Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

[glassjaw05]

With the conclusion of Week 17 of the regular season and the start of the Playoffs, the New Orleans Saints once again find themselves on the outside looking in.

Changes were needed...

Payton to Take a Step Back

During a very short press conference following the Saint's final game of the season, Sean Payton blindsided fans, media, and surely personnel as well, when he announced that he was effectively retiring from the NFL. He cited several reasons, such as the 'more time with family' cliche, but was also happy to mention his desire to indulge more in his crossfit regime.

It surely signifies the end of an era in New Orleans, in which the Saints finally became a relevant team in the NFL rather than the laughing stock that they were known as. Payton's remodeling of the team, and particularly the offense, made the Saints an exciting team to watch from the moment they drafted Reggie Bush, Marques Colston and Jahri Evans and signed arguably the greatest player in franchise history; Drew Brees. Under his tutelage and play-calling the Saints went on the win Superbowl XLIV in 2009 over Peyton Mannings Colts.

The departure has left the franchise with an aging QB and great uncertainty around the health of the owner; Tom Benson, compounding the huge holes the teams has on both sides of the ball and a two year absence from the play offs. Certainly not an auspicious start to the obvious rebuilding that will now have to occur in Louisiana.

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

Benson Waves Goodbye as the Saints have been SOLD!

As speculated since Sean Payton's abrupt 'retirement', New Orleans Saints owner; Tom Benson, has announced the final agreement by the NFL owners board for the sale of the Saints. Benson's health has been deteriorating over the past few years, embattled by legal proceedings from his children and particularly squabbling over rights and ownership of his two flagship enterprises; the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. As a result, Benson has decided to sell the team.

Despite once trying to move the team to San Antonio, Benson now claims New Orleans as his home and was particular about finding an owner who wound not look to remove the Saints from the Bayou. Unfortunately no individual business group has been able to find the financial sucess within New Orleans since Katrina, that would satisfy an adequate bid. Therefore a triumvirate was put forward with equal investment and interest in the local area.

Former Saints greats and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees; Archie Manning, Rickey Jackson and Willie Roaf.

While Manning is obviously the best known of the three, it will be Rickey Jackson who will be primarily running the day-to-day business of the franchise. Jackson was a 6'2", 243lbs MLB drafted out of Pitt by the Saints, under Bum Phillips in 1981. He was a 6-time Pro Bowler, a member of the Saints nefarious 'Dome Patrol' and only missed two games during his entire career as a Saint.

"While I went on to win a Superbowl with San Fransisco during my playing career, I feel that I have the passion and knowledge to construct a franchise that is able to annually compete in the big dance as the Head of this management group. New Orleans Saints fans have come to expect a certain level of quality out on the field, and it is our endeavor to ensure that that quality is upheld and eventually exceeded. Geaux Saints!"
- Opening statement from Rickey Jackson (Head of the New Orleans Saints Ownerships Group)

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

2015 Season Results (Simmed)

NFL Standings - Updated: Jan 4, 2016
NFC EAST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Washington - Y	9	7	0	425	342
Eagles	7	9	0	390	471
Giants	6	10	0	311	534
Cowboys	4	12	0	288	587
NFC NORTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Vikings - Y	11	5	0	464	288
Packers - X	10	6	0	527	295
Lions	7	9	0	376	442
Bears	6	10	0	300	566
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Panthers - Z	16	0	0	686	156
Saints	7	9	0	418	440
Falcons	7	9	0	376	462
Buccaneers	6	10	0	359	517
NFC WEST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Cardinals - Y	13	3	0	563	242
Seahawks - X	10	6	0	511	288
Rams	7	9	0	303	495
49ers	5	11	0	251	495
AFC EAST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Patriots - Y	12	4	0	652	257
Jets	10	6	0	426	308
Bills	8	8	0	385	364
Dolphins	6	10	0	317	421
AFC NORTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Bengals - Y	12	4	0	547	278
Steelers - X	10	6	0	520	328
Ravens	5	11	0	283	463
Browns	3	13	0	213	521
AFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PF	PA
Texans - Y	9	7	0	391	260
Colts	8	8	0	355	361
Jaguars	5	11	0	284	511
Titans	3	13	0	201	602
AFC WEST	W	L	T	PF	PA
Broncos - Z	12	4	0	559	284
Chiefs - X	11	5	0	574	253
Raiders	7	9	0	281	453
Chargers	4	12	0	304	556

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

2015 Awards



MVP - Cam Newton - QB, Carolina Panthers

Coach of the Year - Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers

AFC Offensive Player - Tom Brady - QB, New England Patriots
AFC Defensive Player - Jamie Collins - , New England Patriots
AFC Offensive Rookie - Karlos Williams - RB, Buffalo Bills
AFC Defensive Rookie - Bud Dupree - ROLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC Offensive Player - Cam Newton - QB, Carolina Panthers
NFC Defensive Player - Luke Kuechly - MLB, Carolina Panthers
NFC Offensive Rookie - David Johnson - RB, Arizona Cardinals
NFC Defensive Rookie - Kwon Alexander - MLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

2015 Statistical Leaders (Simmed)

NFL League Leaders - Updated: Jan 4, 2016
Passing Yards		PYD	Passing Touchdowns		PTD
	1. Peyton Manning	4,299		1. Tom Brady	45
	2. Aaron Rodgers	4,204		2. Andy Dalton	44
	3. Tom Brady	4,136		3. Cam Newton	41
	4. Andy Dalton	3,897		4. Peyton Manning	40
	5. Ben Roethlisberger	3,819		5. Aaron Rodgers	40
Rushing Yards		RYD	Rushing Touchdowns		RTD
	1. Jonathan Stewart	1,750		1. Le'Veon Bell	18
	2. Jamaal Charles	1,718		2. Dion Lewis	15
	3. Adrian Peterson	1,539		3. Jonathan Stewart	14
	4. Le'Veon Bell	1,535		4. Matt Asiata	14
	5. LeSean McCoy	1,481		5. Ronnie Hillman	14
Receiving Yards		CYD	Receiving Touchdowns		CTD
	1. Demaryius Thomas	1,361		1. Larry Fitzgerald	15
	2. Steve Smith Sr.	1,209		2. Greg Olsen	13
	3. Emmanuel Sanders	1,082		3. Demaryius Thomas	13
	4. A.J. Green	1,070		4. John Brown	11
	5. Calvin Johnson	1,068		5. Brandon LaFell	11
Sacks		SKS	Interceptions		INT
	1. Jadeveon Clowney	23.5		1. Leon Hall	8
	2. Chandler Jones	22.5		2. Luke Kuechly	7
	3. Tamba Hali	18		3. David Harris	7
	4. J.J. Watt	18		4. Jamie Collins	6
	5. Ryan Kerrigan	17.5		5. Sean Smith	6

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

New York Giants Head Coach; Tom Coughlin, Retires.

Baltimore fires Coach Harbaugh

Mike Pettine No Longer Coaching in Cleveland

San Diego Looks to Re-Charge After Parting Ways with Coach McCoy

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

Pittsburgh 22 - 34 Cincinnati
Seattle 31 - 6 Minnesota
Kansas City 51 - 3 Houston
Green Bay 27 - 14 Washington

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

Kansas City 44 - 38 Denver
Seattle 24 - 21 Carolina
Cincinnati 38 - 45 New England
Green Bay 41 - 24 Arizona

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

Jackson's First Job: Find a Coach

While it wasn't his only job as the new head of the franchise, it was definitely the one that was going to garner the most media attention. It would also effectively decide the direction of the on field product of his team and the public image of the staff of the Saints. He wanted someone who he could work collaboratively with and had experience with adapting their team to the evolution of the game and the personnel available to them. And he wanted to lock that person down before the Superbowl to minimize the disruption to the offseason planning.

Right now there were only three names on the list:

John Harbaugh - recently fired by the Ravens, runs a vertical offense and a hybrid defense.

Chuck Pagano - fired mid-way through the Colt's losing season, runs a balanced offense and a 3-4 defense.

Jim Glidewell - hotshot college coach, out of Texas A&M, runs a vertical, up-tempo offense, and an attacking 4-3 defense.

Jackson scheduled meetings with all three men for the following day.

[Deegeezy]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

I'm in! Glad to see someone finally running with my Saints!

Also love the creativity with the Times Pic graphics and the storyline. Good luck with this!

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

Head Coaching Interview Points


John Harbaugh

• Experienced (Sustained Regular Season success, Post Season & Superbowl)
• Aggressive Offensive Ideology - Keeps fans engaged & excited
• Strong track record with dominant defenses - Huge Issue with the team currently
• New Defensive (4-3 instead of former 3-4 principles) would require some leeway
• Strong rapport with staff, players, fans and occasionally media
• Coming from a franchise with some success in recent drafts

Chuck Pagano

• Experienced (But not ideal success in the Regular Season & Limited Post Season experience)
• Balanced Offensive Ideology - easy to implement and execute
• Less than optimistic about his ability to improve our current 3-4 defense
• He would be able to implement his defense with minimal roster change (remains a 3-4)
• Strong rapport with staff, players, fans and media.
• Limited evidence of off-season roster building ability, whether free agent or through the draft

Jim Glidewell

• Only experienced at the college level, where he has had success bringing a medium sized program into contention.
• Exciting and Cutting Edge Offensive Ideology - risky to try and be the first to implement at the Pro Level, but not quite the jump Chip Kelly & the Eagles are attempting.
• Despite his up-tempo attack, has also been very successful with a 4-3 based defense, using smaller/faster LB's to help with coverage.
• Would need some new personnel signed/drafted in order to make his defensive ideology effective.
• Strong rapport with staff, players, fans and media.
• No evidence of off-season roster building ability, whether free agent or through the draft, but has recruited well consistently at the college level.

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)

Kansas City 45 - 3 New England
Seattle 16 - 34 Green Bay

[glassjaw05]

Re: Getting Them Marching Again - A New Orleans Connected Franchise (M16)