Since arriving in Chicago, Jay Cutler's been fighting the stigma that he's more of a stat-monger than a winner. The only way to change the feelings of the general public is to go out and win tough games. Anyone can look good during a blowout of an inferior opponent.
For the second consecutive week, Cutler has won close games in come-from-behind fashion. Last week, he led the Bears on a 72-yard, game-tying touchdown drive and then a 41-yard game-winning field goal drive against the Steelers. Sunday afternoon, Cutler brought the Bears back from an early 13-0 deficit to lead 17-13. The Bears lost the lead, but that was of no consequence, as Cutler again led them on a game-winning drive.
You've got questions. I've got answers. If not, I'll make them up. Each Thursday, I answer your queries on all things related to the NFL. If you have a question, send it over to NFLMailbag@gmail.com. Don't forget to include your name and location. Click here for the archives. Rock'n'roll. I don't understand. The Saints let fan favorite John Carney go because he was "losing his leg." With Martin Gramatica cut, Taylor Mehlhaff will be their third kicker in 21 games. Please explain the logic? - Roy H., Jackson, MS
I have to admit: I've held a longtime grudge against Carney for botching the River City Relay, and was glad that he was let go before the 2007 season. But that turned out to be a colossal mistake. He's been 24-of-26 in various stops since leaving New Orleans, while Olindo Mare and Gramatica went a combined 21-of-32 as Saints. It's been so bad I was even hoping for the team to re-sign Carney with his release from the Giants looming. Alas, they went with their 2008 sixth-round pick, who lost his job in the summer to Gramatica. So I'm not sure how much confidence that inspires, but the Saints drafted Mehlhaff originally to solidify the kicking game for a long time, and he'll have another chance at that.
Okay, that's probably an overstatement, but there's no disputing that Mare had an embarrassingly awful 2007 season with the Saints. It was so bad, in fact, that New Orleans released Mare a year after trading for him. And that was after they had signed Martin Gramatica as insurance. If a team has to bring in "Automatica," your job's probably up for grabs. Which shouldn't have been completely unexpected since Mare converted a whopping 59 percent of his kicks last year, and eight of those games were played indoors.
What does this mean for the Seahawks? Well, they better score a lot of points, because Mare is nowhere near the player he was in Miami. Or the player that Josh Brown is in St. Louis. Which makes you wonder why Seattle didn't make more of an effort to keep him.
It wasn't that long ago that I said: "That ominous presence hanging over Olindo Mare's head might be a falling pink slip," in reference to the Saints re-upping Martin Gramatica. Of course, I also noted that Mare's shot to lose his job would probably come in training camp. So I was half-right.
In any case, the Saints have released Mare, who they acquired last offseason from Miami for a sixth-round pick. There's conflicting reports as to the whyabouts of the release though. The team's official reason for cutting Mare was a failed physical (he battled injuries all year long, eventually landing on the IR -- the whole reason Gramatica got a job in the first place). But Pro Football Talk is reporting that Mare refused to take a cut on his $1.5 million salary this year.
The Saints used a failed physical as an excuse for cutting Joe Horn last year (when it was really over a pay cut), so it wouldn't surprise me if PFT is on the money. But it doesn't matter -- that's a ridiculous price to pay considering Mare's horrendous 2007 season. If he thinks someone else is going to pay him that, or anything close to that, let him go and try and find that team. Gramatica's got it on lockdown anyway.
That ominous presence hanging over Olindo Mare's head might be a falling pink slip. His 10-for-17 season ended three games mercifully short last year, and the Saints brought in punchline Martin Gramatica to finish the season.
But Gramatica connected, going 5-for-5 in three games (and allegedly never missing a kick in practice), including a clutch 55-yarder that he had to kick while rushing onto the field with the first half winding down against Philadelphia. I, upon seeing that kick, stood up on my bar stool and screamed "Automatica!!!!" in delight, rendering the rest of the sports bar speechless.
His deal as an injury fill-in was only good for last year, but his performance earned him another one. Mare is still under contract as well, and his job isn't automatically (no pun intended) in jeopardy. In his time, Martin was terrible kicking off, something Mare excels at even when he can't split the uprights (despite the missed time, his 15 touchbacks were fourth in the league).
If Mare proves he can kick consistently in camp, he'll be the guy. If not, don't be surprised to see him limited to kickoffs while Gramatica handles the rest (the Saints used this approach with Billy Cundiff and John Carney in 2006, though at the consternation of Sean Payton). A leg in the draft is also possible. Still, just getting excited over a Gramatica again is fun, isn't it?
You might have heard by now that the Saints have signed Martin Gramatica in light of Olindo Mare's trip to the IR. My first reaction upon hearing that news was what could best be described as an enthusiastic yelp. And then I began to think about it, and, yeah, there's sadly a downside to Mare getting injured.
It's fair to say that Mare has been the source of a lot of agida for Saints fans this year. He was, after all, kicking 58.8% with misses from embarrassingly short distances. There were games lost on Mare's foot. Gramatica is certainly a shell of his former self. But last year he went a combined 7-of-9 between Dallas and Indianapolis and has a 76.6% career percentage. Mare is 10-of-17. It's hard to imagine Gramatica being any worse at kicking field goals than Mare's been; he'll at least be a push and there's a chance he'll be significantly better (though that's not much of a task).
This helps the Saints offense.
Yet the Saints were so interested in Mare not only as a kicker but as a kickoff specialist, as that was one of New Orleans' weakest points in 2006. And this year, he's at least done that well. His 15 touchbacks are tied for second in the league, and his 28.8% at kicking touchbacks is third. Gramatica hasn't had 10 touchbacks in a season since 2001. With the Saints' kickoff coverage lacking, returnable kicks mean Saints opponents will have better starting field position.
I was certain the Saints were going to win this one in the second quarter, even though the score was just 10-3. At that point, Olindo Mare had just sent a 46-yard field goal through the uprights. Earlier in the game, Jason David successfully defensed a pass in the end zone. That's like Haley's Comet flying over Wrigley during a Cubs' World Series championship. When both rarities occur in the same game, hey, it's gotta be your day.
That is to say: It was fun to watch my Saints end their two-game losing streak by beating the Panthers today. I don't, however, take any pride in it. I am not impressed.
Maybe I think more highly of the Saints than I should given that, you know, they recently lost back-to-back games to St. Louis and Houston. Maybe I shouldn't take any team, even one led by David Carr (at left, showing jazz hands), for granted. But let's be honest: the Saints just won a game they should have. Beating the Panthers, especially after struggling for the first half, is not a sign that they are ready to make noise in the NFC (yet). It's just a sign that they haven't completely buried themselves, as much as they've tried.
Can we all agree now that the Saints' offense is back to 2006 form? Weak competition is no longer a valid counterpoint; against a Jags defense a lot of people would consider one of the better, more physical units in the league, Drew Brees is doing pretty much whatever he wants.
The Saints are moving the ball at will on the Jaguars, to the tune of 399 yards, and Brees has 346 yards and two touchdowns at halftime, with so much time in the pocket that CBS' Randy Cross compared the matchup to a 7-on-7 drill. Marques Colston, fresh off of a three-touchdown performance against the 49ers, is on the receiving end of 133 of Brees' yards, absolutely punishing Jags defensive backs' with his size and power.
At the break, the Saints are up 24-17, but two missed field goals by Olindo Mare and a fumble deep in Jags territory have prevented the Saints from really pulling away in this contest. The Jags offense has produced one big play -- an 80-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Gray to Reggie Williams -- and Maurice Jones-Drew added a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Otherwise, it was all New Orleans in the first half, and Brees, in pursuit of a record-setting day, was leading the charge. It almost looks like they're playing against a scout team defense -- not this one, though.
With all of the talk about the ridiculous 12-lateral play that defeated Millsaps College (oddly enough, the field the Saints use for training camp), and with the Saints playing the Jaguars this Sunday, it's about time to remember the remarkable (heartbreaking, for me) way their last meeting ended: The River City Relay.
This play did its part in keeping the Saints out of the playoffs in 2003 (though they shot themselves in the foot quite a bit that year as well) and pretty much made John Carney dead to me. Perhaps it was unfair, but I was never able to forgive Carney until I had to deal with Olindo Mare. I'm sorry John. I really am. I never appreciated you.
Carney, in an interesting twist, will be kicking in this game again -- for the Jaguars.
2007 Record: New Orleans Saints: 0-4 (4th in NFC South) Seattle Seahawks: 3-2 (2nd in NFC West)
Last Week: Panthers 16, Saints 13 Steelers 21, Seahawks 0
When the Saints have the ball: They've gotta figure out a way to get this offense going. Replacing Devery Henderson with Lance Moore should bring some consistency in the passing game, and the offensive line showed marked improvement last week against Carolina (despite the efforts of left tackle Jammal Brown). That should be a formula for a breakout of sorts. But even with better protection last week, Drew Brees looked off. He looks like a guy shaken by the pressure he faced early in the season and frustrated with abundance of drops from his receivers, someone who feels he has to win by himself and tries too hard. He needs others to step up so that he can get comfortable in the pocket and play like the 2006 Brees.
Since arriving in Chicago, Jay Cutler's been fighting the stigma that he's more of a stat-monger than a winner. The only way to change the feelings of the general public is to go out and win tough games. Anyone can look good during a blowout of an inferior opponent. 
You've got questions. I've got answers. If not, I'll make them up. Each Thursday, I answer your queries on all things related to the NFL. If you have a question, send it over to 
It wasn't that long ago that I said
That ominous presence hanging over 
You might have heard by now
I was certain the Saints were going to win this one in the second quarter, even though the score was just 10-3. At that point, 
Can we all agree now that the Saints' offense is back to 2006 form? Weak competition is no longer a valid counterpoint; against a Jags defense a lot of people would consider one of the better, more physical units in the league, 
To get you ready for Week 6, 
