NEW ORLEANS -- Go ahead, because this is the right thing to do: You should spend the rest of the NFL season hugging whatever team you traditionally love, but you should kiss the New Orleans Saints in the shadows.If you prefer to do so in the sunshine, that's fine, too.
The Saints have replaced the folks with stars on their helmets as America's Team. In case you weren't paying attention, Hurricane Katrina blew this franchise into the hearts of all those who had them. That unofficially happened on Sept. 25, 2006, the team's first home game back in New Orleans -- a Monday night when, just like this Monday night, the roof of the Superdome threatened to explode because of the noise generated by inside, as opposed to the wind outside it.
A game that was also against the Falcons. And that, too, was a victory for the Saints, along the way to their first and only NFC championship game.
Nancy Gay: Good News, Bad News for Falcons
Get the picture in black, old gold and white? When you cheer for the Saints, you're still cheering for this city, which has come a long ways since water nearly drowned its existence, but it remains a sometimes-ugly work in progress.
So the majority of the citizens do what they've done forever in New Orleans -- and that is, they live through their NFL franchise. Well, they mostly die with it. But after decades of gasping, it has a strong heartbeat seven games into this season.
In fact, given the Saints' rise to an unblemished record after a 35-27 victory over Atlanta, with the home team excelling before a deliriously loud gathering screaming "Who dat?," and with all of those watching on national television still recalling the death, destruction and despair that smothered these parts four years ago after that hurricane ...
Given all of that ...
Well, who knows what this team might accomplish this season?
Yeah, we know. These are the Saints. A gifted bunch of Saints, with explosive players throughout their offense and with a defense that terrorizes foes at crucial times, but the Saints nonetheless. In the end, they'll likely continue to sit with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and Detroit Lions as the only NFL teams never to reach a Super Bowl.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't pull for the Saints, because they are playing another season for themselves and everybody else.
Aren't they?
"I don't know. I mean, we're always playing for the city, because our fans are so great," said Saints safety Darren Sharper, in his 13th NFL season. Then he added, "A couple of years ago, it was a different situation, especially coming off of Katrina. There was a lot more emotion into it back then, but now, we're just trying to win."
They've done so in different ways. They've done the blowout thing more often than not, and that has included routs of the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, both NFC East toughies. They've done the comeback thing, rallying from 21 points behind to upend the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.
And now they've done the survival thing.
On Monday night, the Saints were able to overcome the relentless Falcons (who had a chance at a game-tying touchdown in the final seconds) and themselves (four turnovers). Said Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who stayed on the other side of unbelievable by finishing the night with a passer rating of 111.7: "I'll be honest with you. I don't think we played that great today. I think our best is yet to come."
Sharper went a tad further. "We're looking to play the perfect game," he said, without blinking, enough to make you think that maybe these aren't those other Saints.
The Ain'ts are long gone. So are the fans who once attended Saints home games with bags over their heads. As a result, life, as far as football's concerned, is so wonderfully different around this part of the bayou right now that you can ask this legitimate question of the Saints without snickering: Are they the best team in the league at the moment?
Actually, the Saints are -- at the moment.
This is one of those Ginger-Mary Ann discussions, since the highly efficient Indianapolis Colts are the NFL's only other undefeated team.
Not only that, the Colts have their own Drew Brees in Peyton Manning. Entering Monday night's game, the Colts were ninth in total defense while the Saints were 11th, but the Saints were first in total offense while the Colts were fourth.
The Saints have the edge over Indianapolis -- and everybody else -- courtesy of their wealth of playmakers. New Orleans' receiving corps is a bottomless pit, ranging from Marques Colston to Devery Henderson to tight end Jeremy Shockey. At running back, well, let Saints coach Sean Payton tell you: "We try to rotate Pierre [Thomas] and Mike [Bell], and we have certain packages for Reggie [Bush]." Thomas rushed for 91 yards against the Falcons, Bell added 49, and Bush was his typical, versatile self -- rushing, receiving and returning kicks.
Then there's the defense. The Saints sacked Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan three times, and picked off three of his passes -- the final one coming when Sharper nabbed a desperation Ryan toss in the game's closing seconds. With that interception, it was over.
The game, not the Saints' mission. "We're just focused on trying to get better," said Payton, which should please all of us -- you know, as partial Saints fans.
Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-03-2009 @ 6:35AM
jreid65738 said...
The Cowboys are still and always will be America's if not the worlds favorite team. The saints are a nice story but the never will never pass Dallas.
Reply
11-03-2009 @ 7:55AM
asmithii84 said...
Dallas is pathetic.
Jerry Jones is pathetic.
Who cares if they any games or not.
The Saints are real.
11-03-2009 @ 8:04AM
Pimp Daddy said...
Stop living in da past,it's a new era now.No matter what the Saints record has been,they've beaten the Cowgirls da last 8 times they've played.Dec.19 will be no different when Tony Homo and crew come to town.WHO DAT 7-0 and counting.
11-03-2009 @ 8:02AM
deitrade said...
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL I love da Who Dats but the new America's Team? Come onnnnnnn, they have not won one Superbowl yet, muchless been in one. I have to admit, the Saints look mighty good but NOT 20 straight winning seasons, not 8 Superbowl appearances and 12 times in the NFC Championships....now that is impressive. America loves an old dawg with such pedigre, until a new one comes around and it ain't happen YET! The Steelers,Niners and Patriots have come close and could have surplanted da Boys if they had the fan base. Goooooo SAINTS!....it's about timeeeeee LOLLLLLLLL
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11-03-2009 @ 9:09AM
WHO EVER WHAT EV said...
You forgot to add stat abou no playoff wins in like 12 years!
11-03-2009 @ 8:37AM
Matt said...
"Get the picture in black, old gold and white? When you cheer for the Saints, you're still cheering for this city, which has come a long ways since water nearly drowned its existence, but it remains a sometimes-ugly work in progress."
Why is it whenever a down-trodden city's sports team starts to play well, I supposed to start liking them. As if the Saints playing well will solve any real problems. It's just sports. I can hate who I choose to hate. Screw New Orleans.
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11-03-2009 @ 8:50AM
somecallmetjm said...
Who ever came up with this America's team business anyway? It makes no sense. Football as we know it is ONLY American so to imply that any one team is America's team is just silly. I have nothing against the Saints but I will continue to cheer for the Ravens all year since I'm from Baltimore and they are Baltimore's team. Just as I'm sure fans of other teams will continue to do the same. Eh, anyway, I never understood this America's team thing.
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11-03-2009 @ 8:51AM
somecallmetjm said...
And for the record, I don't think I've ever met a cowboys fan in my life so they aren't America's team on the East Coast.
11-03-2009 @ 9:39AM
swamp3887 said...
it's only because there called the cowboy's.if they had any other name.dont think they'd be called.ameeica's team.
the hole in the roof. is so God can watch his favriot team.if that was so.they should win.every game.an every super bowl.
11-03-2009 @ 9:30PM
deitrade said...
Steve Sabol of the NFL Films came up with the title " America's Team " in the 70s because of the huge fan base across the COUNTRY and Foreign lands. Tex Schram just ran with it as a marketing tool and it WORK!
While most NFL Teams have a huge "inner State" fan base, STATES like Oklahome, New Mexico, Arizona ( before Cardinal days),Tennessee, Mississippi,Dakotas,Wyoming,Montana,Arkansas,Kentucky and even Louisiana, to just name a few, were known to root for the COWBOYS ( maybe because all these States are known for having real life Cowboy heritage. To think all you Cowboy haters believe that it is just in the mind of the State of TEXAS. As for the guy who thinks I missed the 12 years of NOT winning a playoff......give me the Dallas Cowboys history over the Who Dats any time. I love the Saints but how long has it been since they have won a Superbowl?? Goooo Saints!
11-03-2009 @ 9:10AM
brendafmfortheboyz said...
sosmecallmetjim: Hi, my name is
Brenda and I live in the east and I am a fanatical Cowboys fan. It is very nice to meet you ;)
Last year 4 out of the top ten jerseys sold were Cowboy jerseys as per a report on Fanhouse---Romo, Whitten, Barber, and TO. Last time I checked there were 32 NFL teams lol Please ask any retailer who carries all team's merchandise and they will tell you they can't keep Cowboy's merchandise in stock!!!! London has begged for the Cowboys to play there, but this year JJ said he needed to stay here due to the opening of his new stadium. Mexico also begs for the Cowboys to play a game there.
So, I ask you, can any of the other teams match that??? And btw, the media deemed the Cowboys "America's Team" years ago, and it stuck ;) Do have a good day from a newly met Cowboys fan!!!
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11-03-2009 @ 9:40AM
DrThunder said...
Sounds like Mexico's team
11-03-2009 @ 9:42AM
DrThunder said...
Get your facts straight the so called America's team bs was SELF PROCLAIMED, the media did not dub the cowboys that stupid title.
11-03-2009 @ 10:18AM
Mikey said...
Brenda,
It's so nice to hear from you. It's funny how only a women could take FOOTBALL and make it a retail sport. I am willing to bet that 80% of the people that call the Cowboys "America's Team" are from Texas and the other 20% are eager merchandise consumers and have no clue what it means to be a FOOTBALL fan.
11-03-2009 @ 10:04PM
deitrade said...
Good post Brenda.
As for you Steeler fans who wish to knock the Dallas Cowboys accomplishments. I did research and found that it's been well documented that the STEELERS of the 70s who won 4 Superbowls were a heavy into Steriod use.
Don't give me this crap about how Steriods was not illegal back then and that it was widely used by all the NFL Teams ( It's a fact, steriods were not illegal and it was widely used by some players). The Steelers of the 70s have 18 ex-players who have past away between the ages of 32-56 and in MOST cases all were known steriod users. No other NFL Team of that ERA have had more that 2 deaths. So go smoke your pipe and stop trying to blow smoke screens. Bottom line, all those deaths is a very steep price for Glory, just so you Pittsburgh fans can brag about one more ring that the Niners or Cowboys.
11-03-2009 @ 10:08AM
brendafortheboyz said...
DrThunder, as per a google search, the following is how my Cowboy's got the name "America's Team" ;)America's Team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The Dallas Cowboys are commonly referred to as America's TeamThe term America's Team is a popular nickname in American sports that most often refers to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.[1] The nickname originated with the team's 1978 highlight film, where the narrator opens with the following introduction:
They appear on television so often that their faces are as familiar to the public as presidents and movie stars. They are the Dallas Cowboys, "America's Team."[2]
The term is recognized and often used by media outlets, including ESPN,[3] Yahoo!,[4] HBO Sports,[5] and Sports Illustrated.[6]
On their Top 10 show, the NFL Network named the Dallas Cowboys' "America's Team" as the #1 nickname in NFL history. [7]
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Records and Media
3 Other claims to the name
4 References
5 External links
[edit] History
Bob Ryan, now Vice President and editor-in-chief of NFL Films, coined this for the Cowboys while preparing and editing the team’s 1978 season highlight film.[8] He was quoted as saying:
I wanted to come up with a different twist on their team highlight film. I noticed then, and had noticed earlier, that wherever the Cowboys played, you saw people in the stands with Cowboys jerseys and hats and pennants. Plus, they were always the national game on television.
Ryan told the NFL Network, for their Top Ten Nicknames show:
I saw all these fans in away stadiums. Hey, they're the most popular team in the country. How can I use that? Why don't we call them "America's Team"? [2]
During the Cowboys' first game of the 1979 season, a nationally televised game against the St. Louis Cardinals (which Dallas won 22-21), the television announcer for CBS introduced the Cowboys as America’s Team and the name stuck.
Dallas' Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry originally did not approve of the appellation of America's Team. He felt that it would give opposing teams extra incentive to play harder. Eventually he gave in and actually came to like the name.[9]
Now, do you want to argue with me now?????? Think before you speak and do your research!!!!!
Do have a great day ;)
Reply
11-03-2009 @ 1:48PM
DrThunder said...
sorry you're still wrong, wiki is wrong, do some real homework watch some old NFL films and you'll see how they really got that name. Researching is my job and there's a reason we don't use wikipedia when trying to win an "argument". That is a common misconception as most uneducated cowboys fans would love to believe. hahaha
11-03-2009 @ 10:11AM
Kako said...
Actually DrThunder if you watch nfl network you would of been able to check on your history. NFL FILMS gave them that name due to their popularity not just in America but around the world. Is that playoff streak the best thing people come up with. Its only a matter of time before that streak ends. Since when does someone get your nick name. How about title town, purple people eaters, etc. Its because its Dallas and they love to hate.
Reply
11-03-2009 @ 10:33AM
qongquest said...
dallas america's team, when was that? maybe in the eyes of the media, but not football fans. the same goes for the saints. however given the choice by the fans, if there was an americas team for most fans, it would be the pittsburgh steelers.
Reply
11-03-2009 @ 10:35AM
Kako said...
why the Steelers because they get their asses kissed all the time and they always get the calls in the big games.