Despite being from the other LA, the New Orleans Saints have often held joint practices in Southern California with the LA Chargers during the preseason. With the Saints and Chargers set to play each other in the preseason on August 10, many assumed this tradition would continue.
Not this year. Despite practicing in Southern California for nine days (both before and after the game on August 10), the Saints will not link up with the Chargers for a joint practice. Normally, this would be a nothing burger and Chargers fans wouldn't think twice about it. That's not the case when you consider who is on the Saints coaching staff.
Former Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has taken over as the Saints head coach after winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. His defensive coordinator? Former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley.
Kellen Moore and Brandon Staley duck joint practices with the Chargers
The Saints are robbing Chargers fans of the theatre that they so desperately wanted to see. Nothing would have been better than seeing two Chargers cast-offs finally get a chance to see The Bolt in person in joint practice.
To be fair, there really are no hard feelings with Moore. His one-year tenure with the Chargers wasn't that great, but it also included a season-ending Justin Herbert injury. Watching him succeed and get a head coaching gig has been great for Chargers fans to see.
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The real storyline is with Staley. Chargers fans have mostly gotten over the Staley era as it led to Jim Harbaugh taking over the team, but there is obviously still some friction there.
It's one thing for Moore and Staley to be on the opposite sideline during a preseason game at SoFi Stadium. It's another thing for the duo, particularly Staley, to be in the weeds with the Chargers at practice.
There are so many players still on the Chargers roster who Staley was a key part of drafting. Some of them have said some not-so-flattering things about their former head coach since his departure.
As disappointing as this is for Chargers fans, it makes sense why the Saints don't want to have a joint practice with the Chargers. Moore and Staley would be openly practicing with the team that cast them off less than two years ago, and would be coaching alongside their replacements.
It would have been awkward and it would have been the perfect catalyst for fireworks, hence why the Saints are going to stick to themselves and just play the Chargers in preseason.
It's a shame, really.