Throw a Heisman Trophy winning running back in front of the Saints on Draft Day and they just can't help
themselves. It's like dangling a T-Bone Steak in front of a salivating bulldog, and they will trade away their life savings and first born to put themselves in position to make the pick if necessary. Since 1981, the Saints have drafted four Heisman Trophy Running Backs: George Rogers, Ricky Williams, Reggie Bush and most recently, Mark Ingram. You can also include Earl Campbell in the mix, whom the Saints traded for in 1984, reuniting then Coach Bum Phillips with his former All Pro running back from the Houston Oilers. Obviously, there was a fairly wide time gap between Rogers and Williams, but the irrestible Heisman attraction never faded away.
The jury is still out on Ingram after just one season, but it is safe to say that Rogers, Williams and Bush never
met the high expectations that Saints fans had for them when their names were called within the top five picks on Draft Day. Dealing with "off the field issues" has been a common denominator that plagued our first three Heisman draft choices. Rogers and Williams each battled highly publicized drug use, while Bush dated Kim Kardashian which was probably even more damaging; and he also had some lingering unfinished business from his college days at USC that became an added distraction.
So, what does the Saints disappointing track record with Heisman Trophy running backs mean for Mark Ingram's career? Maybe nothing at all. But he didn't exactly burst out of the gate in his rookie season. Character issues certainly don't seem to be a problem with Ingram, but like many great running backs he has shown to be injury prone. After missing two games mid-season with a bruised heal, a sprained toe kept Ingram out of the last 4 games, and he ended the season rushing for 474 yards on 122 carries and scoring five touchdowns.
Even with the setback from injuries, Ingram's non-spectacular numbers must be put in perspective when comparing to the Saints other Heisman winners. When Rogers, Williams and Bush were drafted they were each expected to be the savior from the very first moment they put the Black and Gold jerseys over their custom made suits on the NFL Draft stage. When Ingram was drafted the Saints already had their savior in Drew Breesus, they just needed to add a downfield running dimension added to the roster of disciples, which Bush obviously lacked. However, it was free agent Darren Sproles that proved to be the best weapon in providing both a vertical running game along with being dangerous in open space as Bush was.
With the addition of Sproles to the arsenal of other playmakers that Brees has at his disposal to distribute the
ball to, evaluating the success of Ingram can be tricky. Playing tailback in the Saints pass-oriented system, Ingram would be getting less carries as the featured back anyway. But sharing time in the backfield with the very capable Sproles, Pierre Thomas and even Chris Ivory, his potenital number of carries per game are even less likely to reach any significant level.
At 5-9 and 215 lbs, Ingram's compact size and acceleration has often drawn comparions to all time NFL leading rusher Emmitt Smith. However, the concept of NFL running backs carrying the ball 25-30 times a game and wearing down defenses is so 1992, and Coach Sean Payton is definitely an offensive innovator, not a traditionalist.
Considering Ingram's circumstances, should his success be judged by the traditional criteria of rushing yards and touchdowns? Or should it be by yards per carry? The "team oriented" approach to judging Mark Ingram would be if his career with the Saints helps bring the team another or multiple Lombardi Trophies, regardless of statistics. However, Reggie Bush for all of his faults did that, and he was gone after only one more season.
My guess is that when it comes down to it, Mark Ingram's value to the Saints will ultimately be judged by the same way it is for every other NFL player, regardless of former Heisman Trophy winner or not. And that is by the principle that overrides both statistics and championships, presenting itself in the form of the question, "What have you done for me lately?"
Monday, February 13, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
DARREN SHARPER: THE MISSING FACTOR
Does Darren Sharper still have anything left in the tank? If so, Mickey Loomis please bring him out of retirement.
During the Saints 2009 Super Bowl season when Sharper was the starting free safety, the defense displayed many of the same vulnerabilities that have plaqued it in 2010 and 2011. While Who Dat Nation has been blessed by a Black & Gold Golden Age over the last three seasons, the defense's tendency to give up big chunks of yard on the ground along along with an inconsistent pass rush under former Coordinator Gregg Williams' heavy blitz scheme have continued to be works in progress. In what has been particularly
gut-wrenching for Saints fans, these flaws have been put on full display while ending the Saints playoff march towards a Lombardi repeat. The highlight clips of running back Marshawn Lynch stiff-arming his way right through the Saints defense for his 67 yard touchdown run to clinch the Seahawks 2010 Wildcard win, and 49ers quarterback Alex Smith going untouched leading his team down the field before throwing the 14 yard game winning touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis with nine seconds left seems to have run endlessly.
The Saints Super Bowl winning defense unit of 2009 also at times gave up too many big plays on the ground and gave the quarterback too much time in the pocket. They did not seem to display the kind of toughness that would draw comparisons to the Dome Patrol, the Steelers Steel Curtain Defense of the 1970's or the 1986 Chicago Bears defense under outspoken coordinator Buddy Ryan. However, the 2009 Black & Gold Defense did one thing very well that compensated for the amount of yards they gave up that the 2010 and 2011 versions have failed to replicate. They created turnovers as if it was widespread grand theft larceny. They snagged twenty one interceptions, five of which were returned for touchdowns. Including Tracy Porter's pick six off of Peyton Manning in the final minutes of the Super Bowl, which forever will be one of the greatest plays in franchise history.
This past year the defense had nine pass interceptions returning only one for a touchdown. That's quite a dropoff. WWL Radio Hosts Deke Beleveia and Bobby Hebert had an over the air contest in 2009 for coming up with a nickname fo the defense. Fans would often call in suggesting names like Swamp Dawgs and Dome Patrol II. I never called in, but my idea was Den of Thieves because they were constantly taking the ball away from the opposing offense.
Nine of those twenty one interceptions in 2009, came at the hands of the hands of 13 year NFL veteran Sharper. Sharper not only had a nose for the ball, but a nose for the end zone. He returned three of those picks for touchdowns and had a fourth called back on a penalty. His 376 interception yards set a new NFL single season record. Darren Sharper only had one full season as a Saint, but I would argue that he has had as great an impact of any Saints defensive player in franchise history with the exception of Rickey Jackson (that would just be blashphemy). Sharper resigned with the Saints after becaming an unrestricted free agent in 2010. However, health issues kept his playing time at a minimum, and the likely future Hall of Famer eventually retired.
I don't want to sound overly critical of the current Black and Gold defense. They have produced some standout performances over the last two years. In the 20-10 victory over the Steelers in the Superdome on Halloween Night in 2010 and their sack fest of Chicago Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler early this season in that 27-9 victory they definitely demonstrated they could play old school, hard-nosed football. However, the thieving ways that marked the unit when Sharper patrolled the secondary seems to have disappeared. I am also confident that had Sharper been back there against the 49ers, Vernon Davis would have been held in check and not caught the winning touchdown pass.
Malcolm Jenkins, Sharper's replacement at free safety, is an incredible talent with a high degree of playmaking potential. But with just three interceptions over his three year career, he far falls behind Sharper in creating turnovers. I sometimes wonder if Jenkins, who was the Saints first round draft pick at cornerback out of Ohio State in 2009, would be a better fit at his original position or at strong safety. At 6 feet, he seems a litttle short for free safety. Ironically, in the 2008 BCS National Championship between Ohio State and LSU, Jenkins intercepted a Matt Flynn pass which led to a Buckeyes touchdown. After he was drafted by the Saints, I wondered if his interception in the Superdome would be a foreshadowing of more to come.
Hopefully under new Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo it will be, and the big shoes left behind by Sharper will finally be filled. Jenkins best day as a pro is already linked to Spagnuolo. Two of his three career interceptions came against Spagnuolo's St. Louis Rams in 2010, one of which he returned 96 yards for a touchdown.
At the age of 34, Darren Sharper intercepted nine passes and outraced players much younger to set up Drew Brees and the offense in excellent scoring position, or he just took it all the way back himself. Three years later, I say he is still good for four interceptions and a touchdown return. If Father Time hasn't totally physically wiped out Sharper, then General Manager Mickey Loomis should make an offer to resign him. Or at least hire him as the new secondary coach to replace Tony Oden who has gone to the Jaguars. Maybe some of his turnover creating tendencies would then rub off and the void would be filled.
During the Saints 2009 Super Bowl season when Sharper was the starting free safety, the defense displayed many of the same vulnerabilities that have plaqued it in 2010 and 2011. While Who Dat Nation has been blessed by a Black & Gold Golden Age over the last three seasons, the defense's tendency to give up big chunks of yard on the ground along along with an inconsistent pass rush under former Coordinator Gregg Williams' heavy blitz scheme have continued to be works in progress. In what has been particularly
gut-wrenching for Saints fans, these flaws have been put on full display while ending the Saints playoff march towards a Lombardi repeat. The highlight clips of running back Marshawn Lynch stiff-arming his way right through the Saints defense for his 67 yard touchdown run to clinch the Seahawks 2010 Wildcard win, and 49ers quarterback Alex Smith going untouched leading his team down the field before throwing the 14 yard game winning touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis with nine seconds left seems to have run endlessly.
The Saints Super Bowl winning defense unit of 2009 also at times gave up too many big plays on the ground and gave the quarterback too much time in the pocket. They did not seem to display the kind of toughness that would draw comparisons to the Dome Patrol, the Steelers Steel Curtain Defense of the 1970's or the 1986 Chicago Bears defense under outspoken coordinator Buddy Ryan. However, the 2009 Black & Gold Defense did one thing very well that compensated for the amount of yards they gave up that the 2010 and 2011 versions have failed to replicate. They created turnovers as if it was widespread grand theft larceny. They snagged twenty one interceptions, five of which were returned for touchdowns. Including Tracy Porter's pick six off of Peyton Manning in the final minutes of the Super Bowl, which forever will be one of the greatest plays in franchise history.
This past year the defense had nine pass interceptions returning only one for a touchdown. That's quite a dropoff. WWL Radio Hosts Deke Beleveia and Bobby Hebert had an over the air contest in 2009 for coming up with a nickname fo the defense. Fans would often call in suggesting names like Swamp Dawgs and Dome Patrol II. I never called in, but my idea was Den of Thieves because they were constantly taking the ball away from the opposing offense.
Nine of those twenty one interceptions in 2009, came at the hands of the hands of 13 year NFL veteran Sharper. Sharper not only had a nose for the ball, but a nose for the end zone. He returned three of those picks for touchdowns and had a fourth called back on a penalty. His 376 interception yards set a new NFL single season record. Darren Sharper only had one full season as a Saint, but I would argue that he has had as great an impact of any Saints defensive player in franchise history with the exception of Rickey Jackson (that would just be blashphemy). Sharper resigned with the Saints after becaming an unrestricted free agent in 2010. However, health issues kept his playing time at a minimum, and the likely future Hall of Famer eventually retired.
I don't want to sound overly critical of the current Black and Gold defense. They have produced some standout performances over the last two years. In the 20-10 victory over the Steelers in the Superdome on Halloween Night in 2010 and their sack fest of Chicago Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler early this season in that 27-9 victory they definitely demonstrated they could play old school, hard-nosed football. However, the thieving ways that marked the unit when Sharper patrolled the secondary seems to have disappeared. I am also confident that had Sharper been back there against the 49ers, Vernon Davis would have been held in check and not caught the winning touchdown pass.
Malcolm Jenkins, Sharper's replacement at free safety, is an incredible talent with a high degree of playmaking potential. But with just three interceptions over his three year career, he far falls behind Sharper in creating turnovers. I sometimes wonder if Jenkins, who was the Saints first round draft pick at cornerback out of Ohio State in 2009, would be a better fit at his original position or at strong safety. At 6 feet, he seems a litttle short for free safety. Ironically, in the 2008 BCS National Championship between Ohio State and LSU, Jenkins intercepted a Matt Flynn pass which led to a Buckeyes touchdown. After he was drafted by the Saints, I wondered if his interception in the Superdome would be a foreshadowing of more to come.
Hopefully under new Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo it will be, and the big shoes left behind by Sharper will finally be filled. Jenkins best day as a pro is already linked to Spagnuolo. Two of his three career interceptions came against Spagnuolo's St. Louis Rams in 2010, one of which he returned 96 yards for a touchdown.
At the age of 34, Darren Sharper intercepted nine passes and outraced players much younger to set up Drew Brees and the offense in excellent scoring position, or he just took it all the way back himself. Three years later, I say he is still good for four interceptions and a touchdown return. If Father Time hasn't totally physically wiped out Sharper, then General Manager Mickey Loomis should make an offer to resign him. Or at least hire him as the new secondary coach to replace Tony Oden who has gone to the Jaguars. Maybe some of his turnover creating tendencies would then rub off and the void would be filled.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Give The Game Ball To Pierre Thomas
The unsung hero for the Saints in their 45-28 wildcard victory over the Detroit Lions last night was running back Pierre Thomas. Drew Brees continued his record setting streak by throwing for the most yards in a playoff game with with 466 and completing 33 out of 43 passing attempts with no interceptions.
However, the game ball should definitely go to Thomas. While the offense sputtered in the first half as the Lions outplayed them, it was Thomas who kept making the big play and bailing the Saints out whenever they dug themselves in a hole. His statistics were impressive, but not eye-popping as Brees' 466 passing yards. Still, he was the Saints leading rusher with 66 yards on 8 carries and also caught 6 passes for 55 yards. Pretty good average yards per touch.
What was most impressive though was that he seemed to make all of his plays in traffic. Seldom did Thomas touch the ball last night when there were not already three Lion defenders all over him. Yet, regardless of whether he got the ball on handoff, pitch out or on a screen pass Thomas continued to out muscle the would-be-tacklers to pick up the necessary yardage for the first down or even more, as it should be pointed out most of the plays that Thomas made were on third down and led to a Saints conversion.
The Saints offense resumed to its natural form in the second half putting up a 35 point onslaught, as Brees was able to utilize more of his weapons with multiple running backs and wide receivers scoring touchdowns. As one of the few members of the Black & Gold to contribute for all 4 Quarters, I was glad to see Thomas get in the end zone too, becaming the final Saint to score on a one yard touchdown run with 3:36 remaining in the game.
Between now and the NFL Draft in April, increasing attention will be given to prospects as they go through workouts at the NFL Combine, play in all star games and see television reports on where scouts and media pundits such as ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay rank them. Sometimes you have to wonder how valuable all this ranking of draft prospects is. Thomas was an undrafted free agent out of the University of Illinois in 2007, and he has certainly proven to be more valuable than that.
However, the game ball should definitely go to Thomas. While the offense sputtered in the first half as the Lions outplayed them, it was Thomas who kept making the big play and bailing the Saints out whenever they dug themselves in a hole. His statistics were impressive, but not eye-popping as Brees' 466 passing yards. Still, he was the Saints leading rusher with 66 yards on 8 carries and also caught 6 passes for 55 yards. Pretty good average yards per touch.
What was most impressive though was that he seemed to make all of his plays in traffic. Seldom did Thomas touch the ball last night when there were not already three Lion defenders all over him. Yet, regardless of whether he got the ball on handoff, pitch out or on a screen pass Thomas continued to out muscle the would-be-tacklers to pick up the necessary yardage for the first down or even more, as it should be pointed out most of the plays that Thomas made were on third down and led to a Saints conversion.
The Saints offense resumed to its natural form in the second half putting up a 35 point onslaught, as Brees was able to utilize more of his weapons with multiple running backs and wide receivers scoring touchdowns. As one of the few members of the Black & Gold to contribute for all 4 Quarters, I was glad to see Thomas get in the end zone too, becaming the final Saint to score on a one yard touchdown run with 3:36 remaining in the game.
Between now and the NFL Draft in April, increasing attention will be given to prospects as they go through workouts at the NFL Combine, play in all star games and see television reports on where scouts and media pundits such as ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay rank them. Sometimes you have to wonder how valuable all this ranking of draft prospects is. Thomas was an undrafted free agent out of the University of Illinois in 2007, and he has certainly proven to be more valuable than that.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Saints vs Lions Playoff Matchup Pits MS Coast Players In Trenches Against Each Other
It will be Saint Stanislaus going up against Moss Point in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Saturday when the Saints host the Lions in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. In order for Saints defensive tackle Tom Johnson of Moss Point to get his hands on Quarterback Matt Stafford and slow down the Lions passing attack, he'll have to get by veteran Offensive Guard Stephen Peterman, who grew up practically next door to the Superdome as a former St. Stanislaus Rock-A-Chaw in Bay St. Louis.
Here is more on the matchup between Johnson and Peterman, who also faced each other earlier in the year, from Al Jones in The Sun Herald. They each express mutual admiration for the other from their previous matchup.
South Mississippi players go head to head
Moss Point’s Johnson, St. Stanislaus’ Peterman will face off Saturday
But Johnson well remembers facing Peterman, a physical 6-foot-4, 323-pound veteran of seven years.
“We went back and forth all game long,” Johnson said. “And we look forward to facing each other this time around, too. I want to play my best to help my team win, and he will do the same.
“Stephen is very strong and aggressive. He also has good hands and plays very physical. I am quicker and I rely on my speed.
“I know the last game was a war up front with him, and I expect the same thing this time around. We played a three-man front last time and there were times when I was at the nose position. When that happened, he would help out with a double team and did so very aggressively. It was a good matchup then and will be the same this time. It will be very physical.”
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/01/05/3668427/south-mississippi-players-go-head.html#storylink=cpy
Here is more on the matchup between Johnson and Peterman, who also faced each other earlier in the year, from Al Jones in The Sun Herald. They each express mutual admiration for the other from their previous matchup.
South Mississippi players go head to head
Moss Point’s Johnson, St. Stanislaus’ Peterman will face off Saturday
But Johnson well remembers facing Peterman, a physical 6-foot-4, 323-pound veteran of seven years.
“We went back and forth all game long,” Johnson said. “And we look forward to facing each other this time around, too. I want to play my best to help my team win, and he will do the same.
“Stephen is very strong and aggressive. He also has good hands and plays very physical. I am quicker and I rely on my speed.
“I know the last game was a war up front with him, and I expect the same thing this time around. We played a three-man front last time and there were times when I was at the nose position. When that happened, he would help out with a double team and did so very aggressively. It was a good matchup then and will be the same this time. It will be very physical.”
Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/01/05/3668427/south-mississippi-players-go-head.html#storylink=cpy
Thursday, January 5, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
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
"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
Monday, January 2, 2012
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
"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
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
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Saints Running Game Emerges Into One Of League's Best
You might not have noticed but the New Orleans Saints now rank No. 8 in the NFL in rushing and are an even more impressive fourth in yards per carry.
When did this happen?
The Saints have quietly and gradually ascended the league rushing rankings over the course of the season. Their 205-yard night against the Giants two weeks vaulted them into the top 10 for the first time in a while.
For full article: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/12/lions-saints_film_study.html
When did this happen?
The Saints have quietly and gradually ascended the league rushing rankings over the course of the season. Their 205-yard night against the Giants two weeks vaulted them into the top 10 for the first time in a while.
For full article: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/12/lions-saints_film_study.html
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Favre Denies Any Interest In Playing For Bears
Shelve your Wranglers and put those No. 4 Bears jersey orders on hold. Brett Favre says he's happy being retired.
"Inspite (sic) of reports about playing with various teams, I'm enjoying retirement with my family and have no plans to play football," Favre said in a statement Tuesday night.
Favre
One day after a source told ESPNChicago.com's Michael C. Wright that Favre would listen to the injury-riddled Bears if Chicago came calling, a high-ranking Bears source told ESPN's Ed Werder on Tuesday that the team has no interest in signing the 42-year-old quarterback.
For full article: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7325244/brett-favre-denies-contact-teams-says-no-plans-play-football
"Inspite (sic) of reports about playing with various teams, I'm enjoying retirement with my family and have no plans to play football," Favre said in a statement Tuesday night.
One day after a source told ESPNChicago.com's Michael C. Wright that Favre would listen to the injury-riddled Bears if Chicago came calling, a high-ranking Bears source told ESPN's Ed Werder on Tuesday that the team has no interest in signing the 42-year-old quarterback.
For full article: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7325244/brett-favre-denies-contact-teams-says-no-plans-play-football
Archie Recommends Against Peyton And Andrew Luck Playing On Same Team
Peyton Manning tutoring Andrew Luck next season in Indianapolis? While it sounds like a dream partnership, Peyton's father Archie doesn't think it's such a good idea.
"I don't think it'd necessarily be great for either one," Archie Manning told FOX Sports Radio on Tuesday, according to ProFootballTalk. "I think Andrew's the type of mature player ... he can walk right in. I mean, these other three or four guys that are playing this year, [if] they can walk in and contribute, Andrew can, too."
The winless Colts are on the fast track for the No. 1 pick, largely presumed to be Stanford's Luck. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian has said he would be open to taking a quarterback in the first round in April's draft and has said he's spoken with Peyton Manning about eventually drafting the future Hall of Famer's successor.
To continue reading: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7324506/archie-manning-says-peyton-manning-andrew-luck-duo-indianapolis-colts-not-good-either
"I don't think it'd necessarily be great for either one," Archie Manning told FOX Sports Radio on Tuesday, according to ProFootballTalk. "I think Andrew's the type of mature player ... he can walk right in. I mean, these other three or four guys that are playing this year, [if] they can walk in and contribute, Andrew can, too."
“I doubt if either one wants to play on the same team.
” -- Archie Manning
on son Peyton and Andrew Luck potentially playing together
The winless Colts are on the fast track for the No. 1 pick, largely presumed to be Stanford's Luck. Colts vice chairman Bill Polian has said he would be open to taking a quarterback in the first round in April's draft and has said he's spoken with Peyton Manning about eventually drafting the future Hall of Famer's successor.
To continue reading: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7324506/archie-manning-says-peyton-manning-andrew-luck-duo-indianapolis-colts-not-good-either
Saints WR Coach Curtis Johnson Named Head Coach At Tulane
NEW ORLEANS - All of Curtis Johnson's families were at Tulane University's Wilson Center Monday afternoon as the Saints wide receivers coach was named the Green Wave's new head football coach.
There was his wife Angel and many other members of his family, who made the short drive from the River Parishes. There was his Saints family, including head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and a half-dozen of his wide receivers.
And his new family – the Tulane family – was out in full force to welcome the New Orleans native and St. Charles High graduate to his new home.
It was a historic afternoon as Johnson, the 39th head football coach in Tulane history, became the first African-American to take over leadership of the program.
To continue reading: http://www.sportsnola.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=578119&Itemid=578
There was his wife Angel and many other members of his family, who made the short drive from the River Parishes. There was his Saints family, including head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and a half-dozen of his wide receivers.
And his new family – the Tulane family – was out in full force to welcome the New Orleans native and St. Charles High graduate to his new home.
It was a historic afternoon as Johnson, the 39th head football coach in Tulane history, became the first African-American to take over leadership of the program.
To continue reading: http://www.sportsnola.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=578119&Itemid=578
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
GO FOR IT MIKE SMITH!
ATLANTA -- One way to win a game is to let another team lose it. New Orleans Saints fans know this misery more than most. For years, the Saints seemingly invented ways to lose games they should have won. They were masters at the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. And some of the most heartbreaking losses came at the hands of the hated archrival Falcons.
On Sunday, Atlanta returned the favor.
To continue reading: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/11/new_orleans_saints_win_as_atla.html
On Sunday, Atlanta returned the favor.
To continue reading: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/11/new_orleans_saints_win_as_atla.html
Monday, November 7, 2011
WALTER PAYTON REMEMBERED WITH HALL OF FAME TRAIL MARKER IN COLUMBIA
Before he became the NFL’s all time leading rusher. Before he won a Super Bowl ring. And before he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Walter Payton played the drums in his high school band in Columbia, Mississippi. He picked up an additional extra curricular activity at the beginning of his junior year when Coach Ralph Boston convinced him to join the football team. Abiding to Coach Boston’s suggestion, Payton literally ran into the history books and became one of the greatest and most admired athletes our country has ever seen. As a senior at Columbia High School, Payton turned down his only Division I scholarship offer to play for the University of Kansas, and instead chose to stay close to home and attend college at Jackson State, where he became teammates with future Hall of Famers Robert Brazile and Jackie Slater.
At Jackson State, Payton went on a record setting tear that would last throughout his football career. He rushed for an astounding 65 touchdowns during his college career and was named All American. Selected by the Chicago Bears as the 4th overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft, Payton’s stock was much higher coming out of college than high school. Despite putting up league leading numbers, Payton’s Bears teams were mediocre for the majority of his pro career. Then in 1983 Mike Ditka was named head coach and improvements were made. With the program on the rise, the 1984 team went 10-6 and Payton broke Jim Brown’s all time NFL rushing record that season against the Saints on a crisp October afternoon at Soldier Field. The improvement was exponential the following year as the Bears capped the regular season with a 15-1 record before cruised through the playoffs and crushed the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl 46-10. However, the win was bittersweet for Payton. In a coaching decision he still expresses deep regret for, Ditka elected to give the ball to William "Refrigerator" Perry on a goal line touchdown run, denying Payton his best Super Bowl scoring opportunity.
Payton retired after the Bears 1987 playoff season concluding an amazing 12 year career in which he was named to the Pro Bowl nine times. He had only missed one game during his whole NFL career. Payton’s endurance and physical dominance over opponents were due largely to his grueling off season training workouts. In what left many invited NFL player workout guests losing their lunch, Payton spent the off season running up enormously steep rock-filled hills that he had searched and found both in Mississippi and Illinois.
As expected, Payton’s final football destination was the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He was elected as a first ballot Hall of Famer in 1993. In what was of the most memorable and emotional inductions speeches ever, Payton’s young son, Jarrett, who would later star at the University of Miami, introduced his father in a way that moved Payton to tears. Standing behind the microphone n his newly yellow Hall of Fame Jacket and speaking with a trembling voice, Payton accepted defeat to his over the bet they had about which one would cry first.
Even though Sweetness is no longer with us, his career came full circle last Tuesday. The Pro Football Hall of Fame made a road trip from Canton to Columbia to unveil a trail marker plaque honoring Payton in his hometown. I learned about this event from a coworker who had mentioned she was attending. My coworker, Mrs. Barbara
Rooks-Jackson, received both her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Jackson State, where she was a student from the late 60's through the early 70's. She is as strong a JSU supporter as you are going to find and taught there for a few years as well. And although she claims to have only been an "inactive" member of the J-Setter Dance Team, her dance moves tell otherwise.
Barbara is also very close friends with the Payton Family and had made plans to ride to Columbia with Walter Payton’s sister and niece, along with another close family friend. After following back up with Barbara and pressing her for more details, she spoke with Payton’s mother, Mrs. Alyne Payton, and I was graciously invited to attend as well. I still had a conflicting event on Tuesday afternoon and wasn’t sure I could make it, but on the way to work that morning a truck pulled out in front of me out of nowhere that had a bumper sticker on it which read "NFL Alum" on it with a miniature football image between the two words. So, I took that as a sign to make honoring Walter Payton my first priority for the day.
The road from the Coast to Columbia, as do all roads, regardless of your starting point and destination, goes through Hattiesburg. From the main exit off of the great Highway 59 bypass, you can either go east on Hardy Street towards the University of Southern Mississippi Campus, or go west on Highway 98 towards Columbia traveling for about five to seven miles through the newly developed Oak Grove community of upscale strip malls, trendy chain restaurants and hotels. At the last major intersection in Oak Grove you can turn left and it will lead you to the double decker Oak Grove Warriors football stadium, which I will put up against any high school stadium they have in Texas. Prior to this football season, this is where an ESPN crew had been camped out each August on the Brett Favre retirement report for what seemed like a full decade. Throwing passes to high school kids on this football field had become a preseason ritual for #4 to determine whether he had the desire and ability to go another season. Consequently, the Oak Grove Warriors have developed a strong track record of churning out some pretty good wide receivers, including the late Steve McNair’s son, Steve McNair Jr.
The remaining estimated 25 mile stretch of four lane highway before you get to Columbia is filled with timber plots, pastures, gas stations and churches. As I crossed from Lamar County into Marion County on this picture-perfect fall afternoon, I found it very ironic that somebody who became the best at what he did by sticking his helmet into the chest of much larger defenders, and barreling over them on brutal, chilly Sunday afternoons in one of our nation’s largest most condensed cities had come from such a rural, peaceful setting. Running up those hills in the off season obviously had a lot to do with it.
For the past week the focus of the whole sports world seemed to be on what was scheduled to happen on Saturday in Tuscaloosa as the #1 ranked LSU Fighting Tigers were coming into T-Town to take on the #2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. It had been hyped as the game of the century and the media coverage rivaled even that of the Super Bowl. From what I understand, Bryant-Denny Stadium holds a maximum of 100,000 fans while the City of Tuscaloosa was expecting an excess of 160,000 visitors.
There are a projected 6 first round NFL draft picks between the Tigers and Crimson Tide. It is unlikely that any of them will come close to matching the type of Pro Career that Payton had (Alabama's Trent Richardson will definitely turn some heads though). The eyes of our football crazed nation may have all been on the scene in Tuscaloosa, which obviously has an incredible football history, but as I was driving it also dawned on me that the birthplace of arguably the greatest running back of all time was just as significant. And when I finally reached the Columbia City Limits, I knew I was in Pigskin Holy Land.
The ceremony took place at the Charles L. Boston Athletic Facility named after Payton’s high school coach who is responsible for jumpstarting Payton's football career. The building sits next to the Columbia High School football stadium located across the street from the school itself behind a city park in the middle of town. As I turned off of Columbia’s main thoroughfare, Broad Street, past the park and towards the football stadium, I could see that the locals had beaten the Hall of Fame in creating a hometown tribute to Payton. In the south endzone, where Payton ran for so many touchdowns, stood a statue that had to be none other than Sweetness himself.
While turning into what appeared to be the practice field to park, two fellows who had obviously just parked themselves were crossing the street. One was athletic build who I recognized immediately from his playing days with the Miami Hurricanes to be Jarrett Payton. He had his hand turned up towards me, but I could not tell if he was waving, or thought I was getting ready to run him over.
Once inside I found Barbara and she immediately started enthusiastically introducing me around to Payton’s many family members. It was a special treat getting to meet Payton’s mother, Mrs. Alyne Payton. At my senior year of high school football banquet held at the end in the fall of 1989 she was recognized having come as the guest of one of my teammates. When I mentioned that fact to Barbara after meeting Ms. Payton, she asked who my teammate was and I said "Gary Wiley." A few minutes earlier I had met the other family friend that had driven down with Barbara and Payton’s sister and niece. We both acknowledged that each other looked familiar but could not place where we had met. Barbara then called the same lady back over for a reintroduction and I found out that it was Gary’s mother. So, I caught up on Gary and was glad to learn that he was living in Raleigh and refereeing Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference college football games in the Virginia and North Carolina area.
In addition to the many Payton family members in attendance, the audience also included his high school teammates and Coach Boston. Bob Hill, his head coach at Jackson State, was also there and was recognized. Sitting in the very back, divided up into three different seating areas, were the three local high school football teams. Current players from Payton’s alma mater, the Columbia Wildcats, were sitting next to their two fierce county rivals, the East Marion Eagles and West Marion Trojans. As the purpose of the event, was to help honor the connection between Payton’s hometown roots and his athletic success, I thought it was very fitting that the area high school players who were actually currently going through the high school football competitive experience were invited.
A representative from the Hall of Fame spoke first followed by Walter’s older brother Eddie Payton, who spoke on behalf of the family. Eddie is the current Jackson State Golf Coach and is a well known local public figure. He also had his own professional football career that preceded Walter’s, returning punts and kickoffs in the NFL for six years before finishing with the Minnesota Vikings in 1982. Eddie made the deliberate attempt to speak as if he was his late younger brother standing before them. He gave much credit to his parents for the discipline that they instilled, stating that they followed the Golden Rule precisely "Spare the Rod Spoil the Child" to which the whole erupted in laughter.
With his mother and Walter’s Widow, Connie, standing beside him, Jarrett also addressed the crowd. It was his first trip to Columbia since he was a toddler and he apologized for the way he may have acted during his previous visit. It was also obvious that revisiting his father’s hometown and connecting to his Mississippi roots was very meaningful to him and this time it was Jarrett holding back tears during a Hall of Fame speech. Glancing at his mother and then back at the crowd, he spoke of his high admiration for his father and that it was his character much more than his football ability that stands out in his memory about him.
The cover draping over the plaque was finally removed and as expected individuals came up to get a closer look at it and take their own pictures. Its permanent placement location within Columbia has not been decided on yet. A small reception held afterwards in a side room while a Walter Payton highlight reel video played on the TV. Eddie had recognized a friend and member of the Jackson State Community during his speech named James Hartsfield. Barbara introduced us during the ceremony. We shook hands and he looked me in the eyes and said, "Do you remember me?" His face definitely looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him.
He quickly followed up and said, "I refereed your sister’s basketball games." Then said something that really shocked me, "Your sister was a hell of a basketball player!" While my sister, Cleta, did get her fair share of playing time, I really didn’t think her hoops performance was so exceptional to warrant that kind of praise, and I am confident she would tell you that too. But, James who told me he refereed for 23 years, would be a far better judge of basketball skills than myself, so I will refer to him and give Cleta her due for being "one hell of a basketball player."
James was an institution as a basketball official calling games between St. Richard’s, my elementary and junior high school, against our conference rivals St. Mary’s, St. Therese, Holy Family, St. Andrew’s and the Mississippi School for the Deaf. I also learned from Barbara that when she was a freshman, James was the punter for Jackson State football team. Because of his ability to boot the ball, his nicname was "The Golden Toe" or sometimes just "Toe" for short.
The crowd also ventured out during the reception to the football field to get a closer look at Payton’s south end zone statue which was sculpted by a local artist. Dressed in helmet and shoulder pads, with the #34 printed in the middle of his jersey, he carried the ball in his right hand in permanent stutter step form. While waiting my turn to get closer and take a picture, I overhead Bob Hill, a big man with a big personality, tell a story about recruiting Payton to a few people standing around him.
This part of the story was left untold, but obviously when Payton was coming out of high school in the early 1970's, sports integration in the South was still in its transitional stages, and the recruitment of black athletes by Southeastern Conference and other Division I southern schools was not widespread. Hill was at one of Payton’s games along with a handful of white coaches from much larger universities. While I didn’t quite catch what type of celebratory gesture Payton had made after big play, the other coaches were turned off by it and started commenting and writing notes that he was a troublemaker. At that point, Hill said "he put the word out" adding to their concerns about Payton in hopes they would back off from recruiting him. Hill’s story drew large laughs from the small group gathered around him and I thought it was hilarious too.
Never discount a young kid playing the drums . . . . . . .
- Win
At Jackson State, Payton went on a record setting tear that would last throughout his football career. He rushed for an astounding 65 touchdowns during his college career and was named All American. Selected by the Chicago Bears as the 4th overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft, Payton’s stock was much higher coming out of college than high school. Despite putting up league leading numbers, Payton’s Bears teams were mediocre for the majority of his pro career. Then in 1983 Mike Ditka was named head coach and improvements were made. With the program on the rise, the 1984 team went 10-6 and Payton broke Jim Brown’s all time NFL rushing record that season against the Saints on a crisp October afternoon at Soldier Field. The improvement was exponential the following year as the Bears capped the regular season with a 15-1 record before cruised through the playoffs and crushed the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl 46-10. However, the win was bittersweet for Payton. In a coaching decision he still expresses deep regret for, Ditka elected to give the ball to William "Refrigerator" Perry on a goal line touchdown run, denying Payton his best Super Bowl scoring opportunity.
Payton retired after the Bears 1987 playoff season concluding an amazing 12 year career in which he was named to the Pro Bowl nine times. He had only missed one game during his whole NFL career. Payton’s endurance and physical dominance over opponents were due largely to his grueling off season training workouts. In what left many invited NFL player workout guests losing their lunch, Payton spent the off season running up enormously steep rock-filled hills that he had searched and found both in Mississippi and Illinois.
As expected, Payton’s final football destination was the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He was elected as a first ballot Hall of Famer in 1993. In what was of the most memorable and emotional inductions speeches ever, Payton’s young son, Jarrett, who would later star at the University of Miami, introduced his father in a way that moved Payton to tears. Standing behind the microphone n his newly yellow Hall of Fame Jacket and speaking with a trembling voice, Payton accepted defeat to his over the bet they had about which one would cry first.
Even though Sweetness is no longer with us, his career came full circle last Tuesday. The Pro Football Hall of Fame made a road trip from Canton to Columbia to unveil a trail marker plaque honoring Payton in his hometown. I learned about this event from a coworker who had mentioned she was attending. My coworker, Mrs. Barbara
Rooks-Jackson, received both her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Jackson State, where she was a student from the late 60's through the early 70's. She is as strong a JSU supporter as you are going to find and taught there for a few years as well. And although she claims to have only been an "inactive" member of the J-Setter Dance Team, her dance moves tell otherwise.
Barbara is also very close friends with the Payton Family and had made plans to ride to Columbia with Walter Payton’s sister and niece, along with another close family friend. After following back up with Barbara and pressing her for more details, she spoke with Payton’s mother, Mrs. Alyne Payton, and I was graciously invited to attend as well. I still had a conflicting event on Tuesday afternoon and wasn’t sure I could make it, but on the way to work that morning a truck pulled out in front of me out of nowhere that had a bumper sticker on it which read "NFL Alum" on it with a miniature football image between the two words. So, I took that as a sign to make honoring Walter Payton my first priority for the day.
The road from the Coast to Columbia, as do all roads, regardless of your starting point and destination, goes through Hattiesburg. From the main exit off of the great Highway 59 bypass, you can either go east on Hardy Street towards the University of Southern Mississippi Campus, or go west on Highway 98 towards Columbia traveling for about five to seven miles through the newly developed Oak Grove community of upscale strip malls, trendy chain restaurants and hotels. At the last major intersection in Oak Grove you can turn left and it will lead you to the double decker Oak Grove Warriors football stadium, which I will put up against any high school stadium they have in Texas. Prior to this football season, this is where an ESPN crew had been camped out each August on the Brett Favre retirement report for what seemed like a full decade. Throwing passes to high school kids on this football field had become a preseason ritual for #4 to determine whether he had the desire and ability to go another season. Consequently, the Oak Grove Warriors have developed a strong track record of churning out some pretty good wide receivers, including the late Steve McNair’s son, Steve McNair Jr.
The remaining estimated 25 mile stretch of four lane highway before you get to Columbia is filled with timber plots, pastures, gas stations and churches. As I crossed from Lamar County into Marion County on this picture-perfect fall afternoon, I found it very ironic that somebody who became the best at what he did by sticking his helmet into the chest of much larger defenders, and barreling over them on brutal, chilly Sunday afternoons in one of our nation’s largest most condensed cities had come from such a rural, peaceful setting. Running up those hills in the off season obviously had a lot to do with it.
For the past week the focus of the whole sports world seemed to be on what was scheduled to happen on Saturday in Tuscaloosa as the #1 ranked LSU Fighting Tigers were coming into T-Town to take on the #2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. It had been hyped as the game of the century and the media coverage rivaled even that of the Super Bowl. From what I understand, Bryant-Denny Stadium holds a maximum of 100,000 fans while the City of Tuscaloosa was expecting an excess of 160,000 visitors.
There are a projected 6 first round NFL draft picks between the Tigers and Crimson Tide. It is unlikely that any of them will come close to matching the type of Pro Career that Payton had (Alabama's Trent Richardson will definitely turn some heads though). The eyes of our football crazed nation may have all been on the scene in Tuscaloosa, which obviously has an incredible football history, but as I was driving it also dawned on me that the birthplace of arguably the greatest running back of all time was just as significant. And when I finally reached the Columbia City Limits, I knew I was in Pigskin Holy Land.
The ceremony took place at the Charles L. Boston Athletic Facility named after Payton’s high school coach who is responsible for jumpstarting Payton's football career. The building sits next to the Columbia High School football stadium located across the street from the school itself behind a city park in the middle of town. As I turned off of Columbia’s main thoroughfare, Broad Street, past the park and towards the football stadium, I could see that the locals had beaten the Hall of Fame in creating a hometown tribute to Payton. In the south endzone, where Payton ran for so many touchdowns, stood a statue that had to be none other than Sweetness himself.
While turning into what appeared to be the practice field to park, two fellows who had obviously just parked themselves were crossing the street. One was athletic build who I recognized immediately from his playing days with the Miami Hurricanes to be Jarrett Payton. He had his hand turned up towards me, but I could not tell if he was waving, or thought I was getting ready to run him over.
Once inside I found Barbara and she immediately started enthusiastically introducing me around to Payton’s many family members. It was a special treat getting to meet Payton’s mother, Mrs. Alyne Payton. At my senior year of high school football banquet held at the end in the fall of 1989 she was recognized having come as the guest of one of my teammates. When I mentioned that fact to Barbara after meeting Ms. Payton, she asked who my teammate was and I said "Gary Wiley." A few minutes earlier I had met the other family friend that had driven down with Barbara and Payton’s sister and niece. We both acknowledged that each other looked familiar but could not place where we had met. Barbara then called the same lady back over for a reintroduction and I found out that it was Gary’s mother. So, I caught up on Gary and was glad to learn that he was living in Raleigh and refereeing Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference college football games in the Virginia and North Carolina area.
In addition to the many Payton family members in attendance, the audience also included his high school teammates and Coach Boston. Bob Hill, his head coach at Jackson State, was also there and was recognized. Sitting in the very back, divided up into three different seating areas, were the three local high school football teams. Current players from Payton’s alma mater, the Columbia Wildcats, were sitting next to their two fierce county rivals, the East Marion Eagles and West Marion Trojans. As the purpose of the event, was to help honor the connection between Payton’s hometown roots and his athletic success, I thought it was very fitting that the area high school players who were actually currently going through the high school football competitive experience were invited.
A representative from the Hall of Fame spoke first followed by Walter’s older brother Eddie Payton, who spoke on behalf of the family. Eddie is the current Jackson State Golf Coach and is a well known local public figure. He also had his own professional football career that preceded Walter’s, returning punts and kickoffs in the NFL for six years before finishing with the Minnesota Vikings in 1982. Eddie made the deliberate attempt to speak as if he was his late younger brother standing before them. He gave much credit to his parents for the discipline that they instilled, stating that they followed the Golden Rule precisely "Spare the Rod Spoil the Child" to which the whole erupted in laughter.
With his mother and Walter’s Widow, Connie, standing beside him, Jarrett also addressed the crowd. It was his first trip to Columbia since he was a toddler and he apologized for the way he may have acted during his previous visit. It was also obvious that revisiting his father’s hometown and connecting to his Mississippi roots was very meaningful to him and this time it was Jarrett holding back tears during a Hall of Fame speech. Glancing at his mother and then back at the crowd, he spoke of his high admiration for his father and that it was his character much more than his football ability that stands out in his memory about him.
The cover draping over the plaque was finally removed and as expected individuals came up to get a closer look at it and take their own pictures. Its permanent placement location within Columbia has not been decided on yet. A small reception held afterwards in a side room while a Walter Payton highlight reel video played on the TV. Eddie had recognized a friend and member of the Jackson State Community during his speech named James Hartsfield. Barbara introduced us during the ceremony. We shook hands and he looked me in the eyes and said, "Do you remember me?" His face definitely looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place him.
He quickly followed up and said, "I refereed your sister’s basketball games." Then said something that really shocked me, "Your sister was a hell of a basketball player!" While my sister, Cleta, did get her fair share of playing time, I really didn’t think her hoops performance was so exceptional to warrant that kind of praise, and I am confident she would tell you that too. But, James who told me he refereed for 23 years, would be a far better judge of basketball skills than myself, so I will refer to him and give Cleta her due for being "one hell of a basketball player."
James was an institution as a basketball official calling games between St. Richard’s, my elementary and junior high school, against our conference rivals St. Mary’s, St. Therese, Holy Family, St. Andrew’s and the Mississippi School for the Deaf. I also learned from Barbara that when she was a freshman, James was the punter for Jackson State football team. Because of his ability to boot the ball, his nicname was "The Golden Toe" or sometimes just "Toe" for short.
The crowd also ventured out during the reception to the football field to get a closer look at Payton’s south end zone statue which was sculpted by a local artist. Dressed in helmet and shoulder pads, with the #34 printed in the middle of his jersey, he carried the ball in his right hand in permanent stutter step form. While waiting my turn to get closer and take a picture, I overhead Bob Hill, a big man with a big personality, tell a story about recruiting Payton to a few people standing around him.
This part of the story was left untold, but obviously when Payton was coming out of high school in the early 1970's, sports integration in the South was still in its transitional stages, and the recruitment of black athletes by Southeastern Conference and other Division I southern schools was not widespread. Hill was at one of Payton’s games along with a handful of white coaches from much larger universities. While I didn’t quite catch what type of celebratory gesture Payton had made after big play, the other coaches were turned off by it and started commenting and writing notes that he was a troublemaker. At that point, Hill said "he put the word out" adding to their concerns about Payton in hopes they would back off from recruiting him. Hill’s story drew large laughs from the small group gathered around him and I thought it was hilarious too.
Never discount a young kid playing the drums . . . . . . .
- Win
SCHIZOPHRENIC SAINTS
The Saints responded to what many pundits have referred to as the poorest performance of the Sean Payton era in last week's 31-21 loss to the pitiful St. Louis Rams, by settling the score with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 27-16 victory in what was a very complete performance. Great article from Clarion Ledger columnist Rick Cleveland on this pattern of inconsistency that the Saints have displayed this season, especially in the last four weeks:
Will the real New Orleans Saints please stand up?
Are they the New Orleans Saints who controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in Sunday's 27-16 conquest of the Tampa Bay Bucs?
Or are they the Saints who sleepwalked through a 31-21 trouncing at the hands of the previously winless St. Louis Rams the previous Sunday?
To continue reading: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20111107/COL0504/111070329/Uneven-outings-make-New-Orleans-hard-figure?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
Uneven outings make New Orleans hard to figure
NEW ORLEANS — You watch these New Orleans Saints play every Sunday and there comes a time when you want to steal a line from the old What's My Line? game show hosts:Will the real New Orleans Saints please stand up?
Are they the New Orleans Saints who controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in Sunday's 27-16 conquest of the Tampa Bay Bucs?
Or are they the Saints who sleepwalked through a 31-21 trouncing at the hands of the previously winless St. Louis Rams the previous Sunday?
To continue reading: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20111107/COL0504/111070329/Uneven-outings-make-New-Orleans-hard-figure?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
Monday, October 31, 2011
LOUIS WAS THE ONLY SAINT TO SHINE ON THIS ALL-SAINTS DAY
In their previous victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans won the Lombardi Trophy, went to Disney World and had a parade held in their honor. Apparently they were expecting more accolades after last week's 62-7 beatdown of the Indianpolis Colts. No,t to try to bring down the bull of a running back that is the St. Louis Rams Steven Jackson. But the 2011 Peyton-less Colts hardly resemble their 2009 AFC Championship squad, and the Saints don't appear to be quite matching up to their 2009 Championship form either. Perhaps the inspired play by Jackson and the rest of the Rams was motivated by a case of city sibling rivalry with the St. Louis Cardinals who had just come off of a World Series Championship, and were honored in the Edward R. Jones Dome prior to kickoff. Whatever the case, the only Saint worth honoring on this All Saints-Day was Louis (strictly sports speaking of course). Still loyal to the Black & Gold though.
Here is more from Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune describing as what he saw as the worst performance of the Sean Payton era:
Shocking would be an apt description for what took place. No one saw this coming. The Rams hadn't won a game all season. The Saints were coming off an epic 62-7 shellacking of the Colts. The question coming into this game wasn't if the Saints would win, but if they would run up the score as they mercilessly did to the Colts a week ago.
Maybe the Rams were motivated by NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin's prediction that the Saints would hang 60 points on them.
Maybe they were inspired by the presence of so many St. Louis Cardinals players, who received a rousing round of applause from the crowd when they were honored as World Series champions during the first quarter.
Whatever the reason, the Rams (1-6) played with more fire, energy and effort than the Saints (5-3) and outplayed them in every phase. The Rams dominated and deserved to win.
For full article: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/10/new_orleans_saints_lackluster.html
Here is more from Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune describing as what he saw as the worst performance of the Sean Payton era:
Shocking would be an apt description for what took place. No one saw this coming. The Rams hadn't won a game all season. The Saints were coming off an epic 62-7 shellacking of the Colts. The question coming into this game wasn't if the Saints would win, but if they would run up the score as they mercilessly did to the Colts a week ago.
Maybe the Rams were motivated by NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin's prediction that the Saints would hang 60 points on them.
Maybe they were inspired by the presence of so many St. Louis Cardinals players, who received a rousing round of applause from the crowd when they were honored as World Series champions during the first quarter.
Whatever the reason, the Rams (1-6) played with more fire, energy and effort than the Saints (5-3) and outplayed them in every phase. The Rams dominated and deserved to win.
For full article: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/10/new_orleans_saints_lackluster.html
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wide Reciever Mike Wallace Is Key Factor In Steelers Matchup Verse Patriots
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers matchup at Heinz Field today is arguably the highest profile NFL game of the week. Despite their 5-1 record, the New England Patriots have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Keying the Steelers ability to exploit this rare weakness for the Patriots is New Orleans native (O. Perry Walker) and former Ole Miss Rebel wide receiver Mike Wallace who has burned the Pats in the past.
Here is more on the importance of Wallace for the Steelers in today's game from ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley:
Off to the races: The biggest mismatch at Heinz Field is Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace against the Patriots secondary. Last year, Wallace burned New England for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
Full article: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/34417/final-word-afc-north-30
Here is more on the importance of Wallace for the Steelers in today's game from ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley:
Off to the races: The biggest mismatch at Heinz Field is Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace against the Patriots secondary. Last year, Wallace burned New England for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
Full article: http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/34417/final-word-afc-north-30
Friday, October 28, 2011
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