How awesome was Jim Finks?

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WDSU recapping first winning season with a special on ole Jim

Finks is considered one of the all time NFL talent evaluaters, he was almost NFL commissioner in 89.

He brought the Vikings, Bears, and us out of the shitter.

One of the most important hires in Saints history.

A Hall of Famer and an all around badass.

Agreed.



“Finks has been president and general manager since January 1986. Before his arrival, the team had 19 losing seasons-including 1980, when fans wore paper bags over their heads to protest a 1-15 record.

Finks hired Jim Mora as coach, and the Saints finished 7-9, fourth place in the NFC West. The next year, the Saints compiled their first winning record-12-3-and made their first playoff appearance.

In 1991, New Orleans was 11-5 and won the NFC West.”
LINK

Finks brought true legitimacy to the front office .
Also kudos to Benson. This franchise was a true shite show from top to bottom and he made the right moves to get it turned around.

Bobby shouldnt have been such a spoiled brat about it and realized it was a chance for something special.

Mr. Finks was friends with my father when I was young. He once gave me a football and sharpie and let me go in the locker room after practice and get the ball signed by players.

I was maybe 5 or 6 years old walking up to naked guys with dicks the size of my arm asking for autographs, lol. Bobby was among them.

I know, csb.

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I was maybe 5 or 6 years old walking up to naked guys with dicks the size of my arm asking for autographs, lol.

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City Champ (HOF #57) just called in to say you musta had a huge arm.

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Hebert holdout forces trade for Steve Walsh Bobby Hebert and the Saints couldn't come to terms before the 1990 season, and he missed the entire year, opening the door for John Fourcade to be the starter. Fourcade, who did a good job after replacing Hebert in the final two games of the 1989 season, had a rough beginning to 1990, and the Black and Gold opened 0-2. General Manager Jim Finks then made a trade with Dallas that sent Steve Walsh to New Orleans for first-, second- and third-round picks in future drafts. In the end, Walsh wasn't very effective, either, and Hebert (3) returned in 1991, as Walsh (4) became his backup.

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I was barely alive, so don't remember this --- but a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rd draft pick!?

That would never happen in today's NFL, and seems BEYOND stupid. But how was it taken back in the early 90s?

Also, everyone loves Bobby now, but how did people react back then when he basically tanked an entire season for us by holding out (not to mention moving himself to ATL in a few years) How would we react to Kamara doing the same thing in a year or two?

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Benson hired the right people and let them do their job.

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Yes he did.

It’s a simple, common sense formula, but so difficult for many to do.

People were upset at the time but Hebert was vindicated in his lawsuit against the NFL that labor terms were grossly unfair to the players.

His lawsuit victory against the NFL was the genesis of modern free agency, so it's not like his position was unreasonable although it seemed that way to me as a 10 year old kid. I didn't fully appreciate the holdout until I grew up and now his position seems completely understandable.

It was always frustrating in the old NFC West, because 12-4 and 11-5 was only good enough for the wildcard when San Francisco was in the division with the greatest quarterback ever who went 14-2 just about every year.