An anonymous New Orleans Saints player has criticised defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, branding him a "control freak".

The Saints set an NFL record in 2012 for most yards allowed by a defense in a single season.

The player told the Times-Picayune: "Trust me, all the guys were being politically correct this season when answering questions. It's bad.

"Players have no say in anything, nothing ever changed. It was his way only.

"He does have that good-guy persona, but he is a control freak and treats people like crap. [He] has no patience and zero personality."

The Saints allowed an average of 28.4 points per game during the 2012 season, ranking them 31st in the league for points allowed.