Saints general manager Mickey Loomis squared up to owner Gayle Benson’s recent criticism this Wednesday, admitting he gets where she’s coming from but asking for patience with what he called a “young developing team.” Benson didn’t pull any punches, previously stating that Loomis and his staff are on the hook for “building a roster capable of sustained success,” and with the Saints sitting at 2-4 and not seeing the playoffs since 2020, you can bet that message hit hard.
Benson Calls Out Everyone, Says Performance Isn’t Good Enough
Look, when your owner is calling out the front office, the coaching staff, *and* the players, you know things are serious. Benson didn’t mince words when the team was limping at 1-4, declaring she would “not accept this level of performance.” She laid it all out: Kellen Moore and his coaches are tasked with getting players ready, Mickey Loomis and the football staff need to build that roster, and the players themselves? They’re responsible for their prep and executing on game day. And who’s holding everyone accountable? That’s Mrs. B’s job. This isn’t just a friendly chat, this is the owner putting everyone on blast, saying, “It’s not good enough yet,” and she’s not wrong about that outcome-based sport comment either.
Loomis Asks for Patience, Points to Youth Movement
Facing a news conference totally dominated by questions about Benson’s smack talk, Loomis took it on the chin. “I understood where she’s coming from and I think every once in a while we all need to be a little uncomfortable , that’s OK,” he said. He fully believes the Saints *are* capable of success, but he also knows they haven’t shown it consistently. The GM then pointed to the youth movement. He’s calling this a “young developing team,” with head coach Kellen Moore only 22 games into his career. Moore, at 38, even addressed it last week, saying, “Mrs. B’s great. We all want better results, and that’s how this business is.” They just beat the Giants 34-27 in New York, which is a start, before hopping a plane to Paris for their next contest. Loomis isn’t giving specific benchmarks for the season, calling it “a little more subjective” and focused on how young players develop and perform. It’s clear he’s banking on growth, not just immediate wins.
The Saints are across the pond now, practicing in Versailles, getting ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. Loomis isn’t spilling the beans on his internal metrics, but after an owner’s public dressing down, you gotta figure player development and consistent performance are the only things that will quiet the noise. Can they build on that win and start showing some “sustained success”? We’ll find out in Paris.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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