What's wrong with the Saints...

[jbamburg]

WHAT????.....They cut Joe Horn
I know the NFL is a business but this guy has become the face of the franchise. Look at all he did for the city of New Orleans following hurricane Katrina. Not to mention the things he has done for the team on the field.
Look I know he was hurt a lot last year but this is a guy that's like a coach on the field, he makes his teammates better (except Aaron Brooks but that's a different story)
Joe Horn deserved to retire as a Saint.

[Landrover]

MAN i am ******!!! Just getting off the phone with my dad and brother. I have been on NOLA.com all morning and this has got to be one of the dumbest things ever!!! My wife is even wondering what the HECK they are trying to prove on such a stupid move....especially at this juncture in the teams growth.
The guy is from Mississippi thus been a SAINTS fan all his life. You said it all about his leadership and pure commitment to the franchise and the people of the region.
The guy has grown so much since his "cell phone" antics 3 years ago. Right now the region NEEDS more sense of stability than ever before. The team has been the ONLY bright spot for a city in rapid decline!
I am freakin floored by this move. I bet his is gonna go to one of our rivals (Falcons, Panthers) and slaughter us in 2007'!

[Rattler]

WTH!!!!! Now they are looking like the da-yum TExans! Stupid azz Houston let go of Eric Moulds! I think they severly needed his vetran experience!

[ScottyK79]

Have any of you looked behind the scenes, Joe Horn asked to be released because they are not paying him what he is asking, therefore Horn wants to see how much he can get from someone else, it is about money to him, and thats it. Payton said his job is waiting for him if he decides to come back. The way I see it, Horn cares about the saints, and Louisiana, but cares about his bank account more, and being that he is a veteran, he doesn't have much longer to go in the NFL. I am a huge Saints fan but this is a smart move for New Orleans in order to retain that capital that would unnecessarily be going to a WR on his last leg.

[jbamburg]

This is Horn's response to the claims of the team that he is leaving to get more money.

"Right now it's going around that (the Saints) wanted to restructure my contract and I asked to be released, but this has nothing to do with money," Horn said told The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. "I wanted to retire as a Saint. I've been through hell and back for that city and that organization. If I wanted out of New Orleans that bad, I would have just kept my mouth shut and let them move the team to San Antonio.

"I just don't think (coach) Sean Payton wanted me back. I asked to be released because I felt betrayed by a head coach who wanted to prove he could win without Joe Horn."

[ScottyK79]

True enough James, I still dont understand why he would care if they restructured his contract if it were not about money though. What else would he ask to be released for? The only thing we can hope for now is that Payton has a plan up his sleeve, and I bet he does. I like Horn, but I think he is done in New Orleans.

[KSHogman]

we will take him back ,you he is a ex KC Chief

[jbamburg]

I just think that Joe saw the request to restructure as a sign that he was unwanted. Since he already went through that in KC he probably just wanted to pull out and give the team their real wish.
Nobody ever wants a pay cut but we hold athletes up to a different standard because they are rich. What a pay cut really says is that you are not worth what we are paying you now. I can certainly understand how that would offend a player.
All that said, I think the Saints and Joe will both be just fine and I can't wait for this season.
Prediction: Saints make it to their first Superbowl.

[Mudslinger]

Almost anything and everything done in pro sports is about money, Period. This is a business and is run like a business for the most part. Just look at all the players released in the last few days, all about salary cap. No matter what Horn has done the last 3 years since the cell incident, he still has a history and some coaches don't like that. The Saints have a couple of young emerging receivers. Both the Saints and Horn maybe be better off parting company.

[possumburg]

Saints will not only go to their first Superbowl, they will win it.