based in Phoenix, earned a mandatory shot at then-lightweight

This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!New Orleans SaintsOverall: 40 Title track: 14 Ownership: 43 Coaching: 19 Players: 55 Fan relations: 30 Affordability: 42 Stadium experience: 48 Bang for the buck: 83 Change from last year: -7Six years after ranking No. 1 on this list, the Saints have drifted into the middle of the pack -- much like what theyve been doing on the football field. Thats what happens after back-to-back 7-9 seasons, the first consecutive losing seasons in a decade under coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees.Whats goodNew Orleans still ranks high in the coaching category (No. 19 overall), despite Paytons struggles to resurrect the team in recent years. The Saints front office clearly agrees with the fans: The team signed Payton to a five-year extension worth more than $9 million per year this offseason. The Saints also remain strong at quarterback -- which should really be its own category in the NFL rankings. Although Drew Brees is 37, he signed a one-year extension in September, then kicked off the year by averaging 347 yards per game (tops in NFL) and 2.8 TDs per game in the first six weeks..Whats badJust imagine how low the Saints player rating -- already at just 55th, down four from last year -- would be without Brees. The Saints have been missing badly with big contracts in recent years (Junior Galette, Brandon Browner, C.J. Spiller, among others) and lead the NFL with more than $40 million in dead money from players they have released before their contracts are up. And they havent fared much better in the draft. They havent drafted a Pro Bowler since 2011 (though it seems like just a matter of time for LT Terron Armstead and WR Brandin Cooks).Whats newThe Saints took a big dip in the bang for the buck rankings. Prices havent really increased, but the teams results have taken a surprising nose dive in home games. After going 8-0 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in both 2011 and 2013, the Saints are 5-11 in their past 16 home games. The Dome is still known as one of the loudest venues in the league. But struggles on the field can sap the energy of any building.Next: Indianapolis Colts?| Full rankings Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. NFL Jerseys From China . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. http://www.cheapjerseysnflwholesaleauthentic.com/ . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. 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Juan Diazs injury has opened the door for up-and-comer Mason Menard.Diaz, a 33-year-old former unified lightweight titleholder, was scheduled to face former lightweight title challenger Raymundo Beltran on the undercard of unified junior welterweight champion Terence Crawfords title defense against John Molina on Dec. 10 (HBO, 9:35 p.m. ET/PT) at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska.However, Diaz has withdrawn from the bout and been replaced by Menard in the scheduled 10-round bout, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN on Monday.Diaz has been hampered by a herniated disc in his neck as well as either herniated discs in his back or a rib injury. Brian Caldwell, Diazs manager, told ESPN that Diaz was awaiting results of an MRI he had Friday to determine the specific nature of his back problem.He was sparring last Tuesday getting ready for the fight, and he missed a hook and fell to his knees, Caldwell said. He was in pain. He said, Oh, my back! Hopefully, well know more in the next couple of days, but he is disappointed to have to pull out of this fight. I think he would have torn Beltran up. He was excited about being back on HBO.Diaz (42-4, 21 KOs), of Houston, unified three lightweight world titles during his 2004 to 2008 reign but retired in 2010 before launching a comeback. He was scheduled to fight for a lightweight world title but suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery, costing him 18 months, including all of 2015.He returned to action and won both of his fights this year before this latest setback, which could send him into retirement again.He doesnt have to do this for the money, he just loves to fight, so hes taking this a little hard, Caldwell said. But if he never fights again, he still won those world titles, made a lot of good fights and made some good money.ddddddddddddWith Diaz out, Moretti said he has made a deal with promoter Greg Cohen for Menard to take his place.Everything is agreed to, Moretti said. Were putting everything to paper.Menard (32-1, 24 KOs), 28, of Rayne, Louisiana, will take on his most formidable opponent in Beltran (31-7-1, 19 KOs), 35.Beltran, a Mexico native based in Phoenix, earned a mandatory shot at then-lightweight world champion Crawford in November 2014 but lost by near-shutout decision.Crawford later relinquished the title to move up in weight, and Beltran was due to face Japans Takahiro Ao for the vacant belt in May 2015. However, Beltran did not make weight, so the belt was on the line only for Ao. Beltran won by second-round knockout and the title remained vacant, but after he failed the postfight drug test for a banned substance, the result was changed to a no-decision and Beltran was fined and suspended. After a year of being idle, Beltran returned in May and has won both fights since his suspension ended.In addition to televising the live Crawford-Molina and Beltran-Menard bouts, Top Rank has also made a deal with HBO to add same-day recorded coverage of the vacant heavyweight world title bout between Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz Jr., whom Top Rank promotes, as the opener of an expanded telecast.Parker (21-0, 18 KOs), 24, and the 27-year-old Ruiz (29-0, 19 KOs), who are squaring off for one of the title belts vacated by Tyson Fury, will meet at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, Parkers home country. ' ' '