And you thought Oakland and Kansas City were bad.

A few weeks ago, I made the following assertion: "Without Drew, this team is Detroit."

I stand corrected. Detroit is in a class of its own. I mean… just… wow. Our old pals Moran Norris and John Owens don’t deserve this.

I suppose we’re supposed to accept this as the quid pro quo from the NFL’s schedule-makers. In exchange for the home game in London and the 42 days away from the Superdome, we got the Detroit game as our General Purpose Non-Denominational Federal Winter Holiday gift. And, as is often the case with socially-mandated gifts from casual acquaintances, we politely say "thanks" and make a point of enjoying it for a short period of time before adding it to our ever-expanding stash of clutter. Continue Reading…

Okay, it’s official. I’m an asshole (gasps of disbelief fill the internet) and I have no idea what I’m talking about. Ralph is an asshole too. What a couple of buffoons we were for asserting that the Saints simply can’t run the ball consistently and that there’s no point in trying to "commit to the run."

Sean Payton? The third member of the asshole tribunal. You tried to tell us, but we wouldn’t listen. All this time, all the Saints had to do was to run the ball 30 times and presto, Reggie’s all of a sudden good for 8 yards a carry and Pierre’s good for 6.4 a carry. All it took was a "commitment." Right?

Fortunately, Sean Payton finally realized that the only reason the Saints haven’t been putting up 150+ rushing yards per game is because he hasn’t let them. Right? But Sunday’s game proved it. And everything’s gonna be all better from now on. Right? Continue Reading…

It’s the chance dangers that I’m afraid of — the senseless, unpredictable dangers of a world falling apart. Consider the physical risks of complex machinery in the hands of blind fools and fear-crazed cowards. … They’ll reach the stage where no day will pass without a major wreck.

Ain’t that the fuckin’ truth.

What was supposed to be a road trip to Tampa turned into a trip to Bizarro World, as the Saints defense held up their end of the bargain for once. The only thing familiar was the outcome, with the Saints snatching defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. But in Bizarro World, it was Drew Brees who gave the game away. Or at least that seems to be the general postgame consensus.

With all due respect to the thoughtful commentators, columnists, beat writers and bloggers out there who came to similar conclusions, I’m gonna have to go ahead and call bullshit. Continue Reading…