While I largely think this is just a class move by a class organization, it's also a testament to a couple things. One, of course, being the culture that currently exists in New Orleans, as this year's iteration of the Saints, more so than any other, has basically become a walking, talking, singing, and dancing cliche in creating a kinship off the field that's rivaled only by their chemistry on the field. With Christmas having just passed, I'm sure most can relate to the concept of being more gracious with gifts given to your family when you actually fucking like them, and this team - from the head coach on down to the last man on the practice squad - is very much a group that genuinely loves and appreciates each other. With Alex Okafor battling back from a serious injury to retake his role as a productive member of a resurgent pass rush, he's far from the red-headed step-child sitting in the corner opening up nothing more than gift cards and ugly sweaters, not that this particular locker room has one of those anyway. The other being the correlation between the looseness of purse strings and the lopsidedness of the 'W' column. Much like money being no object when your out celebrating with your friends and it's time for another round to keep the party going, 400K is small price to pay to keep spirits lifted amongst a 13-3 team that's enjoying the week's worth of spoils granted they've earned leading up to a stay-at-home playoff run. There's probably a hint of wanting to be seen as a player-friendly organization in free agency that contributed to this move, but a gratuitous six-figure payout only reinforces what every sideline screenshot and locker room video has already driven home. Putting aside the necessary evil that is the business side of things when possible, the Saints are a damn fun to team to play for and a damn fun family to be a part of. Just ask Alex Okafor.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Archives
January 2020
|