Anonymous Saints player shreds Steve Spagnuolo
Some have suggested the coach the New Orleans Saints missed most this past season was Gregg Williams, the ex-defensive coordinator who was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for his role in the team’s bounty scandal/
Steve Spagnuolo was hired to replace Williams and the Saints were poor defensively and now an unnamed player has shredded Spagnuolo in comments to Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
The player believes coach Sean Payton should fire Spagnuolo when he returns from his own suspension. New Orleans was 31st in points allowed, last in run defense and 31st vs. the pass. It was bad all the way around.
“To give up what we gave up can't be all talent. Look at where his units (have) been ranked before. I think one top 10?” the player told Holder. “Players have no say in anything. It was (a) complete opposite from before where it was a simple D that players had lot of control and say. We couldn't suggest (expletive) ... Nothing ever changed. It was his way only.
"Don't even get me started on lack (of) ability to adjust during games. Bad, bad, bad."
The player slammed Spagnuolo personally too.
"He does have that good-guy persona, but he is a control freak and treats people like crap," the player said. "(Spagnuolo has) no patience and zero personality. (He) has a way of pissing players and our defensive coaches off with how he says and does things. (I) think it's even harder after having Gregg, who guys enjoyed."
We’ll see what shakes out because if this belief is widespread throughout the locker room, the Saints have some issues.
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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune