There is almost nothing Mickey Loomis can do to change his public perception going forward. Anything short of saving women and children from certain doom won't restore his good name.
The NFL has already suspended him eight games for his role in the Saints' Bounty Scandal. To potentially compound his character suicide, ESPN's John Barr says that Loomis reportedly had an electronic device in his Superdome suite that enabled him to eavesdrop on opposing teams.
The incidents reportedly took place from 2002-2004.
This possible infraction is on another level.
According to the Federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986: a person is prohibited from intercepting communications from another person using an electronic or mechanical device.
At this point, these are all allegations, but Jim Letten, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana has acknowledged he is aware of the accusations.
It should be noted, Loomis has denied these allegations. He responded to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports via email. Glazer tweeted the email:
Just got an email from Mickey Loomis: "This report on ESPN is absolutely false. I have a monitor in front of me in my booth that provides the league issued stats for the game. I have a small tv with the network broadcast and I have an earpiece to listen to the WWL-AM radio (flagship broadcaster) game broadcast.
To think I am sitting in there listening and actually and or doing something with the offensive and defensive play calls of the opposing teams makes this story and the unnamed sources that provided the false information that much more less credible…it just didn’t happen."
It should also be noted, the involvement in the bounty scandal was initially denied by members of the Saints' organization as well.
If the allegations are true, what does it mean for Loomis and the Saints' organization?
While it is perceivable to disconnect the blame from Loomis in regard to the bounty situation—this would fall squarely on the GM.
Questions would arise. Was he relaying signals to coaches on the sidelines? What exactly was he doing with this information he reportedly intercepted?
His actions in the bounty scandal and these recent accusations are painting a very undesirable image for the Saints' GM.
They convey an obvious abuse of power, resource, and a obsession with winning that is void of morals.
Even if he is ultimately cleared of wrong doing in the eavesdropping scandal, it won't save his image. He has already been deemed guilty in one inexplicable act, these latest accusations will all but finish off his existence in the way of public endearment.
If this is indeed true, it will be interesting to see if Loomis is forced out as the GM of the Saints. If the NFL is serious about its image, and look to hold those in higher positions to a higher standard, that would be an appropriate action.
It is beginning to seem as though the Saints may need a fresh start, from top to bottom.
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