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Saturday, May 21, 2011
Throughout their history, the Saints have been known one of the unluckiest franchises in all of sports. Saints fans used to wear paper bags over their heads for crying out loud, it can't get any worse then that. Over the past few years, however, New Orleans has been able to redeem and rebuild thanks to the help of the Saints.
After years of this being one of the most unappealing jobs in sports, Sean Payton took the Saints where nobody thought they could go. In Payton's first offseason as coach, he completely changeed the face of the franchise and brought in free agent QB Drew Brees. That season, the Saints clinched a playoff berth for the first time in six years, fresh off a 3-13 season to. That year, the Saints were first in passing and fifth in points. Payton also won the NFL Coach of the Year award. New Orleans was able to make a deep playoff run by challenging the Bears in the NFC Championship Game. Unfortanety, the Saints lost 39-14. The next two seasons were nothing to be proud of as the Saints went 7-9 and 8-8 respectively. Now the 2009 season was Payton's and the franchises biggest accomplishment. After guiding them to their best record in franchise history (13-3), Payton led the Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV victory over the Colts. It wasn't just a Super Bowl that the Saints won, it was a sign of hope to the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Payton helped the Saints go from embarassment, to Super Bowl Champions. For that, he is the greatest Saints head coach ever.
People thought Drew Brees was washed up and his career was over. Especially the Miami Dolphins, who were the only others interested other then the Saints. We know how that story went: the Dolphins' doctors said it was not safe to sign Brees because of a shoulder injury and the Saints signed him to a six year $60 million deal. Smartest move New Orleans ever made. In his first season as Saints QB, Brees led New Orleans to a 10-6 record and a NFC South title. Brees also threw for a league leading 4,418 yards, finished third with 26 touchdowns, and had 11 interceptions. Brees and the Saints ended up losing to the Bears in the NFC Championship Game, but it was a sign of things getting better in New Orleans. Brees finished second in the voting for the MVP behind former teammate Ladanian Tomlinson. Over the next two seasons, Brees had good years statistically, throwing for 9,497 yards. More importantly in 2008, Brees was just 15 yards shy of breaking Dan Marino's record for most passing yards in a single season. 2009 has been Brees' best season so far as a member of the Saints, and for good reason. Brees jumped right out of the gun by throwing for a opening weekend record six touchdown passes against the Detroit Lions. Another great game for Brees that season was against a MNF game against the New England Patriots, who were noted as the team of the decade. In the game Brees had 371 yards and a perfect passer rating of 158.3, leading the Saints to a 11-0 record. Brees was not able to lead the Saints to a 16-0 record, but was able to lead them to Super Bowl XLIV. In the game, Brees won MVP after throwing for 288 yards and two touchdowns. It is not only because of that Super Bowl victory that Brees deserves to be the Saints greatest player, it is also because of what he has done for the community of New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. Click here for Brees' stats.
I bet you know by now that the 2006 offseason was big for the Saints (we will get to that later). Marques Colston was drafted in the seventh round of the draft out of Hofstra. Many scouts though Colston would became a tight end because of his size and catching ability. Instead, he would become one of Drew Brees' favorite targets. After the trade of Donte Stallworth, Colston was thrusted into the Saints offense by week 1 as the #1 wide reciever. Through nine weeks of the season, Colston had 54 catches for 869 yards and seven touchdowns. He was also a favorite to win the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year, but due to a injuty suffered in week 14, Colston fell just short of the honor. In 2007, Colston started all 16 games as the Saints #1 reciever. He set a franchise record in receptions with 98 and also tied a franchise record for the most touchdown receptions in a season with 11. Despite an injury plagued season in 2008, Colston caught seven touchdowns and had 760 yards, proving he was still Brees' go-to-guy. Colston holds the record for most receptions in the first two seasons with 168, but more importantly he can call himself a Super Bowl Champion. Colston has accomplished a lot in his career despite being a seventh round pick and is the Saints biggest draft steal of all time. Click here for Colston's stats.
Despite having a great career with the Miami Dolphins, Ricky Williams is the biggest draft bust in Saints history. Williams was drafted fifth overall by the Saints out of Texas. Coach Mike Ditka traded all of the Saints 1999 Draft picks in order to get Williams, a move that would eventually get him fired. In three seasons with the Saints, Williams had moderate success, rushing for 1,000 yards in the 2000 and 2001 season. In the 2000 season, Williams would miss the last six games and the playoffs. He had his most successful season in 2001 as a Saint rushing for 1245 yards, but it would be his last season with New Orleans. Considering that the Saints wasted their whole draft on a guy that would be traded in three years was a huge waste. It was suprising how big of a draft bust Williams was, even though he did play for the snake-bitten New Orleans Saints. The Saints had numerous other opputunities in the draft including Torry Holt and Champ Bailey. If they were still looking for a running back, there was really not that much depth at the position. Still, a bust is a bust, especailly if you trade an arm and a leg for the guy. Click here for all of Williams' stats.
2006 was a huge season for the New Orleans Saints. The team went to their first ever NFC Championship game and were for once, not a laughing stock. It wasn't so much the season that was big for the Saints as the offseason. First the Saints hired Sean Payton, a talented assitant coach from the Dallas Cowboys. Payton then pursued free agent QB Drew Brees who spent his whole career with the Chargers. After the Dolphins passed on him for Daunte Culpepper, Brees was signed by the Saints to a six year $60 million contract. The draft wasn't to bad that year either as the Saints selected talented running back Reggie Bush and got Marques Colston, who would soon become a steal. For years, fans of the Saints would wear bags on their heads and call the team the 'Aints. The 2006 offseason changed the leagues whole perspective of the Saints and helped turn them into a Super Bowl champion. If not for the offseason for the Saints in 2006, who knows where they would be now. Who dat say gonna beat dem Saints?
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