Executive Vice President/GM Mickey Loomis believes in New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr

Saints were 5-5 in games Carr started in 2024

Jan 13, 2025 at 04:39 PM

John DeShazier

Senior Writer

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis addressed a host of topics during a 40-plus minute news conference Monday, to cap the 2024 season and answer general questions about the team's coaching search.

Among them:

CONFIDENCE IN CARR: Loomis said he likes all three Saints quarterbacks on the roster, and said he has a "high level" of confidence in starter Derek Carr – who missed seven games due to various injuries. The Saints were 5-5 when Carr started and 0-7 when either Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener started.

"He did some really good things here, and has done some really good things here," Loomis said. "If he had qualified, which I'm not sure that he did, his quarterback rating would be in the top 10, his interception rating would be in the top 10, his yards per attempt would be in the top 10 under some really tough circumstances.

"When you don't have your top two receivers, and you don't have that special weapon in Taysom Hill, and we don't have the middle portion of our offensive line, and we have a rookie left tackle – there are some tough circumstances for a quarterback to have to deal with. So I think he's done some really good things."

CAP TALK: "I'm pretty comfortable with where we're at (salary cap wise)," Loomis said. "I'm comfortably uncomfortable. It's something we have to manage, and there's a lot of teams that have to manage their cap that way. And some of the ones that don't are going to have to at some point.

"I feel OK with where we're at. I think we're making progress from where we've been the last few years. So I'm feeling better about it."

STAYING PUT: The 68-year-old Loomis said he has no intention or interest in retirement at present.

"I've got a passion for the sport, I've got a passion for the Saints, I've got a passion for all of it," he said. "I feel like I've got all my faculties here. Nobody would ask me that question…if I wasn't 68 they wouldn't ask me the question.

"If I ever felt like my acumen or my ability to think and ability to do the things necessary in this job were waning, I'd be the first guy to say, 'Hey, wait a minute.' So, no, retirement is not on my mind. Getting back to the playoffs and winning football, that's what's on my mind."

NOLA LOVE: He also expressed his appreciation of New Orleans and the passion that the Saints evoke.

"I have a love for the community, a love for New Orleans," he said. "Wasn't originally from here, but I like to tell people I'm from here now.

"I know how much the success of our team impacts our city. So I take it personal when we're not successful. I think all of our guys take it personal. Being in New Orleans it kind of gets into your blood, it gets into your soul and so, not having a successful season is painful.

"I'm as determined as ever to, let's get us back in the playoffs, let's get us back on the right track here. And I think we can do it. I know I can do it. I know we can. It's not a matter of 'if.' It's, I know we can do it."

CAMP TALK: No decision has been made as to where training camp will be held in 2025, though Loomis said he believes it will occur at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in Metairie.

"I'd say it's likely that we're going to have training camp here, but a decision hasn't been made yet," he said.

Photos: Mickey Loomis' 2024 end of season press conference

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/ General Manager Mickey Loomis speaks with the media following the 2024 NFL season and discusses the team's offseason plans and hiring strategies at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on January 13, 2025.