Frustration over the New Orleans Saints’ 1-4 start appears to extend beyond the team’s fan base.
Saints principal owner Gayle Benson voiced her concerns Tuesday, less than two full days after the team dropped its third consecutive game.
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“That is not acceptable to me,” Benson said of the team’s record at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club luncheon. Quarterback Tyler Shough showed promise during his rookie season, fueling expectations that the Saints could compete for the NFC South title and make a playoff push in their second season under head coach Kellen Moore.
But a narrow overtime loss to the Detroit Lions in the season opener foreshadowed the difficult road ahead. The Saints bounced back in Week 2 before losing to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 and being dominated by division rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. The Minnesota Vikings then defeated New Orleans 23-13 in Week 5.
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“And it falls short of what our fans truly deserve,” Benson continued. “I hear the frustration directed towards our team and our organization. It is not lost on me. Our fans invest their time and their hearts in the Saints. They are right to expect more than we have delivered.”
During a speech that lasted roughly eight minutes, Benson delivered a rare in-season public critique of the NFL franchise she oversees, making clear that the team’s current direction could not continue. Benson, 79, rarely speaks publicly about the Saints during the season, but when she does break her silence, her comments have typically been supportive.
This week, she directly challenged Moore and longtime general manager Mickey Loomis while also accepting personal responsibility for the team’s struggles.
“Kellen Moore and his coaches are responsible for preparing our players to perform,” Benson said. “Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success. Our players are responsible for their preparation and execution. I am responsible for holding this organization accountable.”
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Loomis has been a fixture in the Saints’ front office, playing a key role in the team’s football operations for the past quarter-century. Last year, Benson told The Times-Picayune that suggestions of dismissing Loomis were “ridiculous” and said she believed he did a “great job.”
“I am committed to making the decisions necessary to improve this team,” she said. “Everyone in this organization understands the urgency. We must prepare better, execute consistently and correct the mistakes that are costing us the games.”
Benson also referred back to the Saints’ 45-24 loss to Atlanta, which came during a game commemorating the 20th anniversary of the first game played at the Superdome after it was restored following Hurricane Katrina. “Losing this year’s anniversary game to Atlanta truly disappointed me,” she said.
Benson also noted that she would not “accept this level of performance.”
Benson acknowledged that the Saints will need to show meaningful progress on the field, not simply talk about it, to restore trust.
“Words will not restore our fans’ confidence,” she said. “Our performance must do that.”
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The Saints must now prepare for a crucial two-game stretch that includes a trip to New Jersey to play the New York Giants and an overseas matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s first game in France.
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