Exactly right. There is no doubt in my my mind that this was a decision based on the TEAM’S best interest. This has nothing to do with Sean Payton personally…

Something tells me “no” will be your answer here…

Payton was a pompous a-hole all along. Ever since the Stallworth trade, nothing he’s done personnel wise has surprised me. I honestly can’t wait until the day he gets canned. Maybe then we’ll get a defensive-minded head coach, who focuses more on running the football on offense. Even if we win the Super Bowl this year, I’ll still feel the same way. Happy that we finally made it, disappointed that it couldn’t have happened with Hank Stram or Bum Phillips or anyone with a lick of humility running the show.

if Payton is a “pompous a-hole” if we win. I personally don’t think he’s an a-hole – pompous, yes, but not an a-hole. He’s obviously very confident – I think you have to be at this level. Some carry that differently than others (or better than others). This isn’t a miss congeniality contest. By the way, Hank Stram humble? OK….

I have no idea what went down with the Houser thing, but like some above said, if it was going to have a negative effect on the team, then getting rid of him doesn’t really bother me. If we struggle again this year, he’ll be on the hot seat in my mind but I’m confident we’ll be better.

is a fluff rag, imo. I cancelled my subscription ages ago. I’ll admit that I appreciate John DeShazier’s objectivity and I used to dig Josh Peter’s biting sacasm when he first started, though I suspect someone must have told him to put a lid on it, as his writing style changed drastically overnight. Otherwise, they’re about as vanilla as journalism comes. I agree with MtnExile, reader polls are weak. However, I’m glad they’re at least starting to get a little dirt under their nails. If there’s a story to be had, then by all means, bring it to the surface. No one should be treated with kid gloves. If getting to the bottom of something “fishy” means ruffling a few feathers, then so be it. If there’s nothing there when the dust settles, at least it won’t be from a lack of effort. On top of which, what’s the worst that could possibly happen? Nothing to write about? They’ve already mastered that. Payton resigns? I’d renew my subscription that very same day. Even it’s just to give my dog something local on which to urinate.

yes, i think that we can all agree that the TP is written for retarded 12 year olds. yes, i think this had everything to do with houser getting cut. but how can you blame our front office, this dude pissed off important people on the team. before this happened, i remember hearing that houser was a popular guy in the locker room who helped everyone with investments, if he is no longer popular, then he should be let go. pizza mentioned that he didnt like paytons move to get rid of stallworth (i personally think it was a good idea). stallworth (like him or not) was much more important to the team than a long snapper. so if hes going to be a locker room distraction, than he needs to be sent packing. an example needs to be made: if you lose drew brees’ money, your job with the saints is over.

might seem like a better option—but if we’re going to be an “average” team, i’d much rather have offensive-minded coach like payton. i’ve always said that even when the saints lose, the games are exciting—and that’s largely due to our offensive awesomeness. i know many will disagree with this, but i’d rather lose a game 42-35 than 10-3. at least i get my money’s worth!

is the worst part of Saints fandom. I don’t know if I could care less how Houser and Payton get along as men, or why Houser got canned. He deserved better, as he put in a lot of mistake-free years with the team. That opinion is why I’m not in business. And at least he wasn’t messing around with Willie Roaf’s wife, or a compulsive gambler who was into Harrah’s for millions, eh?

Payton’s alright. He’s slightly less alright than he was when the Saints beat the Eagles in the ‘06 playoffs. But he’s been exactly that alright ever since he first abandoned the run in the Chicago snow a week after. His personnel changes, for the most part, have made sense, at leas at the time. He’s had roughly the same number of stupid sounding moves as any other Saints coach I can remember, and roughly the same number of busts. If he gets a 9-7 record, misses the playoffs, gets fired and replaced by Williams, who “turns the team around” to a 10-6 team with a wildcard playoff game, I would be amazingly unsurprised. I for one don’t care who does it, I just hope to see the Saints in one Superbowl before I die.

as long as the phrase “locker room distraction” exists in the English language, any personnel move a coach makes can be construed as being in the best interests of the team. Speaking of which, I’ve heard that Marques Colston has a 14" schlong. How can something that serpentine not be a distraction? I think we should trade him for a back-up middle linebacker immediately. Jk, of course. What ever would make season ticket holders think they have the right to question the intregrity of the product they’re paying for to begin with? The entire concept seems absurd to me. Hush it, traitors.