Saints Sideline Blog

“SUPER” SWEET

Monday, February 8th, 2010      Email Print

DATELINE: Miami,FL /February 8th, 2010 (The Who and the Who Dats---WHO could ask for anything more!!)
 
The media covering this one won't suffer from writer's block. The only problem when breaking down the Saints dominating Super Bowl victory is which storyline do you pick? The lead is obviously that this one was much bigger than a football game. This "Super" win gives New Orleans and the Gulf Coast something that is long overdue and something that will lift the spirits of a region that could surely use a group hug. The players get it, they have always talked post Katrina about how winning football games would mean more than just simply filling a trophy case at the Saints complex, it would give its fan base something to rally around. Last night the team walked the walk then talked the talk as the first things out of their mouths in several interviews was how happy they were for the Who Dat Nation before they talked of the joy it gave them personally and professionally.
 
While giving the Saints Nation some pride was paramount, I think between the lines nobody gained more in this one than head coach Sean Payton. He has been criticized for his riverboat gambler style but all his hands came up black jack on this Super Sunday. Payton's onsides kick call to begin the second half changed the game and elevated the Saints coaches' status into one of the games elite. The gutsy move was talked about at halftime and Payton was so confident it would work, he told us today that he already scripted several plays assuming the offense would get the ball. Taking the ball out of Peyton Manning's hands and allowing his team to take over gave New Orleans needed momentum and set the tone for the Saints first Super Bowl win. From the onsides kick, to the fourth down calls Sean Payton isn't afraid to roll the dice and the risks paid off in moves which will forever be ingrained in Super Bowl lore.
 
Next up how about Drew Brees. My favorite memory wasn't all the completions that tied him with Tom Brady for the all time Super Bowl record. It wasn't Brees rebounding from a slow start where the offense only compiled one first down in the first quarter, to put on a clinic that would give him Super Bowl MVP honors. No, my favorite Brees memory was holding his son Baylen afterwards with tears in his eyes. Baylen Brees is only one years old and shares a birthday with his ole man, now they share a Super Bowl moment that the little guy will never remember but will sure appreciate down the road.
 
How about Tracy Porter. Darren Sharper agreed with my nickname "The Closer." Move over Mariano Rivera, Tracy Porter knows how to seal the deal. Ask Brett Favre who Porter picked apart to seal the NFC Championship and in what seemed like an instant replay, Porter did the same thing against Peyton Manning but took it a step further and went the other way for a touchdown. Porter is one of several young players on this team which form a foundation which could make this Super experience more of a habit than a one hit wonder.
 
So take your pick, the storylines are a plenty for your Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. I will tell you this, covering the NFL for years I have never seen a team this talented be so close and classy off the gridiron. There isn't one player who isn't easy to deal with, which is rare in this league. Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis wanted a high character group and that's what they have, and oh yeah they're pretty super once they hit the playing fields as well.
 
WHO DAT HITS
 
TROPHY TALK: Sean Payton met the media this morning and admitted he slept with the Super Bowl trophy last night adding "I might have drolled on it". I believe him but I'm not sure how much sleep he got??
 
SHARPER'S STATUS: The Saints have a lot of free agents to deal with this offseason, one of the bigger names is Darren Sharper who admitted afterwards to me that he wants to come back. The first words out of his mouth when I posed the question was "Repeat Baby."
 
BUNKING WITH BREES: NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell was clearly happy for this Saints at Monday's presser where he admitted he at times has been really close with Drew Brees. Both guys went on an NFL trip to Afganistan last year and shared bunk beds on the road!
 
WEDDING BELLS: There was a popular story that if the Saints won the Super Bowl, Reggie Bush would propose to famous girlfriend Kim Kardashian. When I asked Reggie last night he told me "that's a story for another day." Bush can avoid tacklers, now its clear he can avoid questions pretty well...stay tuned.
 
PARTY WITH LOMBARDI: Sean Payton talked about a special moment at the Saints Post Super Party. He watched Saints QB coach Joe Lombardi hold a trophy with his grandfather VInce's name on it. Payton thought to himself "you gotta be kidding me". One of many unbelievable moments from the Saints Super Sunday.
 
UNTIL NEXT BLOG,
Mike Nabors
CST

By: Mike Nabors

An Emmy award winning sports reporter who covers a wide variety of events for CST. Primarily, Mike serves as the network's reporter for Saints coverage.

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