Saints envision a winning season, unless, maybe . . .

By Ed Daniels, Sports

As the Saints break for summer vacation, it is hard to envision this club not being a winner this fall.

In 2021, a litany of circumstances turned against New Orleans; yet, somehow, the Saints fashioned a nine-win season.

Only San Francisco’s miraculous comeback in the final minute against the Rams in the final regular-season game kept the Saints out of the playoffs.

However.

Maybe Alvin Kamara is suspended by the NFL for more than a game or two. Kamara was the team’s most valuable player last year. With Kamara in the lineup, the Saints were 9-4; without him, they were winless.

Maybe Jameis Winston is slow to return after major knee surgery. However, Winston’s season-ending knee injury occurred Oct. 31.

A year earlier, Joe Burrow suffered a major knee injury in late November, and a year later, he led the Bengals to the Super Bowl.

Maybe wide receiver Michael Thomas, who missed all of last season, is slow to return from ankle surgery.

Maybe first-round picks Chris Olave and Trevor Penning, who certainly look like early contributors, don’t provide immediate impact.

Maybe the defense isn’t as good as Chauncey Gardner-Johnson thinks it will be. The cornerback launched a mini-camp, mini-tirade about the lack of respect he and the Saints defense get from the media. Not exactly sure who he was referencing locally, but Gardner-Johnson’s message was clear.

“Don’t talk about what we can’t do, talk about what we can do,” said CJ. “Uplift us.”

For the television cameras who hovered at his locker, it was red meat.

Maybe the Bucs, who changed head coaches and lost stellar guard Ali Marpet to early retirement, won’t take a step back.

Maybe the Panthers will be better.

Maybe the Falcons, who will choose between Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder at quarterback, will be better.

Maybe the Saints will miss Sean Payton’s leadership more than anyone thinks. Payton had a way of keeping the entire building on edge. Players responded to that edginess.

Maybe head coach Dennis Allen won’t be the aggressive, in-game manager that Payton was. On fourth-and-1 at the Saints’ 48 in the second quarter, Sean was going for it. Payton might be right or wrong, but he was always certain.

Allen would be best to remember what T.S Elliot  wrote: “Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go.”

So, there’s a ton of unknowns going into this Saints season. But, last season, despite COVID, four quarterbacks and a host of placekickers (name all four, don’t Google it), the Saints were solid. A very good defense and offensive line can still carry a team a long way.

Ed Daniels is sports director at ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at ed@nextstar.tv.