New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Dan Marino's record for passing yardage in a single season Monday night. Perhaps you heard about it. Sean Payton had his quarterback throwing late with a big lead over a division foe, finally getting the needed yardage with just minutes left.
Payton later said he respects the Falcons and Mike Smith, and Smith has publicly congratulated Brees. After the game, Matt Ryan, Chris Redman and Brent Grimes were among the Falcons to congratulate the Saints passer. Grimes and Brees were overheard laughing about a near-interception along the sideline.
So we're going to talk about the one unidentified player who wasn't happy, of course.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco cites a solo Falcon who apparently felt the decision to keep throwing lacked sportsmanship.
"No need for that," one player said. "It came on our watch, but it didn't have to come that way. We won't forget it."
...
"That's just who they are," the Falcons player said. "We'll see them down the road. We won't forget any of it."
In between we have quotes from Falcons defenders who said Brees didn't talk to them after the game, which could be construed as whining if we really wanted it to be, along with a report that Smith was privately displeased with Payton's decision.
If Atlanta players were bitching about the Saints going out of their way to break a record, that would be embarrassing. It's embarrassing that one Falcons player is being quoted as doing so. But we shouldn't get caught up in acting like the entire Falcons organization is getting emotions about another team exploited Atlanta's own overwhelmed defense.