NFL: More Bad News For Saints Fans

By Noah Davis UsFANS.com Managing Editor

For the Saints, life has been a series of good news/bad news statements. The latest of which came Sunday when - good news! – Ricky Williams became the first New Orleans back to rush for 1000 yards in a season since Dalton Hilliard in 1989. But – bad news! – Ricky broke his ankle on that very same play, and will miss the next 6-8 weeks.

But Saints fans shouldn’t despair. The Saints have been one of the NFL most surprising teams, and not just because of Ricky Williams. A look at what happened in the few plays following Williams’ injury should give Saints fans some hope.

The situation: a 17-10 game midway through the fourth quarter, with the Panthers hanging just close enough to cause trouble. With Williams running and catching, the Saints had moved from their 29 to the Panthers' 34, by which time Ricky had gained what will be his last yards of the 2000 season.

Many coaching staffs would have folded their hands, and cried "but we lost our best player!"

Still, it’s third-and-five at the Panthers' 34, with the Saints trying to stretch a seven-point lead to at least 10, and ice the game.

Offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy had Jeff Blake line up in the shotgun, fake to one back, and then slip the ball to Chad Morton, who ran for a first down to set up a game-clinching field goal. By the time Doug Brien had kicked a 42-yarder to seal Carolina's doom, Chad Morton, suddenly, had become the man of the moment.

Now, no one can expect 186-pound Morton to do what 240-pound Williams has done, pounding the ball inside and outside, as he did Sunday to make life easier for the pitch-and-catch combo of Blake and Joe Horn. Certainly not on any consistent basis.

But no coach has done better than Haslett in guiding the Saints to a 7-3 record behind the emerging Williams and an offense that gradually has gotten into a groove with a defense that quickly came into its own. Haslett and McCarthy will have to adapt yet again, this time to the monumental loss of Williams.

The Saints have won six in a row, their best winning streak since 1991. And despite the loss of Williams, at least Ricky is staying upbeat.

"I was talking to Coach Haslett and he said you can't control things like that," Williams told reporters. "What's done is done and I have to keep working hard and hopefully come back for the playoffs."

Williams said his injury is not the end for the Saints.

"I look at it the other way," he said. "I helped us get the win and we've got to move on from that. Look at our defense, the way they make plays. And Jeff [Blake] is going to pick it [up]. We'll be OK."

Of course, even Ricky’s replacement is more pessimistic.

"It's devastating to me," said rookie running back Chad Morton, who probably will take over for Williams in the backfield. "I feel sick about it right now. I can't even enjoy this win. He's our offense. I'm still kind of shaking knowing that he's hurt," Morton continued. "Maybe he'll back for the playoffs. Maybe a miracle will happen."

Miracles are – bad news! – and always have been in short supply for the Saints. But - good news! - Coach Jim Haslett may be just the right guy to pray for one.

Article courtesy of UsFANS.com