The Saints Fired Rob Ryan...Wait, No They Didn't...Oh...Hold On A Second...Yup, They Did

Two sources tell @NFLonFOX that @Saints are firing DC Rob Ryan after latest defensive woes Sunday v @Redskins

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) November 16, 2015

#Saints coach Sean Payton says at his presser that “absolutely” Rob Ryan is still a member of his coaching staff. Says he’ll meet with GM

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 16, 2015

The #Saints have fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2015

The #Saints are promoting Dennis Allen to defensive coordinator, source said. He has been calling the coverages, anyway.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2015

Wow, what an up and down day. Just when you think Rob Ryan is fired Sean Payton steps up and gives a totally believable show of support for his defensive coordinator's job security....before he get fired like 3 hours after. What a drama, couldn't have predicted how that one was going to end. Okay, you got me. Sean Payton's defense of his now former colleague wasn't the greatest, but that's par for the course in New Orleans these days. Bet Rob Ryan wishes that Brandon Browner was the one giving the press conference. If that were the case they probably would have held on to him just a little while longer, if you watch my drift.

Sigh, it wasn't a question of if, but when. The days of Rob Ryan fielding a competent defense in New Orleans are a distant memory. 2013 was a lonnnng time ago. Can't say I am too shocked the man in charge of defense that gave up FOURTEEN touchdowns over the last three weeks is unemployed. At least it was to offensive "juggernauts" the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Redskins, I guess. It's the small things, after all. Do I know if Dennis Allen is going to make a difference? No, in fact, I can't see the guy that has been responsible for this year's ABYSMAL secondary turning this defense from historically bad to semi-respectable. Call me a skeptic I suppose, but with the increasing amount of injuries, I think they are only greasing the wheels to head downhill faster. The good news is that if every quarterback the Saints play against makes it to the Hall Of Fame based off one performance against the Saints alone, then the Saints can claim they only lost to Hall Of Fame quarterbacks. At least it's something to hang their hat on. 

I got to be honest, this sucks. Not because Rob Ryan didn't deserve to be fired. Honestly is he was kept another week then everyone else in the front office would have had to fire themselves for refusing to capably do their job. It sucks because I wanted so badly for Rob Ryan to succeed, and after 2013 it looked like that was but a certainty. Look, Sean Payton's luck with defensive coordinator's rivals Ryan Mallett's luck with alarm clocks. In a word? Repulsive. However, at least Rob Ryan, while providing nothing of value on the field the last two years, gave Saints fans a lovable caricature of a human being to identify with off of it. He just WAS "New Orleans" through and through. The flowing hair? The proclivity to getting photographed out and about double fisting? His obvious love for gluttony? Buying fans beers at his local watering hole? Sure, none of that has anything to do with actually being good at his job, but I'll be damned if it didn't make me wish that it did. I am going to miss Rob Ryan, if for no other reason than Dennis Allen doesn't strike me as much of a drinker. Pray for this defense, because it's been downright blasphemous and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Never forget....