 |
 |
|
|
Eye ON THE SAINTS |
|
June 2008
Categories
News More WWL-TV Blogs
|
Tom Planchet: December 2006 ArchivesDrew Brees told the post-game media gathering that he was supposed to only play two snaps Sunday, but that his second snap was a mishandled handoff, which he didn't want to be his last snap, and then he hit a few passes and they were deep in Carolina territory. Brees said at that point, he couldn't come out. He said on the sidelines Payton then told him, 'you're running one play, a run play, and then coming out.' ...NEW YORK (AP) -- Dallas will be at Seattle next Saturday night and the New York Giants will be at Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon in the first round of the NFC playoffs. The dates and times for the AFC games were to be announced later Sunday. The Cowboys-Seahawks game will start at 7 p.m. CST. The Giants-Eagles game will start at 3:30 p.m. CST. ...Sean Payton had a brief statement after the game before taking questions. He basically said that he was glad to have not incurred any new injuries and he said he was pleased with the first drive. After that, he said it's 'time to move on' (to the playoffs). ...The Saints finished with a rather unimpressive 4-4 record at home this year. Of course, they well could have won Sunday had they played their starters. Still, with the postseason coming, it is curious that the team is continuing what has been a trend in recent seasons, that of not playing better at home than they do on the road. Also eye raising is the fact that the team won its first three in the Superdome this year, then lost four of... Clark Judge of CBS Sportsline says the Saints have turned it around for one reason and that is the hiring of Sean Payton. ...The Detroit Free Press uses the Saints as an example of a case study of how to turn around a losing team in one year. See what they said were the keys to the Saints success. ...From the Associated Press - 'I feel badly for all Giants fans to come here on Christmas Eve and then for us to lose the game the way we lost it,' Coughlin The sellout crowd let Coughlin know it was upset, twice chanting 'Fire Coughlin' before heading for the exits. The Giants wrap up the regular season at Washington on Saturday night. 'I didn't expect them to cheer us," Giants center Sh... The New York Times has a feature article on the probable next owner of the Saints Rita Benson Leblanc. ...EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- With the playoffs in doubt, Michael Strahan is back on the field for the New York Giants -- at least in practice. The seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end practiced Wednesday for the first time since spraining his right foot in a game against the Houston Texans on Nov. 5. 'Michael did everything and I thought he did all right," coach Tom Coughlin said after the practice. "He did not look tentative or ... New York Post columnist Paul Schwartz puts it bluntly when he says the Giants just aren't a good team. He says it's still likely that one win in the last two games will allow them to limp into the playoffs, and a pair of wins nearly guarantees it. ...Quarterback Drew Brees, offensive tackle Jammal Brown and defensive end Will Smith have made the NFC Pro Bowl team. Receiver Marques Colston was not named to the team. He likely lost a spot after missing nearly three entire games with an injury. ...From the Associated Press: NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ex-Saints quarterback Adrian McPherson is suing the Tennessee Titans because their mascot hit him with a golf cart before the second half of an August exhibition. McPherson filed his civil lawsuit Friday in Davidson County Circuit Court and also is seeking $5 million in compensatory damages for the Titans' negligence and $15 million in punitive damages. A team spokesman said Monday... Head coach Sean Payton said in his Monday press conference that he is pleased that the team is the NFC South champions, but, 'It had a chance to be a real special day,' he said. 'We didn't play well enough so it was hard to get excited about the other accomplishment.' Payton said it was the first loss this year in which he thought the team was sluggish, sloppy and played with a lack of energy. ...Appearing on the Eyewitness Morning News, WWL football analyst Archie Manning said a letdown by the Saints was only natural considering the magnitude of what happened the week before. ...Saints linebacker Scott Fujita said while is disappointed in Sunday's game, he wants people to remember what this team has done. 'We are division champs, and that is an accomplishment. We could have set ourselves up well to get that first round bye,' he said. 'Their defense out played our defense and that's the bottom line.' ...In a very short post game session with the media, Saints head coach Sean Payton decried his team's effort and readiness for Sunday's game with Washington. 'I thought we were sluggish. I thought we were flat,' he said, adding, 'I don't have an explanation for you.' Payton also said that while the defense eventually settled down, the offense was flat all day. He said he thought the team had a good week of practice. 'Evidently, I ... The Saints offensive players have helped lift many a Fantasy Football owner into the playoffs with their prodigious offensive outputs. What's more, people like Colston and Henderson, heck even Drew Brees in some instances, were able to be picked up a few games into the season and have performed like Fantasy stars. ...After playing against Dallas Sunday night, both Marques Colston and Will Smith are no longer listed on the injury list given to the NFL. NOTE: Yesterday's post that had Colston and Smith questionable came after scouring the NFL.com site and putting down the injury list for the Saints and Redskins. The current injury list includes: Questionable: Joe Horn who did not practice. For the second time this season, Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Brees threw five touchdown passes and completed 26 of 38 passes for 384 yards in the team's 42-17 win over Dallas. Brees' honor is the second straight week a Saint won the award. Last week Reggie Bush was selected for his four-touchdown performance against San Francisco. ...As has been the case the past several weeks, Joe Horn, Marques Colston and Will Smith are all listed as 'questionable' for Sunday's game with Washington. Running back Aaron Stecker is listed as doubtful. Washington has no one listed worse than 'probable.' ...A list of dream Super Bowl matchups by Sports Illustrated's Don Banks is headed by a Saints-Chargers game in the 'Brees Bowl.' ...
Okay, so let's just feed the beast. If hype around the Saints weren't big enough ESPN is now ranking them 3rd (that's right, 3rd) in the entire NFL. They are also the highest ranked team in the NFC for the first time this season in the ESPN rankings. Meanwhile, the Saints just continue to plow ahead in the CBS Sportsline ranking, >> Continue reading: Saints 3rd in ESPN rankings, rank highly in other power polls NFC SOUTH DIVISION Saints head coach Sean Payton praised the Saints fans who gathered at the airport at 2:30 a.m. to greet the team upon its arrival from Dallas. Payton said a hardy group of fans always collect for the team's return from noon road games, but he said riding home on the plane early Monday morning, he told himself that surely no one would be there. He said he was stunned to see the number of fans. Payton said he thought that not a ... Dallas Morning News writer David Moore says the Saints with Drew Brees and not the Cowboys and Tony Romo are the league's 'feel good' story of the year. He also says the Saints right now are the NFC's best team, notwithstanding the Bears' record. ...ESPN.com's Michael Smith says the Saints showed the aren't just a 'good story' but also are a 'good team' with a win that should have shut up any doubters. ...The unusual call of a reverse on a key 4th and 1 play early in the game was decided upon Wednesday, according to quarterback Drew Brees. 'He told us Wednesday that would be the call in a key situation. ...Cowboys head coach said he told his team that 'this is a humbling game and it can happen to anybody.' Parcells said the game just 'snowballed out of control' and he gave the Saints credit. ...ESPN.com writer Michael Smith says that Sean Payton learned from his mentor, Bill Parcells, and one of his top moves was bringing in two dozen new players. ...Dallas head coach Bill Parcells doesn't think the Saints record is a fluke. He says the Cowboys' big win in preseason came against a team with a brand new system, that hadn't had time to jell. ...Cam Inman, of the Contra Costa Times in Califorina doesn't hold the NFC's elite in high regard, including our hometown team AND the Cowboys but his reasoning is flawed. Yes, the NFC does appear to be weaker than the AFC this year (just check out the records when NFC meets AFC), but his basis seems to be on past playoff seasons. As most ... Receivers Joe Horn and Marques Colston did not practice Wednesday and are listed as questionable for Sunday night's game with Dallas. Running back Aaron Stecker also didn't work and he is doubtful. Defensive end Will Smith did work some and is also questionable. Colston hasn't practiced in quite some time since he suffered a high ankle sprain while making a block in the Cincinnati game. ...Reggie Bush was rewarded by the NFL for his best offensive output of the year. Bush was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 4-touchdown, 168-yard, performance against the San Francisco 49ers this past weekend. Bush was the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in week five, mostly for his long punt return for a touchdown that secured that game. Drew Brees and Scott Fujita have also been honored this season... The Saints would clinch at least a wild-card spot by beating the Cowboys and having Carolina and Philadelphia both lose and Minnesota lose or tie; or have the New York Giants and Falcons lose and the Vikings lose or tie; or have the Eagles and Falcons fall while the Vikings lose or tie. ...John Clayton of ESPN.com is reporting that the NFL has suspended Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy on anabolic steroids and supplements. ...Two hot teams will go into Sunday night's game in Dallas, but only one will emerge with 9 wins this week. The big story line is Parcells against his former student, Sean Payton. ...Sean Payton said there was nothing new to report on the injury status of receivers Marques Colston and Joe Horn. He said the pair would be evaluated and a notice of their condition posted on Wednesday. Colston has missed two consecutive games and was out almost the entire Bengals game, in which he sustained the high ankle sprain. Horn re-injured his groin and the team played without both receivers for the most part Sunday. ... |