SUPERBOWL XLIV (2.7.10)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

You don't know New Orleans's suffering until you play bellhop for 4 months there.

 

You are right. I know you didn't mean to be but working downtown where you meet a lot of people who live around New Orleans and talk to them everyday you learn about the city. I have been here almost 9 months and have worked at customer service jobs the whole time. I also went out and reported high school football and sat in crowd where many of them would still talk about Katrina and the city not being rebuilt. One of my roommates also has worked for the America Corps. out in the parishes for 2 years and I hear a lot about the people out there. SO yeah I would say I know how people in the city feel pretty well. Not as well as people who have lived here their whole lives but probably better than anyone on this board.

 

Maybe, but maybe not.

[JimSorgi]

You don't know New Orleans's suffering until you play bellhop for 4 months there.

 

You are right. I know you didn't mean to be but working downtown where you meet a lot of people who live around New Orleans and talk to them everyday you learn about the city. I have been here almost 9 months and have worked at customer service jobs the whole time. I also went out and reported high school football and sat in crowd where many of them would still talk about Katrina and the city not being rebuilt. One of my roommates also has worked for the America Corps. out in the parishes for 2 years and I hear a lot about the people out there. SO yeah I would say I know how people in the city feel pretty well. Not as well as people who have lived here their whole lives but probably better than anyone on this board.

 

Maybe, but maybe not.

Do you actually think you know more about the city than him? Dude, he talks to people.

[Sammy Sofa]

Da Bum and Skyballer get their knowledge from the people.

 

And tolerance rallies.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

You don't know New Orleans's suffering until you play bellhop for 4 months there.

 

You are right. I know you didn't mean to be but working downtown where you meet a lot of people who live around New Orleans and talk to them everyday you learn about the city. I have been here almost 9 months and have worked at customer service jobs the whole time. I also went out and reported high school football and sat in crowd where many of them would still talk about Katrina and the city not being rebuilt. One of my roommates also has worked for the America Corps. out in the parishes for 2 years and I hear a lot about the people out there. SO yeah I would say I know how people in the city feel pretty well. Not as well as people who have lived here their whole lives but probably better than anyone on this board.

 

Maybe, but maybe not.

Do you actually think you know more about the city than him? Dude, he talks to people.

 

I've never lived in New Orleans, but I've lived all but five of my 37 years in the state. I have a number of friends from there and have visited there a number of times. I met many of the evacuees in shelters, talked to one every day as she taught at my school until she returned home to rebuild her home in the ninth ward. He may have a better understanding of them than I do, but maybe not. Would my living in Chicago for six months give me a better understanding of the city as someone who lived in Illinois their whole life, but not in Chicago? I don't know, but I wouldn't be so presumptuous to claim it.

 

Of course, I'd never claim I was mentally ready to be a parent at 18 either. In fact, I have two and at 37, I'm not sure I'm mentally prepared for it. But I guess we've all learned that da bum knows more than us anyway.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Furthermore, I'm not saying that New Orleans isn't tied up in the Saints and that it doesn't energize the city for the Saints to finally make the Super Bowl. And yes, maybe more so than other cities. And yes, I'm sure it is good for the city because there is much of the city that isn't rebuilt. And Katrina may have actually saved the Saints. Benson long had wanted to move them out of New Orleans. And even considered it in the aftermath of Katrina. He's long held that over the heads of state legislators and has a pretty good sweetheart deal right now.

 

Since Katrina and the strong 2006 season, the Saints have been sold out for season tickets. That stopped Benson and his moving talk. He and the NFL knew that it would be bad PR to discuss moving the team after that. But it was talked about lots even in the aftermath of Katrina. Bum probably doesn't hear much about that. No one talks about it anymore. They're too busy languishing in the euphoria.

 

Yes, people here are tied to the Saints. Louisiana is a football state. The Saints for a long time have been the only pro franchise in the state. Yes, we now have the Hornets and at one time the Jazz were here, but there were many years there where for Louisiana, it was the Saints.

 

And yes, we have all heard the story about Brees coming to save New Orleans, and it makes a good story. But what it is is revisionist history. He followed the money. That's what athletes do. Yes, he has done a lot for the city since signing the deal and he should be commended, but had the Dolphins or anyone else offered him more guaranteed money, Brees would not be in New Orleans. We hear this crap from players all the time. I vaguely remember about a year ago Bradley gushing about how he wanted to be in Chicago...yada, yada, yada....we see how long that lasted. I'm sure Brees had compassion for the city. I'm sure his heart strings were pulled. You would have to be heartless not to feel that way, but in reality Brees is a Saint because they needed a QB bad enough to sign him even with the questions about his shoulder.

[OleMissCub]

Yes, people here are tied to the Saints. Louisiana is a football state.

 

True. Interestingly enough, I'd argue that Mississippi is more of a Saints state top to bottom than Louisiana. In my experience I've come across a whole HELL of a lot of Cowboys fans in that state (such as yourself).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Yes, people here are tied to the Saints. Louisiana is a football state.

 

True. Interestingly enough, I'd argue that Mississippi is more of a Saints state top to bottom than Louisiana. In my experience I've come across a whole HELL of a lot of Cowboys fans in that state (such as yourself).

 

The state is becoming more and more a Saints state. I think every business, school, whatever proclaimed Friday black and gold day here. Years ago, the Saints did a poor job marketing themselves as the team for the whole state. Areas in the northern part of the state often were Cowboys fans, but I'd say if you polled people now, the Saints are definitely the majority here. Fans of other teams here are fewer and fewer, especially in the 25 and under crowd.

[OleMissCub]

Years ago, the Saints did a poor job marketing themselves as the team for the whole state.

 

Yes, I've noticed the marketing of the Saints in recent years emphasize more on the state as a whole with logos like this:

 

http://chicksinthehuddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/saints-louisiana-300x288.jpg

 

I've spent my entire life following them, holding season tickets, and wearing their gear and I don't recall anything like that growing up.

[CubbieBum]

You don't know New Orleans's suffering until you play bellhop for 4 months there.

 

You are right. I know you didn't mean to be but working downtown where you meet a lot of people who live around New Orleans and talk to them everyday you learn about the city. I have been here almost 9 months and have worked at customer service jobs the whole time. I also went out and reported high school football and sat in crowd where many of them would still talk about Katrina and the city not being rebuilt. One of my roommates also has worked for the America Corps. out in the parishes for 2 years and I hear a lot about the people out there. SO yeah I would say I know how people in the city feel pretty well. Not as well as people who have lived here their whole lives but probably better than anyone on this board.

 

Maybe, but maybe not.

Do you actually think you know more about the city than him? Dude, he talks to people.

 

I've never lived in New Orleans, but I've lived all but five of my 37 years in the state. I have a number of friends from there and have visited there a number of times. I met many of the evacuees in shelters, talked to one every day as she taught at my school until she returned home to rebuild her home in the ninth ward. He may have a better understanding of them than I do, but maybe not. Would my living in Chicago for six months give me a better understanding of the city as someone who lived in Illinois their whole life, but not in Chicago? I don't know, but I wouldn't be so presumptuous to claim it.

 

Of course, I'd never claim I was mentally ready to be a parent at 18 either. In fact, I have two and at 37, I'm not sure I'm mentally prepared for it. But I guess we've all learned that da bum knows more than us anyway.

 

You no doubt know more about the city in general. What I was saying is I have a pretty good idea of how the residents here currently feel. I don't know much about anything prior to my getting here. Although I will say visiting New Orleans for the first time one week before Katrina tied me to the city in way and caused me to read a lot about the city. I know how the people here feel at this moment in time anything else I'm sure you know much better than me.

 

As for your analogy I would say someone who has lived in Chicago for 9 months would have a better idea of how the people in the city are currently feeling than someone who has lived in the state of Illinois but not Chicago for all their life.

[imb]

will all of you front-running fake-ass saints fans please shut up

[OleMissCub]

will all of you front-running fake-ass saints fans please shut up

 

don't make me dig out my kids sized Bobby Hebert jersey shirt.

 

it is a bit frustrating at times the bandwagonism(?) that is going on. I was telling some supposed Saints fans about Rickey Jackson getting into the hall yesterday and I basically got blank stares. These folks weren't even around as recently to watch Aaron Brooks throw interceptions and then laugh about it.

[Exile on Waveland]

OK, already anxious/nervous (actually this isn't a phenomenon new to just now). Much different than the Super Bowl three years ago, when I felt extremely comfortable the Colts would win (sorry Bears fans). The Saints are very good and the Colts may be playing with their second best player ineffective (I've never much doubted he'd try play).

 

As to Dwight Freeney, this changes the entire complexion of the game. He's easily the second most important player on the team, the defense is built around him. I still have nightmares about the Charger playoff game two years ago when Freeney was out and Billy Volek had all day to stand in the pocket and shred the Colts defense (though Robert Mathis and Raheem Brock both were playing injured that game as well). However, I don't think lack of pressure will be the salient issue for the Colts sans healthy Freeney. I didn't expect tons of pressure from Freeney anyway -- there's basically no way Jermon Bushrod could block a healthy Freeney. The Saints know this, and would have been compelled to leave an extra blocker to help Bushrod on Freeney. Freeney would have been a great decoy taking two blockers, freeing up Mathis and, most importantly, limiting the pass receiving threats for Brees. The Colts secondary is banged up (two guys on IR, and Jerraud Powers coming off some mysterious surgery). The less blockers, the more receivers and the more difficult it will be for the Colts to cover them. That's what I'm most worried about -- not the lack of pressure from Freeney, but the extra receiver to defend and probably the extra blocker on Mathis. Luckily, Brock isn't a chump and shouldn't get dominated -- he's just not Freeney. I thought the Colts defense could slow the Saints offense down a decent amount; now I think the Saints will move the ball relatively easily, hopefully the Colts can force field goals. I'll be thrilled with any forced punt.

 

On offense, I think the Colts will actually be able to run the ball well. If so, count on a lot of points. When the Colts can run, they are almost impossible to stop. They're coming off probably their best ground performance of the year, too. I still don't fully trust the coverage units, though the Colts kick much better (Pat McAfee has been revelatory as a punter and kickoff man). Bush worries me. Hopefully the Colts can avoid game-changing turnovers and special teams plays unlike the Vikings/Cardinals.

 

In the end, though Freeney's absence changes the complexion and my (score) prediction, I think the Colts will find a way at the end (that's been their modus operandi all year). I'll say Colts 34, Saints 30.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

will all of you front-running fake-ass saints fans please shut up

 

don't make me dig out my kids sized Bobby Hebert jersey shirt.

 

it is a bit frustrating at times the bandwagonism(?) that is going on. I was telling some supposed Saints fans about Rickey Jackson getting into the hall yesterday and I basically got blank stares. These folks weren't even around as recently to watch Aaron Brooks throw interceptions and then laugh about it.

 

It's reached epic proportions around here with all these "long-suffering" Saints fans here in Monroe. I know more about former Saints players and past history than many of the "die-hard" Saints fans I've talked to. Also, many can't believe why I'm not donning the black and gold and chanting "Who Dat?' One co-worker I talked to didn't even know about Ditka trading the entire draft for Ricky Williams. But she's been a Saints fan her whole life (she's 32) and has waited so long for this.

[OleMissCub]

One co-worker I talked to didn't even know about Ditka trading the entire draft for Ricky Williams.

 

hah. Yeah, I'd imagine 25% of Saints fans were those who joined the bandwagon in 2006 and another probably 40% got on it this year.

 

If you don't know what the phrase "Dome Patrol" means, then you aren't a long suffering Saints fan. And if you don't know about the Ricky Williams fiasco (I'll always dislike him for the way he treated Deuce), then you REALLY haven't been around all that long.

[OleMissCub]

there's basically no way Jermon Bushrod could block a healthy Freeney.

 

That's a bit of an exaggeration. Jared Allen didn't even touch Brees and only had 2 tackles.

[UMFan83]

Most Saints fans were even around long enough to experience John Karney missing the XP after a miracle TD in 2003? That's sad. No offense to fans but I laughed so hard when I saw that. And then felt bad. But mostly laughed.

[Exile on Waveland]

there's basically no way Jermon Bushrod could block a healthy Freeney.

 

That's a bit of an exaggeration. Jared Allen didn't even touch Brees and only had 2 tackles.

 

Bushrod had help.

[OleMissCub]

there's basically no way Jermon Bushrod could block a healthy Freeney.

 

That's a bit of an exaggeration. Jared Allen didn't even touch Brees and only had 2 tackles.

 

Bushrod had help.

 

lol, every LT gets help sometimes. Are you trying to set this up to where if the Colts lose you can blame it all on Freeney not being 100%?

[Exile on Waveland]

there's basically no way Jermon Bushrod could block a healthy Freeney.

 

That's a bit of an exaggeration. Jared Allen didn't even touch Brees and only had 2 tackles.

 

Bushrod had help.

 

lol, every LT gets help sometimes. Are you trying to set this up to where if the Colts lose you can blame it all on Freeney not being 100%?

 

My God. Are you intentionally misconstruing what I'm saying? I'm not setting anything up; football players get hurt and teams have to deal with that. If the Saints win, they win. Doesn't matter who was out. On the flip side, of course Freeney being banged up changes the game. I'm not sure why pointing that out is offensive to you; it's not an excuse, it's the truth.

 

And while all left tackles get help sometime, the Saints had two guys blocking Allen pretty much every snap (going on recollection here and reports, obviously haven't studied game film). Bushrod wasn't on an island with Allen, he wouldn't have been on one with Freeney. The same respect won't be afforded Brock, freeing another player to run routes.

[SouthSideRyan]

Although I will say visiting New Orleans for the first time one week before Katrina tied me to the city in way and caused me to read a lot about the city.

 

Oh Shut the [expletive] up

[hardcorecubfan]

Yes, people here are tied to the Saints. Louisiana is a football state.

 

True. Interestingly enough, I'd argue that Mississippi is more of a Saints state top to bottom than Louisiana. In my experience I've come across a whole HELL of a lot of Cowboys fans in that state (such as yourself).

 

 

That's because Dallas actually played football for the last 30 years.

[OleMissCub]

And while all left tackles get help sometime, the Saints had two guys blocking Allen pretty much every snap (going on recollection here and reports, obviously haven't studied game film).

 

Yeah, you're wrong. I just watched the first three Saints possession on my DVR and only twice did Bushrod have help. Bushrod has turned into an extremely good tackle this year as evidenced in part by the fact of how few times Brees has been sacked.

[Exile on Waveland]

And while all left tackles get help sometime, the Saints had two guys blocking Allen pretty much every snap (going on recollection here and reports, obviously haven't studied game film).

 

Yeah, you're wrong. I just watched the first three Saints possession on my DVR and only twice did Bushrod have help. Bushrod has turned into an extremely good tackle this year as evidenced in part by the fact of how few times Brees has been sacked.

 

OK, obviously I should have clarified; I painted too broad of a brush stroke. No one is going to double team Freeney on running plays or even most quick/short passes. Of those first three drives you cite, as per ESPN's play-by-play, the Saints had 17 plays with five being runs and eight passes described as "short." It's the 3rd-and-long, the obvious passing downs where Bushrod got help. I'm certain that in those passing downs, the Saints would have left two guys in to block Freeney (though it wouldn't surprise me if they now give Mathis the same treatment). That is what may give the Saints a huge advantage.

[CubbieBum]

Although I will say visiting New Orleans for the first time one week before Katrina tied me to the city in way and caused me to read a lot about the city.

 

Oh Shut the [expletive] up

 

Uh no. I felt horrible after getting back and a lot was because I just gotten back from the city. It tied me emotionally to the city and probably contributed to my moving here.

 

Just so everyone knows I don't have a problem with people calling me a bandwagon Saints fan. I am a fan because of Brees. If Brees wasn't there I probably wouldn't care a whole lot how the Saints do (although being surrounded by their fans is rubbing off). I would still be rooting for the Saints in this game because I loathe the Colts but the 49ers are still 1st and always will be to me. I do have an old Jim Everett Saints jersey though.

[USSoccer]

Although I will say visiting New Orleans for the first time one week before Katrina tied me to the city in way and caused me to read a lot about the city.

 

Oh Shut the [expletive] up

 

Uh no. I felt horrible after getting back and a lot was because I just gotten back from the city. It tied me emotionally to the city and probably contributed to my moving here.

 

This post convinces me that you're simply just a master of humor and not a serious poster, because no one with any sense of anything would seriously feel bad after a hurricane destroys a city because they just returned from there.

 

What, do you think because you left the levees broke?