To hear New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton tell it, two thirds of the NFL’s teams are wasting their time every season. That no doubt includes the Raiders, though Payton didn’t single them out by name. “I say this in all seriousness,” Payton said, via JoeBucsFan.com, in an interview during the NFL draft. “There’s
Raiders can help pave return to relevance with victory over Saints this season
As you said, he lucked into Brees. And you have to wonder, if he had not lucked into a top QB, would he still have his job?
He can say whatever he wants. Thats his right. But underestimating your opponents will bite him in the ars at some point. Maybe thats what happened in 16 when the JDR led Raiders won that game on the last play in N.O.
If our Raiders are winning games, that is what matters. Not what comes out of some other coaches mouth.
There’s little chance that Payton survives more than a few seasons with the Saints without Brees arriving at the same time. Pure stroke of luck combined with a ton of bad decision-making on the part of the Dolphins.
Sean Payton speaks the truth. There are roughly 10-11 relevant teams each year. That might even be generous. The truth hurts. Until Raiders start winning consistently, they can become the topic of conversation in January.
Raiders have only been relevant once, in 2016, since the 2002 season. If you don’t win, and not a consistent playoff contender, no one cares except your fans.
Oh, there’s no doubt that what Payton says is true. It’s about coming across as so arrogant and saying something that doesn’t need to be said by a current coach. In fact, you could make the case that the number of teams that are relevant for long stretches is even fewer than 10 or 11.
Coach Payton is right, and his record has earned him the right to be outspoken about it. Let it serve as additional motivation for the LV Raiders. The management team of Mark Davis, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock appear intent upon creating a perennially successful franchise, a la the Raiders of the 60s, 70s and 80s. It seems they are on the right track, but the proof is in the pudding.
Indeed, Payton has earned the right to say such things. Few teams have enjoyed the run of success that Payton and the Saints have the past 15 seasons. What’s more, the Saints might have their most talented roster during the Payton-Brees Era next season. Pretty impressive. Beating the Saints would be a great way for Gruden and Mayock to gauge their team’s progress next season.
I’m sure that every team that plays the Saints will have something about this pasted up in the locker room in the week of that game…. thanks for the motivation, Coach.
Bottom line is, you’re only relevant in the NFL if you’re winning. Where Payton is right, I think, is in saying there are only a few genuine contenders in the league in any given year. Being in the top 10 – 12 isn’t enough most years to put you in the running for the top prizes… you really want to be in the top 6 for that.
I can still remember when we were in that elite all the time and the Saints had never had a winning season, let alone been to the post -season. In this league, everything goes in cycles and our time is coming again….
Go Raiders!!!
When I first started following football and the Raiders, they were the team of the decades (not just the 80s or 90s) and forever in the playoff hunt. Payton is right that’s how you become a relevant team. No one though much of the Pats until they started winning year in and year out. The Niners were doormats of the league until they went on their run in the 80s. The Saints were the Aints for a long time. The Raiders need to stop tearing down and rebuilding and get back to winning. The NFL is a better product when the Raiders are relevant.
From 14-16 the Saints went 7-9, 7-9, 7-9, even with Brees at QB. Things have went better the last three years, but things can and do change rapidly in the NFL. This year might be the year that starts for the Raiders, coincidentally, after finishing 7-9 last year.
Great point, Willie. Those were seasons in which the Saints battled injuries and Payton ignored the defensive side of the ball. The Saints started winning again when Payton remembered how important defense can be to a team’s success. They have it going on in all phases right now. Many consider them and the 49ers the class of the NFC and the primary threats to the Chiefs repeating as Super Bowl champs.