Re: Saints 19 Colts 13 Author: Frank Serpas III Date: 1998/10/01 Forum: rec.sport.football.pro Elizabeth Ann Papapetrou wrote: >That was one hell of a comeback and needed some >acknowledgement, however grudging. I'll agree with that. In Saints history, there have been maybe half-a-dozen significant, late, come-from-behind TDs that led to a win (that's no exaggeration). Wuerffel deserves credit for running a successful end-of-game 2-minute drill, something that's almost literally unprecedented, Saints-wise. >WHAT THE HELL PROBLEM DO YOU HAVE WITH DANNY WUERFFEL? For starters, drafting him locked the Saints into a long-term QB problem that will be difficult to escape from. After the '96 season, the Saints needed a new, long-term franchise QB. My preference was to get one via the draft, but I was willing to give Heath Shuler a shot at the role when the Saints traded for him. In hindsight, I think Shuler probably wouldn't have worked out, no matter what. However, any chance he had was killed well before the season when Ditka introduced an acute threat to Shuler's leadership role by drafting Wuerffel. Sure enough, Shuler had been benched before the end of the first game! Not putting a veteran QB in that #2 slot was unconscionable, I think. My choice was to hold onto Jim Everett for another year, but I would've accepted another signal caller, if he could've provided guidance to Shuler and insurance in the event Shuler stumbled. The team wound up having to scramble for Billy Joe Hobert. He looked to be heading for an Hebert-like career with the Saints (that's no insult in my book), but his Achilles' injury now puts his future in doubt. In summary, I think the Saints are still in need of a long-term, franchise QB, but it'll be another year (minimum) before the team adds another player at that position (for '99, Wuerffel is a lock, Hobert & Shuler will get a chance to try and come back from their injuries, plus there's still Tolliver and Delhomme). >Ditka's current offensive policy doesn't suit his style at all and, >considering they're 3-0, I would say he's doing pretty well. > >With all the crying going on about how the Saints get no respect in the >media, etc., etc., I reckon we deserve it if such an amazing percentage of >'fans' have no appreciation for the qb, whatever the result. Currently, >I'm starting to hope that DW'll stay around for a year or two and then hop >off to a West Coast O somewhere and try his luck there. In addition to the circumstances surrounding his acquisition, I also had (and retain) doubts about DW's physical abilities (the standard litany- poor arm strength, immobility, etc.). He has smarts and leadership ability and can be a QB in the NFL, but I don't think he's a good fit with the Saints (you seem to agree). >I'm getting >very bored with the lack of understanding and appreciation by 'fans' like >yourself. Seems to me there's a lot of guys hereabouts who are just fans >of what they want to see, not what's actually going on. Your Gator-mania is well documented on this newsgroup, and the confluence of Danny & Saints understandably produces a strong emotional response. I've experienced a similar phenomenon with Kenny Anderson and the Celtics- I watched KA do incredible things with the basketball during my time as an undergrad at Georgia Tech and am thrilled that he's now the floor general of my favorite basketball team. Though it's fine to root for individuals, my overriding allegiance is to the team, and IMO that means cheering for what's best for the franchise, even if that means criticizing the current crop of players and/or coaches. Some require unconditional praise before bestowing the title "fan;" I disagree. It would be oh-so-easy to ride the wave of positive fan vibes right now and trash the national media; I don't because I honestly believe their assessment of the team is pretty much on-target. Anyone that's ever lurked on the Super Forum is probably familiar with Leland, a long-time Saints supporter who's had his fan credentials questioned repeatedly due to his criticism of the current regime. Almost every one of his posts could've been written by me. My goal as hagiographer has always been to give fans information about the team and its on-field efforts. There's a little editorializing in the play-by-play, but for the most part it contains raw facts. Most summaries of the game consisted of "Wuerffel led a late comeback, Saints are 3-0" and not much else. I report all the games' details and let fans decide for themselves how the team is doing. ******************************************************************************* Frank Serpas III serpas@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu ............................................................................... >>>>>>>SAINTERNET- http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~serpas/saints.html