Assuming a sudden and surprising extension of the CBA, 10 Saints from the 2009 season will hit the open market as unrestricted free agents.
* 2009-10 Starter
^ Played in Super Bowl XLIV
# 2010 Pro Bowler
Format: Position, Name, how acquired, when acquired
Unrestricted free agents:
^QB Mark Brunell - free agent, 2008
DT Kendrick Clancy - free agent, 2007
TE Darnell Dinkins - free agent, 2009
*^SLB Scott Fujita - free agent, 2006
*^LS Jason Kyle - free agent, 2009
^C Nick Leckey - free agent, 2009
TE Billy Miller - free agent, 2006
^S Pierson Prioleau - free agent, 2009
*^#FS Darren Sharper - free agent, 2009
DE Paul Spicer - free agent, 2009
February 22, 2010
February 18, 2010
NFL claims limited victory in Minnesota
A partial ruling from a state judge in Minnesota in the Starcaps case has the NFL crowing this morning.
NFL public relations head Greg Aiello commented: "Minny Judge Larson has tossed most of the player state law claims in the Star Caps case.
"Today's decision, along with the federal court decisions in this case, properly rejected virtually all of the claims asserted against the NFL's program on performance enhancing drugs."
Virtually, but not all. Two rulings remain that could in the end result in a permanent legal shield against Starcaps suspensions for Vikings players (and by league extension, all players including two current Saints).
Aiello's statement ended with "We are confident that we will prevail on the remaining two claims."
NFL public relations head Greg Aiello commented: "Minny Judge Larson has tossed most of the player state law claims in the Star Caps case.
"Today's decision, along with the federal court decisions in this case, properly rejected virtually all of the claims asserted against the NFL's program on performance enhancing drugs."
Virtually, but not all. Two rulings remain that could in the end result in a permanent legal shield against Starcaps suspensions for Vikings players (and by league extension, all players including two current Saints).
Aiello's statement ended with "We are confident that we will prevail on the remaining two claims."
Starcaps ruling in Minnesota expected
A ruling on the Starcaps case is expected Thursday in state court in Minnesota.
Hennepin County Judge Gary Larson will decide whether or not two Vikings players, defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, can proceed with a suit against the NFL to challenge the league's suspension of the players over bumetanide.
Bumetanide, a weight-loss substance banned by the league, was found in a commercial product called Starcaps, which was cleared by the league's drug testing authority. Five players have four game Starcaps-related suspensions hanging over their heads: the Williamses in Minnesota, Saints defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, and retired RB Deuce McAllister.
The lawsuit in Minnesota resulted in the judge barring the NFL from prohibiting the Vikings players, based on labor law regarding drug testing. The ruling last September did not shield the Saints players, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell declined to enforce the suspensions on Grant and Smith in the interest of fairness.
Tomorrow's decision could end the legal shield to the suspensions.
Hennepin County Judge Gary Larson will decide whether or not two Vikings players, defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, can proceed with a suit against the NFL to challenge the league's suspension of the players over bumetanide.
Bumetanide, a weight-loss substance banned by the league, was found in a commercial product called Starcaps, which was cleared by the league's drug testing authority. Five players have four game Starcaps-related suspensions hanging over their heads: the Williamses in Minnesota, Saints defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith, and retired RB Deuce McAllister.
The lawsuit in Minnesota resulted in the judge barring the NFL from prohibiting the Vikings players, based on labor law regarding drug testing. The ruling last September did not shield the Saints players, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell declined to enforce the suspensions on Grant and Smith in the interest of fairness.
Tomorrow's decision could end the legal shield to the suspensions.
February 10, 2010
Estimated 800,000 people party in New Orleans for Saints Championship Parade
The biggest party - and that's saying something - in New Orleans history is under way. It began Sunday night.
It hit a peak on Tuesday night, when an estimated 800,000 people celebrated the Saints' championship parade in front of an international television audience.
It may not end for a week. Mardi Gras, perhaps the biggest and most famous annual party on the continent, wraps up on February 16. Many Saints and owner Tom Benson will be riding again as kings of the biggest parades.
We can only speculate how many of Super Bowl XLIV MVP QB Drew Brees' throws were on target to receivers in the crowd, but we imagine it was at or better than his league-record of 70.6%.
The entire Saints organization rode a dozen borrowed floats in a zigzag through downtown, including a toast from the mayor and the governor, in the biggest gathering in the city's history that was organized in less than three weeks' time.
Can New Orleans party or what?
It hit a peak on Tuesday night, when an estimated 800,000 people celebrated the Saints' championship parade in front of an international television audience.
It may not end for a week. Mardi Gras, perhaps the biggest and most famous annual party on the continent, wraps up on February 16. Many Saints and owner Tom Benson will be riding again as kings of the biggest parades.
We can only speculate how many of Super Bowl XLIV MVP QB Drew Brees' throws were on target to receivers in the crowd, but we imagine it was at or better than his league-record of 70.6%.
The entire Saints organization rode a dozen borrowed floats in a zigzag through downtown, including a toast from the mayor and the governor, in the biggest gathering in the city's history that was organized in less than three weeks' time.
Can New Orleans party or what?
February 9, 2010
Saints Parade rolls this evening
The entire Saints organization will be rolling through downtown New Orleans in front of the Superdome starting at 5pm today. Lombardi Gras (or Who Dat Tuesday) celebrations are underway in a fashion they've never seen before, as many krewes the city have donated their floats to the Saints' Super Bowl champions parade.
Color guards, fire trucks, dance teams, numerous marching bands and a total of ten donated floats will roll through crowds that were massing hours before the event. Saints owner Tom Benson will ride in the lead float, followed by Drew Brees and Sean Payton in the second.
The mayor and governor of the city and state will address the route from a grandstand. Student were let out early today in the city.
Color guards, fire trucks, dance teams, numerous marching bands and a total of ten donated floats will roll through crowds that were massing hours before the event. Saints owner Tom Benson will ride in the lead float, followed by Drew Brees and Sean Payton in the second.
The mayor and governor of the city and state will address the route from a grandstand. Student were let out early today in the city.
February 8, 2010
The offseason approacheth
Saints free agents: Lots of news has been made about impending free agency season's impact on the Saints. Perhaps it is fitting that the Saints got their Super Bowl victory in before the league teeters off the edge of labor apocalypse. The uncapped 2010 offseason is approaching, a system designed to deter the two sides from ever getting to this point. We'll see public opinion sour severely against the NFL as it nears the March 5 death of the salary cap. We'll also see more and more players putting pressure on inexperienced Player Union leadership to get a deal done. The death of the salary cap will hardly benefit either side, as a tsunami of public opinion decries both sides.
Regardless, the Saints approach the 2010 uncapped season and its myriad special rules with something to benefit. We'll recap what we wrote in early January.
On March 5, 2010, restricted free agency will shift from players entering their fourth year to players entering their fourth, fifth, or sixth years of veterancy, meaning that players with four or five of experience in the NFL will miss out on a potential eight-figure check and have to settle for a restricted free agency tender offer of one year.
Under the old and new rules, these players will be RFA's for the Saints in 2010: RB Mike Bell, Pro Bowl G Jahri Evans, SS Roman Harper, WR Lance Moore, OT Zach Strief, TE David Thomas, CB Leigh Torrence.
Under the new uncapped year rules, these Saints players would have been unrestricted free agents but will now be RFA's: OT Jammal Brown, DT Anthony Hargrove, WR Courtney Roby.
Hargrove and Roby played very well this season and Brown still has value as a high-level performer at left tackle, so all three would be hitting the open market under past rules.
Thanks to the uncapped seasons, Brown, Hargrove, Roby may be in line for significantly less pay in 2010, as the Saints will be able to retain their services with a restricted free agent tender that will require draft pick compensation from a poaching team.
2010 Draft: The 2010 NFL Draft is moving to a radically new format, with the first round starting during prime time on Thursday, April 22 instead of Saturday afternoon. The official draft schedule has yet to be finalized, but it is no secret that the league is aiming for bigger TV ratings for their college-to-pro graduation ceremony.
That schedule means that the Super Bowl XLIV Saints will be picking with the 32nd overall selection late Thursday night, April 22. The Colts pick 31st.
Stallworth free: Former Saints WR Donte Stallworth, a first round pick of the Saints in 2002 who was electric as a rookie, has been released by the Browns. It is just the latest event in the troubled story of the former Tennessee star, who most recently served 24 days in jail after manslaughter charges resulted from the death of a pedestrian as Stallworth sped through early morning Miami Beach, FL.
Regardless, the Saints approach the 2010 uncapped season and its myriad special rules with something to benefit. We'll recap what we wrote in early January.
On March 5, 2010, restricted free agency will shift from players entering their fourth year to players entering their fourth, fifth, or sixth years of veterancy, meaning that players with four or five of experience in the NFL will miss out on a potential eight-figure check and have to settle for a restricted free agency tender offer of one year.
Under the old and new rules, these players will be RFA's for the Saints in 2010: RB Mike Bell, Pro Bowl G Jahri Evans, SS Roman Harper, WR Lance Moore, OT Zach Strief, TE David Thomas, CB Leigh Torrence.
Under the new uncapped year rules, these Saints players would have been unrestricted free agents but will now be RFA's: OT Jammal Brown, DT Anthony Hargrove, WR Courtney Roby.
Hargrove and Roby played very well this season and Brown still has value as a high-level performer at left tackle, so all three would be hitting the open market under past rules.
Thanks to the uncapped seasons, Brown, Hargrove, Roby may be in line for significantly less pay in 2010, as the Saints will be able to retain their services with a restricted free agent tender that will require draft pick compensation from a poaching team.
2010 Draft: The 2010 NFL Draft is moving to a radically new format, with the first round starting during prime time on Thursday, April 22 instead of Saturday afternoon. The official draft schedule has yet to be finalized, but it is no secret that the league is aiming for bigger TV ratings for their college-to-pro graduation ceremony.
That schedule means that the Super Bowl XLIV Saints will be picking with the 32nd overall selection late Thursday night, April 22. The Colts pick 31st.
Stallworth free: Former Saints WR Donte Stallworth, a first round pick of the Saints in 2002 who was electric as a rookie, has been released by the Browns. It is just the latest event in the troubled story of the former Tennessee star, who most recently served 24 days in jail after manslaughter charges resulted from the death of a pedestrian as Stallworth sped through early morning Miami Beach, FL.
Saints' win echoes around a continent
Not only was Super Bowl XLIV the most watched television show in the history of U.S. television shows (surpassing the 1983 M.A.S.H. finale), but it also broke the Canadian TV ratings record.
Thousands greeted the Saints at Armstrong International today as their charter plane returned to home soil, and Saints TE Billy Miller was in awe of the numbers and attention: "They shut down the HWY from so many fans at the airport. Congrats New Orleans you deserve it!" So was ESPN's Rachel Nichols, on location. She snapped this picture of a young fan.
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal wagered the Super Bowl Indiana governor Mitch Daniels - the stakes the flag of the other's home state football team flying over state property. We'll see if Daniels honors the deal, his office sniped at Maryland governor Martin O'Malley over failing to honor his part of a similar deal.
Drew Brees is a busy man now. He was in Disney World parades today, defying laws of physics, also recorded an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman today, which will air tonight.
The presses are still rolling at the Times-Picayune, where demand for Super Bowl "Amen!" issues is staggering.
Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, himself a bit disgruntled and perhaps on his way out, congratulated another former Jet who was shipped off when he wrote: "I'm happy 4 my brother J vilma some people wanted him out a situation, he got out and got the BIG ONE! Congrats."
Cowboys Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman wrote: "Congratulations to Sean Payton, Drew Brees and the entire Saints organization...quite a thrill for the city of New Orleans. Well done!"
Aikman's longtime backfield teammate, Hall of Famer Emmit Smith wrote: "Big time congrats to drewbrees his Saints teammates and the whole who dat nation"
Boston Celtics Glen Davis (of LSU) and Rajon Rondo (of Kentucky) will ride with the Saints in their Super Bowl parade tomorrow.
Saints CB Usama Young wrote: "Who dat?! We dat!!! Nola, we're back... The kids posed for the cam while everybody welcomed us back from MIA" and included this picture.
Saints CB Leigh Torrence wrote: "Back home in New Orleans! First time home on the couch being a champion! Feels So Good!!!"
Former NFL OL and Sports Illustrated write Ross Tucker wrote: "How about the stark contrast between the Colts 3 runs at end of 1st half and Saints onside kick? Aggressive beat Conservative. Usually does."
Jets kicker Jay Feely wrote: "Happy for Drew Brees (one of the best guys in NFL) and New Orleans!! Their rebirth from Katrina is complete. They deserve this celebration."
Lastly, strangely, former Bills great Thurman Thomas took a shot at former Bills head coach and Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams when he wrote: "Now everyone wants Greg Williams to b a HC candidate. He's a DC, not a head coach!!!!!!!! Retread!!!!!"
Thousands greeted the Saints at Armstrong International today as their charter plane returned to home soil, and Saints TE Billy Miller was in awe of the numbers and attention: "They shut down the HWY from so many fans at the airport. Congrats New Orleans you deserve it!" So was ESPN's Rachel Nichols, on location. She snapped this picture of a young fan.
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal wagered the Super Bowl Indiana governor Mitch Daniels - the stakes the flag of the other's home state football team flying over state property. We'll see if Daniels honors the deal, his office sniped at Maryland governor Martin O'Malley over failing to honor his part of a similar deal.
Drew Brees is a busy man now. He was in Disney World parades today, defying laws of physics, also recorded an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman today, which will air tonight.
The presses are still rolling at the Times-Picayune, where demand for Super Bowl "Amen!" issues is staggering.
Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, himself a bit disgruntled and perhaps on his way out, congratulated another former Jet who was shipped off when he wrote: "I'm happy 4 my brother J vilma some people wanted him out a situation, he got out and got the BIG ONE! Congrats."
Cowboys Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman wrote: "Congratulations to Sean Payton, Drew Brees and the entire Saints organization...quite a thrill for the city of New Orleans. Well done!"
Aikman's longtime backfield teammate, Hall of Famer Emmit Smith wrote: "Big time congrats to drewbrees his Saints teammates and the whole who dat nation"
Boston Celtics Glen Davis (of LSU) and Rajon Rondo (of Kentucky) will ride with the Saints in their Super Bowl parade tomorrow.
Saints CB Usama Young wrote: "Who dat?! We dat!!! Nola, we're back... The kids posed for the cam while everybody welcomed us back from MIA" and included this picture.
Saints CB Leigh Torrence wrote: "Back home in New Orleans! First time home on the couch being a champion! Feels So Good!!!"
Former NFL OL and Sports Illustrated write Ross Tucker wrote: "How about the stark contrast between the Colts 3 runs at end of 1st half and Saints onside kick? Aggressive beat Conservative. Usually does."
Jets kicker Jay Feely wrote: "Happy for Drew Brees (one of the best guys in NFL) and New Orleans!! Their rebirth from Katrina is complete. They deserve this celebration."
Lastly, strangely, former Bills great Thurman Thomas took a shot at former Bills head coach and Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams when he wrote: "Now everyone wants Greg Williams to b a HC candidate. He's a DC, not a head coach!!!!!!!! Retread!!!!!"
Saints, nation relish Super win
Drew Brees in a post-game press conference said, "We played for so much more than just ourselves, we played for our city, we played for the entire Gulf Coast region, we played for the entire Who Dat Nation, who was behind us every step of the way."
New Orleans resident, former LSU and starting Colts RB Joseph Addai said: "Obviously, I feel good for the fans of New Orleans, with everything that's going on. They have something else to turn to. I understand the problems, and the Saints deserved to win."
LSU head football coach Les Miles wrote: "Great team victory. Great for the state. Great for the city. Congratulations to coach Payton and the Saints. Who Dat!" During the game, The Hat also wrote: "Wow! What a way to start the second half. Gutsy call by Coach Payton - I liked it!" and "Enjoying a great Super Bowl. Former LSU players making a big impact. Addai running hard, Devery has made some nice catches."
Baton Rouge native, former Buc and Falcon RB Warrick Dunn wrote: "Really hate to say I told ya so but...I'm happy no matter what. Mardi Gras comes to Miami. Bourbon Street on a roll."
Comedian George Lopez wrote: "Say Hello to the NEW America's Team .. Superbowl Champs The New Orleans SAINTS!!"
Former Saints and Rams DT La'Roi Glover wrote: "Congratulations to the Saints Family and the the entire city of New Orleans! Who Dat!!"
Drew Brees' college teammate and former Raider safety Stuart Schweigert wrote: "GAME! BTFU. Congrats to my QB, Drew Breeees. ... That had to of been terrible for Archie Manning to watch that Pick 6, he had to be so happy and sad at the same time."
Hornets PG Chris Paul wrote: "Words can't express how happy I am for the city of NEW ORLEANS rite now...to kno those guys and how hard they've worked...VERY DESERVING!!!"
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong wrote: "Great win by the saints. Great coaching and players ready to play. Austin boy Drew Brees does good."
Saints IR CB Leigh Torrence wrote: "World Champions! Who Dat!!! We did it!!!"
Rookie punter Thomas Morstead dedicated his big Super Bowl performance to his college special teams coach, Frank Gansz Sr., who passed away at the age of 70, the day after Morstead was drafted. Gansz Sr. was a longtime coach at the pro and collegiate levels. Morstead's impressive rookie season was capped by including a successful onside kick to open the second half, two punts for 44 yard average, and three of six kickoffs in the end zone.
RB Reggie Bush wrote: "Here it is baby! Who Dat! New Orleans I got you! San Diego I got you!!!!!" and published this picture of him and the Lombardi Trophy in the Saints' locker room.
QB Chase Daniel wrote: "World Champions! There is no better feeling!"
RB Pierre Thomas kept his promise to give his his touchdown football to retired Saints Deuce McAllister.
TE Billy Miller wrote: "Thank you Jesus! I love you New Orleans! We did it! All of us, we did it! Wish you could have seen this dad"
ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols wrote: "Have been trying to upload photos of French Quarter but cell signals jammed - just picture the biggest party you've seen...and multiply it."
Former LSU and current Falcons CB Chevis Jackson wrote: "Ok they did it... Congrats to the aints... I'm light weight hatin tho.. Shout out to t.porter big play..."
Packers RB Ryan Grant wrote: "Much respect to the Saints & the city New Orleans....much deserved win and this is great for all that city has been...a city of spirit... Soooo for tonight and only tonight...lol ima be yelling WWHHOOOO DATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!! Lol Enjoy it"
Former Tulane and current Bears RB Matt Forte wrote: "Congrats to the saints and the city of N.O."
Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco wrote: "Congrats to the city of NEW ORLEANS, may you all enjoy this superbowl victory-after all the city has endured this is much deserved."
Titans K Rob Bironas wrote: "After a good game...the Saints come marching in...looks like Mardi Gras is off to an early start!"
Former Falcons RB Jamal Anderson wrote: "I'm out yo, what a game. The City of New Orleans is so deserving as well. Shouts to the homie reggie_bush kid you got one! Whoa"
Former Giants DL Michael Strahan wrote: "I want to be on Bourbon Street right now. Forget Miami the party in N. Orleans!!!"
Giants WR Steve Smith wrote: "congrats to my boy reggie and the saints.. the city of new orleans deserves it after all theyve been thru"
ESPN's Sportscenter twitter account wrote: "When you're wrong, you're wrong. Saints proved a lot of people wrong today. Congratulations to the Saints and all of New Orleans."
NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez wrote: "Congrats to the Saints!Super Bowl Champions!Great Game! Felicitacions a los Santos de Nuevo Orleans! Campeones del Super Tazon! Buen Juego!"
Actor Rainn Wilson of The Office wrote: "A sincere congratulations to the great city of New Orleans - the better team (and better coached team) WON!"
Sports Illustrated writer Stewart Mandel wrote: "I want to see brees and his little boy on the cover of SI this week. Make it happen guys."
ESPN's Bruce Feldman wrote: "I bet 20 years from now the thing I'll remember most from this Super Bowl is the sweet image of Drew Brees hugging his baby boy."
New Orleans resident, former LSU and starting Colts RB Joseph Addai said: "Obviously, I feel good for the fans of New Orleans, with everything that's going on. They have something else to turn to. I understand the problems, and the Saints deserved to win."
LSU head football coach Les Miles wrote: "Great team victory. Great for the state. Great for the city. Congratulations to coach Payton and the Saints. Who Dat!" During the game, The Hat also wrote: "Wow! What a way to start the second half. Gutsy call by Coach Payton - I liked it!" and "Enjoying a great Super Bowl. Former LSU players making a big impact. Addai running hard, Devery has made some nice catches."
Baton Rouge native, former Buc and Falcon RB Warrick Dunn wrote: "Really hate to say I told ya so but...I'm happy no matter what. Mardi Gras comes to Miami. Bourbon Street on a roll."
Comedian George Lopez wrote: "Say Hello to the NEW America's Team .. Superbowl Champs The New Orleans SAINTS!!"
Former Saints and Rams DT La'Roi Glover wrote: "Congratulations to the Saints Family and the the entire city of New Orleans! Who Dat!!"
Drew Brees' college teammate and former Raider safety Stuart Schweigert wrote: "GAME! BTFU. Congrats to my QB, Drew Breeees. ... That had to of been terrible for Archie Manning to watch that Pick 6, he had to be so happy and sad at the same time."
Hornets PG Chris Paul wrote: "Words can't express how happy I am for the city of NEW ORLEANS rite now...to kno those guys and how hard they've worked...VERY DESERVING!!!"
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong wrote: "Great win by the saints. Great coaching and players ready to play. Austin boy Drew Brees does good."
Saints IR CB Leigh Torrence wrote: "World Champions! Who Dat!!! We did it!!!"
Rookie punter Thomas Morstead dedicated his big Super Bowl performance to his college special teams coach, Frank Gansz Sr., who passed away at the age of 70, the day after Morstead was drafted. Gansz Sr. was a longtime coach at the pro and collegiate levels. Morstead's impressive rookie season was capped by including a successful onside kick to open the second half, two punts for 44 yard average, and three of six kickoffs in the end zone.
RB Reggie Bush wrote: "Here it is baby! Who Dat! New Orleans I got you! San Diego I got you!!!!!" and published this picture of him and the Lombardi Trophy in the Saints' locker room.
QB Chase Daniel wrote: "World Champions! There is no better feeling!"
RB Pierre Thomas kept his promise to give his his touchdown football to retired Saints Deuce McAllister.
TE Billy Miller wrote: "Thank you Jesus! I love you New Orleans! We did it! All of us, we did it! Wish you could have seen this dad"
ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols wrote: "Have been trying to upload photos of French Quarter but cell signals jammed - just picture the biggest party you've seen...and multiply it."
Former LSU and current Falcons CB Chevis Jackson wrote: "Ok they did it... Congrats to the aints... I'm light weight hatin tho.. Shout out to t.porter big play..."
Packers RB Ryan Grant wrote: "Much respect to the Saints & the city New Orleans....much deserved win and this is great for all that city has been...a city of spirit... Soooo for tonight and only tonight...lol ima be yelling WWHHOOOO DATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!! Lol Enjoy it"
Former Tulane and current Bears RB Matt Forte wrote: "Congrats to the saints and the city of N.O."
Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco wrote: "Congrats to the city of NEW ORLEANS, may you all enjoy this superbowl victory-after all the city has endured this is much deserved."
Titans K Rob Bironas wrote: "After a good game...the Saints come marching in...looks like Mardi Gras is off to an early start!"
Former Falcons RB Jamal Anderson wrote: "I'm out yo, what a game. The City of New Orleans is so deserving as well. Shouts to the homie reggie_bush kid you got one! Whoa"
Former Giants DL Michael Strahan wrote: "I want to be on Bourbon Street right now. Forget Miami the party in N. Orleans!!!"
Giants WR Steve Smith wrote: "congrats to my boy reggie and the saints.. the city of new orleans deserves it after all theyve been thru"
ESPN's Sportscenter twitter account wrote: "When you're wrong, you're wrong. Saints proved a lot of people wrong today. Congratulations to the Saints and all of New Orleans."
NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez wrote: "Congrats to the Saints!Super Bowl Champions!Great Game! Felicitacions a los Santos de Nuevo Orleans! Campeones del Super Tazon! Buen Juego!"
Actor Rainn Wilson of The Office wrote: "A sincere congratulations to the great city of New Orleans - the better team (and better coached team) WON!"
Sports Illustrated writer Stewart Mandel wrote: "I want to see brees and his little boy on the cover of SI this week. Make it happen guys."
ESPN's Bruce Feldman wrote: "I bet 20 years from now the thing I'll remember most from this Super Bowl is the sweet image of Drew Brees hugging his baby boy."
February 7, 2010
Brees outguns Manning as Porter seals Saints Super Bowl victory, 31-17
Peyton Manning won the regular season NFL MVP. Drew Brees won the Super Bowl MVP.
The Saints' slow start featured a game-opening three-and-out drive, followed by a six-play drive that also resulted in a punt. The Colts built a 10-0 lead in their first two drives, connecting on a short field goal after the Saints' defense held, but then Manning victimized backup CB Usama Young for a touchdown pass to WR Pierre Garcon.
Brees led the team to two second quarter field goals, both connected from long distance by Garrett Hartley. The Saints had a shot at three second quarter scores, but a tough Colts defense won a battle at the goal line.
After the Saints forced a Colts three-and-out in the middle of the second quarter, they moved from their own 28 yard line to the Colt three yard line on the strength of a 13 yard strike to Colston and a 21 yard catch, juke dazzle and dash by WR Lance Moore. Moore made the most of two of his three Superbowl touches, with that remarkable gainer on third and two and a later catch that will go down as one of the most acrobatic in Super Bowl history.
But that drive which reached first and goal at the Colt three yard line with 3:42 left in the half would be hard fought. Brees on a quick pass to Moore got no yardage, and on second down Zach Strief was called for a false start. Strief received lots of playing time in the Super Bowl as a sixth lineman, often going in motion. It was a novel usage of the Saints' deep offensive line corps on display tonight, especially when the Saints went with a six linemen, four receiver formation.
On second down and eight, Pierre Thomas zipped around right tackle for seven yards down inside the Colt one yard line, setting up third and inches. The call was to Mike Bell off right tackle, but Bell slipped on the slick natural turf and was dropped at the one yard line. On fourth down, just inside the two minute warning, the Saints went for it again. Payton dialed up the third straight run off right tackle and Thomas was bowled over and stopped short of the goal line.
Taking over at their own one yard line, the Colts moved within inches of the first down marker but the Saints defense had a big stand of their own, holding upback Mike Hart to no gain on third and inches. The Colts punted to Reggie Bush at midfield.
Brees, with :35 left, closed the distance necessary for Hartley's second field goal with a strike over the middle to Devery Henderson for 19 yards. Hartley's 44 yard kick pulled the Saints to within four points.
A 10-6 halftime lead for the Colts looked steady enough, especially since the Colts would receive the second half opening kickoff.
Or would they?
Out of a conventional kickoff formation, rookie punter Thomas Morstead's gorgeous onside kick across his body was recovered at the bottom of a very large pile by special teamer Chris Reis, a huge play for one of the top special teams cover men in the league.
It was the first onside kick attempt outside the fourth quarter in Super Bowl history, and one of the more courageous calls in the game's long history as well. It was set up by the Saints' winning the opening toss and electing to receive.
With all the momentum, Brees jumped on the Colts defense with four straight completions, then a seven-yard run up the middle by Pierre Thomas moved the Saints within the Colts red zone.
A signature screen pass from Brees to Pierre Thomas had a familiar result- a patiently rumbling Thomas evaded five different Colts defenders and ran away from the rest of them.
That Thomas touchdown was eerily similar to his screen pass rumble touchdown against Minnesota, and was perfected throughout the regular season. It was deployed by Payton masterfully and executed by downfield blockers perfectly.
But that 13-10 lead would be short-lived. The Colts stole back the momentum with a ten play, 76-yard drive that featured five first down conversions and eventually a touchdown run by former LSU product Joseph Addai with 6:15 left in the third quarter. Stover's extra point would prove to be the Colts' final scoring.
It wouldn't have been believed to have predicted that the Saints would shut the Colts out in the remaining 21:15 of game time left. But Gregg Williams' scheme, which saw the Saints start the game in a 3-4 and play most of the time in 3-4 or 3-3-5 formations, would do just that.
The Saints fought to within one point when Hartley hit his third clutch field goal from 47 yards out four minutes later, and the teams went into the fourth quarter with the Colts holding a slim lead. On that drive, Brees threw incomplete to Reggie Bush in the left flat, a fastball deflecting out of Bush's hands with 4:49 left in the third quarter. That would be the last incompletion of Brees' night.
The fourth quarter, as was the second quarter, would be owned by New Orleans.
The Colts moved to the Saint 32 in the beginning of the fourth quarter, and with a first and ten rushed two yards to the 30. But the Saints then dropped an Austin Collie dump-off pass for a three yard loss, and on one of the game's few deep down field passes, Jonathan Vilma went up high to disrupt a would-be touchdown to Collie, setting up 4th and 11.
Matt Stover, the Colts' kicker and the oldest player to ever play in a Super Bowl, attempted and hooked left a 51 yard field goal that awarded Brees the ball at his own 41. It appeared the kick was outside of the aging Stover's range, while the Colts had deactivated a healthy Adam Vinatieri.
Still down by one point, the Saints then went on the most significant drive in franchise history with 10:39 left in the season.
Reggie Bush ripped off a 12-yard run to start the drive, moving the Saints into Colts territory. Brees went after the Colts with an unstoppable short passing game, hitting his backs and receivers for gains of 5, 6, 8, 8, 6, and 9 yards, moving the Saints with a long, time-consuming drive to the Colts five yard line. Pierre Thomas got down to the two with a run off right tackle, and then Brees drilled the ball into Jeremy Shockey's chest for the go-ahead touchdown.
Shockey lined up wide right and stabbed inside of his coverage, presenting Brees a perfect target for a left-side throw and touchdown, a undefendable play. Up five points, the Saints went for the two point conversion that saw Lance Moore make an unbelievable play with the ball.
With trips receivers to the right and Reggie Bush in the backfield, Brees rolled right with protection and hit Moore running parallel to the goal line. Moore's feet in the end zone and falling down, he caught the ball in the field of play and rolled on his side and the back of his neck as he extended the ball in front of him, inverted, over the goal line.
It took two impacts from Jacob Lacey's legs to jar the ball free as the limber Moore was pretzeled, legs flying high. While a side judge eyeballing the play ruled it incomplete, a Sean Payton challenge and initiated a replay review that reversed the call and put the Saints up by seven points, 24-17. That eight point drive took 4:57 off the clock in the fourth quarter.
Peyton Manning, a New Orleans native and son of Archie, is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. But in the fourth quarter, the Saints defense rose above Manning's team-on-shoulders effort.
With 5:42 left, Manning began his deadly fourth quarter bombardment of the Saints, just as he had begun so many other fourth quarter comebacks and game-sealing drives this season. But he hadn't faced a defense so good at creating turnovers, and while only one turnover was created in Super Bowl XLIV, it was a game-sealer.
Manning hit on four of six passes to move his team from their own 30 to the Saints' 31 in roughly two minutes, but that seventh pass attempt was read by Tracy Porter, who stepped in front of Reggie Wayne, caught the ball and was streaking down the right hashmarks in one fluid motion.
Porter picked up a key block from RDE Will Smith and zipped free for the game-clinching score from 74 yards out. The Port Allen, La. native Porter picked Vikings QB Brett Favre and Manning in successive fourth quarters, but his interception of Manning will likely be the play to remember of Super Bowl XLIV.
With 3:05 left, Manning was down 14 and not without hope. He moved his team from their own 14 to the Saints' 3 yard line with eight straight passes. That yardage included a 40-yard strike to Collie, an unnecessary roughness penalty on DT Anthony Hargrove that gave the Colts a first down, and an offensive pass interference call on Garcon that prevented Saints CB Jabari Greer from intercepting Manning along the side of the end zone.
Manning had six snaps inside the Saint 13 yard line but couldn't punch it in. That included a second down pass which Scott Shanle got a palm on to deflect high and off the cross bars, a third down run to the right by Addai that Sedrick Ellis and Hargrove stopped for a two yard loss, and a fourth down incompletion that was in and out of Reggie Wayne's hands over the middle.
It was a titanic defensive victory by Gregg Williams and his tried-in-fire Saints defense over Manning, the author of five fourth quarter comeback victories in 2009 and the AP NFL MVP.
To seal Super Bowl XLIV, Drew Brees kneeled off the final :44 seconds of the clock.
The Saints' slow start featured a game-opening three-and-out drive, followed by a six-play drive that also resulted in a punt. The Colts built a 10-0 lead in their first two drives, connecting on a short field goal after the Saints' defense held, but then Manning victimized backup CB Usama Young for a touchdown pass to WR Pierre Garcon.
Brees led the team to two second quarter field goals, both connected from long distance by Garrett Hartley. The Saints had a shot at three second quarter scores, but a tough Colts defense won a battle at the goal line.
After the Saints forced a Colts three-and-out in the middle of the second quarter, they moved from their own 28 yard line to the Colt three yard line on the strength of a 13 yard strike to Colston and a 21 yard catch, juke dazzle and dash by WR Lance Moore. Moore made the most of two of his three Superbowl touches, with that remarkable gainer on third and two and a later catch that will go down as one of the most acrobatic in Super Bowl history.
But that drive which reached first and goal at the Colt three yard line with 3:42 left in the half would be hard fought. Brees on a quick pass to Moore got no yardage, and on second down Zach Strief was called for a false start. Strief received lots of playing time in the Super Bowl as a sixth lineman, often going in motion. It was a novel usage of the Saints' deep offensive line corps on display tonight, especially when the Saints went with a six linemen, four receiver formation.
On second down and eight, Pierre Thomas zipped around right tackle for seven yards down inside the Colt one yard line, setting up third and inches. The call was to Mike Bell off right tackle, but Bell slipped on the slick natural turf and was dropped at the one yard line. On fourth down, just inside the two minute warning, the Saints went for it again. Payton dialed up the third straight run off right tackle and Thomas was bowled over and stopped short of the goal line.
Taking over at their own one yard line, the Colts moved within inches of the first down marker but the Saints defense had a big stand of their own, holding upback Mike Hart to no gain on third and inches. The Colts punted to Reggie Bush at midfield.
Brees, with :35 left, closed the distance necessary for Hartley's second field goal with a strike over the middle to Devery Henderson for 19 yards. Hartley's 44 yard kick pulled the Saints to within four points.
A 10-6 halftime lead for the Colts looked steady enough, especially since the Colts would receive the second half opening kickoff.
Or would they?
Out of a conventional kickoff formation, rookie punter Thomas Morstead's gorgeous onside kick across his body was recovered at the bottom of a very large pile by special teamer Chris Reis, a huge play for one of the top special teams cover men in the league.
It was the first onside kick attempt outside the fourth quarter in Super Bowl history, and one of the more courageous calls in the game's long history as well. It was set up by the Saints' winning the opening toss and electing to receive.
With all the momentum, Brees jumped on the Colts defense with four straight completions, then a seven-yard run up the middle by Pierre Thomas moved the Saints within the Colts red zone.
A signature screen pass from Brees to Pierre Thomas had a familiar result- a patiently rumbling Thomas evaded five different Colts defenders and ran away from the rest of them.
That Thomas touchdown was eerily similar to his screen pass rumble touchdown against Minnesota, and was perfected throughout the regular season. It was deployed by Payton masterfully and executed by downfield blockers perfectly.
But that 13-10 lead would be short-lived. The Colts stole back the momentum with a ten play, 76-yard drive that featured five first down conversions and eventually a touchdown run by former LSU product Joseph Addai with 6:15 left in the third quarter. Stover's extra point would prove to be the Colts' final scoring.
It wouldn't have been believed to have predicted that the Saints would shut the Colts out in the remaining 21:15 of game time left. But Gregg Williams' scheme, which saw the Saints start the game in a 3-4 and play most of the time in 3-4 or 3-3-5 formations, would do just that.
The Saints fought to within one point when Hartley hit his third clutch field goal from 47 yards out four minutes later, and the teams went into the fourth quarter with the Colts holding a slim lead. On that drive, Brees threw incomplete to Reggie Bush in the left flat, a fastball deflecting out of Bush's hands with 4:49 left in the third quarter. That would be the last incompletion of Brees' night.
The fourth quarter, as was the second quarter, would be owned by New Orleans.
The Colts moved to the Saint 32 in the beginning of the fourth quarter, and with a first and ten rushed two yards to the 30. But the Saints then dropped an Austin Collie dump-off pass for a three yard loss, and on one of the game's few deep down field passes, Jonathan Vilma went up high to disrupt a would-be touchdown to Collie, setting up 4th and 11.
Matt Stover, the Colts' kicker and the oldest player to ever play in a Super Bowl, attempted and hooked left a 51 yard field goal that awarded Brees the ball at his own 41. It appeared the kick was outside of the aging Stover's range, while the Colts had deactivated a healthy Adam Vinatieri.
Still down by one point, the Saints then went on the most significant drive in franchise history with 10:39 left in the season.
Reggie Bush ripped off a 12-yard run to start the drive, moving the Saints into Colts territory. Brees went after the Colts with an unstoppable short passing game, hitting his backs and receivers for gains of 5, 6, 8, 8, 6, and 9 yards, moving the Saints with a long, time-consuming drive to the Colts five yard line. Pierre Thomas got down to the two with a run off right tackle, and then Brees drilled the ball into Jeremy Shockey's chest for the go-ahead touchdown.
Shockey lined up wide right and stabbed inside of his coverage, presenting Brees a perfect target for a left-side throw and touchdown, a undefendable play. Up five points, the Saints went for the two point conversion that saw Lance Moore make an unbelievable play with the ball.
With trips receivers to the right and Reggie Bush in the backfield, Brees rolled right with protection and hit Moore running parallel to the goal line. Moore's feet in the end zone and falling down, he caught the ball in the field of play and rolled on his side and the back of his neck as he extended the ball in front of him, inverted, over the goal line.
It took two impacts from Jacob Lacey's legs to jar the ball free as the limber Moore was pretzeled, legs flying high. While a side judge eyeballing the play ruled it incomplete, a Sean Payton challenge and initiated a replay review that reversed the call and put the Saints up by seven points, 24-17. That eight point drive took 4:57 off the clock in the fourth quarter.
Peyton Manning, a New Orleans native and son of Archie, is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. But in the fourth quarter, the Saints defense rose above Manning's team-on-shoulders effort.
With 5:42 left, Manning began his deadly fourth quarter bombardment of the Saints, just as he had begun so many other fourth quarter comebacks and game-sealing drives this season. But he hadn't faced a defense so good at creating turnovers, and while only one turnover was created in Super Bowl XLIV, it was a game-sealer.
Manning hit on four of six passes to move his team from their own 30 to the Saints' 31 in roughly two minutes, but that seventh pass attempt was read by Tracy Porter, who stepped in front of Reggie Wayne, caught the ball and was streaking down the right hashmarks in one fluid motion.
Porter picked up a key block from RDE Will Smith and zipped free for the game-clinching score from 74 yards out. The Port Allen, La. native Porter picked Vikings QB Brett Favre and Manning in successive fourth quarters, but his interception of Manning will likely be the play to remember of Super Bowl XLIV.
With 3:05 left, Manning was down 14 and not without hope. He moved his team from their own 14 to the Saints' 3 yard line with eight straight passes. That yardage included a 40-yard strike to Collie, an unnecessary roughness penalty on DT Anthony Hargrove that gave the Colts a first down, and an offensive pass interference call on Garcon that prevented Saints CB Jabari Greer from intercepting Manning along the side of the end zone.
Manning had six snaps inside the Saint 13 yard line but couldn't punch it in. That included a second down pass which Scott Shanle got a palm on to deflect high and off the cross bars, a third down run to the right by Addai that Sedrick Ellis and Hargrove stopped for a two yard loss, and a fourth down incompletion that was in and out of Reggie Wayne's hands over the middle.
It was a titanic defensive victory by Gregg Williams and his tried-in-fire Saints defense over Manning, the author of five fourth quarter comeback victories in 2009 and the AP NFL MVP.
To seal Super Bowl XLIV, Drew Brees kneeled off the final :44 seconds of the clock.
Super Bowl XLIV Box Score
1st Quarter
IND FG M.Stover 38 yd. Field Goal (11-53, 5:53)
IND TD P.Garcon 19 yd. pass from P.Manning (M.Stover kick) (11-96, 4:36)
2nd Quarter
NO FG G.Hartley 46 yd. Field Goal (11-60, 6:02)
NO FG G.Hartley 44 yd. Field Goal (5-26, 0:35)
3rd Quarter
NO TD P.Thomas 16 yd. pass from D.Brees (G.Hartley kick) (6-58, 3:19)
IND TD J.Addai 4 yd. run (M.Stover kick) (10-76, 5:26)
NO FG G.Hartley 47 yd. Field Goal (8-37, 4:14)
4th Quarter
NO TD J.Shockey 2 yd. pass from D.Brees (D.Brees-L.Moore pass) (9-59, 4:57)
NO TD T.Porter 74 yd. interception return (G.Hartley kick)
Colts
IND FG M.Stover 38 yd. Field Goal (11-53, 5:53)
IND TD P.Garcon 19 yd. pass from P.Manning (M.Stover kick) (11-96, 4:36)
2nd Quarter
NO FG G.Hartley 46 yd. Field Goal (11-60, 6:02)
NO FG G.Hartley 44 yd. Field Goal (5-26, 0:35)
3rd Quarter
NO TD P.Thomas 16 yd. pass from D.Brees (G.Hartley kick) (6-58, 3:19)
IND TD J.Addai 4 yd. run (M.Stover kick) (10-76, 5:26)
NO FG G.Hartley 47 yd. Field Goal (8-37, 4:14)
4th Quarter
NO TD J.Shockey 2 yd. pass from D.Brees (D.Brees-L.Moore pass) (9-59, 4:57)
NO TD T.Porter 74 yd. interception return (G.Hartley kick)
Saints Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
| D. Brees | 32/39 | 288 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
| P. Thomas | 9 | 30 | 0 | 7 |
| R. Bush | 5 | 25 | 0 | 12 |
| M. Bell | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| D. Brees | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| D. Henderson | 1 | -7 | 0 | -7 |
Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| M. Colston | 7 | 83 | 0 | 27 |
| D. Henderson | 7 | 63 | 0 | 19 |
| P. Thomas | 6 | 55 | 1 | 16 |
| R. Bush | 4 | 38 | 0 | 16 |
| L. Moore | 2 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| J. Shockey | 3 | 13 | 1 | 7 |
| D. Thomas | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| R. Meachem | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| G. Hartley | 3/3 | 47 | 2/2 | 11 |
Punting | NO | AVG | I20 | LG |
| T. Morstead | 2 | 44.0 | 1 | 46 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| C. Roby | 4 | 25 | 0 | 34 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| R. Bush | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Defense | T-A | SCK | INT | FF |
| J. Vilma | 7-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Harper | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Shanle | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Jenkins | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Porter | 4-0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
| S. Ellis | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Fujita | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Greer | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Gay | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Hargrove | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. McCray | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Sharper | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Charleston | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| W. Smith | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Colts
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
| P. Manning | 31/45 | 333 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
| J. Addai | 13 | 77 | 1 | 26 |
| D. Brown | 4 | 18 | 0 | 5 |
| M. Hart | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| D. Clark | 7 | 86 | 0 | 27 |
| A. Collie | 6 | 66 | 0 | 40 |
| P. Garcon | 5 | 66 | 1 | 19 |
| J. Addai | 7 | 58 | 0 | 17 |
| R. Wayne | 5 | 46 | 0 | 14 |
| D. Brown | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| M. Stover | 1/2 | 38 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | I20 | LG |
| P. McAfee | 2 | 43.0 | 0 | 46 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| C. Simpson | 5 | 22 | 0 | 29 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| T. Rushing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SCK | INT | FF |
| G. Brackett | 12-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Lacey | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Bullitt | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Hayden | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Bethea | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Jennings | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Session | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Foster | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Brock | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Freeney | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Johnson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Muir | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Powers | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Dawson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Hartley, Porter, Brees complete unbelievable postseason performances
These three players were among the best for the Saints in the postseason, though countless others rose to the occasion for huge plays in the playoffs.
Kicker Garrett Hartley is in just his second season as a kicker in the NFL, and the Superbowl he was rock solid - cleanly connecting on field goals of 46 and 44 yards in the second quarter and adding a 47 field goal on the slick grass of Sun Life Stadium.
Hartley completes a perfect post-season for his team that stuck with him through a four-game suspension - connecting on all five field goal attempts, all from 40 or more yards, and 12 extra points. It adds up to one of the single best post-seasons for a kicker in league history, the best since Eddie Murray was a perfect 6/6, 11/11 for the 1993 Superbowl Champion Cowboys, but two of those field goals were from less than 25 yards.
...
Second year CB Tracy Porter, a native of Port Allen, La., had game-clinching interceptions in both the NFC Championship (intercepting Brett Favre's ill-conceived pass with seconds left in regulation) and in the Superbowl (picking Manning with minutes left and returning it for a coffin-nailing touchdown). He picked off two first ballot Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Favre and Manning, and may have caught Favre's final pass in the NFL.
Porter's two interceptions are next to three passes defensed and 17 tackles. He and Jabari Greer, who was also outstanding during the playoffs, gave the Saints the ability to handle some of the league's premiere receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Bernard Berrian, a red-hot Sidney Rice, Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon all went up against the 2009 Saints defense and lost.
The Saints defense defeated all five Superbowl winning quarterbacks they faced this season: defeating Eli Manning and Tom Brady in the regular season, and Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning in the playoffs. (Porter sat out the victory over Brady with a knee injury.)
...
QB Drew Brees' postseason was the most outstanding. Brees took the worst of what the Vikings defense had in the NFC Championship game and he took a vicious hit from Dwight Freeney in the Superbowl. But Brees didn't turn the ball over a single time in their three-game playoff run. He completed an unbelievable 82.1% of his Superbowl passes and 70.6% of his passes in the playoffs.
His pass completion percentage was the second most in Super Bowl history behind Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI, who completed 22 of 25 passes.
Brees' three game 2009-10 postseason numbers: 72 of 102, 732 yards, 8 touchdowns, zero interceptions, zero fumbles lost, only two sacks and 117.0 QB Rating. That's good for the seventh best Super Bowl winning QB postseason of all time, behind only these names: Joe Montana (1989), Bart Starr (1966), Phil Simms (1986), Troy Aikman (2002), Steve Young (1994), and tied with Montana (1988).
Brees was named the Super Bowl MVP and tied the game record with 32 completions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the game by completing 10 consecutive passes, including all his attempts in the fourth quarter, the second longest streak in Super Bowl history.
Brees' career postseason QB rating is 103.7, second only Bart Starr (104.8).
Kicker Garrett Hartley is in just his second season as a kicker in the NFL, and the Superbowl he was rock solid - cleanly connecting on field goals of 46 and 44 yards in the second quarter and adding a 47 field goal on the slick grass of Sun Life Stadium.
Hartley completes a perfect post-season for his team that stuck with him through a four-game suspension - connecting on all five field goal attempts, all from 40 or more yards, and 12 extra points. It adds up to one of the single best post-seasons for a kicker in league history, the best since Eddie Murray was a perfect 6/6, 11/11 for the 1993 Superbowl Champion Cowboys, but two of those field goals were from less than 25 yards.
...
Second year CB Tracy Porter, a native of Port Allen, La., had game-clinching interceptions in both the NFC Championship (intercepting Brett Favre's ill-conceived pass with seconds left in regulation) and in the Superbowl (picking Manning with minutes left and returning it for a coffin-nailing touchdown). He picked off two first ballot Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Favre and Manning, and may have caught Favre's final pass in the NFL.
Porter's two interceptions are next to three passes defensed and 17 tackles. He and Jabari Greer, who was also outstanding during the playoffs, gave the Saints the ability to handle some of the league's premiere receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Bernard Berrian, a red-hot Sidney Rice, Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon all went up against the 2009 Saints defense and lost.
The Saints defense defeated all five Superbowl winning quarterbacks they faced this season: defeating Eli Manning and Tom Brady in the regular season, and Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning in the playoffs. (Porter sat out the victory over Brady with a knee injury.)
...
QB Drew Brees' postseason was the most outstanding. Brees took the worst of what the Vikings defense had in the NFC Championship game and he took a vicious hit from Dwight Freeney in the Superbowl. But Brees didn't turn the ball over a single time in their three-game playoff run. He completed an unbelievable 82.1% of his Superbowl passes and 70.6% of his passes in the playoffs.
His pass completion percentage was the second most in Super Bowl history behind Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI, who completed 22 of 25 passes.
Brees' three game 2009-10 postseason numbers: 72 of 102, 732 yards, 8 touchdowns, zero interceptions, zero fumbles lost, only two sacks and 117.0 QB Rating. That's good for the seventh best Super Bowl winning QB postseason of all time, behind only these names: Joe Montana (1989), Bart Starr (1966), Phil Simms (1986), Troy Aikman (2002), Steve Young (1994), and tied with Montana (1988).
Brees was named the Super Bowl MVP and tied the game record with 32 completions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the game by completing 10 consecutive passes, including all his attempts in the fourth quarter, the second longest streak in Super Bowl history.
Brees' career postseason QB rating is 103.7, second only Bart Starr (104.8).
Game Time in Miami
Inactives for the Saints: WR Adrian Arrington, TE Darnell Dinkins, TE Tory Humphrey, LB Anthony Waters, RB Lynell Hamilton, G Jamar Nesbit and DE Paul Spicer. Chase Daniel is dressed as the emergency quarterback.
As they did against Minnesota, the Saints are going with two tight ends. The Saints are gambling that TE Jeremy Shockey remains healthy enough to contribute and help block with foot and knee injuries. With Dinkins and Humphrey both in street clothes, only Shockey and David Thomas remain at available tight end. Should Shockey not be able to finish, the Saints would be forced to remove all 2TE formations from their lineup, or try to put 5'11, 237 pound FB Kyle Eckel there.
Colts: DE Ervin Baldwin, TE Colin Cloherty, T Michael Toudouze, DT John Gill, WR Sam Giguere, DT Fili Moala, OL Mike Pollack and K Adam Vinatieri.
Star DE Dwight Freeney is active despite a third degree ankle sprain.
According to the NFL Network, Saints HC Sean Payton asked Bill Parcells to speak to his team pre-game. Parcells, Payton's mentor and current Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Dolphins, declined, not wanting to appear to slight the Colts because Parcells is still in the league.
Ex-Saints Michael Lewis and Deuce McAllister are expected to be with the Saints on the sideline, among others.
Super Bowl Sunday
The Saints (15-3) face the Colts (16-2) in the biggest game in franchise history today.
In the 43rd season of the franchise's existence, the team has officially joined the NFL as a championship contender.
Forty three years of memorabilia and merchandise have a new glimmer, a shiny fresh veneer, thanks to the gem of this year's team.
Lance Moore wrote: "Its almost time! Get ready Who Dats!"
Jeremy Shockey wrote: "the Time is near!!! who dat nation is taking over MIAMI"
Hornets PG Chris Paul wrote: "Mornin evrybody...headed to church here in NO...black and gold day at church lol..."
It is fitting that on the weekend the Saints' make their biggest impact on the league yet, the team makes a dent in the NFL's most prestigious institution: LB Rickey Jackson was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame on Super Bowl Saturday.
Jackson, who we believe has been overdue for the honor, is the first player in Saints history to fill his resume with accomplishments in a Saints jersey. The NFL does not place players into the Hall of Fame with a team. The Saints are represented in the Hall by DB Doug Atkins, RB Earl Campbell, GM Jim Finks, HC Hank Stram, and RB Jim Taylor. But none of those players earned their way in while wearing a fleur di lis, and none represented the Saints on the field in the past 20 years. Finks helped created the Saints' first winning seasons with Jim Mora, but is first credited with turning the Vikings franchise around.
Payton's investment: Saints HC Sean Payton ponied up a quarter of a million dollars of his own money during salary negotiations with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Payton admitted this week that in Week 9, the Saints reimbursed Payton for his investment, which helped purchase a 9-0 start, a 13-0 run, a division championship, a #1 overall seed, two home playoff and a Super Bowl bid.
Bush's shoes to charity: RB Reggie Bush will autograph and auction his Super Bowl shoes for Haiti relief efforts after the game. Check out the design here.
In the 43rd season of the franchise's existence, the team has officially joined the NFL as a championship contender.
Forty three years of memorabilia and merchandise have a new glimmer, a shiny fresh veneer, thanks to the gem of this year's team.
Lance Moore wrote: "Its almost time! Get ready Who Dats!"
Jeremy Shockey wrote: "the Time is near!!! who dat nation is taking over MIAMI"
Hornets PG Chris Paul wrote: "Mornin evrybody...headed to church here in NO...black and gold day at church lol..."
It is fitting that on the weekend the Saints' make their biggest impact on the league yet, the team makes a dent in the NFL's most prestigious institution: LB Rickey Jackson was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame on Super Bowl Saturday.
Jackson, who we believe has been overdue for the honor, is the first player in Saints history to fill his resume with accomplishments in a Saints jersey. The NFL does not place players into the Hall of Fame with a team. The Saints are represented in the Hall by DB Doug Atkins, RB Earl Campbell, GM Jim Finks, HC Hank Stram, and RB Jim Taylor. But none of those players earned their way in while wearing a fleur di lis, and none represented the Saints on the field in the past 20 years. Finks helped created the Saints' first winning seasons with Jim Mora, but is first credited with turning the Vikings franchise around.
Payton's investment: Saints HC Sean Payton ponied up a quarter of a million dollars of his own money during salary negotiations with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Payton admitted this week that in Week 9, the Saints reimbursed Payton for his investment, which helped purchase a 9-0 start, a 13-0 run, a division championship, a #1 overall seed, two home playoff and a Super Bowl bid.
Bush's shoes to charity: RB Reggie Bush will autograph and auction his Super Bowl shoes for Haiti relief efforts after the game. Check out the design here.
February 6, 2010
Super Bowl Saturday
The 2009 Saints have practiced for the last time as a team.
Pierre Thomas wrote, "Just finished our last practice now it's time to put in the work Sunday." Billy Miller added, "Last real practice together for this group of saints and it was a good one. There can only be one champ! Let's go get it!"
There's just one game left now.
Thomas told the media this week that if he scores in the Superbowl, he will give the ball to Deuce McAllister, the retired Saints runningback, who will be on the sidelines for the team just as he was in the playoffs. Because McAllister was on the 53-man roster for the divisional game, he will also get a Super Bowl ring, should the Saints prevail.
Win or lose, the Saints parade in New Orleans will be memorable. The route begins in front of the Superdome Tuesday afternoon, and will reportedly carry the entire Saints organization and roster.
Update on Miller's injury here: "I was told I would not be able to run routes by the superbowl. I belived different. Well it was not that fast but I did it."
Pierre Thomas wrote, "Just finished our last practice now it's time to put in the work Sunday." Billy Miller added, "Last real practice together for this group of saints and it was a good one. There can only be one champ! Let's go get it!"
There's just one game left now.
Thomas told the media this week that if he scores in the Superbowl, he will give the ball to Deuce McAllister, the retired Saints runningback, who will be on the sidelines for the team just as he was in the playoffs. Because McAllister was on the 53-man roster for the divisional game, he will also get a Super Bowl ring, should the Saints prevail.
Win or lose, the Saints parade in New Orleans will be memorable. The route begins in front of the Superdome Tuesday afternoon, and will reportedly carry the entire Saints organization and roster.
Update on Miller's injury here: "I was told I would not be able to run routes by the superbowl. I belived different. Well it was not that fast but I did it."
February 3, 2010
Wednesday before Super Bowl notes
The Saints practiced at the University of Miami's field today in a show of relative health.
Limited in practice were CB Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring), TE Jeremy Shockey (knee), DE Bobby McCray (back/ankle), CB Randall Gay (foot), WR Courtney Roby (knee), T Zach Strief (shoulder), DE Will Smith (groin, not related to 2008 sports hernia), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee), S Pierson Prioleau (quadriceps).
The only player missing from practice was fourth string RB Lynell Hamilton.
As for the Colts, injured superstar DE Dwight Freeney (ankle) was not at practice today.
New Brees deal: ESPN is reporting that the Saints will renegotiate QB Drew Brees' salary this offseason, whose current salary is good for middle of the pack of starting quarterbacks, 17th in the league. His Super Bowl opponent QB Peyton Manning will also reportedly get a new deal.
Brees and Manning were 1-2 and 2-1 in the Sporting News and AP All-Pro Teams. Manning led the league in lowest sack percentage while Brees lead the league in completion percentage and overall QB rating.
Praise for Greer: Football Outsider's statisticians capture high praise for Saints CB Jabari Greer, who was second only to Jets CB Darrelle Revis in two major statistical categories.
Notice also in that article that three different Colts cornerbacks are in the top 10 in fewest yards after catch allowed per target.
Limited in practice were CB Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring), TE Jeremy Shockey (knee), DE Bobby McCray (back/ankle), CB Randall Gay (foot), WR Courtney Roby (knee), T Zach Strief (shoulder), DE Will Smith (groin, not related to 2008 sports hernia), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee), S Pierson Prioleau (quadriceps).
The only player missing from practice was fourth string RB Lynell Hamilton.
As for the Colts, injured superstar DE Dwight Freeney (ankle) was not at practice today.
New Brees deal: ESPN is reporting that the Saints will renegotiate QB Drew Brees' salary this offseason, whose current salary is good for middle of the pack of starting quarterbacks, 17th in the league. His Super Bowl opponent QB Peyton Manning will also reportedly get a new deal.
Brees and Manning were 1-2 and 2-1 in the Sporting News and AP All-Pro Teams. Manning led the league in lowest sack percentage while Brees lead the league in completion percentage and overall QB rating.
Praise for Greer: Football Outsider's statisticians capture high praise for Saints CB Jabari Greer, who was second only to Jets CB Darrelle Revis in two major statistical categories.
Notice also in that article that three different Colts cornerbacks are in the top 10 in fewest yards after catch allowed per target.
February 2, 2010
Super Bowl XLIV features Louisiana products
Aside from the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV will feature numerous Louisiana players.
On the Colts' roster there are five players Louisiana born or bred, more than on the New Orleans roster:
RB Joseph Addai (hometown: Houston, TX; college: LSU)
QB Peyton Manning (hometown: New Orleans, LA; college: Tennessee)
WR Reggie Wayne (hometown: New Orleans, LA; college: Miami)
DE Keyunta Dawson (hometown: Shreveport, LA; college: Texas Tech)
K Matt Stover (hometown: Dallas, TX; college: Louisiana Tech)
Colts practice squad:
CB Darrick Brown (hometown: Tangipahoa, LA; college: McNeese State)
On the Saints roster:
CB Randall Gay (hometown: Brusly, LA; college: LSU)
WR Devery Henderson (hometown: Opelousas, LA; college: LSU)
CB Tracy Porter (hometown: Port Allen, LA; college: Indiana)
On the Saints practice squad:
DT Marlon Favorite (hometown: Gretna, LA; college: LSU)
CB Greg Fassitt (hometown: New Orleans, LA; college: Grambling State)
On the Colts' roster there are five players Louisiana born or bred, more than on the New Orleans roster:
RB Joseph Addai (hometown: Houston, TX; college: LSU)
QB Peyton Manning (hometown: New Orleans, LA; college: Tennessee)
WR Reggie Wayne (hometown: New Orleans, LA; college: Miami)
DE Keyunta Dawson (hometown: Shreveport, LA; college: Texas Tech)
K Matt Stover (hometown: Dallas, TX; college: Louisiana Tech)
Colts practice squad:
CB Darrick Brown (hometown: Tangipahoa, LA; college: McNeese State)
On the Saints roster:
CB Randall Gay (hometown: Brusly, LA; college: LSU)
WR Devery Henderson (hometown: Opelousas, LA; college: LSU)
CB Tracy Porter (hometown: Port Allen, LA; college: Indiana)
On the Saints practice squad:
DT Marlon Favorite (hometown: Gretna, LA; college: LSU)
CB Greg Fassitt (hometown: New Orleans, LA; college: Grambling State)
January 30, 2010
Pro Bowl weekend notes
- The Saints aren't participating in the 2010 Pro Bowl this year, one of the benefits of their Super Bowl appearance.
- Great article penned by former Saints C LeCharles Bentley in the Ohio Plain Dealer:
The city of New Orleans has always been a poor city, but despite its economic struggles, it was full of life; this is why New Orleans is the travel destination for people from all over the world that desire some of the best entertainment and cuisine this country has to offer. Upon departure, travelers couldn't grasp the depth of poverty and hopelessness they left behind.
Everything visitors sought in New Orleans, they were also able to take home with them; cookbooks, pralines, daiquiri mixes novelties, and even Emeril Lagasse could be seen nightly across the country, courtesy of the Food Network.The only thing that New Orleanians felt was theirs and theirs alone was the Saints.
- After the Super Bowl, and if the job is still open, the Bears are expected to request and be granted permission to interview Saints tight ends coach Terry Malone. Former Rams HC Mike Martz is also set to interview for that job this week. Frank Cignetti, Jr., University of Pittsburgh offensive coordinator and Haslett-era quarterbacks coach for the Saints, has already been asked and turned down the Bears OC job, which is drawing jeers for being so unfillable.
- Perhaps espionage, perhaps legitimate talent scouting but probably a bit of both, the Colts have worked out defensive backs in the week before the Pro Bowl with recent Saints ties.
Cornerbacks Michael Lehan, Jason David and Mike McKenzie have been worked out by the Colts, along with former Bengal and Bronco Deltha O'Neal and former Eagle Jack Ikegwuonu. Lehan was not around long enough to know Gregg Williams' system, but David spent training camp 2009 with the Saints and McKenzie was a late-season addition to the Saints who was waived shortly before the regular season finale.
- According to ESPN, Drew Brees' quarterback rating when throwing towards Robert Meachem was a staggering 158.3 - perfect. With Colston drawing so much attention, Meachem and Henderson ripped defenses for 1526 yards between them.
- In no small part thanks to the Saints' defense, Kurt Warner has retired from the NFL. Warner was brutalized by the Saints' defense in the divisional playoff game, including a body-shocking hit from Bobby McCray.
An enforcer on the Saints' defense, McCray was not fined for that hit, on which Warner was attempting to tackle DE Will Smith. The hit put backup quarterback Matt Leinart in for parts of the game.
McCray was fined $20,000 for a pair of hits on Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game, though one of those hits was, in our eyes, perfectly valid as Favre was attempting to block on the play.
January 27, 2010
Fate of Saints great LB Rickey Jackson's Hall of Fame bid to be decided soon
On February 6, the day before his New Orleans Saints descendants play in the Super Bowl, Rickey Jackson's strongest Hall of Fame bid yet will go up to vote before a forty-four member selection committee. He needs thirty six votes.
The 13-year Saint was a devastating linebacker in the Saints' 3-4 defense. He left the team after the 1993 season and won a Super Bowl as a 36-year old starter at defensive end for the 49ers. His 115 career sacks are a Saints record, and his 128 career sacks are good for 10th on the NFL's All-Time list.
From the New York Times:
The 13-year Saint was a devastating linebacker in the Saints' 3-4 defense. He left the team after the 1993 season and won a Super Bowl as a 36-year old starter at defensive end for the 49ers. His 115 career sacks are a Saints record, and his 128 career sacks are good for 10th on the NFL's All-Time list.
From the New York Times:
Rickey Jackson was more than just a ferocious pass rusher. That, by itself, wouldn’t be enough. As a strongside linebacker in the Saints’ 3-4 defense, Jackson maintained good leverage against the tight end. He avoided being hooked and used his hands well in effectively shedding blockers to prevent the running back from turning the corner (“setting the edge”). Jackson also excelled in pass coverage when called upon, showing good range and lateral movement. He was around the ball all the time, was an explosive tackler, and played with great energy and enthusiasm. Jackson was an outstanding all-around linebacker whose on-field performance merits a place in the Hall.From Pro Football Reference:
When we compare him to other linebackers using the Approximate Value method, his career total of 155... ranks very favorably for induction. He is 9th all-time, and everyone ahead of him is either in the Hall of Fame or will be soon after they become eligible. He ranks ahead of thirteen linebackers already in Canton...
So what is it that AV "sees" about Jackson? When he was on teams that had very few good players, the defense still performed at an above average level and Jackson was recognized as the best player. When he was on teams that had multiple stars on defense, those teams were elite with Jackson in the lineup. A player who seemed to always make the defensive teams he played with better seems to indicate a Hall of Fame talent to me.
In 2010, he's finally getting recognized as a finalist, and it seems fitting that it is occurring in a year when the franchise he helped change from doormat to respectable NFL franchise is making its first appearance in the Super Bowl...
He should be in eventually, if not this year.
January 25, 2010
SS Roman Harper named, replaced on NFC Pro Bowl roster
Saints strong safety Roman Harper is just the latest Saint to be named to the Pro Bowl.
And thanks to last night's win, he won't play a single snap in this weekend's All Star game.
Harper was named as an injury replacement for Cardinals S Adrian Wilson, who declined to participate. Since Harper is playing in Super Bowl XLIV with the rest of the Saints, he was immediately replaced by Eagles safety Quintin Mikell.
That means both Saint safeties were honored with Pro Bowl spots this season, Harper and free safety Darren Sharper.
Also joining them were QB Drew Brees, RG Jahri Evans, C Jonathan Goodwin, RT Jonathan Stinchcomb and MLB Jonathan Vilma. Seven Saints in all made it, though with both the Colts and Saints players unavailable for the game and numerous withdrawals, teams around the NFL are racking up numbers of Pro Bowlers.
For example, QB Donovan McNabb was named to the Pro Bowl with Brees proudly ineligible to play. In the AFC, Jaguars' David Garrard is the sixth quarterback to be named after two injury replacements and Peyton Manning's ineligibility, even though Garrard led the league in fumbles and was 17th in quarterback rating at 83.5.
Perhaps the idea of hosting the Pro Bowl in Miami the week before the Super Bowl wasn't such a great idea after all, if the goal of the Pro Bowl is in fact to have All-Stars to play.
And yet, with all the players headed to Miami on the 31st, DE Will Smith, WR Marques Colston and CB Jabari Greer aren't among them.
And thanks to last night's win, he won't play a single snap in this weekend's All Star game.
Harper was named as an injury replacement for Cardinals S Adrian Wilson, who declined to participate. Since Harper is playing in Super Bowl XLIV with the rest of the Saints, he was immediately replaced by Eagles safety Quintin Mikell.
That means both Saint safeties were honored with Pro Bowl spots this season, Harper and free safety Darren Sharper.
Also joining them were QB Drew Brees, RG Jahri Evans, C Jonathan Goodwin, RT Jonathan Stinchcomb and MLB Jonathan Vilma. Seven Saints in all made it, though with both the Colts and Saints players unavailable for the game and numerous withdrawals, teams around the NFL are racking up numbers of Pro Bowlers.
For example, QB Donovan McNabb was named to the Pro Bowl with Brees proudly ineligible to play. In the AFC, Jaguars' David Garrard is the sixth quarterback to be named after two injury replacements and Peyton Manning's ineligibility, even though Garrard led the league in fumbles and was 17th in quarterback rating at 83.5.
Perhaps the idea of hosting the Pro Bowl in Miami the week before the Super Bowl wasn't such a great idea after all, if the goal of the Pro Bowl is in fact to have All-Stars to play.
And yet, with all the players headed to Miami on the 31st, DE Will Smith, WR Marques Colston and CB Jabari Greer aren't among them.
Quick Notes around the NFC Champion Saints
- The Saints open as early 4.5 point underdogs to the Colts. The Saints were 18-1 to win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season.
- Here's an interesting article on how Super Bowl XLIV host city Miami has changed, economically and physically, since the last Super Bowl they hosted in 2007. Not to mention the name of the host facility, Sun Life Stadium, which has held that name for a matter of days.
- The Superdome on Sunday was a hot spot for former Saint greats. Deuce McAllister presented the Halas NFC Champion trophy to Tom Benson. Pat Swilling and Rickey Jackson visited the locker room. Steve Gleason was on the sidelines, and former 49er great Ronnie Lott addressed the team pre-game.
The Vikings? They brought American Idol byproduct Larry Platt. - Post-game Twitter messages:
TE Jeremy Shockey wrote: "playing on 1 leg sux... ill get beter soon... wish i could help our team more but ill be great in 2wks.."
Hornets PG Chris Paul wrote: "WHO DAT WHO DAT WHO DAT SAID DEY GON BE DEM SAINTS..."
Former Saints DT La'Roi Glover wrote: "Yall say who Dat! I say we DAT!!! Congrats to the Saints Football organization."
CB Malcolm Jenkins wrote: "Super Bowl!!!!.... Thanks to the city of New Orleans and all the Who Dat Nation for all of the support .... We're gonna bring it back home!"
RB Reggie Bush wrote: "Today was a game of inches! But we got the win! New Orleans stand up ! South East San Diego Stand up! We here!"
Vikings WR Sidney Rice wrote: "Tough loss for us! Words can't even describe how painful it is..."
Vikings OT Bryant McKinnie wrote: "I would like 2 say Congrats 2 the Saints on going 2 the Super Bowl! I would like 2 Thank all my teammates 4 a great season..."
Former Falcons RB and current broadcaster Jamal Anderson wrote: "This is Great for the city of New Orleans. Saints have been dominate all season... FYI, Colts have NEVER lost a Super Bowl in Miami... Tough for a Falcon to say, but Congrats to the Saints...What a season. Vikings, History has a cold way of..."
Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald wrote: "Gr8 game!Congrats 2 the saints!That city deserves something good like this after going through Hurricane Katrina." - The Senior Bowl practices dominate this week's attention for the league's college scouting departments. Because of the amount of talent on the field for the NFL Draft, many coaching staffs attend practices en masse. For the first time in Saints history, that will be very difficult to do.
The Saints will pick either 31st or 32nd overall in April's NFL Draft, depending on the outcome of Super Bowl XLIV. Round one of the draft will take place on Thursday night, April 22, as the league moves the Draft into primetime television, starting at 6:30pm CT, with rounds two and three on Friday night and rounds 4-7 on Saturday. The Saints will be picking late in the night on Thursday, likely around 10pm, barring trade. - The Detroit Lions are now the only team in the NFC to never have made the Super Bowl. In the AFC, Cleveland, Houston and Jacksonville have never been there.
January 24, 2010
SAINTS ARE SUPER BOWL BOUND
The Saints will play one more game this season, and it was earned in one of the most remarkable championship games in league history.
A 31-28 overtime victory has earned the team a trip to Super Bowl XLIV.
The Saints had to overcome a remarkable performance from Vikings QB Brett Favre, who was pounded again and again by Saints defenders and yet made several clutch connections to keep his team in the game.
It was Favre, however, who made his final pass of the season a devastating one for his team. With seconds left and already in field goal position, Favre rolled to his right he threw back across the field, where CB Tracy Porter redeemed earlier mistakes by intercepting the pass and almost breaking free on the return.
The game was full of huge plays, none more important than PK Garrett Hartley's overtime 40-yard field goal connection that won the game and ignited a city. Hartley's kick was perfect - a high arcing kick and right down the middle.
Hartley told the press after the game that he had a dream last night that he would win the game winner from 42 yards out on the right hash mark. He was two yards off. Before the kick, he was rehearsing on the sidelines with Saints' kicking consultant John Carney, who was the Saints' placekicker through November this season.
The Vikings, led by 40-year old Favre, made mistake after mistake. Six fumbles, three of which they recovered despite Saints defenders clawing for the ball. Favre's two interceptions late in the game both resulted in no points but they ended potentially game-winning drives.
A late penalty on the Vikings for 12 men in the huddle moved them back five yards, into long distance field goal range, and changed a safe-play diagnosis to a Favre rollout pass - that Porter intercepted.
The Vikings were aided by some difficult-to-swallow penalties early in the game. The penalty discrepancy, 9 for 88 yards against the Saints and 5 for 32 yards on Minnesota, helped offset a 5-1 turnover victory for New Orleans. It is "uncommon", head coach Sean Payton said, for a team to win by only a field goal - much less in overtime - while winning the turnover in such resounding fashion.
The Saints' one turnover was on Reggie Bush near the end of the second quarter. Bush didn't signal for a fair catch and attempted to the field the ball at his own 10 yard line win a Viking in his face. He muffed the ball and the Vikings recovered at the Saint 10 with 1:13 left in the half and the score tied at 14. But two players later, Favre bungled the exchange with RB Adrian Peterson and Scott Fujita fell on the fumble to preserve a halftime tie.
Fujita's huge play at the second half was perhaps set up by his play on the first snap of the game. Favre threw quick and incomplete to TE Vishante Shiancoe on the first offensive snap of the game - and was promptly leveled by edge-rushing Fujita. It set the tone for the Saints' defense, who despite not sacking Favre hit him 15 times. He was regularly on his back, though some of those falls might have come with inspiration from Vlade Divac or Manu Ginobli. Favre at one point limped off the field, only to have his left ankle theatrically re-taped in front of the cameras, and return to play minutes later.
Favre's presence drew some favor from the referees as well, when they called a late hit penalty on Saints DE Bobby McCray on a Vikings end-around to WR Percy Harvin. Favre, who appeared to be blocking on the play, was blasted by McCray, who was flagged incorrectly for "hitting a player out of bounds". That flag was one of a few that raised eyebrows, which also included a personal foul on rookie LB Jonathan Casillas, who blasted Vikings PR Darius Reynaud when Reynaud muffed a fair catch punt return.
RB Adrian Peterson exchanged three touchdown runs for being part of three fumbles. Peterson somehow recovered one of those fumbles in a pile of Saints and his fullback Naufahu Tahi recovered another.
RB Reggie Bush also exchanged a key late touchdown for a muffed punt return. Bush's touchdown was another piece of acrobatic skill, catch a dumpoff pass in the right flat and rotating his body 270 degrees as he was being blasted by S Tyrell Johnson to hold the ball over the pylon. The play, initially ruled out of bounds inches short of the end zone, was challenged by Payton almost immediately and overturned to a touchdown. Bush didn't play a big part in today's game, with only nine touches and his three punt return opportunities bottled up.
Of Bush's 41 total yards from scrimmage, 28 came on a key 3rd and 10 conversion that kept the Saints' second touchdown drive alive. QB Drew Brees found Bush open, scraping across the middle of the field and Bush finished the play by turning and blasting his weight into Vikings S Madieu Williams, who was bowled flat.
Like many players on the Saints, Bush was bottled up today. The Saints won despite only 257 offensive yards to the Vikings' 475. Brees' 197 yards passing was the lowest output of his five career playoff games.
Rookie punter Thomas Morstead helped keep the Saints offense in the game with his second straight enormous playoff performance. The fifth round pick from SMU put on a punting clinic that consistently kept the Vikings' punt returners quiet and their starting field position back in their own territory. Morstead dropped four of his seven punts inside the 20 and averaged 51.3 yards per kick, including a 63-yard moon shot that Reynauld fielded at his own one yard line but returned to his own 10, the longest punt return of the night.
Youthful, inexperienced kicking specialists Morstead and Hartley were huge parts of tonight's game.
Meanwhile, the Vikings defense played as well as it was billed to be. Brees overthrew more than one open receiver and was not sharp especially on some key late throws that could have won the game in regulation. Two key throws to WR Marques Colston over the middle were shaky to Colston, who in traffic got both hands up but couldn't catch them cleanly. Brees completed only two of seven passes in overtime.
The Saints' won the overtime toss and got the ball at their own 39 thanks to a big return by Pierre Thomas, filling in for an injured Courtney Roby, who also had a big return to start the third quarter that set up the Saints' third touchdown. Brees missed his first three passes, though the first drew a defensive holding penalty that resulted in a first down. On third and 10, Brees hit WR Devery Henderson just short of the first down marker to set up a fourth and inches leap by Pierre Thomas. Booth reviews were initiated on both those plays.
Brees' next incompletion drew a defensive pass interference call when LB Ben Leber pushed down TE David Thomas on a pass that might have been ruled uncatchable had it not landed in bounds at the Vikings 23. Brees then hit WR Robert Meachem for 12 yards to the Vikings 22 on 2nd and 15, after Bush was dropped on a toss right for a loss. On third and three, Brees was hurried out of the pocket and threw to David Thomas' feet to set up Hartley's game winning field goal from 40 yards out.
It certainly wasn't Brees' best day, and he didn't match up to 40-yard old Brett Favre. The Saints' line held up to pressure from DE Jared Allen with left tackle Jermon Bushrod holding him in check, and Brees was harried throughout the night though rarely hit. Brees' biggest gaffe was blowing the center-quarterback exchange with 8:26 left in regulation. It killed a drive on 3rd and 1, coming off Jonathan Vilma's recovery of Bernard Berrian's fumble, Minnesota's sixth. The Saints desperately needed to gain field position and give their beleaguered defense a break but Brees dropped the snap, picked it up and somehow dove ahead for what would be replay ruled inches short of first down yardage. But the Saints had to punt because of that failed third down conversion, and eight plays later the Vikings tied the game at 28.
That was just part of a miserable second half for the Saints offense. In the second half, Saints drive in the second half was more than four plays, and they gained only one first down, though two resulted in touchdowns.
With only 4:58 left and the scored tied, the Saints' next drive was also a three and out after DE Ray Edwards knocked the ball out of Brees' grasp on first down and Jahri Evans' recovered the fumble for an eight yard loss. The Saints' defense, courtesy of Tracy Porter, bailed the offense out again and set them up with seven seconds left near midfield. But Brees' two passes at the end of regulation were well defended by the Vikings, the first batted down at the line. Sum total was 10 fourth quarter plays for the Saints, 17 yards, no first downs and two punts. That fourth quarter swoon nearly cost the Saints the game, only to be saved by the defense forcing three Vikings turnovers in the final 14:21.
CB Tracy Porter missed multiple tackles, poorly played a deep pass to the end zone that threw pass interference. But he made up for it with two huge plays. Porter punched the ball free from WR Bernard Berrian after a pass inside the Saint 10 yard line, which Vilma recovered. Then, on the Vikings' final drive and on Favre's final pass of the season, Porter nearly won the game with his late interception on an ill-advised pass. The Port Allen, Louisiana native returned the pass 26 yards to mid-field before C John Sullivan tackled him and prevented a would be game-winning touchdown return.
Vilma's huge night was highlighted by his late third quarter interception of Favre's pass over the middle. Big credit to Vilma for holding on to that ball despite being blasted by a crossing Fujita. Two Vikings possessions later, Vilma recovered Berrian's fumble at his own five yard line to end another Vikings drive.
Overall, the Saints' defense was stellar. In the final 31:13, the Saints allowed two touchdowns but ended five different Vikings drives with three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. That doesn't include three other fumbles that the Saints' fought for but didn't recover. A big break came for the Saints on the second play of the fourth quarter when DE Will Smith punched the ball free from rookie WR Percy Harvin and after a host of players dove for it, huge but nimble Saints DT Remi Ayodele picked the ball up cleanly and rumbled for five yards to the Vikings 7 yard line.
It was just one of many huge, huge plays by the Saints' defense, which carried the day when the offense couldn't.
Scoring recap:
CB Tracy Porter's rollercoaster night also saw him miss some snaps with a minor undescribed injury... CB Randall Gay gave up some big completions and also left the game temporarily for the locker room at one point with an unspecified injury... WR Courtney Roby left the game late with an ankle injury, and RB Pierre Thomas had to replace him on kickoff returns (with great results)...
A 31-28 overtime victory has earned the team a trip to Super Bowl XLIV.
The Saints had to overcome a remarkable performance from Vikings QB Brett Favre, who was pounded again and again by Saints defenders and yet made several clutch connections to keep his team in the game.
It was Favre, however, who made his final pass of the season a devastating one for his team. With seconds left and already in field goal position, Favre rolled to his right he threw back across the field, where CB Tracy Porter redeemed earlier mistakes by intercepting the pass and almost breaking free on the return.
The game was full of huge plays, none more important than PK Garrett Hartley's overtime 40-yard field goal connection that won the game and ignited a city. Hartley's kick was perfect - a high arcing kick and right down the middle.
Hartley told the press after the game that he had a dream last night that he would win the game winner from 42 yards out on the right hash mark. He was two yards off. Before the kick, he was rehearsing on the sidelines with Saints' kicking consultant John Carney, who was the Saints' placekicker through November this season.
The Vikings, led by 40-year old Favre, made mistake after mistake. Six fumbles, three of which they recovered despite Saints defenders clawing for the ball. Favre's two interceptions late in the game both resulted in no points but they ended potentially game-winning drives.
A late penalty on the Vikings for 12 men in the huddle moved them back five yards, into long distance field goal range, and changed a safe-play diagnosis to a Favre rollout pass - that Porter intercepted.
The Vikings were aided by some difficult-to-swallow penalties early in the game. The penalty discrepancy, 9 for 88 yards against the Saints and 5 for 32 yards on Minnesota, helped offset a 5-1 turnover victory for New Orleans. It is "uncommon", head coach Sean Payton said, for a team to win by only a field goal - much less in overtime - while winning the turnover in such resounding fashion.
The Saints' one turnover was on Reggie Bush near the end of the second quarter. Bush didn't signal for a fair catch and attempted to the field the ball at his own 10 yard line win a Viking in his face. He muffed the ball and the Vikings recovered at the Saint 10 with 1:13 left in the half and the score tied at 14. But two players later, Favre bungled the exchange with RB Adrian Peterson and Scott Fujita fell on the fumble to preserve a halftime tie.
Fujita's huge play at the second half was perhaps set up by his play on the first snap of the game. Favre threw quick and incomplete to TE Vishante Shiancoe on the first offensive snap of the game - and was promptly leveled by edge-rushing Fujita. It set the tone for the Saints' defense, who despite not sacking Favre hit him 15 times. He was regularly on his back, though some of those falls might have come with inspiration from Vlade Divac or Manu Ginobli. Favre at one point limped off the field, only to have his left ankle theatrically re-taped in front of the cameras, and return to play minutes later.
Favre's presence drew some favor from the referees as well, when they called a late hit penalty on Saints DE Bobby McCray on a Vikings end-around to WR Percy Harvin. Favre, who appeared to be blocking on the play, was blasted by McCray, who was flagged incorrectly for "hitting a player out of bounds". That flag was one of a few that raised eyebrows, which also included a personal foul on rookie LB Jonathan Casillas, who blasted Vikings PR Darius Reynaud when Reynaud muffed a fair catch punt return.
RB Adrian Peterson exchanged three touchdown runs for being part of three fumbles. Peterson somehow recovered one of those fumbles in a pile of Saints and his fullback Naufahu Tahi recovered another.
RB Reggie Bush also exchanged a key late touchdown for a muffed punt return. Bush's touchdown was another piece of acrobatic skill, catch a dumpoff pass in the right flat and rotating his body 270 degrees as he was being blasted by S Tyrell Johnson to hold the ball over the pylon. The play, initially ruled out of bounds inches short of the end zone, was challenged by Payton almost immediately and overturned to a touchdown. Bush didn't play a big part in today's game, with only nine touches and his three punt return opportunities bottled up.
Of Bush's 41 total yards from scrimmage, 28 came on a key 3rd and 10 conversion that kept the Saints' second touchdown drive alive. QB Drew Brees found Bush open, scraping across the middle of the field and Bush finished the play by turning and blasting his weight into Vikings S Madieu Williams, who was bowled flat.
Like many players on the Saints, Bush was bottled up today. The Saints won despite only 257 offensive yards to the Vikings' 475. Brees' 197 yards passing was the lowest output of his five career playoff games.
Rookie punter Thomas Morstead helped keep the Saints offense in the game with his second straight enormous playoff performance. The fifth round pick from SMU put on a punting clinic that consistently kept the Vikings' punt returners quiet and their starting field position back in their own territory. Morstead dropped four of his seven punts inside the 20 and averaged 51.3 yards per kick, including a 63-yard moon shot that Reynauld fielded at his own one yard line but returned to his own 10, the longest punt return of the night.
Youthful, inexperienced kicking specialists Morstead and Hartley were huge parts of tonight's game.
Meanwhile, the Vikings defense played as well as it was billed to be. Brees overthrew more than one open receiver and was not sharp especially on some key late throws that could have won the game in regulation. Two key throws to WR Marques Colston over the middle were shaky to Colston, who in traffic got both hands up but couldn't catch them cleanly. Brees completed only two of seven passes in overtime.
The Saints' won the overtime toss and got the ball at their own 39 thanks to a big return by Pierre Thomas, filling in for an injured Courtney Roby, who also had a big return to start the third quarter that set up the Saints' third touchdown. Brees missed his first three passes, though the first drew a defensive holding penalty that resulted in a first down. On third and 10, Brees hit WR Devery Henderson just short of the first down marker to set up a fourth and inches leap by Pierre Thomas. Booth reviews were initiated on both those plays.
Brees' next incompletion drew a defensive pass interference call when LB Ben Leber pushed down TE David Thomas on a pass that might have been ruled uncatchable had it not landed in bounds at the Vikings 23. Brees then hit WR Robert Meachem for 12 yards to the Vikings 22 on 2nd and 15, after Bush was dropped on a toss right for a loss. On third and three, Brees was hurried out of the pocket and threw to David Thomas' feet to set up Hartley's game winning field goal from 40 yards out.
It certainly wasn't Brees' best day, and he didn't match up to 40-yard old Brett Favre. The Saints' line held up to pressure from DE Jared Allen with left tackle Jermon Bushrod holding him in check, and Brees was harried throughout the night though rarely hit. Brees' biggest gaffe was blowing the center-quarterback exchange with 8:26 left in regulation. It killed a drive on 3rd and 1, coming off Jonathan Vilma's recovery of Bernard Berrian's fumble, Minnesota's sixth. The Saints desperately needed to gain field position and give their beleaguered defense a break but Brees dropped the snap, picked it up and somehow dove ahead for what would be replay ruled inches short of first down yardage. But the Saints had to punt because of that failed third down conversion, and eight plays later the Vikings tied the game at 28.
That was just part of a miserable second half for the Saints offense. In the second half, Saints drive in the second half was more than four plays, and they gained only one first down, though two resulted in touchdowns.
With only 4:58 left and the scored tied, the Saints' next drive was also a three and out after DE Ray Edwards knocked the ball out of Brees' grasp on first down and Jahri Evans' recovered the fumble for an eight yard loss. The Saints' defense, courtesy of Tracy Porter, bailed the offense out again and set them up with seven seconds left near midfield. But Brees' two passes at the end of regulation were well defended by the Vikings, the first batted down at the line. Sum total was 10 fourth quarter plays for the Saints, 17 yards, no first downs and two punts. That fourth quarter swoon nearly cost the Saints the game, only to be saved by the defense forcing three Vikings turnovers in the final 14:21.
CB Tracy Porter missed multiple tackles, poorly played a deep pass to the end zone that threw pass interference. But he made up for it with two huge plays. Porter punched the ball free from WR Bernard Berrian after a pass inside the Saint 10 yard line, which Vilma recovered. Then, on the Vikings' final drive and on Favre's final pass of the season, Porter nearly won the game with his late interception on an ill-advised pass. The Port Allen, Louisiana native returned the pass 26 yards to mid-field before C John Sullivan tackled him and prevented a would be game-winning touchdown return.
Vilma's huge night was highlighted by his late third quarter interception of Favre's pass over the middle. Big credit to Vilma for holding on to that ball despite being blasted by a crossing Fujita. Two Vikings possessions later, Vilma recovered Berrian's fumble at his own five yard line to end another Vikings drive.
Overall, the Saints' defense was stellar. In the final 31:13, the Saints allowed two touchdowns but ended five different Vikings drives with three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. That doesn't include three other fumbles that the Saints' fought for but didn't recover. A big break came for the Saints on the second play of the fourth quarter when DE Will Smith punched the ball free from rookie WR Percy Harvin and after a host of players dove for it, huge but nimble Saints DT Remi Ayodele picked the ball up cleanly and rumbled for five yards to the Vikings 7 yard line.
It was just one of many huge, huge plays by the Saints' defense, which carried the day when the offense couldn't.
Scoring recap:
- The Vikings moved methodically in 10 plays covering 80 yards, the final 19 rumbled in by Peterson, who caught the Saints' losing containment on the right side of the defense.
- The Saints' responded with a seven play, 76 yard drive capped by a beautifully-executed screen pass to Pierre Thomas, who as he has done so many times, rumbled down the right sideline with help from countless downfield blockers. Thomas finally cut inside and spiked the ball in the end zone for the tying score from 38 yards out.
- The Vikings moved downfield again, with Favre weathering a storm of hard hits. The Saints' defense was called for three penalties that granted two first downs and 25 yards. Favre fired a rocket to Sidney Rice at the front of the end zone for the score from five yards out.
- The teams exchanged punts and the Saints' tied the score at 14 when Brees drifted back and hit a leaping Devery Henderson in the back of the end zone from nine yards out. Probably Brees' best pass of the night as his accuracy and effectiveness deteriorated.
- The Saints' opened second half scoring with a four play drive the started at the Viking 37 thanks to Courtney Roby's return. Brees hit TE David Thomas for 17 and then three straight runs by Pierre Thomas finally resulted in his nine yard scoring plunge.
- The Vikings came right back and responded with a nine play, 80-yard drive where Favre hit Shiancoe for big gains of 26, 20 and 21 yards to set up Peterson's one-yard plunge to tie the game at 21.
- Two Saint punts and two Viking turnovers later, the Saints cashed in on a three-play, seven yard drive on a short pass to Reggie Bush, who twisted into the end zone.
- Favre moved the Vikings from their own 43 for the tying touchdown, set up by a pass interference call on CB Tracy Porter in the end zone. Peterson punched it in from two yards out.
- The Saints' took the opening possession of overtime into field goal range for Hartley, who nailed it from 40 yards out. The FOX network had just shown a replay of Hartley missing a game-clinching field goal in Week 16.
CB Tracy Porter's rollercoaster night also saw him miss some snaps with a minor undescribed injury... CB Randall Gay gave up some big completions and also left the game temporarily for the locker room at one point with an unspecified injury... WR Courtney Roby left the game late with an ankle injury, and RB Pierre Thomas had to replace him on kickoff returns (with great results)...
Game Day
The biggest game in franchise history is today.
The second NFC championship game in the team's 43 year history, the second in the past four seasons, is the first the team has ever hosted.
The opponent is the Vikings, the first team the Saints franchise ever faced in postseason action in 1987. The Saints were embarrassed in that game, 44-10.
Both teams have good injury news, with the Saints reporting that TE Jeremy Shockey will play and the Vikings reporting that rookie WR Percy Harvin will play as well.
Personal guests of the Saints' owner Tom Benson for the game include former owner John Mecom, former US President George HW Bush, a number of religious clergy, and four of the six Joint Chiefs of Staff.
UPDATED: RB Deuce McAllister will serve as honorary captain. Also joining the Saints on the sideline is another great of the Haslett and Payton eras, special teams dynamo Steve Gleason.
The second NFC championship game in the team's 43 year history, the second in the past four seasons, is the first the team has ever hosted.
The opponent is the Vikings, the first team the Saints franchise ever faced in postseason action in 1987. The Saints were embarrassed in that game, 44-10.
Both teams have good injury news, with the Saints reporting that TE Jeremy Shockey will play and the Vikings reporting that rookie WR Percy Harvin will play as well.
Personal guests of the Saints' owner Tom Benson for the game include former owner John Mecom, former US President George HW Bush, a number of religious clergy, and four of the six Joint Chiefs of Staff.
UPDATED: RB Deuce McAllister will serve as honorary captain. Also joining the Saints on the sideline is another great of the Haslett and Payton eras, special teams dynamo Steve Gleason.
NFC Championship Pre-Game Inactives
Inactive for the Saints are: WR Adrian Arrington, rookie TE Darnell Dinkins, CB Malcolm Jenkins (hamstring), TE Tory Humphrey, G Jamar Nesbit, DE Paul Spicer, LB Anthony Waters.
The Saints are gambling big-time that TE Jeremy Shockey is healthy enough with foot and knee injuries to make it through the game. With Dinkins and Humphrey both in street clothes, only Shockey and David Thomas remain at available tight end. Should Shockey not be able to finish, the Saints would be forced to remove all 2TE formations from their lineup, or try to put 5'11, 237 pound FB Kyle Eckel there.
Rookie CB Jenkins was the only player in doubt this week with injuries who ended up being unavailable. Shockey, FS Darren Sharper (knee) and WR Robert Meachem (ankle) were also limited but are active and expected to start.
QB Chase Daniel is dressed as the emergency quarterback for the Saints.
Inactive for the Vikings are C Jon Cooper, DT Letroy Guion, WR Jaymar Johnson, LB J Leman, TE Garrett Mills, CB Karl Paymah, RB Albert Young. QB Sage Rosenfels is dressed as the emergency quarterback. Rookie WR Percy Harvin, despite suffering from migraine headaches this week and missing practice, is active.
The Saints are gambling big-time that TE Jeremy Shockey is healthy enough with foot and knee injuries to make it through the game. With Dinkins and Humphrey both in street clothes, only Shockey and David Thomas remain at available tight end. Should Shockey not be able to finish, the Saints would be forced to remove all 2TE formations from their lineup, or try to put 5'11, 237 pound FB Kyle Eckel there.
Rookie CB Jenkins was the only player in doubt this week with injuries who ended up being unavailable. Shockey, FS Darren Sharper (knee) and WR Robert Meachem (ankle) were also limited but are active and expected to start.
QB Chase Daniel is dressed as the emergency quarterback for the Saints.
Inactive for the Vikings are C Jon Cooper, DT Letroy Guion, WR Jaymar Johnson, LB J Leman, TE Garrett Mills, CB Karl Paymah, RB Albert Young. QB Sage Rosenfels is dressed as the emergency quarterback. Rookie WR Percy Harvin, despite suffering from migraine headaches this week and missing practice, is active.
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