SaintRay Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15201646/guys-like-vilma-keep-saints-ahead-of-game-during-lockoutGuys like Vilma keep Saints ahead of game during lockout By Mike FreemanCBSSports.com National Columnist June 5, 2011 If there was any question which team was best taking advantage of this nasty lockout, there shouldn't be any longer. It continues to be New Orleans. Land. Slide. Listen to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and you'll know why. "Players around the league look at the lockout differently," Vilma told me. "Some see the lockout as a time to relax. Some see it as a time to heal from serious injury. Some see it as a time to party. We're definitely not in that last category. "I feel pretty comfortable saying that almost every player on the Saints is in terrific shape. We could take the practice field tomorrow in full pads and be fine. This group of guys is in better shape than we were at this time when the Saints won the Super Bowl." How is that possible, he's asked? No OTAs, no minicamps, and in better shape? "Because we know this is a time when a player can slip through the cracks," he said. "You can get soft. You can say, 'I'm taking this week off. I'm partying tonight.' And pretty soon you're out of shape. No one on this team is doing that because of guys like Drew [brees] and the leaders we have on this team. Everyone is working twice as hard because they don't want to relax a minute and get soft." Leaders like Vilma, too. If Brees has been the fulcrum for the Saints' lockout offense, Pro Bowl linebacker Vilma has been the defensive centrifuge. In the past, before the lockout, it wasn't unusual for the two men to put a $100 bet on which unit performed better in practice. The lockout workouts have been just as competitive. Staying in shape during the lockout won't win a Super Bowl, but this can't be stressed enough, and it's why lockout workouts remain one of the most important stories in the league right now: The teams that stay the most unified and don't gain the beer bellies and fat ***** will have a major lead on teams whose waists expand and endurance shrinks. It's that simple. Get fat, lose later. A sprint a day keeps the pulled hamstrings away. No, Super Bowls cannot be won now. But they can be lost. Vilma is one of the key Saints making sure his team doesn't lose a title before the season starts. "We're more committed than other teams," said Vilma, who is taking part in a promotion that allows fans to work out with Saints players, the proceeds going to charity. "Anyone who watches what we do can see that. There's a lot of trust in each other and the system. I've been in the defensive system for three years. Drew has been in the offensive system for five years." The irony of Vilma becoming one of the Saints' most important players of the lockout isn't lost on him. When uber-idiot Eric Mangini, then coach of the Jets, traded Vilma, he went to the Saints wanting to prove to the rest of the league he could be a major factor. Vilma became a huge component of the Saints and won a ring. Mangini is still an uber-idiot. As for the lockout, Vilma is one of the few players who don't seem angry over it, or even mildly agitated. "It's true that players want to get back to doing what they best, which is play football," Vilma explained. "But I'm not stir crazy. You can only control what you can control." What the Saints are controlling is their lockout destiny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuswap Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 Wow the saints are working out during the lock out too!!! Of course he's not going to say that Brees was snorting coke off a strippers butt at 4 a.m this morning hope he makes it to the gym tommorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRay Posted June 5, 2011 Author Share Posted June 5, 2011 Wow the saints are working out during the lock out too!!! Of course he's not going to say that Brees was snorting coke off a strippers butt at 4 a.m this morning hope he makes it to the gym tommorrow RIVALS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zodiac Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 And?Mike PEterson is UFA, he's organizng the meetings, paying for the housing of the rookies and ps guys.Acting like a coach and leading the D through drills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRay Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 This is proof positive that the saints feel the Falcons are the superior team. They know their behind the Falcons but they would never admit as much, at least not to the general public. All signs seem to be pointing to the Falcons being the NFCS leaders again this season.JB mailed ya some of the "good stuff' huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REV.2000 Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 RIVALS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_L Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 This is proof positive that the saints feel the Falcons are the superior team. They know their behind the Falcons but they would never admit as much, at least not to the general public. All signs seem to be pointing to the Falcons being the NFCS leaders again this season.I don't know, how many times have we won in your house now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconcheff Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 I don't know, how many times have we won in your house now?Last year, the same amount of times we won in YOUR house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRay Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Last year, the same amount of times we won in YOUR house. What about over the last 5 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconcheff Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 What about over the last 5 years?How about the five years before that? ...and what about the series history? Are we only picking the convenient moments in team history?Pre Brees? Did the Saints ever win against Vick? Remember before Katrina, with Haslett as coach? How about then?Team history is like the Bible. You do not get to pick and choose which part is best for you; you must take it as a whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_L Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Under the current coaching staffs then, how's the head to head record? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRay Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Under the current coaching staffs then, how's the head to head record? Come on Big L, didn't you get the memo, you don't get to pick and choose. Like that's NEVER happened in Rivals......everyday, all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconcheff Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) Come on Big L, didn't you get the memo, you don't get to pick and choose. Like that's NEVER happened in Rivals......everyday, all day.Who does that, except you Rivals? Buccs fans pick ten years ago, the ONLY era their team didn't stink, to hang their hats on...Saints fans cling to the last three to five years (under current coaching staffs, right?)because before Katrina, they were one of the worst sports franchises in American history. You swept us Ryan's rookie season and a season in which one game was against our backups. We split with you in Ryan's third year, and there's no reason to believe we won't be sweeping you very soonPanties fans are too low at the moment to really dredge up good ol' days... Cowboys fans have a pretty rich history to draw on... they don't need to pick and choose.Falcon fans talk about the series as a whole and the NOW!! We don't pick and choose. We accept the Vick years, the Petrino years (sorry, MONTHS ), Ryan rookie years, the June Jones/Jeff George years...ALL OF IT! Edited June 7, 2011 by Falconcheff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_L Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Sure we can go back as far as you like and I've said it before that the Falcons own the all time head to head record. However, the current coaching staff and team is very important because that is who will be across from you on gameday. And that team has your number so expect more of the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconcheff Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Sure we can go back as far as you like and I've said it before that the Falcons own the all time head to head record. However, the current coaching staff and team is very important because that is who will be across from you on gameday. And that team has your number so expect more of the same.But you don't HAVE our number, you HAD our number; when we had a rookie qb and backups. Playing against this current team, as is your qualification, we split last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRay Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 Saints fans cling to the last three to five years (under current coaching staffs, right?)because before Katrina, they were one of the worst sports franchises in American history. I wouldn't throw rocks living in that glass house.....The Falcons have an alltime worse W/L record than the Saints. So by any definition you choose to use, the Saints enjoy, and have enjoyed for a few years, the better success record in Wins/Losses.And I am not implying either team has a stellar franchice record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRay Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 But you don't HAVE our number, you HAD our number; when we had a rookie qb and backups. Playing against this current team, as is your qualification, we split last year. You are making excuses and using the timeframe you need to prove a point. Matt Ryan was a rookie 3 years ago. He wasn't a rookie 2 years ago and you were swept. No matter how you spin it, under the current Saints regime, the record is 8-2 Saints. And yes, you won one last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconcheff Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I wouldn't throw rocks living in that glass house.....The Falcons have an alltime worse W/L record than the Saints. So by any definition you choose to use, the Saints enjoy, and have enjoyed for a few years, the better success record in Wins/Losses.And I am not implying either team has a stellar franchice record.I know. This was a bait post :P You are making excuses and using the timeframe you need to prove a point. Matt Ryan was a rookie 3 years ago. He wasn't a rookie 2 years ago and you were swept. No matter how you spin it, under the current Saints regime, the record is 8-2 Saints. And yes, you won one last year.But am I allowed that under the current Falcon regime you are "only" (I get it) 5-1? I'm not making excuses, the records are what they are. I'm not denying that y'all dominated us for the first few years of these current regimes. My point would be that as a Falcon fan, I see us as on the upswing of this rivalry; catching up to you, if you will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRay Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 I know. This was a bait post :P But am I allowed that under the current Falcon regime you are "only" (I get it) 5-1? I'm not making excuses, the records are what they are. I'm not denying that y'all dominated us for the first few years of these current regimes. My point would be that as a Falcon fan, I see us as on the upswing of this rivalry; catching up to you, if you will. Fair enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_L Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I know. This was a bait post :P But am I allowed that under the current Falcon regime you are "only" (I get it) 5-1? I'm not making excuses, the records are what they are. I'm not denying that y'all dominated us for the first few years of these current regimes. My point would be that as a Falcon fan, I see us as on the upswing of this rivalry; catching up to you, if you will.I can get with this post. No fan is going to come out and say their most hated rival is better than them, but this is an excellent compromise. Kudos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REV.2000 Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 WE GOT PLENTY MORE OF WHAT YOU SAW LAST YEAR.YES ..... "LETS PLAY SOME BALL!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REV.2000 Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 There is a train on the track and it's really coming fast at the junction, Engine 29 junction... "There will be another one, just like the other one!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REV.2000 Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I like our chances... ... AND THEY DO TOO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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