The Strap Down Saints Dynasty

[duckman]

First, I would like to say that I've enjoyed reading all the different dynasties. Each has certain qualities about them that I enjoyed reading anytime come to this site. I figured that I would start one on my own. I wanted to start one for awhile now, but have not found the time until now. So here I go.

[duckman]

The Strap Down Saints


Don't be fool by the name. The only reason that I'm calling my dynasty so is because of the limited financial aspect of this dynasty. I also wanted some flexiblity to it so it doesn't become too difficult that I would get bored with it.

Here are the house rules that I have set for myself:

1. No team swapping
I always find myself wanting to swap teams after so long for a change of scenery. This puts the end of that.

2. Can only request for a new stadium every 30 years
I feel that it's too easy to get a new stadium every 15 years. This is not practical and not very realistic. However, I can request a minor renovation.

3. Ticket prices can not be higher that my two closest regional rivals
My two closet teams are Atlanta and Tenessee.

4. No Francise Player disignations

5. Limited to 1 contract reconstruction with two or more years remaining
This is a common practice in the NFL, but I don't want to abuse it.

6. Can only offer 3 contract extensions to players with 1 year remaining
This is a common rule use with this game.

7. Can only offer one major free agent in the first ten weeks of the free agent signing period

8. Can offer up to 3 free agents deals in the final ten weeks of the free agent signing period

[duckman]

2000 New Orleans Saints Preview

Here are the ratings of my team before the preseason:

Stadium: FAIR(33)
Roster: VERY GOOD(60)
Support:FAIR(21)
Economy:FAIR(24)
Value: $263.12 million

I've only sold 29,100 season tickets this season. This doesn't go well for my finances. I've got alot of work to do get this franchise to turn around. It's the least valuable of the 31 franchise. I'm going to proposed a new 68,500 seat stadium after this season. I'll also have do some work on the roster make it more of my liking.

My coach is Corey Meusey. He's 63 years old and makes $1.19 million. Here are his ratings:

QB: Fair
RB: Fair
WR/TE: Excellent
OL: Excellent
DL: Very Good
LB: Fair
DB: Fair
K: Good
Young Talent: Very Good
Motivation: Fair
Discipline: Fair
Offense: Excellent
Defense: Good
Avoid Injuries: Fair

His age and lack to motivate will probably be his downfall. I'll be looking for a younger coach next season.

Willie Goike is my scout. He's also getting up in age(60). He'll also will be unemployed after this season. His ratings:

QB: Good
RB: Very Good
WR: Fair
OL: Good
K: Very Good
DL: Fair
LB: Fair
DB: Very Good
Young Talent: Good



[This message has been edited by duckman (edited 02-12-2001).]

[This message has been edited by duckman (edited 02-13-2001).]

[duckman]

2000 Season

Well, the Saints finished 8-8 this first season under my control. Injuries plaqued this team for much of the seaon. Our quarterback Jeff Blake missed 5 full games and parts of two others due to a shoulder injury. LaRoi Glover missed 10 games due to surgery on his ailing shoulder that bother him for most of the year. He collected only 1.5 sacks in 6 games.

Coach Corey Meusy really impressed me this season. If it wasn't for the injuries to Blake and Glover, I think we could have gone 10-6 and made the playoffs. However, his age is still a concern. I'll probably try to sign him to a one year deal unless I can find a good young replacement.

Attendance was better than expected. We averaged 44,200 people per game. That's still only 62.3 perecnt of the stadium capacity. I might wait off to ask for a new stadium for another season due to the public's lack of interest for one.

Here's the rundown of the 2000 season:

DETROIT L, 12-17
@San Diego W, 28-26
@Seattle L, 10-33
PHILADELPHIA W, 39-20
@Chicago W, 34-14
CAROLINA L, 17-31
@Atlanta W, 23-20
@Arizona L, 3-15
SAN FRANCISCO W, 49-21
@Carolina L, 13-16
OAKLAND L, 23-35
@St Louis L, 14-38
DENVER W, 24-7
@San Francisco W, 23-7
ATLANTA L, 29-32
ST LOUIS W, 39-36

[This message has been edited by duckman (edited 02-12-2001).]

[duckman]

Saints Clean Out Front Office

(AP) New Orleans, LA- New general manager Kevin Heath today hired new head coach Phil Thompson to a new 5 year deal worth at a reported 2.4 million per season.

Thompson worked as offensive coordinator for the World Champion Oakland Raiders the past two seasons before taking the job. He has also was the former head coach of the Univerisy of Kentucky for 3 seasons.

Also announced today the hiring of Keith Livesay as the new head scout. He signed a 3 year deal worth 230,000 per season. He has been in the Saints scouting system for the past 3 seasons.

"I believe that this gives the best possible scenrio to win," said GM Heath.


Here are the ratings of the new coach and scout:

Phil Thompson
Age: 55

QB: VERY GOOD
RB: VERY GOOD
WR/TE: VERY GOOD
OL: VERY GOOD
DL: FAIR
LB: GOOD
DB: FAIR
K: VERY GOOD
YOUNG TALENT: FAIR
MOTIVATION: GOOD
DISCIPLINE: FAIR
OFF: FAIR
DEF: GOOD
INJ: GOOD

Keith Livesay
Age: 38

QB: VERY GOOD
RB: GOOD
WR: FAIR
OL: GOOD
K: GOOD
DL: FAIR
LB: FAIR
DB: FAIR
YOUNG TALENT: GOOD

[duckman]

2001 Off Season

Here's the balance sheet:

TV Revenue: 25.00 M
Ticket Revenue: 16.27 M
Suite Revenue: 16.11 M
Concessions: 1.50 M
Parking: .83 M
Advertising: 4.46 M
Revenues: 64.17 M

Player Contract: 32.42 M
Player Bonus: 3.58 M
Training: 4.34 M
Coaching Staff: 8.33 M
Scouting Staff: 9.45 M
Stadium Maintenance: 2.65 M
Stadium Payment: 0 M
Costs: 60.77 M

Profit: 3.40 M

Well, I made a mild profit. This might not be the case with all the free agent signings. I was able to pull away linebackerDexter Coakley from Dallas for 3.49 mil for 2 years and safety Kwamie Lassiter from Arizona for 10.5 mil over 3 years. I also resigned Joe Horn to a blockbuster 29.44 mil over 4 years.

The draft was not very productive. I found only mediocre players. I selected CB Oscar Gheesling with the 17th pick. He and QB Lewis Collins were the only productive picks I found. Collins could be a future starter. Collins was a third round pick.

The two main free agent losses were DT Norman Hand and QB Jeff Blake. I could not afford the 6-7 mil dollar deals and keep Horn. We'll see if these loses do anything with this rebuilding process.

[This message has been edited by duckman (edited 02-13-2001).]

[duckman]

2001 Saints Preview

Stadium: Poor(16)
Roster: Very Good(68)
Support: Fair(21)
Economy: Fair(25)
Value: $272.05 M (30th of 31 teams)

I held off asking for the new stadium until next season. It's very disturbing that the stadium rating fell 17 points in one season! Also, we only sold 29,100 season tickets again this season.

I think Coach Thompson will do fine as coach. He seems to be able develop the young talent very well even tough his low rating in young talent. Hopefully, a 10-6 season is not out of the question.

[This message has been edited by duckman (edited 02-13-2001).]

[duckman]

2001 Season

This season was a marginal sucess as we finished 9-7. After a 2-4 start, we managed to win seven of our next eight to go 9-5 with the NFC West title in sight. Unfortunately, we lose the final two games and barely squeeze into the playoffs. San Francisco handled us very well as fell in my first playoff game 16-6.

Despite the playoff appearance, we only averaged 42,800 people in the seats. I'm still going to proposed the new 68,500 seat stadium in the near future. We are definitely hurting for a new facility.

Here's the season rundown:

WASHINGTON L, 21-27
@San Francisco L, 21-31
@Atlanta W, 27-24
NY JETS L, 14-16
MINNESOTA W, 27-20
@St Louis L, 14-58(OUCH!!!)
SAN FRANCISCO W, 41-3
ATLANTA W, 44-36
@Miami L,6-20
@Dallas W, 20-14
@Carolina W, 31-17
INDINAPOLIS W, 38-35
@Chicago W, 30-10
ST LOUIS W, 28-21
@Buffalo L, 3-24
CAROLINA L, 17-23

[duckman]

Saint's Stadium Proposal Shot Down

(AP)New Orleans, LA- Saint's GM Kevin Heath was informed today that his 285 million dollar stadium proposal was turn away at the polls. The new 68,500 seat stadium would have replaced the old Super Dome that the Saints playing in since 1976.

"This is obviously a sad day for Saint's football," said Heath.

The new stadium would have included 225 luxury boxes and 9,500 club seats.

The referendum failed by 50.5 to 49.5 margin in the polls. The Saints has not made it known if they planned to move the team.

[This message has been edited by duckman (edited 02-13-2001).]

[duckman]

2002 Off Season

Here's the balance sheet:

TV Revenue: 27.48 M
Ticket Revenue: 18.51 M
Suite Revenue: 17.31 M
Concessions: 1.60 M
Parking: .88 M
Advertising: 4.43 M
Revenues: 70.21 M

Player Contract: 47.84 M
Player Bonus: 24.88 M
Training: 3.93 M
Coaching Staff: 16.80 M
Scouting Staff: 10.35 M
Stadium Maintenance: 2.67 M
Stadium Payment: 0 M
Costs: 106.47 M

Profit: (36.26) M

During the free agent period I managed to snagged DE Lance Johnstone from Oakland for 7.98 mil for 2 years. I also resigned DT Tony Williams to a 2 year deal for 7.65 mil.

I also released Jake Reed into free agency. his 4.5 mil this season was too high for a 3rd string wideout. I also lost TE's Cameron Cleeland and Andrew Glover to Cincinnati and San Diego. I managed to replaced them with the signing of Byron Chamberlain to a one year deal.

The draft was a waste as I drafted two busts. Both busts were from the defensive end so that really hurt my chances of improving this defense.