WHO DAT SAINTS PLAYER?

If you’ve been following the Super Bowl media coverage this week, you must’ve noticed that alot of the stories on the New Orleans Saints have been focused primarily on what the Super Bowl means to the city of New Orleans. Meanwhile, for the Indianapolis Colts, the stories have been centered more around the individual players: Peyton Manning’s legacy, the great play of Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, and the health of Dwight Freeney to name a few. Although the amount of media coverage on the relationship between the Saints team and the city of New Orleans is very appropriate, it seems as though the Saints players are getting shafted when it comes to the attention brought upon the way that they’ve each navigated through their careers to this point.

In their 43 year history, this season marks the Saints only Super Bowl appearance and only 3rd postseason trip in team history. The team has always been in that underdog role throughout their entire 43 years of existence and Super Bowl XLIV won’t be any different as the Saints entered the 2 week period following the NFC Championship as 4 point Super Bowl underdogs. Not coincidentally, every player (yes, EVERY player), shares their own individual underdog story and status with the team’s history and the city. So without further ado, I introduce you to the stories of the players of this year’s NFC representative of Super Bowl XLIV, the New Orleans Saints:

Drew Brees (Quarterback) – left for dead after the San Diego Chargers released him following a devastating shoulder injury, plays in the shadows of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady

Reggie Bush (Running Back) – considered by many to be a bust following four rollercoaster seasons, not able to run between the tackles

Pierre Thomas (Running Back) – undrafted running back FROM…

Mike Bell (Running Back) – also an undrafted running back criticized for being a beneficiary of Mike Shanahan’s system

Jeremy Shockey (Tight End) – team cancer, outcasted from the New York Giants after having to watch his former team win it all from the luxury box

Marques Colston (Wide Receiver) – 7th round draft pick from now defunct Hofstra

Devery Henderson (Wide Receiver) – hands worse than Kwame Brown

Robert Meachem (Wide Receiver) – One year wonder at Peyton Manning’s alma mater with nothing to show in the NFL

Lance Moore (Wide Receiver) – Practice squad player that rose through the ranks

Jermod Bushrod (Left Tackle) – blasted by analysts for failing to fill in the huge shoes of Pro-Bowl left tackle, Jamaal Brown

Carl Nicks (Left Guard) – second year player that spent his rookie season on the practice squad and IR and was almost cut during this preseason

Jonathan Goodwin (Center) – Journeyman center that hasn’t found a real home with any team

Jahri Evans (Right Guard) – played at a Division II school

Jon Stinchcomb (Right Tackle) – an underachiever dating back to Jim Haslett’s days as head coach of the Saints

Will Smith, Charles Grant (Defensive Ends) – underachieving, juiceheads that hold two of the highest contracts in the NFL

Bobby McCray (Defensive End) – nothing more than a 3rd down situational pass rusher

Sedrick Ellis (Defensive Tackle) – more fragile than glass

Anthony Hargrove (Defensive Tackle) – spent last year in drug rehab

Remi Ayodele (Defensive Tackle) – WHO!?

Jonathan Vilma (Middle Linebacker) – Outcasted from New York after failing to impress another New York coach outcast

Scott Fujita, Scott Shanle (Outside Linebackers) – journeymen linebackers that were both cut by Bill Parcells

Jabari Greer (Cornerback) – 7th round draft pick that was known as just a track star coming out of college

Tracy Porter (Cornerback) – promising rookie year derailed by injuries followed by another strong second year deterred by injuries

Malcolm Jenkins (Cornerback) – too slow to play cornerback in the NFL

Roman Harper (Strong Safety) – might’ve lead the league in pass interference calls the last few seasons (thanks to former cornerbacks Jason David and
Fred Thomas)

Darren Sharper (Free Safety) – too old, nothing left in the tank

Thomas Morstead (punter) – why waste a 5th round pick on a punter?

Garrett Hartley (place kicker) – inexperienced, not ready for the big time

Last, but not least: Coach Sean Payton was forced to surrender play calling duties when he was the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants and was passed up on by a few teams before signing with the Saints.

Don’t get me wrong: this game is monumental for the city of New Orleans as every citizen in that city is counting on their Saints to pull through. The bond between the team and the city is as strong as any bond as there is in any sport, professional or collegiate. But as important as it is to win one for the city and its people, it is just as important that the Saints players understand the necessity to win this game for themselves and each other. The underdog label won’t shed itself and it’s time that each player gets the spotlight and recognition that they deserve from the captains to the 53rd player on the team.

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Fist Pump Fridays: Farewell Fist Pump?

Tonight appears to be the final episode of the Jersey Shore.  And for that I am sad.  Let’s have a moment of silence please.

MTV, why did you air double episodes last week and a new episode on New Year’s Eve?  I could have savored the show just a bit longer.  HOW DARE YOU.

You can however make up for it by implementing some of the following ideas for the Jersey Shore addicts soon to be exhibiting signs of withdrawal:

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J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS

First and foremost, let me thank Nate Kaeding for giving us this game.  Of course the Jets played well and all and shut down the vaunted Chargers offense, but if Kaeding was his usual self, then it’s probably the Bolts that are moving on to Indy.  It’s been a rough playoffs for kickers huh?  Oh well.  I and all of Gang Green Nation will take it.  And how about that Shonn Greene and his very ballsy LT imitation after his TD run (see above).  It was surprising to see but hey, it was emotional, high-energy, and everybody was “charged” up right?  I’m sure he meant no disrespect.  That’s just who this team is and needs to be in order to get to Miami.  Anyway, no one expected the Jets to win and no one will expect them to win against MVP Peyton Manning and co. (opening line is 7.5 for the Colts), but hey, that’s why they play the games right?  Can’t WAIT until Sunday.

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RIP Gaines Adams

Gaines Adams passed away yesterday.  Of course it’s always sad when someone dies but it starts to affect you more when it’s guys who are around your age.  I always looked up to professional athletes as heroes because they were so much older than me but now these guys are my age and even younger.  No one deserves to die at such an early age.  There’s nothing else to say really except our condolences here go out to the Adams family and all his friends and loved ones.

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Fist Pump Fridays: Jersey Shore Power Rankings

Jersey Shore Power Rankings

After being treated to a night of back-to-back episodes of Jersey Shore, we’ve had a major shakeup in the Jersey Shore Power Rankings. Will the Situation drop after a dreadful performance? Do we have a surprise leader of the pack?

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Fist Pump Friday: GTL

It’s all about the GTL. Gym. Tanning. Laundry. This will be my 2010 New Year’s Resolution.
On that note, there will BACK to BACK Jersey Shore episodes tonight. Clear your schedules. Immediately.

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Did Woodson or Revis Deserve the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award?

An interesting debate sparked today after it was announced that Charles Woodson won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.  Some WtP guys thought that New York’s own Darrelle Revis should’ve won but a few guys actually came to Woodson’s defense.  Here’s how it went (it goes without saying that mature language is used):

David Im: Charles woodson wins defensive player of the year. Revis snubbed?

Young: hell no. charles woodson deserved that award hands down.

Anderson: Revis def. got snubbed.

Eden: woodson had the numbers to back it up

Young: how is this even being debated??

Woodson

Tackles – 74
Solo – 66
Forced Fumbles – 4
Interceptions – 9 for 179 yds with 3 tds
Sacks – 2.0
Stuffs – 9 for a loss of 13 yds

Revis
Tackles – 54
Solo – 47
No sacks, no stuffs,
Forced Fumbles = 0
Interceptions – 6 for 121 yds with 1 td

Woodson’s meant just as much to that packer defense as Revis has meant to the Jets. And what he did vs the Cowboys was shut em down like they aint pay their bills.

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Fist Pump Fridays: Ronnie Goes All-UFC On Us

Fist Pump FridaysQuick thoughts since I’m on a time budget here:

• Ronnie should try out for the UFC/The Ultimate Fighter. Sure, he’s 5′4″, but did you see him destroy that guy last night on the boardwalk? Did a swim move on the guy’s girlfriend, threw a great strike, landed a knee, and was immediately in a full mount on the guy. After that it was all ground-n-pound for the TKO.

Brock Lesner, watch your back!

• Pauly D might be the funniest guy there.

• It’s almost too perfect that “g-word” on the prowl is referred to as “creeping.” When Ronnie was (temporarily)done with Sammi and wanted to hook up with another girl, they were commenting on his “creep look.” Not that girls might find that same look to be “creepy.”

• Does it seem like the only people getting “smushed” in the house is “Rammi”? Snooki struck out again (and then later struck in the face again). Situation was attacked by hippos.

• I thought Vinny’s (Immediate? Extended?) family were perfect guests. They cleaned and cooked a feast and were promptly out of the way without any drama. And his mom was a sweet woman.

Pauly D put it best: “They can come every week.”

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HOW DARE YOU H.O.F. VOTERS!!!

I’m sorry to all of the 397 baseball writers that did vote for Roberto Alomar’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  For the others that didn’t vote him in, HOW DARE YOU!!   Were you even watching the same game throughout the 90’s as me?

Because the only reason he’s not in is because of a certain incident with John Hirschbeck.  He asked for the news and Alomar gave him the weather. I’m not condoning spitting on people, but Alomar was already punished for that incident (suspension), crucified by the media, and has made up with Mr. Hirschbeck.  If the guy was spit on has forgiven him and moved on, why don’t you as well?

Because there’s no other reason he wasn’t inducted.  Based purely on his creditionals, statistics, and accomplishments, Alomar was a shoo-in.  The only reason he’s not in is because of this ugly incident.  There are no allegations of PED’s like with McGuire and soon to be Bonds and Clemens.  He didn’t bet on games (Rose).  And he wasn’t a closer.  So why isn’t he in?

Sure, he’ll be a H.O.F.-er soon.  If not next year, then maybe the year after that.  But your subjective, morally-ambiguous criterion in which baseball players are chosen is antiquated and misguided at best.  I’m very disappointed in you all over this incident and it’s only going to get worse with the PED witchhunts coming up in the near future.

Good job, assholes.

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