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Eye ON THE SAINTS |
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June 2009
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January 2007 ArchivesThe Miami Dolphins were unwilling to sign Drew Brees for big money because they doubted he was fully recovered enough to play in 2006. ...
A Los Angeles writer says that the California city needs to look somewhere else for a team, because the Saints aren't going anywhere, anytime soon. ...San Jose Mercury News columnist Anne Killion says the Super Bowl should return to New Orleans - and soon. ...
From the Associated Press: IRVING, TX -- San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips today interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys about replacing retired coach Bill Parcells. Phillips is a former head coach at Denver and Buffalo who also had interim stints in New Orleans and Atlanta. He says he had a "very encompassing talk" with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones also plans to talk to San Francis...
A Chicago televison station's web site says the furor over alleged bad behavior by Bears fans is still a hot topic. Chicago's mayor even called the actions 'deplorable.' ...Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports: According to multiple sources in an ongoing Yahoo! Sports investigation, nearly $280,000 in cash, rent and gifts was allegedly given to Bush and his family. Read more. ...CBS' affiliate in Chicago says Saints fans received some rough treatment from Bears' fans. ...The Sports Network's Scott Garbarini says things look bright for the Saints future and he says forget about the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship and remember the rest of the ride. ...Eric Narcisse of the Daily Advertiser in Lafayette says Bush's point was to the Saints sideline to fire them up and not back at a trailing Brian Urlacher. He also says if you think that turned the tide, you weren't paying attention. ...ESPN.com's Wright Thompson said shortly after the game, fans felt like they'd lost their best friend, but soon after they realized what the team and season had given to them, a chance to forget their problems for a while. ...Among the highlights of the Saints 2007 schedule are road games at Indianapolis and at Chicago. The remainder of the opponents are below. Dates and times TBA. Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans. Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, ... Sean Payton said he is wrestling with his play calling on a key third quarter drive that ended in a missed field goal by Billy Cundiff. On the drive, with the Saints trailing 16-14, Mike Karney had just ripped off a 12-yard run to the 29. Payton said that maybe he should have tried to punch it a bit closer, realizing that a field goal would give them the lead and that 47 yards was a bit out of John Carney's range. ...
CBS Sportsline's Mike Freeman says the Saints and their star rookie are talented, but immature. ...Considering what many New Orleanians are still dealing with following Katrina, writer Wayne Drehs says the Saints realize they have little to complain about though they did feel like they missed on several opportunities to seize the game. ...Deron Snyder of the Fort Myers News Press says despite being so close, the Saints are still one of only six NFL teams never to reach the Super Bowl. ...Head coach Sean Payton said Reggie Bush came to the sideline right after his flip into the end zone and dance and told the coach that 'he shouldn't have done that.' Payton said it was an error in judgment but that Bush was just excited. Bush later agreed. Talking to the media he said it was an error but that he wasn't going to dwell on it, but 'move on.' ...Sean Payton refused to blame the weather conditions, saying that his main concerns were the footing and wind and he thought that both held up well. He said the footing was not a concern. His sentiment wasn't echoed by CBS analyst Boomer Esiason who said the fact that the Bears worked outside in sub freezing weather all week and the Saints worked out inside made a difference. ...
Sean Payton, in his post game press conference said that the third quarter drive that ended with a missed long field goal was likely more of a turning point than the safety because he felt the team had some momentum at that point and had made a good drive. ...Giving the Saints a slight edge on offense when the Bears play D, but giving the Bears a slight advantage on the flip side but a larger advantage on special teams Sportsline comes out with a slight edge overall for the home team. ...Chicago Sun Times writer Mike Mulligan talks about the huge role rookies have played in the success of the Saints and Bears. ...Chicago Sun Times writer Rick Telander profiles Superdome director Doug Thornton's harrowing days after Katrina and his oversight in getting the arena rebuilt. ...The Chicago Bears finished with the best record in the NFC and yet it was always somebody else who was the hot story, writes John Mullin of the Chicago Tribune. Now the Saints, "America's New Team," seems to be taking most of the attention and admiration from around the country. And the Bears feel slighted... >> Continue reading: Bears feel disrespected, overlooked In an exclusive photo gallery for the Chicago Sun-Times, the newspaper lists 41 reasons why the "Monsters of the Midway" will crush the Black & Gold Boys. Read more. ...The four-time Pro Bowler practiced this week, running some pass routes with the first-team offense. But Horn isn't sure coach Sean Payton will clear him to play. Read more. ...Deuce returned from knee injury to reclaim his role as starting running back, with a team-high 1,057 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2006. Read more. ...Former Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert sings the praises of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and the rest of the boys, and his plans on wearing a dress if the Saints make the Super Bowl. Read more. ...From the Associated Press: He is the poster boy for the mean, stingy and overpowering Chicago defense. The only problem is Brian Urlacher and his fellow Bears haven't been all that mean, stingy or overpowering lately. To get the franchise to its first Super Bowl in 21 years, Urlacher and his teammates will need to slow the league's top-ranked offense that New Orleans brings to Sunday's NFC championship game. >> Continue reading: Urlacher needs to be the monster in the middle
From the head coaches to the Aints, the various starting quarterbacks and poor records throughout the years, the New Orleans Saints have left an indelible mark in the city. Read more. ...Mickey Spagnola, a blogger on the Dallas Cowboys website, says Sean Payton changed the way the town--and the rest of the country--now looks at the once beleaguered franchise. Read more. ...Don Banks, Peter King, Michael Silver, Dr. Z and Tim Layden are backing the Saints. Nunyo Demasio and Jeff Chadiha are siding with the Bears. Read more. ...Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley says that only people living in Chicago are rooting for the Bears and he says while you should pull for the New Orleans team you should also remember the city and that its battle is nowhere near won. ...Before I get to the game, let me try and calm your fears about the weather. In 1989, the 10-6 San Francisco 49ers went into Soldier Field and pounded the Bears 28-3 in the NFC Championship. I couldn't find the temperature from that day, but I did find a forecast that said it would be in the 30's at kickoff with temperatures expected to dip into the 20's. So here, weather won't be a problem. >> Continue reading: The Forecast: One win from historic trip Like it or not, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti says the Bears, who are normally celebrated nationally, are now the decided villain in the Saints fairy tale season and that the only way they can avoid that is to win big. ...After angrily saying earlier in the week that he 'didn't root for any team,' former Saints and Bears coach Mike Ditka said he always roots for the Bears and would do so again this week. ...CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco says that without Mike Karney's dirty work, Deuce and Reggie would have less room to run. ...Dave Fleming addresses several issues, issue number six is where he says the Saints need to cop a mean streak to continue on. ...
Realfootball365.com thinks it at least needs to be in the conversation alongside the 1980 Miracle on Ice. ...At least one Chicago-area newspaper and web site has had its fill of both Rex Grossman and Mike Ditka. ...
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT CHICAGO BEARS -- Saints: QUESTIONABLE: WR Of the six out of eight ESPN experts (not including John Clayton who chose the Bears), who have registered their picks all have chosen the Saints over the Bears. Two guys still have to chose. ...Mike Ditka, who was fired by both the Saints and Bears called Bears' chairman Michael McCaskey a 'snake' and Saints owner Tom Benson 'stupid' in an article in the Chicago Sun-Times. ...David Haugh of Chicagosports.com, says says calling the Saints a Cinderella story and comparing them to the NCAA's George Mason is doing a disservice to a very good team. ...Figuring that something mystical has been helping the Saints, some in Chicago want to reverse the hex by putting some voodoo on the Saints. ...Sports Illustrated writer Tim Layden says more than just a feel-good story, the Saints are a good team with a legitimate shot to continue on winning. ...For all the hype the reopening of the Superdome has gotten, the Saints have done much better on the road this year, which could be a good thing come Sunday. ...CBS Sportsline's experts feel Chicago will beat the Saints but just 'bearly.' ...Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, Sean Payton and Deuce McAllister, the featured speakers on Wednesday's press conferences all agreed on one thing, weather wouldn't bother them. ...CHICAGO (AP) -- It's been 19 years since Chicago Bears fans have seen their team reach heights such as the N-F-C championship game. ...Sean Payton said that Joe Horn, Mark Campbell and Omar Stoutmire are all listed as questionable. Campbell didn't practice, Horn did take some reps and Stoutmire worked. ...ESPN's John Clayton gives several reasons he believes the Bears will bet the Saints. ..."It" is such a hard thing to define, writes Peter Schrager of Fox Sports.com. Certainly Tom Brady has "it" qualifications, but what about the remaining quarterbacks in the playoffs? Read more. ...The Bears have a large advantage on special teams while each team's offense has a slight edge over the opposing defenses. But CBS Sportsline says the ultimate key to the game will be Rex Grossman's performance. Read more. ...CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco says the AFC Champion is no automatic winner in the Super Bowl. ...Rex Grossman believes he belongs in the elite 'final four' of NFL quarterbacks and he feels criticism of him is far too harsh. ...Dave Hoekstra of the Chicago Sun-Times say those who dismiss the Saints role in New Orleans recovery are incorrect. ...Greg Cote of the Miami Herald says a Super Bowl featuring the Saints and Colts would be the jackpot for media folk anxious to find compelling storylines for the big game. Two of Cote's biggest reasons to root for such a matchup? 1. No Chicago Bears Mike Ditka tells the Chicago Tribune that although he respects both teams, he never roots for anyone. That could come as a surprise to many since he had so many great years for the Bears, but, according to the article, describes the three years in New Orleans as the worst of his life. ...Chicago Sun-Times writer Brad Biggs says the Bears defense is not concerned - at least publicly - about the Saints offense. ...The feel-good story of the Saints will ultimately do nothing to truly impact the city of New Orleans, according to Randy Shaw, who writes for Beyond Chron, an online newspaper located in San Francisco. Read more. ...Sports Illustrated's Nunyo Demasio says "Good Rex" will show up and proceed to light up the Saints' secondary like a Christmas tree. Read more. ...From The Associated Press: Watch out New Orleans. Your ride is over. That's the message Illinois Senator Barack Obama has for Saints football fans when the sweetheart team from New Orleans comes to Chicago on Sunday for the NFC championships. A gleeful Obama proclaimed Chicago will go to the Superbowl. He warned that the Saints' "fairytale ends" when they play the Bears. But a spokesman for Lou... One viewer wrote in to say fans can buy tickets for this weekend's matchup against the Chicago Bears by purchasing them on an exchange site through the team's website. ...Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z despite a glaring weakness in the secondary, the Saints will beat the Bears. His co-hort, Nuno Demasio does not hold that opinion. ...Sean Payton said during his weekly press conference that the team wants to work on some of the problems they had early on before turning their attention to the next game. Among the things he wants to work on: Settling for field goals rather than touchdowns early. FOX Sports Jimmy Johnson , a former Super Bowl coach himself, thinks the Saints will pressure Rex Grossman Sunday. He didn't pick a winner - yet. He also thinks the Colts have a good chance to top the Pats. ...Take the ESPN poll about the NFC Championship. currently the Saints are slight favorites, though Drew Brees is a runaway choice over Rex Grossman when questioned which quarterback you'd rather have. ...Chicago Sun-Times writer Neil Hayes has 10 reasons the Saints could beat the Bears. ...There are a limited number of tickets to the NFC Championship game that will go on sale Tuesday. It won't be easy to get them, but you can try. ...CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco says fans in New Orleans can say they've seen it all now - well almost - he figures that will come if the Saints can win one or two more. ...Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer says it's hard to beat the Saints 1-2 running back combo of power (Deuce) and speed (Reggie) and he said Saturday that spelled defeat. ...Donte' Stallworth had a big play in the playoff game against the Saints, but he he found watching the team that let him go celebrate a bitter pill to swallow, according to an interview with Ashley Fox of the Philadelphia Inquirer. ...After the game, Sean Payton talked about his happiness for the fans. 'The fans who hav followed this team for so long have been through a lot of thick and thin, more thin than thick. It’s gratifying to get them fired up about their team. Everyting that’s gone on here in the last year and a half and all the recovery we still have to go…this is a bright spot. We said we wanted to be out front in a leadership role and we’re not af... Sean Payton, when asked about his team's relative lack of experience with the upcoming NFC Championship game, said, 'a lot has changed around here. The curse of the Dome...this is a different team.' ...As if Saturday's Saints-Eagles game couldn't any more hype or backstory added to it: it turns out Tom Dempsey played four years for the Eagles following his time with the Saints. He missed the last four weeks of the regular season because of suspension, but nose tackle Hollis Thomas says he's ready to get back on the field and continue performing at such a high level, according to Tom Weir of USA Today. Read more. ...Playoff games are a rare thing around here and even though we'll all be nervous as hell, don't forget to savor all 60 minutes of it, Saints fans. Read more. ...On Thursday's Eyewitness Morning News, Eric Paulsen read a poem by Kenner resident--and Saints fan--Don LeCocq. "Our Saints, Our City, Our Soul" Out of the fire FOX Sports Michael David Smith has some suggestions for the Saints on how to utilize Reggie Bush Saturday night. Smith thinks Bush is possibly the most explosive player in the league. ...PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -- Eagles: OUT: CB Lito Sheppard (Elbow). QUESTIONABLE: RB Thomas Tapeh (Knee). PROBABLE: LB Dedrick Roper (Knee); RB Ryan Moats (Ankle); LB Omar Gaither (Shoulder); T Tra Thomas (Knee); LB Jeremiah Trotter (Knee); S Michael Lewis (Knee); RB Brian Westbrook (Knee). Saints: QUESTIONABLE: WR Joe Horn (Groin); S Omar Stoutmire (Knee). ...In a point/counter-point column for the Philadephia Inquirer, Natalie Pompilio said the Saints deserve to win this game and advance in the playoffs. Read more. ...Deuce McAllister took an ESPN.com columnist on a tour of the still devastated city and it had quite an impact. ...Reggie Bush and Coach Sean Payton are giving Eagles running back Brian Westbrook his due respect. And why not? Like Bush, Westbrook is a multifaceted threat on offense, someone whom Reggie would like to continue to emulate for many years. Read more. ...Donte Stallworth, the often criticized former Saints receiver, said he's ready to show his former employer what they're missing out on in Saturday night's game. Read more. ...CBS Sportsline breaks down each of the matchups in the Eagles and Saints game and gives a slight edge overall to the Saints. ...Tailback, a receiver in the slot, punt returner, decoy extraordinare, Reggie Bush wears a lot of hats for the Saints. And Los Angeles Times staff writer Lonnie White says the Philadelphia Eagles must get a handle on the speedy Heisman Trophy winner in order to win Saturday night. Read more. ...From the Associated Press: The New Orleans Saints brought back kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff today for the playoffs. Cundiff initially was signed before the Saints' victory at Atlanta on November 26th and handled kickoffs through Week 16. He was waived during the final week of the regular season as part of a move to bring in offensive or defensive reserves who spelled starters in New Orleans' regular season ... From the Associated Press: Four-time Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn sat out significant portions of the New Orleans Saints' practice today. He's still bothered by the groin injury that caused him to miss the last four games of the regular season. Horn had a pair of big touchdown catches in the victory over Philadelphia earlier this season. Saints coach Sean Payton says Horn is questionable for the rematch Saturday night in... While the Saints are ranked ahead of their fellow NFC teams, they're still fifth overall out of the remaining eight teams. The four AFC teams are in front of the Saints. Read more. ...ESPN's John Clayton gives three things that could spell victory for both the Saints and Eagles. ...Inquirer writer Bob Ford says the Eagles will have to play much better than they did last weekend to beat the Saints. ...
Philadelphia Inquirer writer Rich Hoffman says if the Eagles can't pressure Drew Brees more than they pressured Eli Manning, they'll be in for a long night. ...Drew Brees edged out Peyton Manning by one point and was named the starting quarterback on the NFL All-Pro team it was announced Monday. Tackle Jammal Brown also made the first team, garnering the second most votes at that position. Fullback Mike Karney was second team All-Pro. The Eagles had two first teamers, safety Brian Dawkins and offensive guard Shawn Andrews. ...Eagles head coach Andy Reid says that Pro Bowl corner Lito Sheppard will not play against the Saints Saturday night. Sheppart dislocated his elbow in the Eagles' win over the Giants. Reid made the announcement at his Monday press conference. ...Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Bob Ford said the Eagles must play much better than they did in nipping the Giants if they hope to beat the Saints this weekend. ...Former Saints Darren Howard and Donte' Stallworth are looking forward to their second trip to New Orleans this season and hoping for a better outcome, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. ...Take the 10-question poll on the Saints and Eagles. Right now all signs point to a close game. 45 percent of the early voters predicted the Eagles would win in a close game, which was the top response, but 51 percent predicted a Saints win either close or by blowout. The Eagles also get the nod at runningback, coach and kicker. Seems N.O. fans haven't been voting ye... The New Orleans Saints will play either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs next week. The game has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. The Bears will play either the Giants or Seahawks Sunday at noon with the winners playing the following Sunday. ...The 'New America's Team' should make it through the NFC with little problem before hitting a roadblock in Miami: the New England Patriots. Read more. ...Coach Sean Payton went to the Sugar Bowl; not as a coach, but as a fan in the stands. It was a chance to "watch someone else worry about third down," he said. Read more. ...
The Detroit Tigers. The men's basketball team at George Mason Univeristy. Jason McElwain. And don't forget Barbaro. 2006 saw numerous underdogs and Cinderella teams do the unthinkable. Boise State started things in 2007. Can the Saints keep the Cinderella tradition going? Read more. ...
Courtesy of The Lafayette Daily Advertiser: "They were going to the games anyway. The vast majority of them are longtime Saints' season-ticket holders. So four years ago, some of them decided to ride together on a bus to all the home games." Read more. ...The last time the Saints had a week off, they returned to the field playing flat and uninspired football. They lost the game against the Baltimore Ravens, 35-22. Payton vowed to approach the bye week differently this time out. Read more. ...The Saints received several awards from CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco including Coach of the Year, Free Agent of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best Moment...etc... ...After setting several league records in 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. In fact, the Chargers running back ran away with the voting. Meanwhile, Drew Brees garnered only four MVP votes. Peyton Manning received two votes. Read more. ...Coach Sean Payton says the team will be ready to play anybody in the second round of the playoffs. Read more. ...Former Saints stars Pat Swilling and Dalton Hilliard say this current crop of Saints players has a great chance to make it to the big game in Miami. Said Swilling: "Imagine if you put together this offense with our defense in the late 80s and early 90s. We could have won a lot of Super Bowls.” Playing at a far more glamorous position and coming off a year in which he nearly led the Titans from the basement to a playoff berth, quarterback Vince Young was named the AP's NFL Rookie of the Year. Young finished with 23 out of 50 votes, with Saints receiver Marques Colston coming in a distant second (nine out of 50 votes). >> Continue reading: Colston, Bush trail Vince Young in Rookie of the Year voting Jim Jenkins of the Sacremento Bee says many of the major regular season awards should be given to the Saints and Chargers, including: MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. Read more. ...In the final week of Power Rankings for the regular season, Fox Sports has the Saints ranked fifth, their status obviously unhurt by the loss against the Panthers. They're the only NFC team in the illustrious Top 5. Read more. But according to ESPN's Power Rankings, the Saints switch places with the Chicago... CBS' Pete Prisco says that in a conference where all the teams have questions, the Saints have the fewest and he says that what was once a nice little diversion story is now quite possibly the story of the year. ...The Associated Press likes the Philadelphia Eagles to be in the Super Bowl against either Baltimore, San Diego or New England, but they say any of the remaining teams has a shot, well, almost, they seem to think the Giants, Chiefs and Cowboys have no shot. ... |
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