Darren Rizzi and the New Orleans Saints did not get the outcome they were after on Sunday, despite giving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a run for their money.
The Saints held the momentum for the majority of the 27-19 loss, but there were some low points, including injuries. Those included when tight end Foster Moreau went down with a knee injury and safety Tyrann Mathieu suffering a concussion late in the fourth quarter.
Rizzi spoke to that when he met with the media following the game.
“(Foster Moreau) is dealing with a knee injury,” Rizzi said. “I do not know any of the details yet. It’s just way too early. But I do know he got a knee injury in there in that last two-minute drill.”
The interim head coach who was thrust into action when the Saints parted ways with Dennis Allen also spoke to the way that he feels he has been received by the players in his time there.
He said that the team will go through the motions of the exit phase and that he will have a sit-down with the ownership and the front office.
“No matter what happens with me, they have to through with The NFL interview process. I know I’ll be a part of that. But, other than that, I’ll start getting a few days off and reflecting on things and go from there. Right now, I’m hurting for those guys in the locker room.”
Rizzi went on to explain that the last game of the season “always sucks” unless you are the team winning the Super Bowl, and that for him, he will never forget some of the special moments and special things that have been said to him in this time.
“They’re really emotional. There were some guys that were emotional postgame that usually are not, and that makes me emotional,” Rizzi said as he got teary-eyed.
“I love those guys and I love that locker room. Those guys have been unbelievably supportive of me. That’s just a huge personal thank you to the locker room.”
It remains to be seen to just exactly what will unfold moving forward, but it’s safe to expect the winds of change to blow strongly as the Saints continue through an era of transition.