An NFL Hall of Famer believes New Orleans Saints Coach Dennis Allen needs to be relieved of his duties.
Commenting as part of ESPN’s First Take program, Shannon Sharpe believes the players in the Saints organization do not respect their head coach, an opinion informed by the team’s offense going rogue in the closing seconds of the Saints’ season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.
Rather than taking a knee like Allen wanted, backup quarterback Jameis Winston handed the ball to running back Jamaal Williams on the 1-yard line and let him plow into the end zone for a touchdown that had no effect on the outcome of the game other than the final score.
“It makes Dennis Allen look like he lost control of that locker room, but I'll say this – I would cut Jameis Winston today,” Sharpe said. “I would not want him on my team. That's a loser's mentality.”
“If people say, Shannon, what about when Dan Marino fake spiked the ball, or Peyton Manning? They were not in victory formation. If you get down and the defense is conceding, if you want to run the ball, let the defense line up. Don't you fool them, (let them) think it's a victory formation and then drive off the ball.
“That's going rogue," he continued. "Dennis Allen is probably gonna have to go, because the players have no respect for him.”
So far, reports indicate Allen will be back with the Saints next season.