What a difference that a year makes. I know I’ve said that before with respect to other things. The statement especially holds true when considering the status of the New Orleans Saints. One year ago, due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints were a displaced team without its home stadium and not knowing its future home. One year later, the Saints are just 60 minutes from playing in the Super Bowl.
How did this happen? To say that the Saints’ success has been a perfect storm is fairly accurate. PHSports looks at the decisions and happenings that have made the Saints who they are.
On January 18, 2006, the wheels started in other direction for the Saints, as the organization hired Sean Payton as its 14th head coach.
On March 14, they began addressing a very leaky linebacking corps by signing Scott Fujita to a four-year contract.
Two days later, and hours after being passed over by the Miami Dolphins, the Saints signed quarterback Drew Brees to a six-year deal. This event was necessitated not only by the Dolphins opting for Daunte Culpepper, and but moreover, by Brees' freak shoulder injury in the 2005 Chargers finale.
On the evening of April 28, the night before the NFL Draft, ESPN reports that the Texans have agreed terms with defensive end Mario Williams. The next day,
When interviewed after the pick, Sean Payton shares his excitement about the pick, saying that he can’t wait to start drawing up plays with both Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush in them. (Side note: many at home, including myself, are thinking this guy is either crazy or stupid).
A few hours later, the Saints trade the 34th pick to
Early on Day 2 of the NFL Draft,
However, the largest coup takes place at the close of the draft as unheralded wide receiver/tight end Marques Colston is taken with the 252nd pick out of Hofstra. He only had over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns in 12 starts.
On May 12, the Saints signed punter Steve Weatherford. He was later cut and re-signed after Mitch Berger was placed on injured reserve.
In a surprise move buoyed by the early emergence of 2nd round , the Saints terminated the contract of starting safety Dwight Smith.
On August 8, the Saints signed Nate Wayne to shore up linebacker woes only to waive him fifteen days later. After waiving
As training camp progressed, Marques Colston impressed to the point that he was the undoubted number two receiver in
On September 2, Jermane Mayberry was placed on the injured reserve, paving the way for Jahri Evans to assume the starting guard position – a role he would not relinquish.
The Saints then proceeded to win assumingly at
Following the win versus the then-unstoppable rush attack of the Falcons, the Saints began receiving publicity for its play on the field and not for how the team [and its owner] is disconnected from the city of
A year can make a world of difference, especially when considering two majors about professional football’s current climate. First, the league functions on the notion of a team (53 football > 25-40 baseball > 16-18 soccer > 12 basketball) more than any other sport of note. Second, the dearth of relative guaranteed money allows coaches and general managers leeway to gather a group of solid players at reasonable prices.
On that note, the Saints have taken advantage of football’s current climate and have stared adversity in the face in its rise to glory. Call it luck. Call it good fortune. Call it a bunch of guys who were overlooked. Call it a great coach who makes Charlie Weis look unoriginal. Even if they lose today, the Saints have become a great success story, not only because of their overall 12-5 record but also because many pieces are in place for seasons to come. If they defeat the Chicago Bears today, then they will have the opportunity in two weeks to become the most unlikely Super Bowl champion since Super Bowl III.
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