, is McAllister. It’s no different than Tom Moore’s offense in Indianapolis. The Colts use backs like Joe Addai and Dominic Rhodes rather than Jamal Lewis. I think the whole thing is an offensive style issue more than a personal issue. Regardless, it’s a dicey situation for Payton because of McAllister’s overwhelming popularity in the community. I really think he underestimated that whole issue when he chose to sit Deuce earlier this season. It backfired and became a distraction for the team. More than anything, I think Deuce’s days are numbered here for that reason alone. Could he still play a valuable role on this team? No doubt. Would he be willing to take a paycut? Yes, I think so. But I think Payton has grown weary of the situation, sees it as a distraction and is ready to move on. That’s just my guess. Stay tuned.

Q: At what two positions do we need help the most heading into the offseason? We need another pass rusher, but which spot (defensive end, outside linebacker, defensive tackle)? And we urgently need another defensive back, but free safety, strong safety or corner? I think if we upgrade at two more positions on defense we could be all right. Carter, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

A: I agree with you, Carter. I don’t think the Saints need an overhaul on defense. A couple of players could make a world of difference in this unit. Unfortunately, what they need are the two rarest commodities on that side of the ball – pass rushers and pass coverers. There’s a reason defensive ends and cornerbacks are the highest paid players on defense. Their skills are rare. You have to read between the lines on what Payton was saying last week but he emphasized developing the players on the current roster as the top priority. That indicates to me that the Saints aren’t going to make wholesale changes but rather target a few specific areas for help. The team has invested heavily in defensive ends Charles Grant, Will Smith and Bobby McCray. All are under contract and are heavily paid. They aren’t going anywhere so the challenge is to develop them and get the best out of them. I expect this to be an emphasis for the new defensive line coach this offseason. The Saints like their cornerbacks and linebackers but have to be concerned about Mike McKenzie. He’ll be 32 this spring and is coming off his second major lower leg injury. That’s a tough combination. I would expect the Saints to bring in a corner, either in the draft or free agency, to bolster the position but I’d be surprised if it’s a big-ticket player like Asomugha. That leaves the safety position and I think this is where the Saints will concentrate their efforts in free agency. The Saints could use help at both spots. There are a couple of intriguing free safety prospects that potentially could be available. Phiadelphia’s Brian Dawkins and St. Louis’ O.J. Atogwe could head the list. If either is available, I’d be shocked if the Saints don’t make a strong effort to sign them. The other safety spot is less of a pressing need but nonetheless could use an upgrade. James Butler of the Giants and Sean Jones of the Browns are the kind of young, improving veterans the Saints like to target in free agency.

David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune

Q: With Brees chasing the passing yardage record and the offense having its way with the Lions defense, I am still totally perplexed as to why Coach Peyton ended the Lions game with three runs and then the kneel downs. Even if we did not try to score, we still could have passed for another 20 – 40 yards. Besides, running up the score does not carry the negativity it used to. Can you explain? Robert, Meridian, Miss.

A: There’s not much to explain, Robert. Payton did the right thing by taking a knee. He has great respect for Rod Marinelli and there was no reason to embarrass him or his team any further. There’s a right way and a wrong way to conduct yourself on the field of play and trying to run up some artificial passing yards in the final seconds of a blowout would have ruined Payton’s reputation around the league. The coaching business is a tight-knit fraternity and there are unwritten codes. Payton would have violated a big one if he called for Brees to pass on first or second down on the final drive. There is no defense for such actions. He handled the situation the right way.

Q: To me the main problem our defense has it that we don’t pressure the quarterback. Are our linebackers athletic enough to get the job done? You need exceptional speed, strength and agility to have a killer defense. We don’t have it. Linebackers have to cover, sack (or at least disrupt the quarterback with blitzes), take on lineman and fullbacks head on, attack the line, cover both sides of the field, take down large backs in the first level, etc. Our guys get blown up by blockers, miss tackles, and are always a step late getting to the play (Vilma somewhat excluded because he did a stand up job this year). Will there be some emphasis on getting the most athletic position on the field filled by better athletes? I think the Shanle/Fujita experiment has run its course. Tony Robinson, Humble, Texas.

A: Interesting observation, Tony, and one that I can’t disagree with. As I said earlier, I think safety has to be the main emphasis in player acquisition this offseason. After that, I think the Saints could go in a number of directions, with another corner being high on the list. Team officials do not share your opinion of Shanle/Fujita. They like their linebacker corps and do not see a reason for change, or at least that was the case a few weeks ago. Scott Shanle is a smart, serviceable starter but he’s not much of an impact player and on the weak side, you really need a player who can make plays from sideline to sideline and get after the quarterback from time to time. The Saints linebackers are not explosive or athletic enough to rush the passer. That was obvious this season. The Saints blitzed more often than Saints fans realize this season. The problem is the linebackers never got there. They combined for four sacks on the season. Shanle had two and Jon Vilma and Chris Reis (who was playing linebacker at the time) each had one. What’s more, they rarely hurried or rushed the quarterback into incompletions or quick throws. Whether that’s the fault of a poorly-designed scheme – the blitzes weren’t very creative – or an indictment of the players’ skills, the results simply were not good enough. The Saints need to evaluate that aspect of their defense thoroughly this offseason. As far as the defensive ends are concerned, they are pretty much stuck with the hand they dealt themselves. The challenge is going to be to get Smith and Grant healthy and in better condition next season.

Q: Going into the draft, the Saints don’t have many draft picks. Should the Saints trade down and get a lower first round pick and a second/third round pick or trade out the first round to acquire more draft picks? Jeffrey, Arlington, Texas.

A: I like your thinking, Jeffrey. If ever there was a year to trade down this is it. The Saints are desperate for picks and are in a solid spot (No. 14) to make a deal. For reference, the Panthers traded the No. 14 pick in the first round of the 2007 draft for the Jets’ first-round pick (No. 25), a second-rounder (No. 59) and a fifth-rounder (No. 164). They also threw in their sixth-rounder (No. 191). The Panthers used those first two picks to select linebacker Jon Beason, a Pro Bowler this year, and center Ryan Kalil, a future Pro Bowler. This is the kind of deal I expect the Saints to pursue if they can get it. The key, of course, is finding a trade partner.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune

Q: How will the possibility of the Saints’ starting defensive ends missing the first quarter of the 2009 season affect the moves they make this offseason? Will they gamble on the players winning the case, believe that McCray, Charleston, Savage, or another comparable end can do the job for the first four games if the case does not go well, or do they make replacing the defensive ends for the first four games a top priority? Lance, Sylva, N.C.

A: Excellent question, Lance. The Vikings face a similar predicament with their defensive tackles next season. The looming suspensions definitely handcuff the teams roster-wise. I think the Saints definitely are aware of the possibility that both players could be suspended and will prepare themselves for the worst-case scenario. McCray has proven to be a capable spot starter but a quality fourth end now becomes a necessity. I’m not sure if they think enough of any of their young ends to fill that role but there’s a reason they signed Rob Ninkovich and Tearrius George late in the season. I think they’ll give these guys a long look in the offseason to see if they can develop into contributors as the fourth end on the roster. If not, they could always draft an end but I’d be shocked if they invested a high pick in one simply because of the other, more pressing needs on the roster. It doesn’t make sense to invest heavily in an end when you already have so much money committed to the position already. Their best strategy would be to develop the young, inexpensive ends on the roster.

Q: We all would love to see Reggie Bush perform to his potential. Wouldn’t a running back coach help him and Pierre Thomas sharpen their skills? Why do the Saints have an offensive line coach in this position? Comment on the status of the strength and conditioning coaching staff. Many feel that they should be replaced because of all the injuries this year. Stuart Johnson, Wichita, Kan.

A: I think the Saints will look to hire a running backs coach this offseason, with Aaron Kromer sliding into Doug Marrone’s offensive line spot. With Bush and Thomas slated as the key backs, I think a veteran hand would be a wise investment. That said, I really don’t think Kromer’s lack of experience as a backs coach has or had anything to do with Bush’s development. Bush, as they say in the coaching profession, is what he is. I think it’s pretty obvious that he lacks the size and running style to be an every-down, between-the-tackles back. He still can be and will be a key piece to the Saints offense. He needs to become more of a complimentary player rather than a featured player. I’ve had numerous questions about the Saints strength and conditioning coach but I really don’t think he has anything to do with the Saints’ spate of injuries. That’s a misguided notion. Tracy Porter broke his wrist. Mike McKenzie broke a knee cap. Reggie Bush, Sedrick Ellis and Mark Campbell had knee injuries. These things happen in the NFL. It’s a violent game. Dan Dalrymple was the strength and conditioning coach in 2006 when the Saints suffered few injuries. It’s a cyclical thing.

Scott Threlkeld/The Times-Picayune

Q: Considering the elite running offenses within the NFC South, would the Saints be better served throwing the bank at Albert Haynesworth or is cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha better to take away the likes of Steve Smith, Roddy White, and Antonio Bryant? Gregory, Austin, Texas.

A: Gregory, I’ve got a column scheduled to run in this weekend’s editions of The Times-Picayune that looks at the Saints’ free agent options so make sure you check it out. The cliff notes version: I’d be shocked if the Saints made a big splash in free agency. Other than when they signed Drew Brees, it’s not their M.O. First of all, I doubt very seriously that any of the really big names – Haynesworth, Asomugha, Ray Lewis, Julius Peppers, Terrell Suggs – make it to free agency. Teams tend to keep their core players and those are all key pieces to their respective teams’ puzzles. If Asomugha did fall through the cracks I think the Saints would have interest. But I’d be surprised if they were able to outbid some of the other teams on the market. Their best bet is to go hard for a quality safety or two. They’re less expensive than corners and defensive linemen, and in my mind, a more pressing need right now.

Q: Jeff, who are some of the free agents out there the Saints might be interested in? I’m talking defense of course. Hey, do me a favor and write as much as you can about Taylor Mays (the junior safety from Southern Cal). I would love to see him patrolling out there in the secondary for years to come. Please, let’s fix this secondary. Bill.

A: Bill, I think St. Louis free safety O.J. Atogwe would be a perfect fit for the Saints secondary. He’s smart, in his prime and, most importantly, a playmaker. He has intercepted 13 passes the past two seasons. That’s an incredible number. He also forced six fumbles this season. The guy has a nose for the ball and that’s exactly what the Saints need on their back end. The problem, of course, is that the Rams know this. They’ve identified Atogwe, along with cornerback Ron Bartell, as their top priorities in free agency. Bartell is another interesting prospect. He has great size – 6-1, 205 – and potential. He finished tied for the sixth in the NFL with 19 passes defensed. Both players would attract interest in free agency and might be interested in a change of scenery after the miserable year in St. Louis. And Taylor Mays doesn’t need me to be his publicist. He’s projected as a Top 10 pick if he declares for the draft. I’d be shocked if he were to drop to the Saints at No. 14 and the club is in no position to trade up this year because of their limited draft cache.

Q: Jeff, the defense has taken much of the blame for the losses this year and deservedly so, but the way I see it there is a lot of blame to go around. I remember the days of equally high scoring offenses of the Chargers and Dolphins and the truth is for all the yards we accumulate we left plenty of scoring opportunities on the field. The way I see it, Drew Brees cost us a win but he is forgiven as we would be nowhere without him. The kicking game cost us a win and Payton’s stubbornness, poor play calling and coaching three others. How would you break down the losses this year?. Carl, Covington.

A: Carl, when teams lose everyone always is looking for reasons. There’s no doubt the Saints’ failures in the short-yardage running game and in the kicking game played a role in those early losses at Denver and Washington. But the over-riding factor in the club’s losses was defense, in particular a failure to defend the deep ball. I’ve already documented this in a previous column, but fourth-quarter breakdowns in coverage cost the Saints in losses to Washington, Minnesota, Chicago and Sunday against Carolina. In each case, the Saints had a fourth quarter lead and let an opponent hit a big pass play over the top either for a long reception or pass interference penalty. It’s not all the fault of the secondary. The tepid pass rush obviously didn’t help. But it’s hard to blame Gary Gibbs’ scheme when he has two defenders in position to make a play on the ball in almost every instance and neither is able to make it. That’s not scheme. That’s personnel. And the Saints saw enough of the repeated errors this season to know they need to upgrade at those positions. If the Saints find a player or two who can break up or intercept those passes then everyone won’t be picking nits on their minor shortcomings on offense.

David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune

Q: Jeff, the Saints will be playing very physical teams in 2009. Not only must we contend with the tough NFC South but we play the NFC East and AFC East. How can the Saints compete at all for the playoffs next year with no pass rush and and lack of toughness? I don’t think we need major changes on defense, I would take three to five pass crucial pass deflections or two to three critical-moment sacks and we’d be 10-6 instead of 8-8. Lavar in Houston.

A: Lavar, I agree with you on not needing an overhaul. The Saints aren’t far from being a playoff team. They just need to have a strong offseason and find the missing pieces to the puzzle. It’s impossible to predict how tough or easy the Saints’ schedule is going to be next season. Too much changes between one season and the next in the NFL. The Miami Dolphins were 1-15 in 2007 and 11-5 in 2008. Green Bay was 13-3 in 2007 and 6-10 in 2008. That said, the Saints are going to play some excellent offenses next season. They are scheduled to play seven games against offenses ranked in the top 10 in the league: New England (No. 5), the New York Giants (No. 7), Philadelphia (No. 9) and two each against Atlanta (No. 6) and Carolina (No. 10). Each of these teams is led by a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. So they obviously need to address the secondary this offseason and improve the pass rush next season if they hope to improve on their 8-8 record. As I mentioned earlier, if the Saints can just find a playmaker or two in the secondary and get Grant and Smith back on top of their games that would go a long way toward accomplishing their goals. It would help if they could avoid having 18 season-ending injuries, as well.

Q: Jeff, I have several not so obvious questions regarding the Saints’ 2008 season and the offseason ahead: (1.) Would the Saints seriously entertain the thought of drafting (Andre Smith, Michael Oher) or trading (Jason Peters) for a left tackle and moving Jammal Brown back into his more natural right tackle spot? Brown’s athleticism is an upgrade over that of Jon Stinchcomb, as well as his run blocking ability. This would also allow them to upgrade the overall ability of the offensive line to be a bit more physical in those crucial third-and-1 situations. (2.) Has Jonathan Goodwin done enough to justify not upgrading the center position in a draft where there are several good options available? (3.) Reggie Bush has stated in the past that he enjoys and excels in zone blocking running plays. With the success that Denver, Houston, and Atlanta has had over the years with this scheme, is there any chance Coach Payton would be open to adjusting this part of the offensive attack to cater more towards his best skill player? (4.) I heard Coach Payton mention that we employ a similar Cover 2 scheme similar to what Tampa and Atlanta both use. Is it obvious to anyone else but me that the athleticism of the players in comparable positions on both teams lack severely? Also if the Saints lack the “pieces” needed for the scheme, why not run a scheme more suitable for the players you have? Will, Baton Rouge.

A: Let me see if I can address all of your queries without writing a novel, Will. I think the idea of moving Jamal Brown to right tackle has merit but I think the Saints have way more pressing needs this offseason than to worry about offensive tackle. In my mind, Brown played well enough to hold down the fort there for another year. Sure, he struggled at times, but he plays against some of the best ends in the league on a weekly basis, is usually left on an island against them and therefore is going to lose his share of battles, especially considering the surgically-repaired knees he plays on. When Brown gets beat it’s so conspicuous that everyone sees it. For as much criticism as Brown takes, the Saints set a club record with just 13 sacks this season. I know much of that can be attributed to Brees’ awareness and quick trigger but it’s not all Brees. Besides, tackle is one of the few positions where the Saints actually have solid depth. Reserves Zach Strief and Jermon Bushrod have been waiting in the wings for two years. It’ll be interesting to see if the Saints make an effort to sign Jon Stinchcomb this offseason or let him leave. The Saints drafted Strief and Bushrod for a reason. If they don’t think they’ve developed them by now, then they need to admit the mistake, re-sign Stinchcomb and move on. They’ve kept Bushrod on the roster for two years and he has played in just three games as a special teamer. At some point, it becomes a luxury that a team with so many pressing defensive needs can’t afford. I think the Saints feel good about Goodwin as a starter but it wouldn’t surprise me if they drafted another interior offensive lineman for depth. Jamar Nesbit could be a roster cut and Matt Lehr is only adequate. Switching to a zone blocking scheme is a major, major adjustment. It sometimes takes years for offenses to adjust. The Lions tried to do it this season under new coordinator Jim Colletto and it was a disaster. It’s not impossible but it would require a major investment of time and personnel. Not sure it’s worth the gain at this point. Funny, Pierre Thomas didn’t seem to have as much problem running behind the Saints offensive line. He averaged a healthy 4.8 yards a carry this season. Seems to me the problem is the runner (Bush) and not the scheme or line. Again, the Saints led the NFL in total offense and scoring offense. Tackle, center and zone blocking are not their biggest worries. In regards to the defense, I think what Payton meant when he references Atlanta and Tampa Bay was the Saints defense is a 4-3 base with various principles of Cover 2 and man scheme coverage. Few teams in the NFL employ strictly Cover-2 or straight man coverages. Most teams vary their coverages throughout the game in an effort to keep offenses off-balance. While Tampa Bay is known for its Cover 2 scheme, the truth is they’ve evolved into a diversified coverage scheme in recent years. They mix in single coverage and hybrid zones with man-to-man principles. I would agree that the Saints could use some more physical players on defense. I think this whole argument goes back to personnel acquisition and the Saints’ building plan. The Saints have done a solid job of acquiring offensive talent and depth. That’s why they were able to withstand so many injuries on that side of the ball this season. Unfortunately in doing so, they’ve neglected the other side of the ball (See: 2007 NFL Draft). They would have been more competitive and better able to withstand the spate of injuries this season if they had better depth on defense. That’s an area the club has neglected in recent years and must continue to address this offseason.

Posted by James Varney and Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune December 31, 2008 5:23PM

Chuck Cook/The Times-Picayune

ATLANTA – Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron will not be a part of the LSU coaching staff next season, school officials confirmed, and is instead expected to sign a deal with Tennessee.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel confirmed Wednesday that Orgeron has been released from his contract and is leaving for Tennessee.

The news broke shortly before LSU (7-5) was slated to play No. 14 Georgia Tech (9-3) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The LSU community in Atlanta for the game was abuzz Tuesday night with speculation Orgeron would join head coach Les Miles and form a powerful recruiting tandem.
LSU athletic officials tried to dampen enthusiasm over the Orgeron reports on Tuesday night. The school cautioned the news was premature and said no arrangement had been finalized. Still, it was clear LSU was hoping Oregron, who briefly attended LSU and is a Louisiana native, would wind up in Baton Rouge.

Instead, it appears Orgeron will join forces with new Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin. Those two were assistants together at Southern California before Orgeron became head coach at Ole Miss.

The deciding factor appears to have been money. Although LSU made it clear this week it intended to be competitive and some officials hinted a contract in the neighborhood of $500,000 could be seen rumors were rife in the Georgia Dome that Tennessee had offered Orgeron something close to $900,000.

That number could not be confirmed Wednesday evening and there was no official announcement by Tennessee. The Volunteers instead touted the hiring of Monte Kiffin as defensive coordinator. The father of Lane, Monte Kiffin had a distinguished NFL career and heads to Knoxville from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune December 29, 2008 10:54PM

Ted Jackson/The Times-Picayune

Saints coach Sean Payton didn’t offer any drastic solutions for improving his team Monday after missing out on the playoffs for the second straight year with a disappointing 8-8 record.

He chafed at the idea of making defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs a scapegoat, though he also declined an opportunity to offer a vote of confidence to the assistant coach, who has become a prime target of the fans’ displeasure after the team’s last-place finish in the NFC South.

“I’m not going to answer the question right now,” Payton said at his season-ending news conference when asked specifically whether he intends to keep Gibbs as his defensive coordinator, “because I think the day after the season ends, it’s like, ‘What’s Deuce (McAllister’s) future? Are you keeping Gary Gibbs?’ We’re not answering those questions.

“It’s unfair. It’s unfair to Gary. It’s unfair to point out specific players and coaches.”

Gibbs was not available for comment.

Earlier in his news conference, Payton complimented Gibbs’ performance during a season that saw the Saints lose both starting cornerbacks, Mike McKenzie and Tracy Porter, and starting defensive end Charles Grant to injuries.

Payton did suggest that improvements need to be made across the board on defense — from scheme to personnel to individual performance.

But he said those same improvements need to be made on offense and special teams, even though the Saints’ offense ranked first in the NFL in yards gained and points scored. The team ranked 23rd and 26th in the league in those categories on defense.

“It would be easy to say, with where we finished offensively, we’re going to point to defense. Some of that might be true,” Payton said. “But there are some things that we have to be better at offensively. We had an opportunity to really put the game away at Washington (in Week 2) and were unable to run the football in a key situation. We were unable to get that key yard in Denver (in Week 3). So this doesn’t all just shift to one side of the ball or the other, (even though) it’s easy to do that. It’s still looking closely at how we can improve our overall team.

“This is an important part of the year, because this is where a mistake made can set you back, or the right decision can set you forward. So we take it very seriously.”

An opening among coaches

That decision-making process has already begun for Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and the Saints’ front office. Assistant coaches will be given the rest of this week off before returning to work next week to review the season and plan ahead to the 2009 campaign.

Payton said he has no timetable for making any decisions about his coaching staff.

Even if the Saints decide to keep all of their current assistants, they do have to replace former offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Doug Marrone, who left to become head coach at Syracuse University this month.

Most likely, current quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael will be promoted to offensive coordinator and current line coach Aaron Kromer will remain in the position, leaving a vacancy at the lower-assistant level.

Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron has been a rumored candidate for assistant coaching jobs at LSU or the University of Tennessee, though he said Monday that he has no plans to interview with either school.

“I’m with the Saints,” Orgeron said.

Most of the defense’s current players should be back in 2009. Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, so re-signing him will be the team’s top priority. A handful of backups will also become free agents: safety Josh Bullocks, cornerback Aaron Glenn, defensive tackle Antwan Lake and linebacker Troy Evans, among them.

Grant, Porter and McKenzie all could return to the starting lineup if their recoveries go according to plan. McKenzie, who fractured his right kneecap last month, is the biggest question mark because of his age, 32, and recent injury history. But he said Monday that he is ahead of schedule and plans to be 100 percent before the start of training camp.

Missed plays

McKenzie was one of several defensive players polled Sunday and Monday who suggested that the Saints need to play better on defense, but drastic changes aren’t necessary to either the scheme, the coaching staff or the personnel.

“I don’t think so. But nothing in this league surprises me,” linebacker Scott Fujita said. “On one hand, you can expect change. Year in and year out, you can always expect to see new faces. That’s part of the game. But I like the guys, and we’ll be getting a lot of guys back from injury.”

“You can’t really say the scheme is wrong, because obviously it worked eight times. We won eight games,” said cornerback Randall Gay, who joined the Saints this past offseason after four years in New England. “And we were close in a lot of games, so you can’t really blame anything on the scheme. What it comes down to is the players making plays. That’s what it is.

“You can blame it on us being in position to make plays and not making them, which really doomed us this season. Almost every game, when a big play was made, it wasn’t like we were getting ran by and getting beat with 80-yard bombs. We were in position to make plays, and we just didn’t make it.”

That was certainly the case in the Saints’ final two defeats, when they lost in overtime at Chicago on a deep pass interference penalty in Week 15, and when they lost Sunday at home to Carolina after receiver Steve Smith caught a 39-yard jump ball against two defenders to set up the Panthers’ game-winning field goal.

If the Saints had just won those two games — or any other two games along the way — they’d be in the playoffs.

“The one thing that’s been noticeable, we’ve got to tackle better and we’ve got to cover better,” said defensive end Bobby McCray, who joined the Saints this year as a free agent from Jacksonville. “We had a good scheme this year. I would rather see if we could just give them some new looks, just mix it up a little bit, kind of confuse the offense a little bit, just do some different things at times. Other than that, Gary Gibbs did a good job calling the plays. We’ve just got to execute our assignments.”

Payton took ownership of the Saints’ defensive philosophy, saying it’s the defense both he and Gibbs chose to install when they arrived in 2006 from the staff of the Dallas Cowboys.

“It’s a similar scheme that we see in Atlanta and a similar scheme that we see in Tampa Bay,” Payton said. “It’s a 4-3 scheme that a good portion of the league implements and uses, and now it’s finding the pieces to make it go.”

Valuable additions

Although it didn’t lead to substantial improvement on defense, the Saints were actually quite successful with each of their defensive additions in 2008. Veteran newcomers Vilma, Gay and McCray were all productive, as were rookies Porter and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, the team’s first-round draft pick, who missed significant time because of injury.

The Saints no doubt will look to add significant upgrades in free agency and the draft, where they hold the 14th pick in Round 1. They aren’t expected to have picks in the second or third rounds, though, based on trades they made this past offseason.

Payton said he and Loomis have always shared a philosophy of being “judicious” when it comes to “so-called high-priced free agents,” which suggests that the Saints aren’t looking to break the bank for one defensive star.

Undoubtedly, they would show interest in Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha if he becomes available, because he is regarded as one of the best players in the league at one of the Saints’ greatest need positions. But chances are they won’t be in the market for someone like Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis or Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers.

Among some of the intriguing names on the next tier of potential defensive free agents are Philadelphia safety Brian Dawkins, Chicago safety Mike Brown, St. Louis safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, Houston cornerback Dunta Robinson, Baltimore linebacker/end Terrell Suggs and Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby.

Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune December 29, 2008 10:01AM

The NFL has not released the official order for the 2009 NFL Draft, but the Saints will pick No. 14 in the April 26-27 event.

The Saints finished at 8-8, tied with Denver, Houston, San Diego and Washington but earned the middle spot of the five .500 teams because of the strength-of-schedule tie-breaker.

The Saints have picks in the first, third, fourth and seventh rounds, but will likely surrender their third-round pick to the Jets in exchange for the Jet’s fourth-round pick because of terms of the trade for Jon Vilma. That would leave the Saints with a first-rounder, two fourths and a seventh-rounder in the draft.

The league will not announce the entire draft order until Tuesday.

Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune December 28, 2008 11:48AM

David Grunfeld / The Times-Picayune

John Kasay’s 42-yard field goal with one second on the clock gave the Carolina Panthers a 33-31 victory. Carolina drove 57 yards on seven plays for the game-winning score. The big play was a 39-yard pass to Steve Smith, yet another jump ball into double coverage that the Pro Bowl receiver came down with for a big gain. He finished with 134 yards on five catches.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees came up 16 yards short of setting the NFL season passing yardage record set by Dan Marino in 1984. Brees finished the season with 5,069 yards, second best in NFL history.
Because of a botched kickoff by Carolina the Saints got the ball with one second left. Brees tried to hit receiver Lance Moore with a pass that would have set the record but he bounced it into the Superdome turf.

“We’re trying to figure a way to put the ball in play and come up with a win,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said of the play.

Brees finished the day with 386 yards and four touchdowns and led the Saints back from a 30-10
deficit to a 31-30 lead. He was 30 of 49 but was sacked twice for 19 yards. He needed 402 yards to set the record.

“Obviouisly it’s a disappointing loss,” Payton said. “We had our opportunities but we couldn;t come up with big plays when we needed it.”

David Grunfeld / The Times-Picayune

Panthers win on last-second FG (0:01, 4Q)

The chase is on (5:33, 4Q)

Amazingly, the Saints have fought back to within a touchdown. Lance Moore’s 9-yard touchdown reception has trimmed the Panthers’ lead to 30-24. Now the defense needs a stop. The Saints have just one timeout left so they can’t afford to give up more than a couple of first downs if they hope to get the ball back with enough time to challenge for the lead. It’s on the defense. One addendum: If the Saints do get the ball back, depending on where they get it, Brees is going to have a shot at Marino’s record. He needs 62 yards to set the record.

Brees passes 5,000-yard mark (5:38, 4Q)

Drew Brees might not catch Dan Marino for the NFL single-season passing yardage mark but he did reach another milestone. He became only the second quarterback in NFL history to pass for 5,000 yards. He reached the benchmark on a 15-yard pass to Billy Miller. He now has 332 yards, 72 short of Dan Marino’s record of 5,084 set in 1984.

Carolina extends lead (10:02, 3Q)

Well, it took two quarters, but that bomb to Steve Smith finally happened. Jake Delhomme fired a 54-yard bomb to Smith on the Panthers’ first drive of the third quarter and Jonathan Stewart capped the march with a 2-yard touchdown run. Panthers have regained control: 30-10. The Panthers are bullying the Saints on both sides of the ball. On the bomb, Smith beat double coverage by Jason David and Josh Bullocks. Both defenders were in position to make a play but, as has happened so often this season, neither did and Smith came down with the ball. It was a great catch but good defensive backs knock that ball down.
Saints show life (0:40, 2Q)
No one can accuse Marques Colston of packing it in. He just made a spectacular leaping 26-yard touchdown grab to keep the Saints within striking distance before halftime. Colston outleaped a pair of Panthers defenders to make the catch at about the Carolina 5, then kept his balance and trotted into the end zone. The touchdown came a few plays after Colston appeared to lose a fumble at the end of a long catch. But after a review, officials overturned the call on the field and ruled that Colston did not have possession with two feet down before the fumble occurred, thus giving possession back to the Saints. It was a 50-50 call and the Saints got a break on this one.
.

The rout is on (3:03, 2Q)

Before I could finish typing the note about Muhammad’s touchdown, the Panthers scored another one. Landon Johnson stripped backup return man Skyler Green of the football on the ensuing kickoff return and Dante Wesley scooped up the loose ball and rambled 12 yards for the touchdown. Any chance Green had of making the Saints’ roster next season might have just evaporated in the blink of that fumble. The Saints trail 23-3. The Panthers have scored two touchdowns in six seconds. The sellout crowd at the Superdome is shell-shocked.

Panthers taking control (3:09, 2Q)
This one is starting to get ugly. Chris Harris’ interception set up a short touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad. It’s now 16-3.
Field-goal fest continues (6:56, 2Q)

John Kasay might need to ice down his left leg after this game. He’s already kicked three field goals. His latest, a 34-yarder, gave the Panthers a 9-3 lead. The Panthers are controlling the line of scrimmage but the Saints have stiffened up some on defense. They’re tackling better and preventing the big play. Still, you get the feeling the Panthers are going to hit a big play down the field to Steve Smith soon. The running game is causing the Saints to cheat up on defense and leaving them vulnerable on the back end.

Saints answer with a field goal (12:35, 2Q)

The Saints finally put some offense together and marched down the field for a short field goal by Garrrett Hartley. Carolina is getting good pressure on Brees, but when he has time the Saints receivers are able to get open. Still, Carolina has come close to picking off a couple of passes already so the Saints better start balancing out the attack with some ground game. One other note: After starting the game and dropping a pass, Deuce McAllister has been relegated to the bench. It looks like the Saints are going with Mike Bell at running back for most of the carries with Pierre Thomas sidelined.

Panthers add another field goal (2:21, 1Q)

The Saints held Carolina to another field goal, this one a 26-yarder. The bad news is Carolina has established dominance along both fronts. They’ve rushed for 106 yards on their first two drives. The Saints, meanwhile, went three-and-out on their first drive. The good news is, despite all this, the Saints trail only 6-0. They are going to need to get their offense on track, though, because the defense is going to get worn down.

The pounding continues (5:19, 1Q)

The Panthers are just lining up and pounding the Saints’ defense. DeAngelo Williams ripped off a 30-yard run, then one play later his backfield mate, Jonathan Stewart ran through three Saints tackles en route to a 16-yard gain. All three Saints linebackers — Jon Vilma, Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita — missed tackles on the run. Williams already has 80 yards on six carries.

Panthers grab early lead (8:00, 1Q)

The Saints’ defense bowed up and held Carolina to a field goal on their opening drive. John Kasay, who seems to never miss, split the up rights from 45 yards. Still, it was a minor victory for the Saints’ defense. They expect to score touchdowns with their high-powered offense. The bad news is the Panthers were blowing the Saints off the line of scrimmage from the opening whistle. That’s not good this early in the game. Usually, the running game takes a while to take effect. This one looks like a shootout. Now on to Drew Brees’ chase at history.

Not a good sign (10:40, 1Q)

The Carolina Panthers have taken the opening drive and are marching right down the field on the Saints. Their line is blowing New Orleans off the ball. If this keeps up, it’s going to be a long day for the Saints. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have combined for 45 rushing so far.

Sleepy atmosphere (pre-game)

Maybe everyone is still in a post-holiday slumber, but there’s a decided lack of buzz to the game. Although things have picked up in the minutes right before kickoff thanks to an inspired rendition of the national anthem by local musician Theresa Andersson. Gov. Bobby Jindal was also on hand to participate in the coin flip. The house is full, though, so everything is in place for an exciting game.

Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune December 28, 2008 10:31PM

Drew Brees insisted that he didn’t know how close he had come to the NFL’s single-season passing record until after the Saints’ 33-31 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at the Superdome.

When someone informed the Saints quarterback that he missed tying the mark by just 15 yards, he realized that his final pass attempt would have put him over the top — a desperate 20-yard throw toward receiver Lance Moore that was supposed to turn into a series of laterals with no time on the clock.

The pass fell short when Moore didn’t turn around as quickly as Brees expected, leaving Brees short of Dan Marino’s 24-year-old record of 5,084 yards.

And maybe, Brees said later, that was appropriate.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure that’s necessarily the way the record deserves to be broken,” said Brees, who finished with 386 yards Sunday and 5,069 yards for the season, the second-highest total in league history, while the Saints finished with a disappointing 8-8 record.

“I sit back and look at it, that record’s stood for a long time. One of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game owns it. And it’s a huge record,” Brees said. “And so maybe the fact that we were 8-8 meant that it wasn’t meant to be for us to get it.”

For a short while Sunday, it seemed that perhaps the exact opposite might be true.

Brees made the crowd erupt late in the second half while rallying the Saints from a 30-10 deficit to take an improbable 31-30 lead with 3:11 remaining.

He threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns in a span of 15 minutes to come within striking distance of the record and the victory, both of which had seemed impossible for much of the day.

But like Brees said, it clearly wasn’t meant to be. The Panthers rallied back for a clinching 42-yard field goal by John Kasay with one second remaining, thanks largely to a 39-yard pass from quarterback Jake Delhomme to receiver Steve Smith.

Delhomme’s pass seemed almost like a Hail Mary. He heaved the ball after scrambling around in the pocket on first-and-10 from the Panthers’ 18-yard line, allowing it to hang in the air above Smith, cornerback Jason David and safety Roman Harper.

Smith, the Pro Bowl receiver who has made a career out of killing the Saints, came down with it.

David and Harper commended Smith’s skills but said they believed they were in position to make a play. David said he went for the interception and would do it the same way again if given the chance.

“We’ve had too many games like that this year. You have to make the plays to win the game in situations like that. Wins are too hard to come by in this league,” said Saints linebacker Scott Shanle, who broke free for a huge sack to force a punt on Carolina’s previous drive. “Steve Smith is a great player, and he made a great play. That’s the one play you have to make somewhere along the way.”

The Saints were granted one more chance when Kasay’s kickoff scooted out of bounds with one second remaining. They considered a Hail Mary throw for the end zone, but especially after they were pushed back 5 yards by a delay-of-game penalty, Brees realized he couldn’t throw the ball 70-plus yards. So they devised an impromptu play, with Brees telling his receivers to turn and look for the ball after about 20 yards.

“He told us to look for it early,” said Moore, who caught the final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. “Obviously, we didn’t look early enough.”

Coach Sean Payton and several players suggested that Sunday’s loss was a microcosm of the season:

The Saints shot themselves in the foot with early mistakes, including an interception by Brees and a fumbled kickoff return by Skyler Green that was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter, and they allowed the Panthers to run for 174 yards in the first half.

They came back with their offense firing on all cylinders and their defense stepping up big on three consecutive drives.

They found a way to lose in the end.

“This has been somewhat the story of the season, and that’s not a good thing,” said Payton, who lamented the early miscues and the late ones. “Like the Chicago Bears game (which ended in part because of a deep pass interference penalty in overtime), here’s a lead with three minutes left and we need to make a play above our head on the football. That’s everyone. That’s not one specific person. We need to hurry the passer. We need to be able to get our hands on the football. Those are the things that we weren’t able to do and the result ends up in a loss.”

The Saints lost six games in the final minutes this season — at Washington in Week 2, at Denver in Week 3, vs. Minnesota in Week 5, at Tampa Bay in Week 13, at Chicago in Week 15 and vs. Carolina in Week 17. Those six losses came by a total of 18 points.

Payton reminded his team of that exact theme Saturday night, insisting they need to place an emphasis on finishing strong.

“This is another one you lump into (that group),” Saints linebacker Scott Fujita said. “You’re proud of the fight. But again, to come up short, it’s tough.”

“This definitely isn’t an average football team,” Moore said. “But we’ve had too many games get away from us in the last seconds.”

Heading into Sunday’s game, the Saints believed that a victory over Carolina could help put a positive spin on this season and provide some momentum heading into next year.

After all, they insisted, they were just a few plays away from being a 10- or 11-win team that could have been right in the thick of the playoff race.

However, the way things transpired in the season finale didn’t provide clarity either way.

Brees said “it’s not every day that you can come back from three touchdowns to take the lead in the fourth quarter against the team who is going to be the No. 2 seed in our conference, so I think that’s saying a lot. We can draw a lot of positives from that.”

But once again, New Orleans proved to be a team that was so close this year … yet so far away.