New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that he understands the recent criticism from owner Gayle Benson, but he asked for patience with what he called a "young developing team."
Benson, speaking before the Saints (2-4) beat the New York Giants last Sunday, said Loomis and his staff are responsible for "building a roster capable of sustained success." The Saints, who have not been to the playoffs since the 2020 season, practiced in Versailles outside Paris ahead of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"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," Loomis said at a news conference dominated by questions about Benson's criticism. He said the Saints are capable of success but have not consistently shown it. "We haven't done that yet, have we? This is an outcome-based sport, and it's not good enough yet," he said. When the team was 1-4, Benson said she would "not accept this level of performance."
Coach Kellen Moore, 38, in his second season, addressed the comments last week, saying, "Mrs. B's great. We all want better results, and that's how this business is." The Saints then beat the Giants 34-27 before flying to Paris.
"We're a young team -- young developing team and we have to recognize that," Loomis said. "We've got a young coach, 22 games into his career, and that's where we're at." Asked about benchmarks for the season, he said they were more subjective than objective, tied to how young players develop and perform, and declined to get into specifics.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing