Writing the Pine

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.