Saints Offensive Line Battle on The Sideline

Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints offensive line struggled mightily in the team's loss to the Saint Louis Rams.  There were many technical reasons for the struggles but for the most part, they were just outplayed.  It apparently got to the point where the frustrations boiled over to the sideline from the field.  Saints guard Carl Nicks got into a verbal battle with offensive line coach/run game coordinator Aaron Kromer and eventually had to be separated. 

"Man, I don't even remember what happened to be honest," Nicks said afterward. "It was in the heat of the moment, I just lost my temper. I don't even remember what it was all about. It's just frustration about losing and that's about it.

"Emotions got the best of me," he added. "I apologize for making myself look dumb. I'll never do something like that again."

Look, a lot of pundits will point to this as some level of proof that the Saints are unravelling at the seams. This is anything but true.  While playing with the Saints, I had a very similar incident with my then offensive line coach Jack Henry.  We were in a heated battle with the New York Jets that held us to 15yds rushing through the first quarter and a half of the matchup.  The Jets did an awesome job of presenting defensive fronts and blitz packages that we had not seen on film.  It wasn't anybody's fault that what we had prepared for wasn't there and our game plan had to be tossed before we even got to the half.  Most offensive coordinators get really skittish when there game plan can't be executed and immediately abandon the ground game for the passing game.  I knew that we would be able to run the ball but had to make a few adjustments.  I suggested in a not so kind manner that we make the changes, then WWIII ensued along our bench.  Jack Henry and I had to be separated in a similar fashion to Kromer and Nicks. Jack and I had an opportunity to speak after the game, all was squashed.  The irony of this story is that the situation brought Jack, myself and the team closer. This was during the trying times of the Katrina season so we needed something to bring us back together.  

The Saints, Nicks, Kormer will all be fine.  It's situations like this that really unite a team when things aren't going as planned.  What's the point of being married if you never disagree?

Here is more from James Varney of the Times Picayune HERE