About Us myCNN 5. As you might expect, the intensity at Saints practices has increased now that Mike Ditka is in charge. Last season, after they finished their stretching exercises at the start of practice, the players strolled off to do their individual position work. Only when Ditka is satisfied that a high intensity level has been reached does practice move forward. Guys wake up pretty quickly.
People even look forward to it.
They like the fight. There sure was nothing like that last year. NFL teams are often a reflection of their coach, and nowhere will that be more evident than in New Orleans, where Ditka returns to coaching after spending the last four years as an NBC studio analyst. With his thick neck and cold stare, Ditka was known for his physical play during a 12-year career as a tight end. He instilled that toughness in the Bears teams he coached from 1981 through '92.