Nicks vs Suh. Cornhusker vs Cornhusker.

Great article from Clarion Ledger Rick Cleveland this morning on the challenges the Saints offensive line faces in blocking Detroit Lions Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh who was suspended during their regular season matchup.  Much of the responsibility for keeping Suh off of Drew Brees is Offensive Guard and fellow Nebraksa Cornhusker Carl Nicks who had faced a much younger Suh occasionally in practice at Nebraska.  Filling in for Suh during his suspension was Mobile native and former Auburn All-American Nick Fairley, who also proved to be a handful and got a sack on Brees.  The Lions defensive line is definetely the team's greatest strength, however they are coming off definitely their worst performance after former LSU QB Matt Flynn set franchise records throwing for 480 yards in a reserve role in the Green Bay Packers
45-41 victory over the Lions. 

NEW ORLEANS — The NFL's brightest spotlight almost always shines on the quarterbacks, especially when one of them is named Drew Brees.
Here Saturday night in the Louisiana Superdome, we may have that rare exception. If NBC cameramen are doing their jobs, their focus often will be on New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks and their personal battles with Detroit Lions All-Everything (including bad boy) tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Whoever wins those battles gives their team the best chance to advance.
For full article:  http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120105/COL0504/201050334/Taming-Suh?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p

Which Would You Choose: Saints Win Superbowl or LSU Win National Championship?

What an incredible week of football that is taking place in New Orleans!  Tuesday night Michigan defeated Virginia Tech in overtime to win the Sugar Bowl.  Then on Saturday the Saints host the Detroit Lions in the first round of the NFL playoffs followed by LSU and Alabama meeting in a rematch for the National Championship on Monday.  With all of the hype surrounding the LSU/Alabama rematch, the Sugar Bowl has almost seemed like an afterthought, while the Saints playoff game also seems to be playing second fiddle, but I think the reason for that is the assumption that a win over Detroit is automatic.

I do not fit into both categories, but since most Saints and LSU fans are one in the same, the back to back games of each team playing in the Superdome this weekend makes me curious what they would choose if they had to:  "For the Saints to win the Superbowl or LSU to win the National Championship?"

Feel free to share.

Manning Stunned By Colts Dismissal Of Polian

Strangely enough, Manning, whose season-ending neck injury and subsequent surgeries sent the Colts down the path to the No. 1 pick, was meeting with Bill Polian when Polian was summoned away for a meeting with Irsay on Monday afternoon.
"I was stunned, I was surprised, I was saddened and just disappointed that it all happened this way," Manning told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen by telephone. "I was actually meeting with Bill in the training room and we were talking about my rehab schedule, what I could and couldn't do in the facility under the new (collective bargaining agreement) and my checkpoints when he was summoned to see Irsay. He actually chuckled and said, 'We'll see.' "

For full article:  http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7414912/indianapolis-colts-fire-bill-polian-chris-polian-peyton-manning-stunned-decision

Panthers Coach Ron Rivera Warns Rest Of NFC About Saints

NEW ORLEANS -- Carolina coach Ron Rivera has a message for the rest of the NFC: You don't want any of the New Orleans Saints.

"If you put the tape on and watch how they played against Atlanta and watch how they played against us and the first thing you say to yourself is, 'Wow, I hope we don't have to play them,'" Rivera said after watching the Saints whip his Panthers 45-17 on Sunday. "Whoever's playing them is playing a very good football team that's on a hot roll right now."
To continue reading:  http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/01/saints_are_the_team_no_one_wan.html

Eli Manning Proves He Is Among NFL's Elite Quarterbacks

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Eli Manning is what he said he was: an elite NFL quarterback.

The Giants QB capped off a record-breaking regular season by throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-14 playoff-clinching victory over the hated Cowboys on Sunday night.

“He’s had a lot of great seasons,” coach Tom Coughlin replied when asked if this was Manning’s best. “We will wait and see and talk about that one.”
To continue reading: 
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/giants/post/_/id/10269/eli-manning-elite-nfl-qb-indeed