New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson left little room for interpretation when she addressed the team’s 1-4 start this week.
Speaking at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club, Benson made it clear the early results fall short of the standard she expects, and that the response must come on the field against the New York Giants on Sunday.
“We are 1-4. That is not acceptable to me, and it falls short of what our fans truly deserve,” Benson said, via NFL.com. “I will not make excuses, and I will not accept this level of performance as our standard. I am committed to making the decisions necessary to improve this team.
"Everyone in this organization understands the urgency. We must prepare better, execute consistently and correct the mistakes that
are costing us the games. Words will not restore our fans’ confidence. Our performance must do better.”
Benson also assigned responsibility across the organization, naming second-year head coach Kellen Moore and longtime general manager Mickey Loomis in the process.
“Kellen Moore and his coaches are responsible for preparing our players to perform,” she said. “Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success. Our players are responsible for their preparation and execution. I am responsible for holding this organization accountable.”
The Saints enter the matchup at MetLife Stadium having lost three straight games, including a 45-24 defeat to Atlanta and a 23-13 loss to Minnesota. Their defense ranks 31st in points allowed. The Giants, by contrast, sit at 3-1-1 and lead the NFC East under John Harbaugh after a 27-27 overtime tie with Washington. New York has been strong at home and will face a Saints team that has been publicly put on notice.
“There’s a great deal of football ahead of us, but our response must show up on the field,” Benson said.
The Giants will look to ensure that response does not come at their expense.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Saints owner demands on-field response ahead of New York Giants game
