Perspective...

At 5-8, our beloved Black & Gold's season is almost a far-gone conclusion, but there is some light at the end of this tunnel...

In an attempt to cover his arse, Goodell offered the Saints up as a sacrificial lamb with bogus accusations of a pay-for-injury program. He vilified the Saints, suspended our beloved Coach, and basically forced the Saints to play the entire 2012 season with one hand tied behind their back. The media and most fans were like a lynch mob at the gates of the Superdome with torches screaming "death to the monster!" at the top of their lungs...

But then the lack of evidence began to show, and some media, and those fans who weren't suffering from sever butt hurt began to see the light.

Perhaps the Saints were the sacrificial lamb, but not for Goodell's benefit, but rather for the League's benefit. Perhaps, if the ruling that comes out tomorrow shows how much of a farce Bountygate was, then this will set in motion a movement by the owners to get Goodell out of his office. Perhaps the Saints, by staying true to themselves, never admitting something they were never guilty of, will in fact, have saved this League by exposing Goodell for the person most detrimental to the League.

If this happens, then this season will not be for nothing. Yes, we will have missed out on having a Saints Super Bowl in the Dome, but we will, in turn, have a League to enjoy for decades to come. As for the Saints, they will come back even stronger next season with Coach Payton, and I believe will be primed to be the first team in NFL history to go 19-0.

Call it a hunch, call it blind optimism, call it what you will, but this is how everyone should look at this season.

It's a much better way to look at a season where a team took the field with one arm tied behind their back and still kick some teams square in the nuts. Much better than criticizing a quarterback who's done so much for this fan base, because he's had a few bad games WITHOUT one of his best friends and the best play caller in the league. And it's a much better way to look at this season than acting like a bunch of Falcons fans who couldn't take on adversity if it were wearing a pink tutu.

Have faith True Believers, and be proud of our team. A team who faced the NFL head on, and despite falling a bit short, never backed down.

Who Dat.