I still have not regained feeling in most of my extremities, as the shock of the Saints' stunning loss to Seahawks still numbs me.
After some mild electrical shock to revive my brain, I now offer my post-mortem of the Saints' 2010 season.

THEIR RECORD:
11-5 was more than satisfying. All things told, this record was exactly what they were, to paraphrase Bill Parcels.
Despite the typical lazyman journalism of citing the Superbowl Hangover, the Saints were unlike so many Superbowl winners; the Saints were consistent and earned a playoff berth.
Best win: Hands down, the second Falcons game. This might have been only game that all 3 phases performed above average in the same game.  For 60 minutes, the Saints reverted to 2009 form and played with total focus and incredible intensity.
Worst loss: Tie: First Falcons' game and Cardinals.  The Cards were and are a bad team, and the Saints simply were flat, played poorly and had no business losing this game. The Falcons' game, though Saints were totally outplayed, was devastating because it had Saints playing catch-up to win the division. And ultimately, this loss cost them home-field advantage...and their playoff life.

BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FROM SUPERBOWL WINNER TO THIS SEASON

In hindsight, this is an easy answer: complete lack of explosive plays.
On kick returns, it was a miracle if Saints got past 20 yard line.
Defensively, the turnover-machine, TD-producing 2009 defensive team was almost non-existent in 2010.
Offensively, the quick-strike, homerun-hitting 2009 unit disappeared. Best example: Long passes to Henderson and Meachem were rare.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Morestead was spectacular all year, including becoming a weapon on deep kickoffs.
Hartley struggled mightily early in season, but ended the season making 11 straight FGs, 
Biggest bust: the entire kick and punt return teams.
Hate to single out Roby, but he was below average all year. Sure sign of failure: it was time of rejoicing when a kickoff was returned past the 20-yard line or a punt was brought back more than 5 yards.
Best special teams player:Morestead.

DEFENSE

Statistically the defense improved dramatically, jumping into the top 10 in total D and scoring D.
With that said, you would have thought the Saints would have gone 16-0.
But again, the defense couldn't produce big-time, game-changing plays. Fumbles caused and INTs were dramatically down.
Williams' signature attacking style never seemed to materialize or reap rewards
In fact, the back-breaking Lynch TD run was microcosm of this problem: no interior push, and then failed attempts at stripping ball leading to missed tackles.
Biggest bust on D: 3-way tie: Will Smith, Sharper and Greer.
Smith had only 5 sacks, down from 13 in 2009, and had little impact overall.  Overall, the D-line never generated impact plays and had to be near bottom of league in total sacks.
Spectacular in 2009, Greer in second half of season was consistently beaten on deep passes, always seemingly a step slow and unaware of where ball was. Also he missed numerous open-field tackles late in season. Guess is he had an unreported injury.
For all the expectation coming off 2009, Sharper had zero impact, and was obviously several steps slow in pass coverage.
Most improved: Malcom Jenkins.  Jenkins had an all-around great season, and was probably defensive MVP.  His absence in playoffs had a dramatic effect on Saints D.

OFFENSE:
Was more than adequate all year, but never seemed to hit on all cylinders.
Brees posted incredible numbers again, with basically zero run game.
Yes, Brees' bonehead INTs are major concern, but more on this in a few.
Oh, let's address the never-ending, never-let-it-go subject of all fans and media: Not having a steady run game.
With constant revolving door of running back, Payton had no choice but to rely on passing game. In effect, quick passes became extensions of the run game.  No game planning could cover up the deficiencies of Ladell Betts, Julius Jones and whatever other off-the-streets scrubs Payton had to rely on.
Want proof? Every screen pass run without Pierre Thomas was a complete, utter failure and joke.
And no run game had a crippling domino effect on the Saints offense:
-  It crippled the Saints' effectiveness in the red zone because it made them completely one-dimensional.
- With no real threat of running the ball, defenses could tee up and relentlessly rush and blitz Brees. The Seattle disaster was final culmination of this: The Seahawks rushed only 3-4 guys, who had only one assignment to worry about: rush the passer and not have any run-stopping responsibility.  The other 7-8 defenders than just play pass coverage.  So Saints then have 5 receivers vs. 7-8 defenders.. get the picture?
For Brees to throw for 404 yards, and go 36-60 with this said, simply shows how great -and underappreciated - Brees is.
-  No run game caused Brees to consistently do many un-Breeslike things, ie throw 22 interceptions.
The injuries to Bush, Thomas and Ivory, more than posting huge rushing totals, again took away so many bread-and-butter Saints' plays: screen pass, swing pass, play-action pass.
When you consider the ineffectiveness and lack of availability of running backs all year, Brees' season is more amazing.
No doubt, many of Brees backhanded and underhanded INTs looked like Aaron Brooks resurrected.
But my guess is Brees simply caved into the above-mentioned domino effect and his hyper-competitiveness took over. 
Biggest bust on offense: Are you kidding!?  Reggie Bush, hands down.
Saints now have to make what I think is an easy decision: part ways with Reggie Bush.
Due almost $12 million next year in his option year,  Bush has worn out his welcome.  All his professionalism and hard work mean nothing because Bush is constantly hurt. Brittle is being kind in describing him.
In 9 games, Bush had LESS THAN 500 YARDS total receiving, rushing and returns.  Unacceptable on so many levels, I won't waste words describing it.
In the unimitatable words of Bobby Hebert when asked about Bush:  who freaking cares, the guy is always hurt and you can't depend on him.
Best offensive player: Brees.  Again think about it: every team had only to gameplan for one thing: Brees throwing the ball, and Brees still put up video game stats.
 
BIGGEST NEEDS FOR NEXT SEASON:
1. Press play.... "this is a recording...."
Every off season of the Payton era, experts, analysts and fans have screamed for an impact linebacker.  Guess what they will all be screaming for again?
In all 4 wildcard playoff games this weekend, every team - except Saints - had exceptional pass-rushers.
2. Cut bait with Bush
The Bush experiment failed. Nuff said.
3. Press play #2... "this is a recording...."
Find a run-stuffing defensive tackle. Is there an echo in here?
4. Get Chris Ivory on a 24/7 conditioning/strengthening program to keep him on field.
Imagine if Ivory had been healthy all year... wow.
5. Draft/trade for a speedy, pass rushing defensive end.
6. Re-sign Pierre Thomas. And if you don't, burn every page of playbook that mentions "screen pass."
7. Adios Sharper.  Great trash-talker on Twitter, but can't tackle or cover anymore.
8. Find a kickoff/punt returner. 
9. Defense learn this: tackle first, strip second. Watch Marshawn Lynch run over and over, and over and over.
10. Cardio and pass coverage training for Roman Harper, after he gets out of psychological rehab from being toasted by Seahawks.

Great news of 2011 season is "next year" has great hope: Saints are only a player or two away from hoisting the Lombardi again

No temperature. No nausea. No headaches.
Strange.. I feel 100% healthy, but I know I still have the Who Dat fever.
And truth is I don't want to get over this sickness.
From all reports too, this fever has spread throughout the nation, maybe the world.
Evidence: the Saints-Colts Superbowl was THE most-watched TV show in the history of television. More than 106 milions viewers was last count I saw.
My independent study (do not ask how I derived at this.. super-double probation kinda stuff) shows that a whopping majority of this 106 milllion were infected with mild cases of Who Dat, but upon Porter's game-ending INT for TD they were all full-blown Who Dat infected.
Symptoms you ask?
- Daily need to wear black-and-gold shirts, feather boas, Saints championship hats
- Now own an authentic Saints jersey and believe wearing it at all functions is appropriate
- Search for anything mentioning or showing Drew Brees, his wife or his son, Baylen
- Attended the Superbowl in Miami and now have several new Who Dat friends on Facebook

- Laugh that only 11 Colts fans greeted their team after Superbowl loss 
- Re-read The Times Picayune stories on Mondat
- Have forwarded countess priceless pictures of Saints Superbowl photos, ie Payton sleeping with the Lombardi trophy
- Have recounted multiple stories of someone you know who has seen Payton holding the Lombardi Trophy at Ruth's, parades, on floats, in hotel lobbies, at post-parade parties, etc
- Have waited in line for hours post-Superbowl to get a Saints player autograph
- You have renamed the days of the week: Mondat, Truedat, WeDat, Drewdat, Fridat, Saintsdat, WhoDat
- Endlessly planning where you will hang the framed front-page headline, "Amen!" and other Superbowl stuff
- Keep "Get Crunk" on your iPod and in your car CD player, and when played must roll down windows and blare at ear-splitting decibels
- Have created an iPhone "Get Crunk" ringtone (guilty...)
- Have watched the NFL reply of the Superbowl no less than 3 times
 - Every time you see Porter's INT, you jump up, scream and re-live that feeling like it's happening in real time
- Weeks later, still ask yourself constantly, "The Saints are the World Champions, aren't they?"
- When any Jim Henderson Superbowl play-by-play is re-played, stop whatever you are doing, listen, get goosebumps and tears as if you're hearing it for first time
- Have held a Superbowl Replay Party (I will be doing this soon!)
- Counting the days til Sept. 9 Thursday night Opening Game
- Thank God you are a Season Ticket holder
- Pray to God a Season Ticket holder offers you tickets to game's next year

If you are experiencing these symptoms, don't panic, don't schedule a doctor's appointment... just remain calm.. unless of course "Get Crunk" starts playing, then you must bob up and down, wave arms in the air, sing the words and chant "Who Dat Who Dat!!!"

Sports fans have heard this cliche time and again: " He's playing with a chip on his shoulder."

As local and national media and fans pile on the 2009 New Orleans Saints for their late-season struggles, my guess is the chip has made a transformation.

In the lull that is a first-round bye, the New Orleans Saints by this time must have a mountain, not a chip, on their shoulder, as they rest, read and listen to all the pundits blab about their poor late-season play and the newfound greatness of the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.

The short-term memory loss of sports fans is amazing. Facts become blurred, and negative opinion rules the day.

Know when the last time Dallas won a playoff game? 14 years ago, 1996! Dang, that was so long ago, people then actually thought Ditka was a coaching genius.

Know how many playoff games Aaron Rogers has played in? None, zero, nada. Aaron Brooks started more games in the playoff neighborhood than Mr. Rogers.

After a sizzling 13-0 start, the Saints were the NFL darlings. Debates raged about whether they would go 19-0 and win it all.

Then the NFL prince Saints turned into a three-game losing streak frog, and everyone jumped off the pumpkin onto the teams-of-the-week, the Cowboys and Packers.

Romo this, Roger that.

The Saints? Forgotten. Dissed. Bad-mouthed. One-and-done. Overrated. More and more verbal piling on by everyone.

Know what? I'm glad.

Because players - and teams - of true character play best when challenged, when there is a cause to fight for (cue the Braveheart music and William Wallace battlefield speech...)

At this time in the NFL season and in this time of parity, very little separates the #1 seed from the #6 seed.

The one common thread heard over and over again about this Saints team, last year in 8-8 adversity and this year as they were crowned the in-season best, is they have players of character.

With great character comes great pride.

Often the rallying battle cry of "Noboby believes in us" is one that separates teams come playoff time.

The 2001 Rams and 2007 Patriots had the wrong kind of pride. In their case, everyone believed in them. That false pride cost each a Superbowl.

But teams with wounded pride, 2000 Giants, 2001 Pats, 2003 Panthers, 2005 Steelers, 2007 Giants, and the 2008 Cardinals, circled their wagons all way to the Superbowl over "Nobody believes in us."

You hear it all the time after a win, "The only people who thought we could win are in this locker room" or "No one said we could do it, so we decided to shut them up."

Hurt pride often is the great separator and motivator.

(Bill Simmons of ESPN has a great read on this "Nobody believes in us" factor:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100108 )
Right now, everyone is throwing their flaming arrows at the Saints, challenging their character.

Sports fans have heard this cliche time and again: " He's playing with a chip on his shoulder."

As local and national media and fans pile on the 2009 New Orleans Saints for their late-season struggles, my guess is the chip has made a transformation.

In the lull that is a first-round bye, the New Orleans Saints by this time must have a mountain, not a chip, on their shoulder, as they rest, read and listen to all the pundits blab about their poor late-season play and the newfound greatness of the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.

The short-term memory loss of sports fans is amazing. Facts become blurred, and negative opinion rules the day.

Know when the last time Dallas won a playoff game? 14 years ago, 1996! Dang, that was so long ago, people then actually thought Ditka was a coaching genius.

Know how many playoff games Aaron Rogers has played in? None, zero, nada. Aaron Brooks started more games in the playoff neighborhood than Mr. Rogers.

After a sizzling 13-0 start, the Saints were the NFL darlings. Debates raged about whether they would go 19-0 and win it all.

Then the NFL prince Saints turned into a three-game losing streak frog, and everyone jumped off the pumpkin onto the teams-of-the-week, the Cowboys and Packers.

Romo this, Roger that.

The Saints? Forgotten. Dissed. Bad-mouthed. One-and-done. Overrated. More and more verbal piling on by everyone.

Know what? I'm glad.

Because players - and teams - of true character play best when challenged, when there is a cause to fight for (cue the Braveheart music and William Wallace battlefield speech...)

At this time in the NFL season and in this time of parity, very little separates the #1 seed from the #6 seed.

The one common thread heard over and over again about this Saints team, last year in 8-8 adversity and this year as they were crowned the in-season best, is they have players of character.

With great character comes great pride.

Often the rallying battle cry of "Noboby believes in us" is one that separates teams come playoff time.

The 2001 Rams and 2007 Patriots had the wrong kind of pride. In their case, everyone believed in them. That false pride cost each a Superbowl.

But teams with wounded pride, 2000 Giants, 2001 Pats, 2003 Panthers, 2005 Steelers, 2007 Giants, and the 2008 Cardinals, circled their wagons all way to the Superbowl over "Nobody believes in us."

You hear it all the time after a win, "The only people who thought we could win are in this locker room" or "No one said we could do it, so we decided to shut them up."

Hurt pride often is the great separator and motivator.

(Bill Simmons of ESPN has a great read on this "Nobody believes in us" factor:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100108 )
Right now, everyone is throwing their flaming arrows at the Saints, challenging their character.