Coming Soon: New Orleans Saints Football

With exactly one second left to go on the clock, the New Orleans Saints gained control of the ball, Carolina had just kicked a field goal and led the game after a resounding comeback by the Saints in the second half.

Drew Brees was just 16 yards shy of breaking Dan Marino’s record for most single season yardage by a quarterback and it looked as if he would get one more chance.

The Saints should’ve already been done, but the Panthers kicked the ball out of bounds so that one precious second stayed on the clock.

Drew Brees took the snap and looked for an open man as the Panthers played prevent defense, he threw the ball and it fell to the ground like a wounded bird.

With that, the disappointing 8-8 season came to a close as Sean Payton ran across the field to shake hands for the last time in 2008.

In the offseason, it was out with the old and in with the new, at least on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive Coordinator Gary Gibbs was fired after a pitiful performance by the defense all season long and the much heralded Gregg Williams signed on to try to help the Black and Gold go to their first Super Bowl.

Gone are Mike Karney, Deuce McAllister, Mike McKenzie, Josh Bullocks and others but taking their places are Heath Evans, Jabari Greer, and let’s not forget Darren Sharper.

The Saints are a popular pick this season and I can’t wait to get started.

WWL 870 out of New Orleans played a highlight from 2008 along with a reminder that training camp was just ten days away and hearing Jim Henderson of the Saints Radio Network was like awakening a deep longing for something that I haven’t had in a while.

That thing is Saints football and I’m ready for it.

So shove aside the Michael Vick talk and the Brett Favre rumors and think about it: Football is almost here.

Geaux Saints!

The 2009 Saints: Regular Season Game Predictions

With Black and Gold training camp opening on July 30th, the season has moved ever closer.

After preseason games against Cincinnati, Houston, Oakland, and Miami, the 2009 New Orleans Saints’ regular season will begin. Here’s a game by game prediction of each game on the 2009 regular season schedule:

Detroit Lions (September 13, 12:00 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

After a romp by the Saints in 2008, the worst team in NFL history will be looking to come out on a strong note, but the Saints will easily win and the Lions will start out at 0-1.

Philadelphia Eagles (September 20, 12:00 PM, Lincoln Financial Field)

After losing in the NFC Championship game to the Super Bowl bound Arizona Cardinals, the Eagles will be looking for a Super Bowl run. Without a strong defense to keep Donovan McNabb in check, the Eagles will win a close one over the Saints, but hey, that day is my birthday, the Saints can give me a present with a win.

Buffalo Bills (September 27, 3:05 PM, Ralph Wilson Stadium)

The Bills started off strong last season but ran out of gas later into the season. Drew Brees and the Saints should win by at least seven over the Bills while cornerback Jabari Greer will look to play hard in his first game against the Bills after coming to New Orleans.

New York Jets (October 4, 3:05 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

It’ll feel good to be back in the Dome after playing two games away from home. The Jets will most likely still be figuring out the quarterback situation and the Saints should win, probably not a blowout here, but a solid win.

BYE WEEK

New York Giants (October 18, 12:00 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

Without Plaxico Burress, the Giants shouldn’t have a stunning offense. Even with their troubles in the secondary, the Saints should get another win here, although it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise if the Giants won here.

Miami Dolphins (October 25, 3:15 PM, Dolphins Stadium; Landshark Stadium)

Chad Pennington led the Dolphins to the playoffs last year, and with the Tuna in charge, the Dolphins look to be a contender this year. But I do see Sean Payton getting the win over his former employer in Miami.

Atlanta Falcons (November 2, 7:30 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

Monday Night Football comes to New Orleans! Matt Ryan and the Falcons are a solid threat. With future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez now on the team, the Saints will lose this game if the secondary does not come to play. I see Atlanta winning this game, for now.

Carolina Panthers (November 8, 3:05 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

Jake Delhomme and the Panthers’ stable of backs can kill the Saints if they want to. The Panthers win this game.

St. Louis Rams (November 15, 12:00 PM, Edward Jones Dome)

Let’s face it. The Rams were bad last year, really bad. Saints win this one easily. Again, no blowout, but another solid win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (November 22, 12:00 PM, Raymond James Stadium)

This one is pretty tough. The Bucs looked to be pretty good last year but collapsed near the end of the season. Jon Gruden was fired and starting quarterback Jeff Garcia went to Oakland, Brian Griese is gone so the question is, who’s Tampa Bay’s QB? Byron Leftwhich, rookie Josh Freeman, or another? I see the Saints winning this one.

New England Patriots (November 30, 7:30 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

The second of two Monday night games in New Orleans. With the rebuilding secondary, I don’t see the Saints being able to stop Tom Brady and Company. Randy Moss and Wes Welker will probably get open a good bit. I see the Saints taking a hard loss here.

Washington Redskins (December 6, 12:00 PM, FedEx Field)

Can the Saints go to D.C. and come back with a win? The Redskins have really tried to pick up some quality players on defense with the signings of Albert Haynesworth as well as others. If the Redskins don’t come to play and play hard, the Saints could win this one, otherwise I see a close game with the Redskins taking the cake in the end.

Atlanta Falcons (December 13, 12:00 PM, Georgia Dome)

Barring injuries to critical Falcon players, I see another win by Atlanta here.

Dallas Cowboys (December 19, 7:20 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

Tony Romo and the Cowboys didn’t look as sharp as they could’ve last season, and with the loss of T.O., Romo loses one of his favorite targets. Saints win a close one here.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (December 27, 12:00 PM, Louisiana Superdome)

I see the Saints giving the city of New Orleans a Christmas present a couple days late with a win two days after Christmas.

Carolina Panthers (January 3, 12:00 PM, Bank of America Stadium)

If the Saints already have a playoff spot reserved for them, I see them playing backups and losing this one. Otherwise, the backs of Carolina will probably be pretty banged up after a long season, I see the Saints winning this one if they go for the win.

Final Record: 11-5 if they go for the win at Carolina, and 10-6 if they don’t.

EXCLUSIVE: Brett Favre Family Member: “He’s Coming Back”

After making multiple comebacks from retirement to play in the NFL again, Brett Favre has a new nickname.

He’s now officially the “Comeback Kid.”

Yes, you did read that right, it does say multiple.

In a conversation with a Favre family member who wished to remain anonymous, this writer learned that Brett Favre has finally made his decision, he’s decided to give it another shot, to hopefully earn another Lombardi Trophy, but this time with the Minnesota Vikings.

“He’s (Brett) coming back, he plans to let the Vikings know closer to the end of the month,” the family member said.

The source also went on to say that Favre set the July 30 deadline so that he would have ample time to think over his decision so as not to make this important choice too quickly as he believed he did last year when he made his return with the New York Jets.

Neither the Vikings or Favre were available for comment.

Favre was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft out of Southern Mississippi.

He was traded to the Green Bay Packers in in 1992 where he played until announcing his retirement in 2007, shortly after a playoff loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game.

He made the decision to come back shortly before the season began but the Packers had already moved on with young gun Aaron Rodgers so Favre was traded to the Jets.

Favre suffered a biceps injury during the 2008 season at announced his second retirement at the end of the season.

He was released from the Jets in May of 2009.

Favre holds several NFL records including most career passing touchdowns, most games started by a quarterback, and others.

In his career, he has completed 5,720 out of 9,280 pass attempts, for 65,127 yards, 464 touchdowns, and 310 interceptions.

The 6’2″, 222 pounder is currently 39 years old and has played 18 seasons in the NFL.

Meet The Black And Gold Quarterbacks: Drew Brees

This is the final article in a three article series which profiled each of the three quarterbacks on the roster of the New Orleans Saints.

If the Saints had given out a player of the year award following the 2006 season, it would’ve went to Drew Brees.

If they had given out one after the 2007 season, it would’ve went to Drew Brees.

If they would’ve given one out after the 2008 season, Drew Brees would’ve gotten it for sure.

Frankly, he is the best player on the Saints’ roster.

Under Brees and head coach Sean Payton, the Saints have led the NFL in offensive yards on several occasions.

Despite the fact that Brees wears contact lenses, he sees the open receiver on almost every occasion and usually sends a tight spiral right into that receiver’s hands which usually brings a significant gain and sometimes, six points.

Drew Christopher Brees was born on Jan. 15, 1979 in Austin, Texas where he attended Westlake High School and in his senior season, he led the team to a perfect 16-0 season, the only undefeated season there to date.

He attended Purdue University and led the Boilermakers to the 2001 Rose Bowl. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1999 and third in 2000.

Brees, often considered as too short to be a productive quarterback at 6’0″, was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick of the second round in the 2001 NFL Draft.

In 2004, the Chargers selected Eli Manning out of Ole Miss with the first overall pick but Manning was unhappy with the Chargers because he “didn’t want to play for a losing team.” The New York Giants had chosen North Carolina State’s Phillip Rivers and soon Rivers was headed for San Diego and Manning for the Big Apple.

Rivers held out nearly all of that year’s training camp and Brees became the starter once more.

After becoming a free agent following the 2004 season, the Chargers suprised many and placed the franchise tag on Brees, resigning him to a one year deal.

In the final game of the 2005 season, Brees injured his shoulder while trying to recover the football after fumbling it while being hit by Denver Broncos’ safety Rob Jamison.

The injury sent Brees to the operating table of Dr. James Andrews and caused him to miss playing in his second consecutive Pro Bowl.

Meanwhile, the Chargers had denied Brees’ demand of more money, so Brees, now a free agent, began to meet with other teams including the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins.

On Mar. 14, 2006, Brees signed a 6 year, $60 million contract with the Saints and promptly became the starting quarterback under brand new head coach Sean Payton.

The Saints, who had went 3-13 in the 2005 season with the lack of a home stadium due to Hurricane Katrina, had fired former head coach Jim Haslett and released former starting quarterback Aaron Brooks.

Brees did indeed recover from the shoulder injury and led the Saints to the NFC Championship game in Chicago where their run of destiny ended.

Brees made it to the Pro Bowl that season and many saw big things in store for the Saints the next season.

The lack of a good defense caused the Saints to finish the 2007 season with a record of 7-9, but the offense was once again in the top five.

In 2008, Brees fell 16 yards short of tying Dan Marino’s record for most single season yardage but became only the second NFL quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season, second to only Marino.

In his career, the 6’0″, 209 pounder has completed 2,334 out of 3,650 pass attempts for 26,258 yards, 168 touchdowns, and 99 interceptions.

Brees looks to lead the Saints on a Super Bowl run in 2009.

This article also appeared on http://www.saintspodcast.webs.com

Meet The Black And Gold Quarterbacks: Mark Brunell

This is the second article in a three part series which will profile each of the three quarterbacks on the New Orleans Saints roster.

If you’re any kind of NFL fan, you’ve probably heard of Mark Brunell.

He was born on September 17, 1979 in Santa Maria, California. He became the starting quarterback for the St. Joseph High School Nights (Santa Maria, California) in the 1985, ’86 and ’87 seasons, leading the team to two league championships and one appearance in California’s state championship series.

He signed with the University of Washington after completing high school and took over the starting quarterback job in his sophomore year with the Huskies. After having an excellent sophomore season which saw the Huskies finish ranked at No.5 in the Associated Press poll and a Rose Bowl win over Iowa, Brunell was expected to take the Huskies all the way in the next season.

That however, did not happen.

Brunell suffered a devastating knee injury in the annual Husky spring game but returned in the third game of the season, not fully recovered but by then, the starting job had been wrestled away by Billy Joe Hobert (who would also be a Saint later in his career).

Brunell was not declared the starter again until his senior season after Hobert had been suspended from the league for violating league rules and even after a bevy of losses, the Huskies were still named Pac-10 champions and Brunell started his second Rose Bowl game.

Brunell was selected by the Green Bay Packers in fifth round of the NFL Draft but was acquired by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 in a trade for the third and fifth round picks in the 1995 NFL Draft.

While a Jaguar, Brunell was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and was awarded the Pro Bowl MVP award in his first appearance in Honolulu.

Following halftime of the third game in the 2003 season, Brunell was benched in favor of young gun Byron Leftwich and Brunell was soon traded to the Washington Redskins.

After several seasons with the ‘Skins which saw him being benched for other quarterbacks (Jason Campbell and Patrick Ramsey) on two separate occasions, he was released.

The New Orleans Saints signed the left hander on March 13, 2008 as a replacement for former backup quarterback, Jamie Martin.

He is the backup to starting quarterback Drew Brees but third string quarterback Joey Harrington is expected to challenge him for that spot.

In his career, Brunell has completed 2,738 out of 4,594 pass attempts for 31,826 yards, 182 touchdowns, and 106 interceptions.

He has rushed 509 times for 2,433 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The 6’1, 217 pounder is currently 38-years-old and in his 17th NFL season. 

Coming Next: Drew Brees

This article also appeared on www.saintspodcast.webs.com

Big Irv And Brett: A Father’s Day Rememberance

In the shadows of the wooded forest, there stands the remnants of a kiln, with the pine trees soaring high overhead, this place isn’t visible from the air and it’s pretty hard to get there by foot. But long ago it wasn’t like this, long ago this was the biggest part of the town, the small town of Kiln, Mississippi.

Kiln, or referred to as “The Kill” is the hometown of one of the most famous NFL quarterbacks to ever play the game and Kiln doesn’t hide the fact of the pride that they have for the town’s most famous son.

Just outside of the city limits stands a sign that proudly proclaims that this is the hometown of Brett Favre, the former Green Bay Packer who was known for his powerful arm.

This all began in a small house down Irvin Favre Road just yards away from Rotten Bayou. It began as friendly ball games out front in the summertime months and on Thanksgiving, but it eventually turned into organized sports and then on into high school.

Through all of this, Irvin “Big Irv” Favre was there for his sons, who all played quarterback at one time or another under him.

Many see it as the classic, All-American father-son story, the story of Brett playing in the colors of the Hancock Hawks as his dad stood on the sidelines in mute frustration, while his son once again turned what was supposed to be a running play, into a long pass which ended in the end zone for a touchdown.

Some believe that “Big Irv” even hurt Brett’s chances to get into a bigger school than Southern Mississippi because of his insistence on running the wishbone offense, in fact, the team threw only about six to seven passes in a normal game.

With a player whose strength is in his arm, this could’ve put Brett’s football career away as only another hopeful dream but the University of Southern Mississippi liked Brett as a defensive back so he became a Golden Eagle.

“Big Irv” cheered for his son in the college years, then on into the NFL where he was with the Atlanta Falcons and then finally traded to the Green Bay Packers where he would make his home permanently in the hearts of Packers fans.

Then came December 21, 2003. Brett was on a golf course when he received the news that his father had suffered a heart attack and ran off of a road near Kiln at around 5:23 PM.

Many expected Brett to forgo the Monday night matchup between the Packers and the Oakland Raiders in Oakland with a trip to the playoffs at stake.

Instead, Brett decided to play and gave one of the best performances of his career, completing 22 out of 30 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns, as the Pack thrashed the Raiders with a 41-7 victory in Favre’s 205th consecutive start.

“Big Irv” was awarded the game ball.

Brett went home and attended his father’s funeral and then came back. He continued to play with the Packers until 2007 where he and the Packers ended a 13-3 season in the NFC Championship Game when New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes hit a field goal in overtime to send the Giants to the Super Bowl.

Favre decided to retire and held an emotional press conference, later into the year however, he wasn’t sure if he had made the right decision or not.

He decided to come back and play another year but the Packers had already moved on and anointed young gun Aaron Rodgers as the starter.

Brett was eventually traded to the New York Jets where he played for a season but missed the playoffs due to a late season slump after he suffered a injury in his throwing arm.

He retired again after the season ended.

Now, however, rumors are circulating that he may want to give it one more try, one more shot at the Super Bowl, but this time with the Minnesota Vikings who are divisional rivals of the Packers.

Many believe that with Favre, the Vikings could be hoisting that trophy in February 2010.

Now, as Fathers Day comes upon us, Brett Favre will put that important decision into the back of his mind and remember; remember all of those high school games, remember his childhood, remember his father, he’ll remember “Big Irv”.

The Importance Of Sports: How The Saints Helped New Orleans To Recover

Hurricane Katrina had just conducted a demolition derby all along the Southern Gulf Coast, and, as a parting present, she dumped her waters into the “Big Easy”, “The City That Never Slept”, the city of New Orleans, LA.

The Louisiana Superdome, the home of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, had been used as a “shelter of last resort”, and had suffered millions of dollars in damage, both from the storm, and the many New Orleanians who had made the stadium their home for over three days.

Katrina’s winds had ripped a hole into the roof and water was puddled on the fifty yard line.

Many wondered if New Orleans would ever recover. Others were sure that their city would rise like a wounded giant, down but not out.

Since the Superdome wasn’t an option, the Saints’ home opener against the New York Giants had to be played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The remainder of the Saints’ home games were split between the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and Louisiana State University’s Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.

The Saints had set up practice facilities in San Antonio, and Saints owner Tom Benson even reportedly considered relocating the team permanently to San Antonio.

However, he decided to return the team to his hometown of New Orleans after the end of the 2005 season.

The Saints 3-13 record was only salt on the wound of New Orleans. When the city had needed them the most they had lost, and lost badly.

Head coach Jim Haslett was fired, and quarterback Aaron Brooks was released following the horrendous season.

Former Cowboys assistant Sean Payton was hired as the Saints new head coach, and the team then went about the business of finding themselves a quarterback. On the free agent market, former San Diego Charger Drew Brees was coming off of a shoulder injury, and former Minnesota Viking Daunte Culpepper was coming off of a knee injury.

In the draft, former Texas Longhorn Vince Young and former USC Trojan Matt Leinhart could be taken with the Saints’ pick, which was the second overall in the draft.

To make a long story short, the Saints signed Brees, and the Dolphins signed Culpepper. Nearly one year later Brees was in Honolulu, Hawaii to play in the Pro Bowl after driving the Saints to the NFC Championship Game, and Culpepper was still in Miami.

When draft day came, the Houston Texans, in control with the first overall pick, made a surprise pick and took North Carolina State’s Mario Williams, which dropped USC’s Heisman Trophy winning running back Reggie Bush right into the Saints’ laps.

Bush was immediately a Black and Gold fan favorite, and many anticipated the day when they would first see the athletic Bush in a Saints uniform for the first time.

Now, fast forward a few months until Sept. 25, 2006. The Saints were 2-0 after winning against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener in Cleveland, and then against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

The Superdome was ready, the lights were on, football was about to formally return to the Big Easy.

Fans who had tailgated all day outside the Dome poured in when the doors were open, and the noise never died down. The Monday night game was to be nationally televised, and this city was going to show their love for football once more.

After a performance by the rock bands U2 and Green Day, former President George H.W. Bush came on to the field to flip the coin. The Falcons got the ball first.

Ninety seconds into the game, Michael Koenen stood back and prepared to punt the ball away. The ball was snapped and Saints special teams guru Steve Gleason charged down and middle.

As he dove, his fingers knocked the ball back to the turf. Saints defensive back Curtis Deloatch scooped the ball up, and brought it in for the touchdown (a video of the play can be seen here).

That year, the Saints went all the way to Chicago and the NFC Championship Game before losing it to Da Bears.

That night, the Saints returned to New Orleans, and as they left the airport, adults and kids alike stood out in the midnight drizzle and cheered on the team that they loved so much; for this team had won, and they had won when the city needed it the most.

Black and Gold 2009 Draft Class Bio: Chip Vaughn

This article is the third in a four-article series which will profile each of the picks in the New Orleans Saints 2009 draft class.

Clarence B. “Chip” Vaughn was the other half of the Wake Forest pair taken by the Saints.

Vaughn grew up in Fairfax, Virginia and attended high school at Robinson Secondary. The 6’2, 215 pound defensive back played safety at Wake Forest after enrolling as a wide receiver.

He was ranked at the tenth best player in Virginia coming into college, and was picked by the Saints in the fourth round with the 116th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft after the Saints’ secondary was plagued with coverage issues.

The team released safeties Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaeshviharn shortly before the draft.

The Saints also signed free agent safety Darren Sharper.

Vaughn was the second defensive back picked in the draft by the Saints, along with their first round pick, Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins.

In his four-year career with the Demon Deacons, Vaughn recorded 258 total tackles in 50 games. He also defended 22 passes and intercepted three passes.

Vaughn reported that his teammates were jealous of him and fellow Saints draft pick Stanley Arnoux’s good fortune, being drafted by a team in need of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball.

Vaughn already has at least one friend in New Orleans, and it’s none other than New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, who also attended Wake Forest.

Vaughn said their families have known each other “since way back,” even before the two standout athletes spent a year together at Wake Forest in 2004-2005. They’ve stayed in touch since then, and have the same financial adviser, among other connections.

Should the New Orleans Saints Re-Sign Deuce McAllister?

Deuce McAllister, former New Orleans Saints fan favorite running back wants to play still, never mind all of those knee surgeries, the Deuce wants another chance.

Should the Saints resign him?

They have Pierre Thomas as a possible starter at the running back position and they also signed a “running” fullback this year in Heath Evans but they’re still missing the bruising back, the one who’ll make opposing defensive players think twice before hitting him.

I believe that the Saints should give McAllister another chance, maybe Deuce should take a pay cut but he is still a viable threat in the running game, we saw that last season in the rare opportunities that he got to carry the ball.

With Thomas, McAllister, Reggie Bush, and Evans in the backfield, I believe that the Saints could at least achieve some level of excellence at that position.

“I’m content,” McAllister said. “I’ve been the guy before, so I’m beyond that. The ultimate goal is to win a championship and to be able to help a team out.”

Deuce wants to win a Super Bowl, pure and simple, the Saints could be a whole lot closer to doing that should Deuce be resigned.

McAllister, who is 30, sometimes works out alongside special forces soldiers at a military base in Florida.

He is a Mississippi native and was drafted by the Saints out of Ole Miss in 2001 and is the team’s all time leading rusher with 6,096 yards.

He was released by the team earlier this year.

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