AP

It’s not too late to make an example of someone.

So on the eve of their biggest game of the regular season, the Saints are taking the dramatic step of replacing their left tackle.

Saints coach Sean Payton just told reporters (and the team tweeted out the news, in case the message wasn’t being sent clearly enough) that rookie Terron Armstead would start at left tackle Sunday against the Panthers.

The third-round pick was competing for the starting job in training camp, but Brown held him off for most of the year.

Brown was benched during last week’s loss to the Rams when Robert Quinn had his way with him, and the prospect of Greg Hardy doing the same thing with the NFC South title on the line obviously gave Payton second thoughts.

The Saints also cut longtime kicker Garrett Hartley, replacing him with journeyman Shayne Graham, so the implication is clear. Payton’s not messing around, and even the most important jobs aren’t safe.