I have no idea if these allegations are true or not, and will probably never know.

However, why does everyone focus solely on the impracticality of Loomis interpreting play calls and relaying them to his staff?

Could he not have simply focused on communications like who was injured, the extent of injury, whether the player would return, how or who the opposing offense/defense was going to attack, etc. Any of these could provide solid information and are all easily understandable and relay
======================================

And, to further expand on that “impracticality” it is conceivable that they , the Saints, played some of those teams more than once, home and away. Therefore, he (Loomis) could have recorded those calls and presented them to those “savvy” members of the coaching staff who could use them the next time they played those teams.

In this era, when the margin between teams is so razor thin, it’s even easier to play “what if.”

take a pen and write down each call… then after the play… write down the offensive play that happened…

by about play 15 you will start getting repeats … by the 4th quarter, when it really counts, you’ve got a simple sheet to convert 80-90% of the potential play calls… you hear the play…. you call it down to the field, the DC calls it in to the Defensive mic…

it’s very very easy to turn it into a huge advantage… during the course of a game…

They had a solid core. Obviously it didn’t all come together until Roethlisberger arrived, but a lot of the other parts were in place by then.

Possibly a week off to prepare for Tennessee would have given them an advantage. As it was, they did go into overtime at Tennessee the week after squeaking it out at home against the Browns.

However, if the Steelers win that day in New Orleans, they are the home field team in the AFC playoffs in 2002, and aren’t even playing in the Wildcard round.

And, are you saying that Brad Johnson and Rich Gannon (Super Bowl record 5 INT’s) were obvious Super Bowl QB material? I doubt anyone would make that argument.

Your first sentence doesn’t make any sense.

Yes, Sean Payton may have a cause of action against the Saints.

No, that would not violate the terms of his suspension.

His loss of salary has no bearing on the amount of damages.

Can’t wait for week 2: Half-Saints team at Carolina – Cam Newton and his high-powered offense vs a defense with half its players, none of which have any clue how to tackle before a whistle. Panthers win, 49-10.
———————————————–

Of course, this would require the Panthers defense stopping the Saints offense…which won’t happen. Nice try though.

“These guys are cheats. Get rid of them. Game doesn’t need folks like this.”

Go back to high school or community college. You need to take a few writing classes. Your opinion and the points you make may be valid, but no person can read your sentences without getting a headache.

Could he not have simply focused on communications like who was injured, the extent of injury, whether the player would return, how or who the opposing offense/defense was going to attack, etc. Any of these could provide solid information and are all easily understandable and relayed.

You’re absolutely right. He could also just figure out if the play is a called run or pass (not difficult to figure out) and relay that information down quickly. Just knowing that would give a large advantage. Also, who says Loomis himself had to do the listening?

I still don’t know what to think about the allegations, but I’m just saying that *if* it happened it would be a big deal, unlike what Florio keeps jamming down our throats.

Can’t wait for week 2: Half-Saints team at Carolina – Cam Newton and his high-powered offense vs a defense with half its players, none of which have any clue how to tackle before a whistle. Panthers win, 49-10.

2. This isn’t just a random disgruntled ex-employee shooting the breeze. It’s now a joint federal and state task force. So, at the least, it’s a very motivated disgruntled ex-employee.

3. This is a violation of NFL bylaws and federal laws. Period. Now, the federal criminal violation may be okay because of a statute of limitations violation (but still subject Loomis and possibly the Saints to civil prosecution), but still…

4. There is no exception for “no harm, no foul.” If the allegations are true, it doesn’t matter why Loomis did it. To learn the plays for the game? To find out who was injured? To scout out possible coaches? Because he was bored with NOLA radio stations? Because he gets his jollies out of violating the law and people’s privacy? Who knows and cares? If true, he did it, and he shouldn’t have. Period.

Jim Haslett and Rick Mueller both say the eavesdropping never happened. Both were fired by Loomis. If anybody had an axe to grind, it would be them.

Yeah, and if Butch Davis hadn’t called off the dogs in that wild card game in 2002, the Browns would have blown out the Steelers, too. Of if they didn’t drop that INT or if the receiver doesn’t drop that 3rd down conversion. Blah, blah, blah…

Tommy Maddox as a Super Bowl QB?? Yeah, I’ve got ocean front property in Nebraska, too.

Duh!

When the NFL tells you to stop doing something that violates the rules, and you deny the allegations while continuing to cheat in exactly the fashion they are accusing you of, then that should be the end of you in that organization.

Thing is that they’ve demonstrated a blatant disregard for the rules and safety of the game, blatantly disregarding investigations by the NFL along the way. What this tells me is that they were likely violating a lot of other rules as well. What this tells me is that there is a culture there of cheating and doing whatever is possible to win, regardless of what the rules state.

Now we can sit and argue about how much of an advantage they got with bounties. Or how much of an advantage eavesdropping provided. Or whether any of it is true and to what extent. But what I have to say on the subject is that you have an organization that clearly puts winning above the rules and player safety. They will cheat again if they feel they can get away with it.

“We don’t apologize about how we play the game”
-Greg Williams

“Drew Brees decides to sit out season. Brett Farve expresses interest in Saints QB position.”

A couple of years ago, the Saints were America’s feel good story, even if you weren’t a fan or resident of LA. But now, this and all the other bull is casting a major shadow over that organization.

When will the rain stop? Geez.

Don’t mention rain when talking about the Saints, Probably lead to another Hurricane and another sympathy Super Bowl for them