In St. Louis, people must be really frustrated. In New Orleans, people must be really disappointed. Today’s harsh penalties from the NFL on Saints coaches and management crippled the team. They lost Sean Payton, whose eccentric personality permeated every angle of the organization. They lost valuable 2nd round draft picks that always have the potential to become the next big superstar. However, New Orleans has nobody to blame but themselves, and even though the punishment might be excessive, they knew the NFL had to make an example out of them. They deserved to be in trouble and have to pay for it.
In St. Louis, they lost another little chunk of hope. After hiring Gregg Williams and trading away their draft pick, the Rams lost their newly appointed defensive coordinator indefinitely. He could be lost for more than just one season. The trend in St. Louis is a “we’ll get em next year” mentality, but this isn’t their fault. After going 7-9 in 2010 and nearly making the playoffs, the Rams lost number one pick and the future of their franchise, QB Sam Bradford, for the 2011 season. He played here and there, but his injury limited him and earned the Rams a 2-14 record and the second pick in this year’s NFL draft. The Rams traded the pick, and ended up with assorted draft picks, including the 6th overall pick this year. They also added Jeff Fisher, who would’ve meshed perfectly with Williams’ intense style.
This was supposed to be the year for the Rams to act on their plentiful talent and circumstance. Now, by no fault of their own, the people and players of St. Louis are left with another questionable season uncomfortably lingering. New Orleans, as a city, deserves every inch of good will it can get, but the true victims in the bounty debauchery are the Rams, who are constantly waiting for their expectations to be exceeded.