What the devil is going on with the New Orleans Saints? Earlier this year the New Orleans Saints had their head coach Sean Payton suspended for the entire 2012 NFL season, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams banned indefinitely and it’s current general manager Mickey Loomis suspended 8 games for their involvement in Bountygate, the pay-for-injury scheme.

Now, there are allegations that their GM also illegally eavesdropped on visiting NFL coaches as recently as eight years ago.  According to reports, Loomis had an electronic device in his Superdome suite that let him listen to opposing coaches.  Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Louisiana are now investigating to determine whether Loomis broke federal laws.

This eavesdropping scandal could very well mark the end for Loomis.  Even if he is proved innocent, he has further embarrassed the Saints, their fans and especially their owner, Tom Benson.

Remember, Loomis has already been suspended for actions that were insubordinate. When the owner discovered that the league was aware of the team’s bounty program, he told Loomis to shut it down. Instead, Loomis let the practice continue until it publicly embarrassed the franchise and destroyed its chances for a successful season this fall.

So we’ve all heard about the Devil went down to Georgia. Obviously, he moved on to New Orleans, disguised as a Saint.

Watch out Saints fans, it may not be long before Benson performs an exercism and expels Loomis from the organization.  With the devil and the evil gone, soon after you’ll be hearing that old Saints cheer down in the French Quarter – “who dat dere gonna beat dem Saints”.

U.S. Marshalls are searching for Mark Ingram, a one-time Super Bowl star as wide receiver for the New York Giants, who failed to show up Friday to begin a 7-year, 8-month sentence at a federal prison in Kentucky.

Ingram had not shown up for sentencing several times at federal court in Central Islip, after his conviction for attempting to launder $100,000 for people he thought were Uniondale drug dealers. Ingram was caught in an FBI sting operation.

When Ingram missed several sentencing dates U.S. District Judge Denis Hurley rescheduled sentencing each time. But Hurley issued an arrest warrant for Ingram on Monday, after federal prosecutor Richard Donoghue told the judge Ingram had not appeared at the federal prison in Ashland, Ky., to begin his sentence, according to court papers.

Ingram’s attorney, Raymond Colon, could not be reached for comment. Donoghue, who said in court after Ingram missed a sentencing date that the ex-football player apparently believed court dates were “optional,” declined to comment yesterday.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office on Long Island, says  a warrant for his arrest was issued.  He is still on the lam!

The former NY Giant standout has sought freedom until after the college football season so he could watch his son’s freshman season as a running back for the University of Alabama.

Stay tuned for more on this developing story.

GAME INFO
New Orleans Saints (7-6) vs Chicago Bears (7-6)

Date: Thursday, Dec 11, 2008
Kickoff:  8:15 PM ET
Teams: Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill
Weather Forecast: 21 – 31 degrees with 10% chance of precipitation

THE LINE (subject to change)
Bears giving 3 points to the Saints  Under/Over 44

THE MATCHUP
New Orleans Saints are 4th in the NFC South (7-6-0), 3 games behind the Carolina Panters who are 10-3.  They have scored 366 points and given up 326.  They are 2-3 in the division and 4-5 in the conference and 1-5 on the Road.

The Chicago Bears are 2nd in the NFC North behind the Minnesota Vikings.  They have scored 304 points while giving up 278.  They are 3-2 in the division and 5-5 in the conference and 4-2 at home.

AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)
The Saints are 9-4 ATS, 3-3 ATS Away, 3-2 ATS as the underdog and 2-2 ATS as an away underdog

The Bears are 6-6 ATS, 3-3 ATS at hoe, 4-3 ATS as the favorite and 2-2 ATS as a home favorite.

PREVIEW
This is probably the toughest game of the week to call and the first meeting between the two this season.  The game will be on the shoulders of the Saints QB, Drew Brees and the Bears running back, Matt Forte.  If Brees keeps his interceptions to 1 or less there is a good chance the Saints can upset the Bears.  If Forte has a 100+ yard game it puts the Bears in a good position to keep Brees off the field and win the game.

Both teams are still in the post-season hunt but they need to continue to win to have a chance.

Weather should not be an issue Thursday night. It will be cold but the wind should not be a factor. 

One big stat that sticks out is the Saints are only 1-5 on the Road.

INJURIES
Bears
Marty Booker WR Ribs Did Not Participate In Practice
Desmond Clark TE Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice
Tommie Harris DT Knee Did Not Participate In Practice
Jason McKie RB Quadricep Did Not Participate In Practice
Garrett Wolfe RB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice

Saints
Jammal Brown T Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice
Will Smith DE Not Injury Related Did Not Participate In Practice
Roman Harper S Shoulder Full Participation in Practice
 
 
PREDICTION (ATS)
The Bears are giving 3 points (-3) to the Saints who are 1-5 on the Road.  I see the Bears controlling the ball and winning the game by 4 points.

Chicago Bears 24 New Orleans Saints 20