Saints Sideline Blog

THE “SUPER” DOME

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010      Email Print

DATELINE: New Orleans, LA /January 26,2010 (Get ready for Miami Mardi Gras!)
 
Jimmy Buffett told me in our postgame show that back in 1967 at the age of 17 he attended the Saints first ever game. The wide eyed future Parrott Head would be on hand to see the first ever Saints play which ironically was a touchdown thanks to John Gilliam returning the opening kickoff for a score against the Los Angeles Rams. Back then, the Margarita Man and the Saints Nation could never have predicted it would take 43 excruciating years for the Saints to make its first Super Bowl appearance. Well these days, the black and gold are no longer the Aints,conversely Sean Payton's bunch ain't even close.You didn't see any bags over any heads on Sunday night, unless it was the Saints D bagging and blitzing that Favre guy.
 
What a game in so many ways. This instant overtime classic had a distinct pattern where whenever the Vikings would take a step forward , the Saints defense would push them two steps backwards. The perfect example was Reggie Bush fumbling a punt right before the half only to see Minnesota's Adrian Peterson cough it up a few plays later. Give credit to Brett Favre who spent a lot of time on his back and even a few minutes laying down on the sideline, but he refused to leave the game like he has refused to miss one during his NFL career. The Saints D was waiting to see the old Brett Favre who fortunately made an appearance late throwing a terrible pass which was picked by Tracy Porter who had forced a fumble earlier in the game. So much talk about the Saints offense heading into this game, but it was the New Orleans' defense which forced five turnovers---the difference in getting the Saints to Miami.
 
Many will talk about the Saints being a Team of Destiny and its hard to argue. The NFL's flawed flip of the coin overtime system could have gone either way but the Saints get the luck of the flip and precede to take over. After a never ending sequence of challenges and miscues, the Saints amazingly enough still had life as it all came down to Garrett Hartley from 40 yards out. Let's face it, Hartley's dagger would have been good from 60. Ironically, Hartley said afterwards that he couldn't sleep the night before and called his Dad at 2:30 in the morning with the premonition that he would kick the game winner from around 40 yards out....destiny??
 
 Its been that kind of season for New Orleans where they have made breaks and received more than their fair share. They are not alone, you ask any team that makes it to the Super Bowl and they will say you have to get a few bounces along the way. These Saints have come a long way in a year where credit Sean Payton for shoring up the defense by adding Gregg WIlliams and making his offense more balanced with a running game which has taken the pressure off of Drew Brees. Brees and company have felt something special since the offseason where they have been open about their "Super" goals. Now the big prize is a reality for a football team which has given a franchise a new lease on life. Jimmy Buffett isn't 17 anymore, he's in his sixties and thanks to these Saints he is all smiles these days, clearly he isn't alone.
 
WHO DAT HITS
 
HURRICANE HOMECOMING: The Super Bowl may be a road game for the Saints but Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma should feel at home where New Orleans will hold workouts at the University of Miami
 
"HART"-FELT ADVICE: Sean Payton told us that during last week's practice he approached kicker Garrett Hartley and asked him what he should say to him if the NFC Championship game should come down to a game winner. Payton said how about you imagine a fleur de lis in the middle of the goal posts and kick it there. I guess Mr Hartley took that to heart.
 
THE RING IS THE THING: Not many Saints have Super Bowl experience but one of them is cornerback Randall Gay. Gay won a ring with the Patriots back in 2004 and doesn't wear it much but did show it off last week and was wearing it in the locker room following the NFC Championship. The Saints veteran admitted he brought it out all week to motivate his teammates.
 
NO DOUBTING THOMAS: As this Super hype starts to invade this Saints team in the coming weeks the likes of Brees, Bush, Colston and Shockey will garner a lot of attention but many may overlook how important Pierre Thomas is to this football team. He not only led the team in rushing against Minnesota but once again served as "pinch hitter' on special teams spotting Courtney Roby and delivering a key 40 yard return. This guy does it all!
 
NOBODY ASKED ME BUT: I don't like the new Pro Bowl format where they have moved the game a week before the Super Bowl. So you punish all the pro-bowlers who make the Super Bowl as they now can't play in the game? As a result you remove many of the marquee players in this game (see:Peyton Manning and Drew Brees) I don't get it!
 
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.

Post Comment | Read Comments (0)