Whistle-blower Named in Saints Eavesdropping Case

Journalists count on their informants for stories; the informants count on anonymity. However, often times the natural, innate curiosity of the public at large along with the desire to print the next big story first wins out. Telling people who started it—whatever it happens to be—is simply too juicy of a story.

In time, the source behind the allegations that New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis had his box rewired so that he could listen in on the opposing team's communications at the Superdome. Well that day has come to pass.

A FOX affiliate in New Orleans, one that is incidentally owned by Saints owner Tom Benson, has broken the story. It appears that at least one of the whistleblowers is a former sound and electric contract worker named Tim Landry.

Apparently ESPN's John Barr was going fishing for dirt on the Saints, specifically Sean Payton. He eventually came into contact with Landry who is the one that spilled the beans on Loomis. It isn't real clear whether there is a corroborating source, but that is a distinct possibility.

Landry would be a believable source since he is an electrical worker, but his story has holes too. So far it appears that all he has done is offered his word of the alleged re-wiring and subsequent eavesdropping. This is also coming from a guy that was fired for using team equipment at non-team events (in 2007).

Had the bounty scandal have never happened it would not have been surprising if this story had already disappeared. All there is here is an allegation from a disgruntled employee and not a single shred of evidence that the Saints or Loomis did anything wrong (the alleged wiring was disabled around September 2005 after Hurricane Katrina struck).

All that Landry has to say for himself is that there is nothing to say and to keep him out of it.

This story should have never made it anywhere outside the realm of a TMZ broadcast.

Article by Travis Pulver