Two seasons removed from their glorious Super Bowl run, the New Orleans Saints are a team in free fall.
Coach Sean Payton will be suspended for the 2012 season for his involvement in the team's "bounty" program, general manager Mickey Loomis is gone for eight games and Gregg Williams -- hundreds of miles removed from The Big Easy -- has shifted into ghost-mode.
"I am speechless," quarterback Drew Brees tweeted.
This franchise was a house of fire down the stretch last season, handling the NFC South with ease and falling just short of a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
How a talented team like the Saints copes with these punishments looms as one of the bigger mysteries heading into next season -- not to mention how the franchise operates for the rest of this tarnished offseason. What becomes of Brees and the nettlesome franchise tag offer he has yet to sign? Open questions galore.
For the rest of division, it's a revelation. New Orleans hasn't been this vulnerable in years. It would be improper of these teams to gloat (or would it?), but let's take a quick look at the NFC South (2011 record in parentheses):
1. Atlanta Falcons (10-6): On paper, the team with the most to gain. The Falcons finished three games behind the Saints, and their six losses included two defeats to New Orleans. The first, a 26-23 overtime heartbreaker in Week 10. The second, a 45-16 drubbing in Week 16, just two weeks before their playoff dismissal at the hand of the Giants. This is a team that can't get out of its own way in January. There's talent on this roster and a legitimate franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan. If any team is in position to steal the division, should the Saints stumble, logically it's the Falcons.
2. Carolina Panthers (6-10): Let's back up the truck a minute. Along with "bounties" placed on Brett Favre, Kurt Warner and Aaron Rodgers -- the Saints targeted rookie Cam Newton, according to a league release. Highly dumb decision, and one that might come back to haunt dear old New Orleans. If Carolina's defense can find a way to relinquish less than 429 points next season -- including 75 to the Saints -- this team feels wild and free. One key for the Panthers is schedule-related: They could benefit from catching the Saints early in the year, if the Payton-to-whoever transition is harsh. Ask yourself this: Does anyone want to face Newton? ... Anyone?
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Before we commence with the Bucs jokes, here stands the only team in the NFC South that beat the Saints in 2011. That is, before spinning into a 10-game losing streak that cost pretty much everyone in the building full-time jobs and reputations. In comes Greg Schiano and a robust cast of free-agent additions including All-Pro guard Carl Nicks and two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Nice start, but the issues on this team appear to run deeper than a few signings. Remember: Last year, we were labeling the Bucs the next big thing. So, who exactly are these guys?
One thing's for sure: The South has changed.
