It cannot be said that New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton played his starters out of pure vanity.
It seemed that the Saint Louis Rams were within striking range of doing the job Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson fumbled last week. But it's been standard procedure for the Rams organization to frustrate the Saints one way or the other, punt returned Az Hakim excepted.
The Saints go into the post season a bit sooner than preferred but with momentum they haven't had since the Jim Mora era.
Last year the Saints limped into Seattle, one of the toughest venues to visit in football, with a banged up secondary, tight end and decimated ground game, the very recipe the league's first ever division winner with a losing record needed to deny the Super Bowl champs a Two Dat.
During the 2009 "super season", the Saints backed into home field advantage on a three game losing streak and was reminded by the sports media ad nauseam that teams that bumble into the playoffs in a such a fashion don't win Super Bowls.
And the Saints made history proving that they do now.
Speaking of history, the Black and Gold made plenty of it against the pesky Carolina Panthers, the Bill Clinton-era expansion team that own a winning record against a New Orleans franchise that dates to 1967.
Though they're not going to the palyoffs, the Panthers had turned their team around after finishing worst in the NFL last year largely due to the prize they reaped from that dis-stink-shun.
Quarterback Cam Newton ought to be the hands down selection for rookie of the year and perhaps should have received a free trip to Hawaii in a few weeks.
The Saints were lucky to escape with a win against the Panthers in Charlotte earlier this season but in the Mercedez-Benz Superdome on Sunday, even the cats proved to be just another victim of the NFL's most prolific offense in history with a defense that's not too bad either.
Quarterback Drew Brees extended his own NFL single season passing record to 5,476 (Brees had 389 in the game) and stayed ahead of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who played on Sunday as well and ended the regular season with 5,235 passing yards, trailing Brees but besting Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino's long standing benchmark.
Almost forgotten in the mix was Saints running back/punt reurner/kick returner Darren Sproles's own NFL record day as the free agent broke Derrick Mason's single season record for all purpose yards.
Saints second year tight end and first time Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham exchanged the tight end single season receiving yards record with New England's Rob Gronkowski. It seemed that Graham would own the record but a Buffalo Bills turnover gave the Patriots a late opportunity to get the ball back in Gronkowski's hands, beating Graham out by 17 yards.
San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winskow had set the mark during the 1980 season with 1,290.
Though the Saints set many other league and franchise season records on Sunday, there is one important state of note that should be cited Brees now has 40,742 career passing yards, moving him past Hall of Fame quarterback and eternal Saints nemesis Joe Montana for eleventh on the all-time passing yards list.
Brees can achieve first ballot induction status in Canton come February if he is able to add another piece of jewelry to his hand.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Monday, December 26, 2011
Brees Extends Legacy, Saints' Winning Streak
NOTE: The Onside Kick has been on "political reserve" most of the 2011 NFL Season due to time spent running for office and recovering from that exercise. Postings for the remainder of this season will likely be sporadic.
Brees Extends Legacy, Saints’ Winning Streak
It’s now called the Drew Brees record.
At least for this week.
There was much excitement and anxiety in the stands of the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Monday night and it had little to do with the Saints winning their division.
The Black and Gold had the game put away in the third quarter and their hold on the NFC South was secure, the question that was on everyone’s mind was whether quarterback Drew Brees would finally break the Dan Marino passing record that eluded him on the final play in the 2008 season.
Appropriately enough, it came on Brees’s final pass of the game. Even more appropriately enough, the record-breaking throw was for a touchdown to fellow San Diego Chargers castaway Darren Sproles.
And then the dome erupted with joy comparable to Garrett Hartley’s NFC Championship game winning field goal.
While it seemed after the first half the Marino passing record of 5,084 passing yards would be easily shattered in the third quarter, an interception, a big kickoff return by Darren Sproles, a clock eating Atlanta offense and a stiffening Atlanta defense that forced two punts made it appear that it would not happen until the season finale.
But with just over five minutes left on the clock, the Saints defense forced the Atlanta offense off the field at the Dirty Birds’ own 33 yard line. Brees needed just over two dozen yards at the beginning of that drive to do it.
Head coach Sean Payton helped facilitate Brees’s pursuit by calling four straight pass plays after a one yard gain by running back Pierre Thomas.
With this latest milestone, Brees further increased his already legendary status in the Crescent City while also making a greater case for league MVP and later enshrinement in Canton.
Winning a second Super Bowl would virtually guarantee him a golden jacket, though continuing his prolific passing on top of what he has already accomplished should be enough for a balloter who is not stuck in a major media market mindset.
With the history-making Brees-to-Sproles touchdown pass, the Black and Gold polished off a 45-16 drubbing of the NFC rival whom the Saints may host again in two weeks during the playoffs in the event Atlanta goes to the post-season and New Orleans is unable to secure the second seed and first-round bye.
In order for the Black and Gold to grab the second seed, the Saints would need to defeat the Carolina Panthers next Sunday and the 2-13 Saint Louis Rams would need to defeat the 13-2 San Francisco Forty-Niners on New Year’s Day.
Though the Rams are playing at home, the Niners will be a heavy favorite and highly motivated, especially with post-season positioning on the line.
Payton will have to make a decision whether to risk his playing starters next weekend as he did with terrible consequences last season when he was in a similar situation.
Also worth considering is that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has racked up 4,897 passing yards this season and is in striking distance of the Dan Marino Drew Brees record.
I would imagine the Saints head coach will have an eye on which quarterback takes the field for the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday before deciding how long or if he lets Brees amend his own mark in the gridiron history books.
Brees Extends Legacy, Saints’ Winning Streak
It’s now called the Drew Brees record.
At least for this week.
There was much excitement and anxiety in the stands of the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Monday night and it had little to do with the Saints winning their division.
The Black and Gold had the game put away in the third quarter and their hold on the NFC South was secure, the question that was on everyone’s mind was whether quarterback Drew Brees would finally break the Dan Marino passing record that eluded him on the final play in the 2008 season.
Appropriately enough, it came on Brees’s final pass of the game. Even more appropriately enough, the record-breaking throw was for a touchdown to fellow San Diego Chargers castaway Darren Sproles.
And then the dome erupted with joy comparable to Garrett Hartley’s NFC Championship game winning field goal.
While it seemed after the first half the Marino passing record of 5,084 passing yards would be easily shattered in the third quarter, an interception, a big kickoff return by Darren Sproles, a clock eating Atlanta offense and a stiffening Atlanta defense that forced two punts made it appear that it would not happen until the season finale.
But with just over five minutes left on the clock, the Saints defense forced the Atlanta offense off the field at the Dirty Birds’ own 33 yard line. Brees needed just over two dozen yards at the beginning of that drive to do it.
Head coach Sean Payton helped facilitate Brees’s pursuit by calling four straight pass plays after a one yard gain by running back Pierre Thomas.
With this latest milestone, Brees further increased his already legendary status in the Crescent City while also making a greater case for league MVP and later enshrinement in Canton.
Winning a second Super Bowl would virtually guarantee him a golden jacket, though continuing his prolific passing on top of what he has already accomplished should be enough for a balloter who is not stuck in a major media market mindset.
With the history-making Brees-to-Sproles touchdown pass, the Black and Gold polished off a 45-16 drubbing of the NFC rival whom the Saints may host again in two weeks during the playoffs in the event Atlanta goes to the post-season and New Orleans is unable to secure the second seed and first-round bye.
In order for the Black and Gold to grab the second seed, the Saints would need to defeat the Carolina Panthers next Sunday and the 2-13 Saint Louis Rams would need to defeat the 13-2 San Francisco Forty-Niners on New Year’s Day.
Though the Rams are playing at home, the Niners will be a heavy favorite and highly motivated, especially with post-season positioning on the line.
Payton will have to make a decision whether to risk his playing starters next weekend as he did with terrible consequences last season when he was in a similar situation.
Also worth considering is that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has racked up 4,897 passing yards this season and is in striking distance of the Dan Marino Drew Brees record.
I would imagine the Saints head coach will have an eye on which quarterback takes the field for the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday before deciding how long or if he lets Brees amend his own mark in the gridiron history books.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The Most Important Game of the Year...for Me
I have had the Chicago Bears visit to the Louisiana Superdome etched in my mind since January 2007.
Due to the NFL’s brilliant (no sarcasm here…seriously) schedule rotation, the Monsters of the Midway were not due to visit the domed confines of Poydras and Loyola for four years after the Saints’ first trip to an NFC Championship game.
Everything about that Soldier Field experience was miserable.
The weather.
The Saints’ ball handling.
The final score.
And most especially the Bear fans, or as I like to call them, Chicagoons.
I wasn’t optimistic about the Saints’ chances of winning at Soldier Field, which is a surprisingly loud venue considering it’s an open air stadium. I didn’t think the Saints would adjust to the field and weather conditions without practicing in a similar environment.
But I also wasn’t going to miss what was then the biggest game in Black and Gold history.
The first omen of the misery to come was in the form of a pair of jackasses in Bears gear merrily pasting orange letters on a large blue sandwich board sign that read: Bears Finishing What Katrina Started.
I felt an impulse to capture that image, so I turned my black and gold Saints hat around, walked up to tweedle-jack and tweedle-ass and asked to photograph the fruit of their labors. They happily obliged. After taking the picture, I turned my gold fleur-de-lis cap around to the front and commented “I’m going to make you famous” and walked off.
Despite the best efforts of the Chicago Tribune to track the pair down, they remain anonymous to this day. But their “artwork” came to symbolize the abusive behavior more than a few Saints fans received at Soldier Field, including this one.
Growing tired of the threats of physical violence and Katrina taunts from screwballs whose blood alcohol levels were increasing with the Bears’ score, I did what I rarely do: I left a Saints game early. Being a longtime Who Dat, I can stand losing a game..I just wasn’t game to losing teeth.
And so I trudged out on to the frozen tundra along Lake Michigan, still happy about what the Saints had accomplished in the 2006 season though bitter about the lack of class and decency of Bears fans.
Now, I would be remiss if I did not mention that the Bears players (not the fans) made it up in 2009 by defeating the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings, which contributed to the Saints’ securing homefield advantage during the playoffs. That game marked the first time I had cheered for Chicago in anything since the 2007 NFC Championship game, however my love for the Saints trumps my dislike of any team. Even the Dirty Birds.
This week tens of thousands of Who Dats will have that Soldier Field experience on their mind as they stream into the Superdome. Doubtlessly the several thousand or so Bears fans who made the road trip to the Big Easy are also cognizant of what happened in the stands that day.
I encourage Saints fans attending the game to be passionate this Sunday about their team not hostile to the visiting Bears fans. Show them how the best fans in the NFL behave and act. That’s not to say smacktalk is off-limits.
That said I almost pity the Bear fan, who having had one too many hurricanes or handgrenades, decides to work in Katrina cracks into his rhetoric.
The Saints fan being taunted might very well have lost more than his Archie Manning jersey in the storm.
So I will close this with one request for the Saints: if you can’t bring back a second Lombardi Trophy this season at least beat the Bears.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
"Sack Happy" Saints Hope to Jump Start Offense Against Texans
The “new” New Orleans Saints showed something different in their exhibition game against the San Francisco Forty Niners last Saturday.
Beyond stifling the opposition to a total of 3 points, the Saints defense played like quarterback headhunters en route to racking up six sacks. Last season, the Saints ranked 18th in sacks with 33 or an average of just over 2 per game.
Though Heisman Award winner and first round draft pick running back Mark Ingram found the end zone, the Alabama product didn’t overawe in relatively limited action. Ingram had six carries for 23 yards, including his 14 yard score.
The longest run by a Saints player on offense was the scrambling backup to Drew Brees, Chase Daniels, who had a 19 yard run. As a passer, Daniels completed 13 of his 21 attempts (62%) for 129 yards.
The big stars of the game (Brees as not amongst this group completing a single pass out of his mere four attempts before being yanked) were kick returner Courtney Roby (though not as a kick returner) and wide receiver Joseph Morgan (as a kick returner).
Roby’s future with the team looked tenuous after running back/return specialist Darren Sproles (a relative of Roby) was inked after running back Reggie Bush was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Roby was the team’s leading receiver against the Niners making four catches for 42 yards.
Morgan, a rookie free agent who played two seasons at Walsh University (North Canton, Ohio), returned six punts, averaging 16 yards per return. Morgan’s big play was a 78 yard return to the end zone. Though still a long shot to make the Saints’ roster, Joseph helped attract notice in his first opportunity to shine in live fire.
Running back Joique Bell had an impressive punt return for 28 yards and led the team’s ground game with 52 yards on 9 carries (5.7 yard average). Bell was signed by the Saints last season to supplement the team’s grossly depleted running back corps in the postseason though he saw no action in the playoff game at Seattle.
Bell, Roby, Joseph and others who are playing for either roster spots with the Saints or with other teams have three “scrub” games left before the roster goes down to 53 players while Brees will have another opportunity to get comfortable with his changing offensive line.
The Saints visit the Houston Texans on Saturday at 7:00 PM.
Beyond stifling the opposition to a total of 3 points, the Saints defense played like quarterback headhunters en route to racking up six sacks. Last season, the Saints ranked 18th in sacks with 33 or an average of just over 2 per game.
Though Heisman Award winner and first round draft pick running back Mark Ingram found the end zone, the Alabama product didn’t overawe in relatively limited action. Ingram had six carries for 23 yards, including his 14 yard score.
The longest run by a Saints player on offense was the scrambling backup to Drew Brees, Chase Daniels, who had a 19 yard run. As a passer, Daniels completed 13 of his 21 attempts (62%) for 129 yards.
The big stars of the game (Brees as not amongst this group completing a single pass out of his mere four attempts before being yanked) were kick returner Courtney Roby (though not as a kick returner) and wide receiver Joseph Morgan (as a kick returner).
Roby’s future with the team looked tenuous after running back/return specialist Darren Sproles (a relative of Roby) was inked after running back Reggie Bush was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Roby was the team’s leading receiver against the Niners making four catches for 42 yards.
Morgan, a rookie free agent who played two seasons at Walsh University (North Canton, Ohio), returned six punts, averaging 16 yards per return. Morgan’s big play was a 78 yard return to the end zone. Though still a long shot to make the Saints’ roster, Joseph helped attract notice in his first opportunity to shine in live fire.
Running back Joique Bell had an impressive punt return for 28 yards and led the team’s ground game with 52 yards on 9 carries (5.7 yard average). Bell was signed by the Saints last season to supplement the team’s grossly depleted running back corps in the postseason though he saw no action in the playoff game at Seattle.
Bell, Roby, Joseph and others who are playing for either roster spots with the Saints or with other teams have three “scrub” games left before the roster goes down to 53 players while Brees will have another opportunity to get comfortable with his changing offensive line.
The Saints visit the Houston Texans on Saturday at 7:00 PM.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Saints Hold on to TE David Thomas
The New Orleans Saints announced on Tuesday evening that they have reached an agreement with reserve tight end David Thomas.
Though very much in the shadow of hot prospect Jimmy Graham, who impressed the Saints organization so much they released Jeremy Shockey prior to the lock out, Thomas has been a key player in helping quarterback Drew Brees move the chains.
The tight end backed up the oft-injured Shockey during the team’s Super Bowl run and also subbed in as fullback when Heath Evans went down during the week six road game against the Miami Dolphins.
Thomas was pursued by the Saints front office after tight end Billy Miller suffered a season ending injury in an exhibition game against the Houston Texans in 2009.
Though not as spectacular as his recent first round swaps in the 2011 NFL draft that bagged defensive end Cameron Jordan and running back Mark Ingram, the Thomas trade is perhaps one of general manager Mickey Loomis’s best deals.
The Saints received the regular contributor from the New England Patriots for a 2011 6th round draft selection.
In a recent interview, Brees publicly expressed his wish for Thomas’s retention with the team.
Thomas’s re-signing is the latest step taking by the team to preserve the core of their offense. Center Jonathan Goodwin and fullback Heath Evans are the only two key players from the offense that have yet to sign contracts with the Saints.
Though very much in the shadow of hot prospect Jimmy Graham, who impressed the Saints organization so much they released Jeremy Shockey prior to the lock out, Thomas has been a key player in helping quarterback Drew Brees move the chains.
The tight end backed up the oft-injured Shockey during the team’s Super Bowl run and also subbed in as fullback when Heath Evans went down during the week six road game against the Miami Dolphins.
Thomas was pursued by the Saints front office after tight end Billy Miller suffered a season ending injury in an exhibition game against the Houston Texans in 2009.
Though not as spectacular as his recent first round swaps in the 2011 NFL draft that bagged defensive end Cameron Jordan and running back Mark Ingram, the Thomas trade is perhaps one of general manager Mickey Loomis’s best deals.
The Saints received the regular contributor from the New England Patriots for a 2011 6th round draft selection.
In a recent interview, Brees publicly expressed his wish for Thomas’s retention with the team.
Thomas’s re-signing is the latest step taking by the team to preserve the core of their offense. Center Jonathan Goodwin and fullback Heath Evans are the only two key players from the offense that have yet to sign contracts with the Saints.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Saints Ink Last of Their “Big Three”, Hold on to Harper
The New Orleans Saints continue to score in the brief free agency period scooping up the last of their critical three unrestricted free agents, signing strong safety Roman Harper to a multiyear contract.
The Saints organization had not released the details of the pact but media reports have it valued at $28,000,000.00 for four years with most of it guaranteed.
The Saints had previously reached deals with wide receiver Lance Moore and left tackle Jermon Bushrod.
Though Harper was brutally victimized by the Seattle Seahawks’ offense in the wild card playoff game, the former University of Alabama standout has generally played well for the Black and Gold, particularly under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Of the Saints’ free agents, Harper’s departure would have been the most difficult to address prior to the start of the regular season.
The Saints still have a number of positions to fill and a few more key personnel to try to retain, the most notable being starting center Jonathan Goodwin and backup tight end David Thomas.
Extending guard Carl Nicks’s tenure with the team is another priority though as a restricted free agent, the Saints have the final say on his departure for the 2011 season.
Harper, a second round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, has gone to the last two Pro Bowls.
The Saints organization had not released the details of the pact but media reports have it valued at $28,000,000.00 for four years with most of it guaranteed.
The Saints had previously reached deals with wide receiver Lance Moore and left tackle Jermon Bushrod.
Though Harper was brutally victimized by the Seattle Seahawks’ offense in the wild card playoff game, the former University of Alabama standout has generally played well for the Black and Gold, particularly under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Of the Saints’ free agents, Harper’s departure would have been the most difficult to address prior to the start of the regular season.
The Saints still have a number of positions to fill and a few more key personnel to try to retain, the most notable being starting center Jonathan Goodwin and backup tight end David Thomas.
Extending guard Carl Nicks’s tenure with the team is another priority though as a restricted free agent, the Saints have the final say on his departure for the 2011 season.
Harper, a second round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, has gone to the last two Pro Bowls.
Reggie Who?- Saints Make Big Special Teams Move
Reggie Bush wasn’t gone from the New Orleans Saints more than 24 hours before the organization had a replacement signed.
Former San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles inked a four year deal with the Saints, further bolstering the team’s already potent running back corps but more importantly filling the void Bush left behind as punt returner.
While defense has received much attention in the draft, the Saints have also acted to improve their special teams personnel in both the draft, the Bush trade with Miami (in which the Saints received one of the Dolphins’ top coverage players as part of the swap) and now with Sproles’s signing.
Sproles in a black and gold uniform likely means the end of wide receiver Courtney Roby with the team, who was primarily used as a kick returner and gunner.
In other free agency news, the Saints signed one of the “big three” priorities by coming to terms with left tackle Jermon Bushrod. The team also held on to starting outside linebacker Scott Shanle and reserve linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar.
Free agents back-up free safety Usama Young and occasional starting defensive tackle Remi Ayodele will not be returning to the Saints having signed contracts with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings respectively.
Former San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles inked a four year deal with the Saints, further bolstering the team’s already potent running back corps but more importantly filling the void Bush left behind as punt returner.
While defense has received much attention in the draft, the Saints have also acted to improve their special teams personnel in both the draft, the Bush trade with Miami (in which the Saints received one of the Dolphins’ top coverage players as part of the swap) and now with Sproles’s signing.
Sproles in a black and gold uniform likely means the end of wide receiver Courtney Roby with the team, who was primarily used as a kick returner and gunner.
In other free agency news, the Saints signed one of the “big three” priorities by coming to terms with left tackle Jermon Bushrod. The team also held on to starting outside linebacker Scott Shanle and reserve linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar.
Free agents back-up free safety Usama Young and occasional starting defensive tackle Remi Ayodele will not be returning to the Saints having signed contracts with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings respectively.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
