Getty ImagesThe bounty scandal continues to percolate, with the head coach gone for the year and the interim coach soon to return the G.M. a couple of games away from coming back, and the suspensions of the players a couple of weeks (or more) from being resolved. And as the Saints try to climb out of the 0-4 hole that started their season, one of their key defensive players has an opinion as to what the team’s record would be but for the distractions and problems created by the bounty case.
“If you have none of this bountygate in the offseason. If there’s no problems. Through five games, instead of 1-4, what’s your best guess as to what your record would be?” Erik Kuselias asked safety Roman Harper during Friday’s Pro Football Talk.
Said Harper, “5-0.”
“You’d be 5-0,” Kuselias said. “So this has cost you four games?”
“Hey, it is what it is,” Harper said. “It’s all right. You know, you can’t win ‘em all. And at the end of the day we have to climb out of it from here. And we still have a chance in this division — that’s the crazy thing. No matter how we started the season. I think the last two Super Bowl champs limped into the playoffs at 9-7. All you can ask for is a chance and an opportunity late in January and that’s all we ask for.”
They definitely have a chance. And their best chance to keep it going comes on Sunday, when the Saints play the Buccaneers in Tampa.
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And there it is!!! It took to week 7, but I knew that excuse would start coming from the Saints…bush-league, boys. Bush-league.
I’m just surprised that this guy hasn’t been accused of any bounties, one of the dirtiest players in the game.
Yeah, maybe in the pre-season. Be thankful your team is going to get a GREAT draft pick.
Without us not scoring as many points as the other teams we would be unbeaten.
I see how this works, without replacement refs, the Packers would be 4-2.
Bountygate or not, losing to the chiefs means you’re a pretty god awful team.
Players shouldn’t be allowed to talk when they’re not on the field.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh man, that was good…
That’s fine.
But Roman do you realize this is professional football? This game isn’t won on paper by who should have or could have won the best. It’s a game of who can win at the most aspects overall of all components that are part of the sport. And off the field shenanigans by players, coaches, and managers is part of this sport.
So congratulations to being one of the 32 franchises that could be undefeated if they didn’t make any mistakes, but better luck next season at being the best “football team” of them all. If you want to win, then join a team that is committed to doing so, or don’t complain and whine for being part of a team that is not the best “football team”.
Too easy of a comeback for this one. I’ll just say this: not even Payton can fix that defense. Just be glad SD gave you a gift win.
Packers were 10-6.
But, close enough.
Said Harper, “5-0.”
Harper said. “It’s all right. You know, you can’t win ‘em all.
Which one is it? Man, I’m tired of this city whining. And not only about football.
Roman Harper, Drew Brees, and Jonathan Vilma:
SHUT THE EFF UP!
I was at the game vs. the Skins. 4-1.
What a bunch of crybabies
Roman Harper is correct. And before the haters chime in, ask yourself this question first.
If your team lost their Head Coach for the whole season for no reason, would your team still perform the same?
And if your answer is yes, they will perform the same, then ask yourself this question…
Why do we even have a Head Coach if they do not make a difference in the way your team performs?
Free Sean Payton.
Roman Harper is a funny guy. Saints have a cupcake schedule and they still can’t win.
Whatever!!
OK Roman, whatever. You defense is a sieve just like your predivtion.
no excuses roman harper…saints blew a big lead vs. the chiefs and lost…excuses don’t pass in this league, either win or lose…bountygate was suppose to be motivation with the us against world mentality and we see how that has turned out with the saints down 1-4…bountygate has nothing to do with miscommunication and bad defensive breakdowns via worst defense in football..play with the cards that are handed to you and win football games
Well, then stop cheating.
Hahahahah.
You know what Bounty Scandal or not the Saints did not play up to their level on the first quarter of the season
All that doesn’t matter now, they can only worry about what is in front of them and not this Bounty story what will take care of itself.
They would still have lost to the Packers anyways even if they had the cheating coach and players with them
Que in the Saints haters, but you’ve gonna admit, Harper has a good point. The games the Saints have lost up to this point have been by a touchdown or less. Now, playing without your head coach, and an offseason filled with an intent by this Commissioner to destroy this franchise. The Saints are holding their own pretty nicely. I don’t think any other team in this league could have handle the adversity any better. That said, the Saints are in a hole, and they know it, but once their defense snaps into shape, anything’s possible. The Falcons are 6-0, but that doesn’t mean squat, other than they will probabily take the division, and true to form lose their first playoff game, because they certain aren’t slaughtering any teams, usually just barely winning, so they aren’t an issue, post regular season. Teams in the NFL should not turn their backs on the Saints, they have the arsenal to split you ten ways tell Sunday, you’ve all been warned. Good luck Saints fans, show Goodell that you all can win in spite of his handicapping your franchise.
Obviously they need bounties to get them excited to play. Without them they’re a below average team.
what a muppet…the saints record reflects their inability to stop the run or pass..it’s as simple as that
LOL!
He should play for the Jets!!
Yes and if a bullfrog had wings……
This team could be dangerous in the playoffs, well at least if they snuck in and ended up facing Atlanta in a dome. However they most likely won’t make it after this start.
So pretty much if the Saints didnt get caught, they still would be motivated to play DEF……..
3-2? Maybe, but undefeated? Nah that defense is way too awful to be undefeated.
Yeah, and without ever Making any mistakes in the game, every team would win the Super Bowl. What’s your point? You are what your record says you are.
He needs to be drug tested.
You are what your record says you are.
- Bill Parcels
No excuses. Saints blow
Is he willing to put money on that?
Gotta love the ‘Can’t prove it wrong’ predictions of records….I have one, “If it wasn’t for losses/ties we would have won all games so far!!” PS….A bad defense is still a bad defense Saints….By the way how many offensive players are you missing because of this??
Thought so…
Is he right?
Yeah, maybe
So I hope the coaches feel proud of themselves. They were warned and they continued with this crap. They are the ones to blame for this
Wahh!! WAH!!
The aint’s suck without financial motivation on defense, they should change their nickname from “who dat” to “who cares”. Sean Payton is the reason that offense is good, the proof is the pudding (rotten, spoiled, poop flavored pudding at that).
Yea right! And A-Roid and the Yankees
are going to the World Series!
and if i had two wheels Id be a bicycle.
It’s easy to say things that cant be proven wrong.
without bounty scandal, Saints would be unbeaten
And without replacement refs or a tragic diagnosis of a coach with leukemia, the Packers would be 5-1. But there were, and there was, so they’re not. What of it?
Well then, I guess PFT better put them at the top of next weeks Power Rankings!
As a Titans fan, I say my team would be undefeated too… if you just didn’t count all of those touchdowns our defense gave up. Oh and gives us an extra 21 points a game. If you do that, we’re the greatest team of all time.
Their defense sucks and they can’t run the ball, but I suppose we should ignore those insignificant things.
Yeah, yeah…-
and if the Queen had testes, she’d walk funny.
We all knew these excuses would be coming. My response to Harper is, “without the bounty (scandal) the saints* wouldn’t have won a Superbowl”.
Gotta love the shoulda, woulda, coulda game. If we did this. If we did that then every team would be undefeated. Only underachieving teams play that card…
You guys all realize he was answering a hypothetical question, not just shouting this from a mountaintop right?
I’m no Saints fan, and I don’t agree that they would be 5-0. I’m not surprised that a professional athlete would think that way however. You gotta remember, these individuals have been getting the same Pavlovian brainwashing regarding positive thinking since Pee Wee. Any professional football player who didn’t think like this would be called out for not having faith in their team.
saintsfan26 says:Oct 20, 2012 8:29 PM
Roman Harper is correct. And before the haters chime in, ask yourself this question first.
If your team lost their Head Coach for the whole season for no reason, would your team still perform the same?
And if your answer is yes, they will perform the same, then ask yourself this question…
Hey Saintsfan:
Colts lost their head coach (cancer, not cheating, lying, etc.) and beat the Packers.
Maybe it has to do with the integrity of the players on your team?
Seriously, the Saints window closed. They should be happy. They got a championship. But they are on the downswing now.q
This might pull the AINTS ahead of the Packers now as the biggest babies in the league.
This is downright laughable. Saints blow this season get over it bounty or no bounty scandal
You lost to the Chiefs at home – So shut up , Mr .Harper !
“If your team lost their Head Coach for the whole season for no reason, would your team still perform the same?”
No, my team would be better without that fatso for a head coach.
The Saints WERE one of those teams I liked to see do well unless they were playing my Skins. I am tired of their mouths now! Sometimes you gotta man up and take responsibility. All they do now is wine and moan. Brees, Vilma, and Harper. Tired!
Hopefully the positive that comes from this is that we can stop hearing sports pundits talk about the QB like “he’s like a coach on the field.”
That’s a cute hypothesis. Bless his heart
And the dog would have caught the rabbit IF he did stop to take a crap.
“If there was no bounty gate.”
If… ” If”s” and “But’s” were candy and nuts… It would be Christmas every day.
You are 1 and 4
Do not wish it was easier.. Wish you were better.
Without a doubt if Daniel Park had no excuses his life would be perfect too.
If it weren’t for the madden curse Calvin Johnson would have 12 touchdowns by now.
If they didn’t have to play the Cardinals, Rams, and 49ers; the Seahawks would be unbeaten.
And the point is…….
Man, it seems the Saints went from the easiest team in the NFL to like and root for to the easiest to dislike and root against.
And if I were 6’8″ with better knees I would be in the NBA.
Drew Brees didn’t do the Saints any favors by holding out for more money either.
With Payton gone during offseason, Brees could have stepped in and provided leadership to the team like he did last year during the lockout.
However, Brees wanted every last dollar he could get out of the Saints. OBTW, not being able to get Brees on contract prevented getting others on contract, which led to Saints losing key personnel during off-season.
Bounty Gate, Brees’ holdout, replacement refs… The perfect storm for Saints situation.
For all of those people calling Harper a ‘whiner,” he was asked a question and he answered it – very level-headedly, I might add. He didn’t bring up the subject himself.
How on earth is that “whining”?
Roman,You and your aints,yes aints are just fortunate they didnt take your rings away.They do it when collegians are found to have cheated,ie Reggie Bush and many other programs.
Stop whinnning and be a man!
urlacher54 says:
Oct 20, 2012 9:31 PM
You guys all realize he was answering a hypothetical question, not just shouting this from a mountaintop right?
I’m no Saints fan, and I don’t agree that they would be 5-0. I’m not surprised that a professional athlete would think that way however. You gotta remember, these individuals have been getting the same Pavlovian brainwashing regarding positive thinking since Pee Wee. Any professional football player who didn’t think like this would be called out for not having faith in their team.
thanks for the context and perspective…i always wondered what the waterboy kids were discussing. really. thanks for sharing.
Harper is a big reason the Saints suck. The defense is horrible!
Harper is probably one of the 5 worst starting safties in football…not sure why he is Evan being interviewed…. I Guess bounty gate is responsible for the team’s inability to cover and tackle….. Oh and also responsible for the Brees holdout which clearly left him rusty early on (55% completion and 5 picks in 1st 3 games)
Well…with Hue Jackson the Raiders would be 5-0 right now…
But you know what that means, right???? Absolutely nothing.
Well, maybe you shouldn’t have broken the rules. Quit complaining, be happy the NFL didn’t take your SB away from you.
We call those “consequences for your selfish actions”, Roman….
All saints haters you know what to kiss right? If it was your team then what? You all would say the same are worst.No one is crying bout the season,we are survivors in the N.O. as proven, but yet, most of you come here an fall out on bourbon street drunk, so don’t hate on a city were y’all come to party an spend your money haters haters haters we in the N.O. we thank you for your visit,an the negative comments. Southern hospitality dats how we do down here. So hate on we love it saints nation who DAT!!!!!
Can anyone name how many teams have been successful with an interim head coach?
You can call it crying and whining all you want. The truth is your team would suck HARD if you lost your coach.
Don’t even play.
iceshocker says: Oct 20, 2012 8:19 PM
Bountygate or not, losing to the chiefs means you’re a pretty god awful team.
————————————————
Yeah, the Saints are so god-awful they only managed to be the NFL’s winningest team over the last three seasons until Goodell made them play the season without their head coach.
Give me a break. Next season the Saints will be back at their rightful place at the top of the league, most likely beating the crap out of whatever crappy team you root for. Again.
That old grey beard is terrible
Saints will be fined 20k for failure to properly disclose concussion to Harper
If your team lost their Head Coach for the whole season for no reason….
there IS reason. Stop being delusional.
Harper is an idiot…that defense is beyond terrible. No way they’d be undefeated if there was no bounty scandal.
I love coming on profootball talk because on here you have a lot of New Orleans Saints haters on here. Roman Harper knows the Saints because he plays for them, and when he said if it wouldn’t have been for this bounty mess yes the would have been 5-0 into the season. The New Orleans Saints is not a dream team, they are a show you team and they are the team in the NFL that can comeback and make the playoffs. When they beat Tampa Bay then the other teams going to start worry, just like I say I love profootball talk they talk about the Saints like they are the worses team the NFL. People’s that talk this bad about the Saints love the WHODAT’S NATION they going to be in the playoffs Roman Harper says just keep count from game 6.
if the Saints spent as much time practicing and game planning as they did running their mouths and worrying about things that are done or in the past they might be undefeated.
Saints are getting what they deserve! No one on their defense should be spending time on this subject anymore and spending more time on how to stop other teams. Obvious these guys need some other incentive to play well. Pretty sad! If your innocent just shut up and play.
As a 49er fan you can definitely put me in the Saints “hater” (I hate that word) column. And I’ve found this whole bounty situation nothing but hilarious.
However, some of the people bashing the Saints are ridiculous. If this had happened to the 49ers, I’d be so mad. I’d be saying the same things that Saints fans are saying.
If people want to bash the Saints, that’s totally fine and funny. But let the Saints fans grieve because we would all be just as furious if the iron hand of Goodell held our favorite teams instead of theirs.
Wow you Saints haters are something else. Keep pretending like we wasn’t a 13-3 ball club last year. Keep pretending like we didn’t BEAT THE BRAKES OFF the Vikings, the Falcons 8 out the last 10 times, the Patriots, the Giants the Jets Yes we Own NY, the Texans and the sorry Cowboys. the Packers barely beat us in Green Bay but the last time they brought that cheese to the Dome we scored over 50 points on them. So you can keep fantasising that your team is better, but you and I know when Sean Payton comes back its back to reality. And anyway regardless of who win the super bowl this year there will be an asterik by the name. For 1 the bad officiating and 2 a Super Bowl bound team was purposely handicapped. I would rather the NFL just come out and say a team can’t play the SB in their own stadium.
”And they Say Who Dat”
If it wasn’t for spygate the Patriots would have more super bowls on there mantel. What, every team does it, is a great excuse.
It can be pretty hard to win if you’ve convinced yourself of an excuse for losing.
Guess what idiot. Your Not!! So shut up and go away
All the Saints games this year were close, change a few things and any record from 5-0 to 0-5 is possible.
“”"”"”"”saintsfan26 says:
Roman Harper is correct. And before the haters chime in, ask yourself this question first.
If your team lost their Head Coach for the whole season for no reason, would your team still perform the same?
And if your answer is yes, they will perform the same, then ask yourself this question…
Hey Saintsfan:
Colts lost their head coach (cancer, not cheating, lying, etc.) and beat the Packers.
Maybe it has to do with the integrity of the players on your team?”"”"
So, just to clarify:
A.)Peyton Manning is injured for all of 2011,
B.)Your playoff-caliber team ends up with the NFL’s worst record.
C.)Therefore you end up with the greatest QB prospect since M’FUGGIN PEYTON MANNING!!!!
…and you’re talking about integrity of the game…??? Coincidence my A$$! (Go Bills)
freethinker13:
“but once their defense snaps into shape, anything’s possible”
___________________________________________
That’s way funnier than Harper’s “5-0″ quote.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA.
Not only are you dirty, you are a whiner and are pathetic.
Funniest thing I’ve read on this site in weeks.
No excuses
darkangel400…
Roman Harper IS crying about the season and New Orleans you’re full of Mardi Gras beads if you’re gonna pretend the city of New Orleans loves the Saints no matter what! Let’s not forget it was your own fan base that invented the “Ain’ts” and wore the brown paper bags over their heads. Can’t take away the success the Saints have had in the recent past. However, they made their bed and must lay in it and so do you as a fan.
Time for the Saints to go lay down…
The Saints would definitely have a better record, I don’t know whether or not they would’ve been undefeated, nobody does or could know. That is why we play the game.
Payton is gone because he wasn’t maintaining the appropriate control on his team, or that is what he said. He is responsible and that is what he was suspended for.
The loss of Vilma isn’t the difference in the team.
The point is, when warned to stop something, stop it.
I see no point in Harper lying about the situation. He was asked a question and he answered it honestly. I don’t think the players are dwelling on these thoughts though and are just trying to win in spite of things.
@sirblitzalot15……the 15 must represent your age, or else you need serious help!!
darkangel400 says:Oct 20, 2012 11:49 PM
All saints haters you know what to kiss right? If it was your team then what? You all would say the same are worst.No one is crying bout the season,we are survivors in the N.O. as proven, but yet, most of you come here an fall out on bourbon street drunk, so don’t hate on a city were y’all come to party an spend your money haters haters haters we in the N.O. we thank you for your visit,an the negative comments. Southern hospitality dats how we do down here. So hate on we love it saints nation who DAT!!!!!
==================================
My universal translator broke while trying to decode this post. Hopefully, it’s not worth reading.
Ya, if somebody gave me $990,000, I’d be a millionaire.
The Saints would be the same team as last year except with a few more losses. Remember getting beat by Seattle because your defense sucks? Same thing this year. POs and a quick loss because you cant just have an offense.
I dont know how you can say the 5-0 garbage unless you live in fantasy land though. You lost to the Chiefs! You won against the only team bad enough to give up a 24-0 lead in 30 minutes of play. The Saints arent a good team right now. They are a good offense.
bigjdve who says the Saints were warned to stop or didnt stop? Don’t be a sheep of ESPN and the NFL. There is a reason this case is in court and that the NFL’s case is looking more and more like a frame job to the point Goodell had to recuse himself. Stay tuned for more enlightenment in the ALEGED bounty case.
Excuses, Excuses! Sounds like he is a Packer!! Boohoo! cry! whine and pout! Yep, just like a Packer alright!
Yeah, and the without the bounties and associated events (i.e. cheap shots, attempts to injure), the Saints wouldn’t have won a superbowl…
Oh I’ve waited sooooo patiently for this. Didn’t take very long for the excuses. Nobody preaches accountability anymore huh?
Is this Drew Brees’ long awaited explanation?
bgrab1: I am not a sheep of anyone. I watched the owner admit to being warned and not realizing that his team was still doing it. I also see him not saying a word while his coach is suspended.
Goodell can shut up players and coaches but not owners.
If the owner says that his team screwed up I am inclined to believe it.
The Saints lost four games by an average of five points each. I’d say Payton is worth a touchdown a game. They may not have been 5-0, but they’d be closer to that than 1-4. Great coaches do make a difference (look no further than what Jim Harbaugh’s been able to do with mostly the same players that Singletary had).
Hey jonny42671
It must really hurt to hear the truth, I’m sure your team was mentioned on that list. Not only that, if the Saints make the playoffs ain’t no team in the league would wanna see us in the first or second round…
dcarr325 says:
Oct 20, 2012 8:35 PM
They would still have lost to the Packers anyways even if they had the cheating coach and players with them
======================
Yeah right… I think we would have made up that 1 point differencial in the game if we had Payton!!
The 49ers beat the Saints just fine before the scandal so……
freethinker13, I have to hand it to you. I like you and your way of thinkin. Do you have a single friend who wouldn’t mind lettin a female who’s a hard core Saint’s fan fit in with you guys,hahaha.
Anybody who’d take the word of a guy who’d done what Greg [Williams] had done at every stop along his way to Nawlins and beg to get his job back in less than 24 hrs after bein told he’d never coach again has no idea of how slick Goodell is. It was all but brought out in one of Jonathan’s meetins re how conveinent it was for the good ole Commish to come up with proof at the 13th hour yet he wouldn’t show it before then. And there was no proof, just some scribbling that had been done 4 days before Jonathan’s last meetin with Slick Goodell. I still maintain that when Tagliblue gets in on this he’s goin to be more fair than Goodell ever thought about bein. At least Tagliblue can say hes never been in any of the owners’ pockets, ahem.
This is rich. A team that cheated its way in 2009 is no whining about being caught. Hey Roman — I could have been a contendah if I didn’t get cuaght and sent to prison. You got caught and you are not very good anyway. WHO DAT????