Scott Fujita - The King is Dead, Long Live the King

It is with some sadness that I have to inform you that Scott Fujita has left the Saints to join the hapless Cleveland Browns... (cue LP scratching off turntable/People turning round with looks of disdain).  OK so I'm a little late writing up the news these days, in fact a lot late, so sue me why don't you.  I've got to earn a living after all.  But I just wanted to add my two cents to the Scott Fujita tribute archive whilst we are still in the official period of mourning.

You see the Saints LB was not only a supreme team player but also a great guy as witnessed by his generous donations to the coastal improvements fund.  He's the kind of guy every locker room should have and the Cleveland Browns will be well served with him in their team.

It also underlines the fragility of our attachment to Saints players.  Over the years I have been pained to see players I love and respect leave town for adventures new only to see them excel elsewhere and leave me crying into my giant Saints foam hand.

'Why Pat Swilling?  Why oh why do you have to leave us?' I cried at the age of 16.  'First Ricky Jackson leaves and now you?  I will never again enjoy watching QB's being torn limb from limb in such numbers'.

That was the first real period of mourning I had in my Saints life.  It was tough going.  Friends would drop by the house.  I would hear my mum let them in and offer a cautionary 'don't mention the Dome Patrol' warning to them.  They would come into my room and make polite conversation, offer to open the curtains maybe and then retreat as my cold hard stare froze their will to live in their tracks.  I was inconsolable, I was a wreck, I was 16.

Days would pass, I would slumber in bed sometimes listening to In Utero sometimes not.  Always thinking about Pat and Ricky tearing in from the edge, knowing I would never again see fear in Joe Montana's eyes.  Over time the freakish devotion to the Dome Patrol and the Saints would make way for girls, bad haircuts and rebellion but always the pain would linger.

That is why I say to all adolescents out there (and Michelle at Saints Rants for I know you must be hurting) you have to let go.  I know it hurts but Scott is going to a new life now.  He will always have a place in our hearts and will not be forgotten but you have to open the curtains again and let the light in, turn off In Utero (or whatever the teenage angst album of choice is these days) and go forth and prepare for the draft.

It will be OK and maybe one day, like all good ex-Saints players, he will return to the fold in some management capacity and once again infuse a bit of that Scott Fujita magic back into the organization.  In the meantime blessed be you on your journey Scott - the King is Dead, Long Live the King!

Who's your money on for this years Super Bowl?

Hi sports fans,

So the NFL season is back and we're already in week 2, can you believe it?!!  I love the early stages of the season as being a die hard Saints fan I am able to maintain hope until at least weeks 6 or 8.  Thereafter the crushing reality of another playoffless season looms ever larger in the distance and I start having to stat crunch to at least see if any of our boys will make the Pro Bowl.



This season we've jumped out to a 2 and 0 start in some style.  I won't get ahead of myself and predict a division championship but I will say at least we look like contenders.  If Drew Bree's can stay fit and healthy we have as good a chance as anybody.  That said Defence's win championships, as the old saying goes, and sometimes I think my old gran could tackle better in open play than some of our so called linebackers... oh how I wish the Dome Patrol were still around.  So far so good  but I'm not sure we have the frontline quality and depth to go all the way (please, please prove me wrong boys).

OK so that is my opening admission, I am a Saints fan, yadder, yadder, but I don't want this to be a Saints focused blog and basically just love football so will endeavour to speak from a neutrals perspective as much as is humanly possible.

Early surprises for me are witnessing a 100% record for the Broncos and Jets to date.  I'm impressed by how fast Mark Sanchez has made an impact as the pressure's on a rookie QB are pretty intense especially playing for a hard to please New York crowd.  Granted it's not the same kind of pressure as holding down 3 jobs, supporting a family of 5 with back rent and outstanding utility bills (any help would be much appreciated ;-) ) but you get my point.

Talking of QB's it's great to see Tom Brady back playing.  Quality QB's make for a better league and I for one love to watch the likes of Tom, Manning, Favre, et al, ply their trade.  It's a highly skilled business and it's fantastic to watch when executed by such practitioners of the art.

OK so early season prediction time.  I'm wagering a tonne on the Steelers to regain the Vince Lombardi trophy.  They'll beat either the Bears or Saints (OK the Bears as I said I'd be neutral) in the big final with a big Ben QB sneak with 1.32 left on the clock.

You read it here first people.  Get your spread bet set on that now.