Saints Owner Threatens Players and Staff

“I am committed to making the decisions necessary to improve this team,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said.

Speaking at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club on October 13, Benson addressed the 1-4 start: “That is not acceptable to me.” She demanded better preparation, execution and accountability, with results rebuilding fans’ confidence.

She assigned coaching preparation to Kellen Moore, roster building to general manager Mickey Loomis and preparation and execution to the players, while taking responsibility herself. She announced no specific firing, player cut or deadline.

Benson also recognized the club’s 88th year and local coaches, recalled Steve Gleason’s post-Katrina blocked punt and the anniversary loss to Atlanta, and invoked Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor celebrations as standards to uphold.

She connected the October 25 Paris game with Louisiana’s French ties and investment opportunities. She also discussed a 2031 New Orleans Super Bowl bid, with no league promise and possible news in March. Her closing demand: “I expect better. Our fans deserve better.”

Shough welcomes the expectations

The Saints had lost three straight, all at home, entering their October 18 visit to the New York Giants. Sunday’s 23-13 loss to Minnesota left New Orleans needing a turnaround to avoid a sixth consecutive season without a playoff appearance.

In his October 14 availability, quarterback Tyler Shough said the expectations were welcome and already shared inside the building.

“I’m glad that it’s coming from the top from that perspective,” Shough said. “We have those same expectations for ourselves.”

Shough said the comments could not change the team’s daily process. He and guard David Edwards had addressed the offense before Wednesday’s walkthrough about eliminating mental errors across the position groups, including his own. He also credited Chase Young and Cameron Jordan with speaking after the Minnesota loss.

Center Erik McCoy, quoted in The Associated Press report carried by WDSU, called Benson’s remarks “not typical of her” and said “this kind of shows the sense of urgency we have to get better.”

McCoy said the team was running out of room for losses if it wanted to accomplish something this season. He pointed to penalties, turnovers and missed assignments as problems in an offense that had expected progress in its second year under Moore.

Moore on accountability

Moore said he had not met with Benson specifically about the slow start or discussed her comments directly with Loomis. Asked whether the speech added urgency or changed his approach, he said the task remained preparing for the Giants.

“We all want the same thing,” Moore said in his Wednesday news conference.

The Saints had waived cornerback and returner Jayden Price on Tuesday. Moore rejected the suggestion that the move was intended to send an accountability message, describing it as roster management and expressing hope that Price could return after clearing waivers. He said accountability could take forms other than removing a player from the roster.

On preparation, Moore said he was examining the work from Monday through Saturday, including scheme and fundamental instruction. The Saints face the Giants before playing Pittsburgh in Paris on October 25.

“We just got to get better moving forward,” Moore said.