Saints S Roman Harper: "We'd be 5-0 if not for bounty scandal"

On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints improved to 2-4 on the season when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-28 in a shootout. Saints Quarterback Drew Brees threw for four touchdowns and led his team to its second-straight victory, after starting the season with a 0-4 record. The Saints, who have struggled this season, would have a better record if not for "bountygate" according to starting Safety Roman Harper.

Harper was asked on NBC's Pro Football Talk “If you have none of this Bountygate in the offseason, if there's no problems, through five games, instead of 1-4, what's your best guess as to what your record would be?”

Harper's response: "5-0."

“Hey, it is what it is,” Harper continued when Kuselias suggested that the league punishment cost the Saints four losses. "It's all right. You know, you can't win ‘em all. And at the end of the day we have to climb out of it from here. And we still have a chance in this division -- that's the crazy thing. No matter how we started the season. I think the last two Super Bowl champs limped into the playoffs at 9-7. All you can ask for is a chance and an opportunity late in January and that's all we ask for." 

It is quite interesting to see a locker room leader admit how much "bountygate" has affected the team. Most people believed the Saints would contend even though Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended for the season. They do appear to be righting the ship, but would they have a 5-0 record with Payton? It's tough to say, but unless your head coach can come in and play defense, I highly doubt they would have an unblemished record.