 |
 |
|
|
Eye ON THE SAINTS |
|
June 2009
Categories
More WWL-TV Blogs
|
November 2006 ArchivesDennis Georgatos of the Mercury News says the 49ers want the Saints to pass and pass often noting that they are only 2-3 during Brees' streak of 300-yard passing games. ...The Sports Network's Scott Garbarini says the Saints have been both lucky and good this season. ...With fives games left in the season, the Saints are in the driver's seat, according to Neal McCready of the Mobile Register. Read more. ...Frank Gore, second in the NFL in rushing yards, remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints. Read more. ...Mike Nolan, son of Saints former head coach Dick Nolan, said he remembers visiting New Orleans when the "Aints" were in the stands. Read more. ...Marques Colston participated in a few light drills, but was listed as questionable on the team's injury report. His status included an asterik that indicated that he did not practice. Colston is expected to be 'day to day' and did not play last week against the Falcons. He was injured early in the loss to Cincinnati. ...Saints starting tight end Ernie Conwell was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season, because he was unable to come back from a knee injury as quickly as coaches had hoped. Conwell suffered a medial meniscus tear in the Oct. 14 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. After sitting out several weeks, he played in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, but for only about a dozen plays. ...Every year there's a couple of teams that make waves and turn heads as the playoff race heats, according to Bill Williamson, a sports columnist for MSNBC.com. But who would've thought it'd be the Saints and 49ers? Read more. ...Once again, the Saints have reached 'top ten' status in the league, according to ESPN.com. The team had recently fallen out with back-to-back losses, but their trouncing of the Falcons has pushed the team to tenth -- one spot behind Denver, one ahead of Cincinnati. Read more. ...Head coach Sean Payton said his team had recovered some much needed momentum going into the stretch run of their schedule, but that they still had to win more games to qualify for the postseason. Read more. ...The Saints game with the Cowboys will be moved to national television on Sunday, Dec. 10. The move is part of the league's new flex policy that allows attractive games to be selected for the national spotlight late in the year. ...Cris Schmidt of the Daily Texan says no one in the NFL deserves the league MVP award more than Drew Brees, at least through 11 games. ...Michael Vick gave some heckling fans the finger after the loss to the Saints . He later apologized. ...Troy Johnson of the McClatchy Newspaper group says don't blame Michael Vick for the Falcons' shortcomings, especially in Sunday's loss to the Saints. ...
Ralph Malbrough says he's happy when the Saints are catching Hail Mary passes and the Falcons are squabbling. ...Head Coach Sean Payton said he held Marques Colston out of the game after watching him in a pre-game drill. Payton said Colston improved a lot during the week, but that he was worried that if he aggravated the injury that he could miss 2-3 weeks, so he decided to keep him out. ...FOX broadcasters said Sunday that the Saints game at New York against the Giants on Christmas Eve has been switched to a 3 p.m. kickoff as part of the league's 'flex' scheduling. It is the second game switched this year by the league. The game was originally scheduled for Noon in New York. ...The Saints were the choice of all but three of ESPN's experts for this weekend's game with the Falcons. ...Unlike the season opener, this time Paul Newberry says there is no fanfare leading up to the Saints game with the Falcons, just two desperate teams looking for a win. ...NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS -- New Orleans Saints: DOUBTFUL: S Bryan Scott (Foot). QUESTIONABLE: RB Aaron Stecker (Ankle); CB Fred Thomas (Thumb); WR Marques Colston (Ankle). Atlanta Falcons: OUT: CB Jason Webster (Groin). QUESTIONABLE: CB Jimmy Williams (Ankle). ...The Sports Network says Sunday's game between a Falcons team that has lost three straight and a Saints team that has lost three of four could be a lifeline for the winner and a lethal blow to the loser. ...From The Associated Press: From The Associated Press: FLOWERY BRANCH, GA -- Defensive end John Abraham, who has played only two games for the Atlanta Falcons, returned to practice today (Wednesday) and may take the field for a crucial contest against the New Orleans Saints. ...From The Advocate in Baton Rouge: As great as the Saints offense has been this year, ranking 25th in red-zone efficiency is going to hurt you more often than not. Read more. ...Kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff signed with the Saints, according to The Harlan Tribune, and is expected to play this Sunday against the Falcons. Read more. ...Longtime special teams standout and locker-room leader Fred McAfee, 38, returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since being cut shortly after the Saints returned to New Orleans in late August from training camp in Jackson, Miss. Read more. ...From the sports section of Monsters and Critics: Drew Brees put together the most prolific individual passing display in New Orleans Saints history when he racked up a whopping 510 yards through the air in Sunday's game with the Cincinnati Bengals. It was also the standout quarterback's fourth consecutive outing of over 300 yards. Impressed, you say? Well, the Saints can't be too blown away by those gaudy numbers, cons... Copper's caught ten passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, but most Saints fans will identify him as the guy who gave up the game clinching fumble against the Steelers. But coach Sean Payton says he won't lose faith in his receiver. Read more. ...Before I make my picks for this week, let me say I think the trend started by San Francisco's Mike Nolan of wearing a suit on the sidelines is fantastic. Jack Del Rio also wore on Monday night and he made Giants head coach Tom Coughlin look like a retiree heading to the early bird special in south Florida. Coaches in suits look smarter, more in charge and in total control. And, it has a slimming effect as well; or so I'm told. >> Continue reading: Forecast: Trust me, Coach Payton, buy a suit! Actually, according to Atlanta Journal Constitution writer Terence Moore former Saints head coach Jim Mora agreed with a radio announcer that Michael Vick is a 'coach killer' and he lamented Vick's inability to pass and what that may do to his son's coaching future. ...As expected, the Saints have dropped in the power rankings. They are now 13th in the latest ESPN rankings and their defense, not the turnovers, is getting most of the blame. ...Head coach Sean Payton said that Marques Colston has a sprained ankle and his injury will be treated and evaluated daily. He gave no indication if it would have him out for a game or several games or if he might even play next week. ...From the Advocate: Bush’s 55th catch broke the record of 54 set by Tony Galbreath in 1976 and matched in 1998 by Cam Cleeland and last week by Marques Colston, who caught his 54th pass last week. Read more ...The Saints have created a turnover filled blaze that is threatening to burn their season to the ground. The Saints are -9 in turnover ratio. Read more. ...The recent rash of turnovers and having the team shoot itself in the foot reminds Kevin Foote of the Louisiana Sports Bureau of a team he used to know - old Saints teams. ...An obviously downbeat Saints coach Sean Payton harped on the theme of turnovers in the post game. He said that considering last week's problems with fumbles and this week's problem with interceptions and dropped passes, that no one part of the offense was immune from the problems they are having. 'I think our guys are playing with effort and energy, but we're making too many mistakes,' he said. 'The only thing I know how to do now is t... CBS announcer Randy Cross near the end of the Saints loss to the Bengals. 'When you run for close to 100 yards and pass for over 500 yards you have to do something monumental to screw that up.' Cross was commenting on the Saints total offense of 595 yards in the loss to Cincinnati. ...Kevin Kelly of the Cincinnati Enquirer says Drew Brees is the biggest reason for the Saints success so far this season. ...Sean Payton's hot start and makeover of the Saints is very similar to what Bengals coach Marvin Lewis did in Cincinnati. ...Writer Larry McClatchy says the Bengals are having their troubles and they bring them to the Superdome today. ...
All this week the local media, from Jim Henderson to John DeShazier, have been saying how the Saints better stop turning the ball over if they want to make the playoffs. Of course that's true, but not turning the ball over is only half of the equation. Read more. ...
From the Associated Press: Cincinnati has Chad Johnson. New Orleans has Joe Horn. Both have scored a lot of touchdowns and been in trouble with the NFL because of how they chose to celebrate them. ...From the Associated Press: The Saints listed six people on their injury report, but only Ernie Conwell did not practice on Wednesday. ...The two grew up in Miami, went to the same high school (graduating two years apart), hang out together in the off-season and have a mutual respect for one another. That's why Chad's taking it easy on Mike this week. And vice-versa for Mr. McKenzie, too. Read more. ...In the upcoming battle of 'Who Dats?' and 'Who Deys?' one Cincinnati Post writer says the game will feature one thing above all else: plenty of offense. Read more. ...Dale McKee of the Laurel Leader-Call says things seem to be going almost 'too good' for the Saints but he's loving every minute of it. ...The rock band Green Day says the the Saints return to the Superdome was the inspiration for their recently-released single, 'The Saints Are Coming.' ...From the Associated Press: He's thrown for 15 touchdowns. His seven interceptions are higher than he'd like, although several of those were tipped by intended receivers. Brees could rub his achievements in the face of doubters. Instead, he downplays talk of being a leading contender for league MVP. Read more. ...Despite Sunday's disappointing loss to the less-than-average Steelers, the Saints dropped only spot in ESPN's NFL Power Rankings, falling to ninth overall. They've been in the Top 10 since week 7. Read more. ...After missing the last two games with a pulled groin, wide receive Joe Horn said he may not be 100% just yet, but he's ready to get back on the field and contribute to the team. Read more. ...
From the Associated Press: Coach Sean Payton had warned last week that the Saints were living on "borrowed time," that their pattern of turning the ball over more than they had taken it away would catch up with them. Read more. ...Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said Sunday that the Saints looked like the Steelers have all season long. ...Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Reggie Bush is dropping the marketing agent who helped him get $50 million in endorsement deals prior to signing a contract with the Saints. ...While the defense was gashed repeatedly like an eight-year-old first learning how to ride a bike, Drew Brees and Marques Colston have shown that the Saints offense is definitely legit. Read more. ...Several emotional pre-game speeches by Steelers players helped fuel their strong effort against the Saints. ...The touchdown fumble recovery by Deuce McAllister was not intentional and the Saints narrowly averted a fourth turnover, according to the players involved. After the game Drew Brees said the snap from center Jeff Faine 'stuck in the ground' and rolled back to Deuce McAllister. Brees said he didn't even know the ball had been snapped and said he was looking non-chalant because he thought Faine still had it. Deuce McAllister said... Advocate sports writer Sheldon Mickles grades the Saints and gives the team a high GPA with his half-season assessment. Read more. ...With the Saints halfway through their season, The Forecast decided to look back at some of the questions he raised prior to the season opener. Read more. ...Jim Henderson is among those who believe that Reggie Bush will be just fine. And he weighs in on why the Saints team that struggled in preseason is not playing like gangbusters. ...Steelers linebacker Joey Porter has guaranteed Steeler fans a win over the Saints Sunday, according to what he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette. ...Sean Payton said he understands that it's the media's job to look ahead and even talk about playoff scenarios, but he wasn't ready to do so during his post game chat with reporters Wednesday. 'I'm sure the playoff discussion is rolling along,' Payton said. 'This is the ninth game of the season ... There's a time when you begin to discuss that ... but I don't think the time is yet. It's halftime.' 'I can only control the message... Clark Judge of CBSSportsline.com ranks the best stories of the season thus far, and--sure enough--the Saints have topped his list. Read more. ...
Brees called his recent NFC offensive player of the week award a "team award," and said he did not see it as a particularly special honor for himself. ...So far the Saints have gotten away with a negative turnover margin, leading their division with a 6-2 record despite losing the ball three more times than they have taken it from opponents. ...NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS -- Saints: OUT: TE Scott Garbarini of the Sports Network can't stop gushing about the job that Sean Payton is doing with the Saints. Garbarini says he's well on the way to Coach of the Year hardware. ...From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: For all their quiet confidence, the Saints realize the outcome of Sunday's game at Heinz Field will provide a true measure of their turnaround. Read more. ...
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Losing too many games often means a loss of jobs, and that is what coach Bill Cowher suggested will happen when the Steelers take the field again Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Read more. ...From starting seventh-round pick Marques Colston, cutting certain players and drafting up interesting offensive schemes for his players to work around, Sean Payton is well on his way to winning Coach of the Year, according to Dan Pompei of The Sporting News. Read more. ...Sports Illustrated's Peter King says while Peyton Manning will probably end up winning the award anyway, Drew Brees deserves plenty of kudos for the Saints turnaround this season. Not only that, but King says Colston and Jahri Evans are in his top three year 'Rookie of the Year' candidates. And as if that weren't enough...Sean Payton gets King's endorsement for 'Coach of the Year' while Mickey Loomis earns high praise for 'Exec... At 6-2, head coach Sean Payton is happy to see some of the lesser known guys on the roster contribute to the team and make a significant impact. Read more. ...
Contributing writer and Saints fan Ralph Malbrough said he loves a big Saints win even though it sometimes leads to inane discussions. ...The Saints big bounce back against the Bucs has the top sports media web sites believing. ESPN has them up a spot to eighth and says the league definitely has a "top8." Head coach Sean Payton made several comments about Reggie Bush at his Monday press conference, including saying that he is Bush's 'number one fan.' 'I see the Reggie meter and it’s silly. The meter is 6-2. He’s a big reason why we’re winning. There’s some things he’d like to be doing, but look at what he and Deuce saw yesterday was some tough fronts. The guys are putting the team in front of their individual accomplishme... Drew Brees is one of five nominees for ESPN's Sunday Stud award. Also nominated were Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the Jaguars' defense and Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker. Read more. ...Drew Brees was nearly perfect in the first half and had the Bucs reeling, according to the Tampa Tribune's Ira Kaufman. ...From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Reggie Bush had the best game of his brief NFL career the last time the New Orleans Saints played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now the heralded rookie will try to help his club rebound from its worst performance of the season, when the two NFC South rivals get together again this Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Bush, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick of the 200...
The thing that makes the NFL great can also drive you crazy. That 'thing' is having a bye week between games. In the Saints case, it’s a horrific loss to Baltimore. On Sunday, I heard ESPN's John Clayton say the Saints' bubble had burst and while they were improved, they'd be lucky to win seven or eight games. Read more. ...Courtesy of NewOrleansSaints.com: The former Hofstra standout, who was second in the NFL with a 93.3 yards-per-game average, hauled in 18 catches during the month with 16 resulting in a first-down or touchdown (88.9 percent). Colston averaged 20.7 yards per catch in October, the highest average in the league among players with at least 15 receptions. Read... The 65-yard punt return by Reggie Bush that sealed the Saints win over Tampa still haunts the Bucs special teams according to Katherine Smith of the Tampa Tribune. ...Reggie Bush, Joe Horn and Jammal Brown all key cogs for the offense, all sat out practice with injuries Wednesday and all were listed as 'questionable.' ...From The Jackson Star-Herald: Longtime New Orleans Saints radio broadcaster Jim Henderson told the Touchdown Club of Jackson that new head coach Sean Payton has had a "cleansing effect" since his arrival as head coach. Read more. ...Ravens' linebacker Bart Scott is denying that he tried to hurt Reggie Bush on a play where the rookie hurt his ankle. Scott says he has 'too much respect' for Bush to do such a thing, but does contend Bush had tried to cheap shot him earlier. ...A guy who nearly wasn't drafted is outshining all of the NFL's other rookies so far, according to Charles Bricker of the South Florida Sentinel. ... |
|
|
 |
|