It's been fun, welp

Ralph Malbrough writes a good column for WWLTV and hosts the most entertaining football-themed fake radio show in the internet both of which have been a boon to our enjoyment of the Saints this year. 

Ralph isn't usually known as the most optimistic guy, though, which is one reason this is an encouraging take.

While the 2013 Saints season is over, there are real reasons for optimism. As WWLTV.com's Bradley Handwerger explained, the core built in 2006 is getting older, but despite losing draft picks the Saints built a new core in the 2012 and 2013 drafts.

Just as Marques Colston, Jahri Evans, Roman Harper, Zack Strief, and Lance Moore start to age the Saints have brought in Akiem Hicks and Corey White (2012 Draft) and Kenny Vaccaro, Terron Armstead, John Jenkins, and Kenny Stills (2013 Draft). Throw in free agent additions Keenan Lewis and Curtis Lofton and suddenly the Saints future looks very bright.

And, yeah, that's all very true. But rejuvenated "core" or no,  that window is still only as wide as Drew Brees' remaining career is long.. which is not very.  And it's even shorter if the Saints can't figure out a way to better protect him.  Brees was sacked 37 times this season. That's the worst of his career by a full 10 sacks.  Probably not a good idea to steadily increase the amount of punishment your quarterback takes as he ages.

In any case, Malbrough is right.  The most important takeaway from 2013is that, while the window is closing, the Saints are well positioned to make one more run through it before it does.