Darren Sharper Contract Situation

After the highs of the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras it's time to get back to business and what better way to return to Earth from a fairytale than to talk about free agent Saints player contracts.  At the last count there are some 18 restricted free agents on the Saints roster including the likes of Darren Sharper, Roman Harper, Jermon Bushrod,  guard Jahri Evans and tailbacks Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell.  I would like all of these guys to be resigned at the earliest opportunity but it is Darren Sharpers contract situation that concerns me given the leadership and game changing qualities he brings to the Saints D.

Sharper signed on for $1.7 million last season with two midseason bonuses included in the one year deal.  The Saints could have placed a franchise tag on the super safety but that would have pushed his salary up to $6.455 million which is pretty difficult to justify no matter how much we all love number 42.

Darren Sharper Contract Negotiations... Well actually Cuba Gooding Jr, but you get the point

 

So whilst the Saints have every right to let Darren Sharper test the waters of free agency I am just hoping good sense prevails and both sides recognise the perfect match they make for each other.  To give him his due Sharper has repeatedly stated that he wants to re-sign so let's just hope General Manager Mickey Loomis is waxing lyrical in his discussions and both sides can come to an accomodation sometime soon.

I guess the one thing that all players will recognise in this period of horse trading is that as a collective the Saints players reached the pinnacle of their sport only a matter of weeks ago.  So long as they can keep in perpespective the fact that winning the big one is attainable again next season then perhaps they will be prepared to forgo a little salary bump in return for keeping this special group of players together for one more season.

That is why it is imperative that the remaining restricted free agents Jammal Brown, David Thomas, Kyle Eckel, Lance Moore, Courtney Roby, Chris Reis, Remi Ayodele, Anthony Hargrove,  Jeff Charleston,  Marvin Mitchell and Leigh Torrence think about what can be achieved so long as the 'quan' doesn't get in the way.  The Saints could be at the start of a defining era so whilst every one deserves their pay day, let's just hope it doesn't tear a great team apart.

Drew Brees Confirms Words to his Chant

Drew Brees dropped into Lucy's bar following the Saints Super Bowl parade and finally confirmed the words to his chant.  Here's the video and the confirmed words as previously reported on the Drew Brees chant post.

Drew Brees Chant at Lucy's Bar

Brees: 1; Chorus: 2
Brees: Win; Chorus: For You
Brees: 3; Chorus: 4
Brees: Win; Chorus: Some More
Brees: 5; Chorus: 6
Brees: Win; Chorus: For Kicks
Brees: 7; Chorus: 8
Brees: Win; Chorus: It's Great
Brees: 9; Chorus: 10
Brees: Win; Chorus: Again
All: Again, Again, Again, Again! 

What a legend.  He makes me want to suit up now and go get the opposition.  Just wish the season was starting again today.  

I love rewatching all these videos of the Super Bowl parties in New Orleans.

And this Bourbon Street party.

Great videos and memories for all Saints fans.  It's still unbelievable two weeks down the line.

Drew Brees reveals Saints' pre-game battle cry - Posted in: NFL, Video. Tags: Drew Brees chant, Drew Brees war cry, New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV. Related Posts. 2010 Super Bowl surpasses finale of “M*A*S*H” · Will the Saints become a dynasty? Did Manning and Wayne display poor ... Drew Brees Teaches Saints Pre-Game Chant To New Orleans Fans (VIDEO) - ... Brees Teaches Saints Pre Game Chant To New Orleans Fans VIDEO Drew Brees Drew Brees At Lucy Drew Brees Bar Drew Brees Chant Drew Brees Fans Drew Brees Lucy Drew Brees Pregame Chant NFL Saints Super Bowl Super Bowl XLIV Sports News ...

Tiger Woods Ain't No Saint

Look into my eyes, directly into my eyes, not around my eyes but directly into them... OK and you're under my spell. I am Tiger Woods. What I did was wrong. I am very sorry for the hurt I have caused. I did not mean to do these things. I am very sorry. I messed up. Please stone me oh court of public opinion and have your pound of flesh but in the end forgive me so I can go back to my comfortable life again pretty soon... So said the man who looked like a machine talking to camera at the end of last week.

Talk about being forced up there by your PR man and sponsors. What a sterile, insincere performance.

I'll level with you, I hate golf. Yes I know that's a sin to some people but I just couldn't give a rats ass about the sport so all in all I know very little about Tiger Woods and care even less.

So to me this whole affair has been a case of 'who cares?'... But as it turns out, just about every one. However watching the public reading the other day was pretty uncomfortable viewing.

Here is a guy idolized by millions, paid astronomical sums of money to hit a ball with a stick and apparantly sleeping with half the population of Florida. Talk about caught with your pants down. Wow, I don't know about your golf Tiger but that is some impressive bed hopping. How he had the mental fortitude to lie on such a scale is pretty amazing.

To watch that performance was to see a guy who felt he had to say those words to keep sponsors happy. Is he really sorry? I doubt it. I think he's more sorry he got found out. If he was really sorry he wouldn't have cheated on his wife and kids with so many woman.

I mean there's having an affair and then there's complete and utter contempt for your family. Yes people make mistakes in life and have affairs, etc, which you forgive and move on, but to have that many extra marital affairs is industrial scale cheating.

I just feel sorry for his wife and kid because they have to live with that fact. Never again can Tiger say 'just popping out for some milk, need anything' (not that he probably does) and his wife not think 'is he sleeping with the girl from the 7/11?'.

I guess all I'm saying is everyone makes mistakes and deserves forgiveness but did I see someone who is genuinely sorry for what he has done? Nope. More a case of 'how much do I stand to loose if I don't get up and make this apology?'. Shame as I hear he's quite good at hitting a ball with a stick and was a role model to millions of kids.  I guess at least he can take heart in the fact he's now a role model to Charlie Sheen.

And the World just keeps on turning...

It's almost two weeks since magic Sunday and I'm only just about starting to come down from that high when Tracy Porter picked Mr Perfect. It still feels weird to be known as Super Bowl champions. I roll it round in my mouth like some kind of wine connoisseur and it tastes like something distant and faint like something lost in the sands of time. I find it hard to believe that the team of my life somehow found it in them to not be shit, average or just about good but instead be bold, brilliant and majestic... Finally I know what it feels like to be with the winning team!

That said I would not change the years of suffering and plain ineptness for all the tea in China (and my mums cupboard - which literally competes with China when it comes to tea consumption).

There was so much beauty in our beast. The ecstasy of big jump out leads, the pulse racing brilliance of watching big time come backs, the nerve shredding endurance race that was the Super Bowl first half, all played their part in a season to remember.

And now we just have the off season and time to reflect.

I've already watched the Super Bowl game back 5 times and whilst it is always great I just wish the new season was upon us so we could go again whilst team Super Bowl are all together. I fear however that many of our close knit team will depart to big money offers and we'll loose some of the magic that so held this great bunch of players together. Only time will tell but in the management we trust.

And so to matters at hand and how to get through the next few months without football.

We've obviously got the sheepish apology of Tiger Woods to look forward to, the 4 man bobsleigh event at the Winter Olympics (got to love the sight of people running down an ice sheet and then jumping into a tiny buggy and praying to God not to crash), the first shoots of spring and the annual Easter egg hunt where over competitive Dad will go all out to bring home the candy. 'Out of my way kids, that egg is mine', 'look there's no point crying about it', 'life is tough, get used to it', 'no I won't give the kids a share of my candy no matter how much you threaten to withold sex lady Falconer'... 'Kids here's the candy, Daddy was wrong to win the egg hunt and, sorry what was the next line dear? oh yeah and I was juvenile and I should realize I'm an adult now and not a child and something else, blah de blah, blah, boring, boring... Honey where are you going? Hun? I said I was sorry', 'Oh man am I in trouble'...

And so the World keeps on turning.

Saints Super Bowl Merchandise

I've just been looking through the Amazon shop for Saints Super Bowl Merchandise and I cannot believe what you can already buy.  I know people are geared up for either team winning but it still amazes me how fast they get this stuff put together and ready for the rush of us frenzied fans.  I admit I couldn't help buying some stuff as I went through there.  I mean how often have the Saints ever been Super Bowl Champions?  Well now the answer is a nice big beautiful one time baby!!

I think my favorite items have to be the Saints Super Bowl DVD, the shot glasses, the Saints Super Bowl Monopoly board (brilliant!) and the Super Bowl Commemerative Gold coins.  They've also got Reggie Bush, Drew Brees, Marques Colston and Lance Moore Super Bowl player jerseys to name but a few.  I'm not normally one to buy this stuff but somehow it just feels right for once, you know what I mean?

There's got to be a pile of this exact same stuff with the Colts logo all over it heading for land fill somewhere right now.  Oh well, better that than Who Dat Super Bowl Merchandise as there can only be one winner... Oh yeah right, it was us!!

Drew Brees Super Bowl MVP

The Saints Super Bowl Sunday win is a night that will live long in the hearts of all the Who Dat Nation.  After decades of hurt and after the trauma of Katrina the city of New Orleans came together last night to rejoice in the brilliance that was our Saints team and boy did we deserve it!

Bourbon Street Super Bowl Party

After some early nerves and missed opportunities the team came together with renewed vigor to get the job done in the second half.  Sean Payton made one of the gutsiest calls of all time with the kick off and from then on we had the wind in our sails.

If ever there was a game changing moment you can attribute to a coach this was it.  It seemed to give the whole team belief and they played the second half in the fashion we've become accustomed to - high intensity and an unstoppable will to win.

Drew Brees Super Bowl MVP - The Saints legend was sheer class once he'd got his nerves under control.  He found his rhythm early in the 2nd Quarter and never looked back.  His 32 completions from 39 attempts equalled the Super Bowl completion record set by Tom Brady.  But it was his ice cool leadership, play calling and execution that really told the story of the Saints Super Bowl win and ensured the great man left the big game rightly hailed as the games MVP.  Finally he has the recognition he so deserves for all his tireless work and dedication to the Saints cause.

Drew Brees Super Bowl MVP Interview

On the other side of the ball Jonathan Vilma continued to do what he has done all year by directing the Saints D around the field in answer to Peyton Mannings audibles.  His reading of Manning on a 3rd and 11 with 11 on the clock in the 4th Quarter was another game changer.

Manning audibled and Vilma reacted directing the secondary to drop back before himself making a play on the ball to break up the eventual pass near the end zone.  With the score set at Saints 16 Colts 17 this was a moment of genuine brilliance by the Saints D Captain and one that ended up being decisive.

Talking of decisive moments how about Tracy Porter getting the read on Peyton Manning and taking it to the house?  I don't think I have ever been as excited in my life as I was in those few seconds of brilliance by the young Saints CB.  What a play and what a way to kill off the biggest game in Saints history.

All the team are Super Saints

Praise goes to every Saints player and coach on the field as they all did a great job but there are a couple of under appreciated people I want to pay tribute to.

First up Lance Moore.  The Saints WR has spent the majority of the year on the sidelines with his troublesome ankle injury so it was great to see him make such an important grab on the 2 point conversion.

Lance Moore 2 Point Conversion

Next up Roman Harper who was all over the field making important tackles throughout the game and underlining what a vital player he is.  Yes he got burned by Garcon for the go ahead touchdown but he continued to play his game and helped contain the many threats the Colts receiving corps posed.

Finally a shout out to Pierre Thomas and Marques Colston.  Both produced the goods when called upon and helped the Saints juggernaut offense start to move with conviction.  Colston for one could have lost confidence following an early dropped pass but he put it behind him to lead the Saints in receiving with 7 grabs for 83 yards.

Oops I almost overlooked new Saints legend himself Garrett Hartley who nailed all 3 of his field goals, the shortest being from 44 yards, to keep the Saints in contention.  Without his cool temperament the game could easily have gotten away from us in those early exchanges.

Finally

All in all it was the best night of my life and I still cannot believe we are Super Bowl Champions.  It just feels so alien.  But if ever there was a city and a people that deserved it then the people of New Orleans and all the Who Dat Nation would be first in the queue.  Who Dat, Who Dat, Who Dat say dey gonna dem Saints?!! 

Saints Super Bowl Highlights

The Saints have finally won a Super Bowl and all of New Orleans will be partying for weeks to come. It's what the city has been waiting for and this year the Saints have played some unbelievable football en route to our first ever Super Bowl victory.

Who Dat Super Bowl Highlights

Here are a selection of Saints Super Bowl highlights videos from the big game. Watching it back it stands to reason that Drew Brees should win the MVP award for the way he cooly led the Saints back from that early defecit. He was perfection personified and the major reason why the Saints have had a season that will live long in our memories.

Saints Super Bowl Highlights Video

Drew Brees Super Bowl MVP on David Letterman

What a great guy, what a leader, what a player, what a team!

The 2009/2010 Saints Super Bowl Champions - every player is a legend!!  Who Dat Tracy Porter, Who Dat Jon Vilma, Who Dat Pierre Thomas, Who Dat Reggie Bush, Who Dat Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem and Lance Moore, Who Dat Jeremy Shockey, Who Dat David Thomas, Mike Bell and the incredible O line, Who Dat Scott Shanle, Scott Fujita, Malcolm Jenkins, Usama Young, Roman Harper and Darren Sharper, Who Dat Courtney Roby, Jonathan Casillas, Chris Reis, Garrett Hartley and Thomas Morstead, Who Dat Will Smith, Remi Ayodele, Sedrick Ellis, Bobby McCray, Charles Grant and Anthony Hargrove, Who Dat all the Saints players past and present... and finally Who Dat Sean Payton and Gregg Williams, Commanders in Chiefs, technicians of the Master Plan!! 

The Saints Super Bowl Highlights videos will live long in the memory.

Drew Brees MVP Super Bowl

Drew Brees is the deserving winner of the Super Bowl MVP award following the most legendary performance of all time.  That was incredible and forever Drew Brees will be a Saints legend.

I cannot take this in.  I just cannot believe it.  We are Super Bowl champions.  Drew Brees be thy name!!

I don't think I've ever been so happy.  Fuck I just cannot take this in.

Who Dat Nation = we won it baby!!  We won it baby!!

Drew Brees MVP Super Bowl!!!

Saints Super Bowl Victory!!!!!!

Oh MY God!  Oh MY God!  Oh MY God!  Oh MY God!  Oh MY God! Oh MY God! Oh MY God!

I cannot believe it!  The New Orleans Saints have won the Super Bowl, I repeat the New Orleans Saints have won the Super Bowl!

What a result.  What a team.  What a season.  What a city.  I love you New Orleans!!!!!!

Saints Super Bowl Party

With just hours to go until the greatest night of the Who Dat Nations collective lives and I am as excited as a kid in a candy store who's been told every day is Christmas and he never need go to school again... and his house is made of jelly and his team, the Saints, are about to win their first ever Super Bowl.  In a word I am excitelingly-fantasmically-prepersezedly-my-lord-hallelujahlarly-out-of-this-World -fired-up for tonight,  None of that made sense but you catch the drift.

It's been such a long road to get to this point that I can't quite believe this is finally Super Sunday with the Saints in the big game.  All those years of heartache and worry, all the years of holding our heads in our collective hands, all those years of being the laughing stock of the league have all been worth it to get to this point.

I don't think we would be this excited if we hadn't been through so much.  So to the class of Hobby Brenner, Bobby Hebert, Rueben Mayes, Dalton Hilliard, Wayne Martin, Pat Swilling, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughn Johnson, Morten Anderson, Craig Hayward, Eric Martin, Frank Warren, Dave Waymer and co. through my early childhood class of Earl Campbell, George Rodgers, Jeff Groff, Richard Todd and Dave Wilson (my first Saints shirt and first experience of people laughing at my team) right through to the teams of Brooks, Horn, Smith, Cleeland, Stallworth, and every other Saints player who has busted a gut for the team before or since, now is our time, today is our day of destiny, today is our payback!

Big love to the Who Dat Nation and all who have ridden the waves to get to this point.  May our collective will ensure a happy ending to this dream season.  Our team has the talent, the desire and the ability to get it done.  Now it's time to tune in, drink some beer and shout until our voices go hoarse!

Saints Injury News for Super Bowl Sunday

The Saints injury report makes great reading ahead of Super Bowl Sunday with only reserve running back Lynell Hamilton reported as questionable. Even Saints talisman Jeremy Shockey was running full routes throughout Friday's final practise session leaving Saints fans and coaching staff with all round smiles heading into the big game.

In contrast the Colts continue to have question marks about the playing ability of pass rush king Dwight Freeney. So whilst trying not to get ahead of ourselves I think that can be chalked up as Saints 1 Colts 0 ahead of the big kick off. Now if only we could somehow slip a couple of laxatives into Peyton Manning's coffee tomorrow morning I think we're all set for a slightly more comfortable game.

Here's the complete Saints Injury News ahead of Super Bowl Sunday.  Don't worry, I think they'd report someone as having a slightly grazed knuckle right now but every Saints player is all set to go for Sunday with the possible exception of Lynell Hamilton:

Lynell Hamilton Saints RB: Ankle injury, game status questionable. He did not participate in practice this week.

Randall Gay Saints CB: Illness, game status probable. He did not participate in practice this week.

Jermon Bushrod Saints T: Thumb injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Jonathan Casillas Saints LB: Ankle injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Darnell Dinkins Saints TE: Foot injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Jahri Evans Saints G: Foot injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Scott Fujita Saints LB: Knee injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Jabari Greer Saints CB: Groin injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Robert Meachem Saints WR: Ankle injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Lance Moore Saints WR: Ankle injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Tracy Porter Saints CB: Knee injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Pierson Prioleau Saints S: Quadricep injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Will Smith Saints DE: Groin injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Jonathan Vilma Saints LB: Knee injury, game status probable. Full participation in practice.

Malcolm Jenkins Saints CB: Hamstring injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.

Bobby McCray Saints DE: Back injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.

Courtney Roby Saints WR: Knee injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.

Darren Sharper Saints S: Knee injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.

Jeremy Shockey Saints TE: Knee injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.

Zach Strief Saints T: Shoulder injury, game status probable. Limited participation in practice this week.

Saints Super Bowl Shopping List

Like many a good Saints fan who can't make it down to Miami I will be watching the big game at home with a group of friends and a nervous disposition. I'm excited as hell but the fact is I'm developing a slight twitch and am already finding it difficult to hold a drink without spilling it such is the inner tension. So the only course of action I can see is to write a big Saints Super Bowl shopping list to keep my mind at bay. So here's what Dr. Falconer is ordering.

1. A Drew Brees 400+ yard game, 3/4 TD haul and 0 ints - check,

2. A Pierre Thomas 100+ yard game - check,

3. A Will Smith Bobby McCray Peyton Manning sandwich with a side of Reggie Wayne fumbles - check, check,

4. 2 Reggie Bush game changing moments for the highlights reel - I'll have to see what they've got out back but I'm pretty sure we can accommodate,

5. Another Darren Sharper Jonathan Vilma same game interception haul - absolutely, check,

6. About 100 tins of beer for the Falconer troop + whisky when we win - goes without saying and already in the house,

7. A Who half time performance we can all sing along to safe in the knowledge the Saints are almost home and dry - hmm, might struggle with this one but we'll see if there's any in the warehouse,

8. A combo of ribs, pizza, chips and dips to be on hand throughout the game - you sure that's all? I think we have more stuff en route for delivery.

 

Is that all you want dear?  

N.B. Not actually Lady Falconer

Good lady Falconer is off to the grocery store shortly to get the complete Saints Super Bowl Shopping List order fulfilled. Anything you want ordered please holla now.

Saints Super Bowl Dream

Sometimes in my dreams I'm able to levitate. Othertimes I'm out somewhere chatting to people and they keep changing into random people from the past. Last night however it was Super Bowl Sunday and the Saints were winning. Now that is a dream I can believe in!

So using my unconcious mind as some sort of predictive tool here is what's going to happen in the big game.

The Saints will open up with a quick 7 point lead. How they get there I can't quite remember. On the next possession Payton Manning will drop back and turn into Brett Favre at which point Tracy Porter will blitz out of nowhere and sack him for a safety. Saints 9 Colts 0. After that it gets a little strange.

Saints Super Bowl Dream

 

On the Colts next possession the Colts lineman will turn into cheerleaders who will hold the Saints pass rush at bay. Brett Favre will continue to lead the Colts but not really get them anywhere. The Saints will then get the ball back and score but I can't really tell you who gets the TD as by this point I'm running round the house being chased by a wolf. And so the Saints go into the locker room 16 to 0 up.

What happens in the 2nd half is anyones guess as I got rudely awakened by the alarm clock. I guess we'll just have to wait till Sunday to find out. If we do score in that order I may set myself up as Mystic Pete and rent a booth down on Coney Island boardwalk. That and remind myself that no one is interested in listenting to other peoples dream stories and so apologies for wasting 3 minutes of your life on this drivel.

Fleur de Lis t-shirts

This week I recieved a nice email from a lady who designs t-shirts asking if I would give her Fluer de Lis t-shirts a plug ahead of Sundays big game.  Now I know as much about ladies t's as farmers in Uzbekistan know about Courtney Roby's shaving habits, that is to say very little (as witnessed by the litany of returned Xmas presents over the years from my good lady wife).  That said these t's do wear the Saints emblem, are made by a very nice lady and I gave my word I would let people know about them.  

So without further ado here they are.

Fleur de Lis t-shirts

Sparkle Plenty Designs, Inc.
800-952-0446
http://www.sparkle-plenty.com/fleur-de-lis-tee.html
Specializing in Custom Crystal logos...
see your name sparkle like diamonds!!!
*** As featured in Entrepreneur magazine ***

Special shipping discount available so they are shipped ahead of Super Bowl Sunday

Coming soon... An actual post about football.