There's another startling report about the New Orleans Saints today, this one coming from ESPN's investigative show "Outside the Lines." It is reporting that Saints general manager Mickey Loomis had an electronic eavesdropping device in his Superdome suite from 2002-04 that allowed him to listen in to the opposing coaches' radio communications in real time -- although what, if anything, Loomis did with that information is unclear.
What is it with the Saints, anyway? After reading the "OTL" report, it's unclear to me whether the Saints really benefited from anything Loomis may have heard (and the Saints strongly deny the report with a number of statements from Loomis and the head coach at the time, Jim Haslett, which is also interesting and casts some doubt on the report). They were 12-12 during those three seasons -- one of those years was the Panthers' Super Bowl year -- and it was before Drew Brees and Sean Payton came along and everything changed.
But the backdrop for this is the Saints' bounty scandal, which has caused Loomis to be suspended the first eight games for the 2012 season and Payton to be suspended the entire year. Player suspensions have yet to be announced, but there will be some. Carolina likely caught a break when it got the Saints in Week 2 of the 2012 season, when some of those suspensions will still be active. (Although 22-27 players participated in the bounty program, no punishments for players have been issued -- they will be forthcoming soon).
If these earpiece allegations are true (Loomis said the earpiece was simply used to listen to the team's radio broadcast), NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is in an interesting position. He has traditionally come down hard on teams that skirt the rules (the Patriots' "Spygate" generated large penalties, too, but not as big as the Saints' bounty scandal). But this also happened close to a decade ago, and there are questions about the statutes of limitations since electronic eavesdropping is a federal offense.
In any case, the Saints are having a horrific offseason -- and to top it off, they haven't re-signed Brees yet either. The "OTL" report is definitely worth a read if you care at all about the NFC South. It's just bizarre, really, if this is true. And if it's not, then ESPN may be the one in for a whole heap of trouble.
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9 years ago
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Loomis must have attended the Bill Bellycheck School of Football Strategy.
"Eh looking back on it the Louisiana Purchase was probably a mistake"
-Thomas Jefferson
"Haha, the irony of their name" -Metta World Peace on Mickey Loomis and the Saints.
"Wow they really dropped the ball on that one" -Wes Welker on Mickey Loomis and the Saints
“Thats messed up” --Richard Nixon on Mickey Loomis and the Saints
Hey Tom,
The interesting point for me is that when stuff like this (spy-gate and now this)comes to light the "experts" all start talking about how you can't really get a competitive advantage by doing this stuff.
However, considering that the people involved elected to run the risk of severe sanctions by doing it, you have to figure they believed the potential reward was greater than the potential risk.
So, are they dumber than the "experts" or are they so much smarter that they figured out a way to actually benefit from the information?
If someone values something enough to risk everything to obtain it... you have to think there was some value to it!
Sorry, meant Scott. Reading too many articles tonight.
@Ahmed: Hahaha. Too freakin' funny.
Saints fans trolling lol. U Mad Bro?
Its true. New Orleans & the entire Saints organiz say they were set up doublecrossed & ratted on by SuperRat and the Anthers.
Nothing can stop the Saints from hunting down destroying and eating these lowly Anthers for a light snack in 2012. SuperRat at the top of the dirty rat list.
Why? And after all they did for him he stabs them in the back.
Sister Mary Elephant
Bourbon Street All Saints Holy Cathedral
WOW...there is nothing in this world that is not CORRUPT!!
Saints will be 4-12 this season and at the bottom looking up at the 1st Place Panthers...Gotta love it! Saints get what they deserve...if this was the NCAA, they would have that Super Bowl trophy taken away. Lol...this is too funny...Holla!
First off, can we please make it a Federal crime, punishable by 50 years at Leavenworth, for referring to any scandal as ___-Gate? Watergate was 40 years ago. When in God's name is everyone going to move on???????????????????
As for the Saints, I am highly skeptical of this report. At least with the Patriots video, they could easily turn that into a tangible advantage. There is little advantage to this alleged setup. It would make a lot more sense if a Saints coach was doing the eavesdropping. Even if this is true, the statute of limitations has expired, so no one can be prosecuted. I guess the Saints A/V department people could get suspensions from Goodell, but that's about it.
I would rather play them at full strength so their whiney fans wont have any excuses for the blowout beatdown we put on them.
Gotta feel bad fro Drew Brees, b/c he is going to take a pounding this year...KEEP POUNDING!!!
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