SB Nation User Blog: xen-cuts

ESPN Highlights Importance of Saints to New Orleans

xen-cuts — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:30:02 -0000

The national news media is doing a better job of covering the Saints. I think they are starting to understand that it's not about some fancy players. It's not about the market. It's not even about the hurricanes. It's not even about the 13-0 record, although that helps.

It's about the people and the soul of New Orleans. We love the Saints. Who dat!

After Hurrican Katrina devastated New Orleans and the surrounding region I Emailed PTI on ESPN to energize discussion of the Saints. This was at the time when the Saints were being rumored to move to San Antonio, Los Angeles, pretty much anywhere that would build a new stadium. It was during that time when the team was practicing in San Antonio. The media attempted to find direction by interviewing Aaron Brooks and Jim Haslett and you could just see how lost they were. The cameras would linger after an answer as though the answers weren't enough.

I knew that Mike and Tony wouldn't take kindly to me putting politically charged rhetoric in my question, so I just stumbled around with the following rhetoric: "In the wake devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Tom Benson is thinking about moving the Saints from New Orleans. This could be construed as looting the city of New Orleans of its beloved NFL franchise. Under the circumstances, no one else is willing to address this topic. Can you?"

Tony and Mike didn't say much one way or another. Essentially they just said that New Orleans has bigger things to deal with than it's NFL franchise right now. But to their credit they brought it up. Not long after, Mike Lupica wrote an article about what the Saints mean to New Orleans. Eventually Bill Simmons picked it up. Tom Benson and the NFL decided, for no real financial incentive, to stick with New Orleans. And here we are today with a phenomenal article by Wright Thompson.

I don't know Wright by name, but damn if I don't love the guy. New Orleans is a special city. It means something different to everyone who enjoys what it has to offer. Wright shares his personal soul felt journey through the Big Easy. Enjoy.

---

NEW ORLEANS -- The soul of New Orleans is in a trumpet and a low-ceilinged bar. It's in the free red beans in the back. It's in the art hanging near the food that has two dogs howling at a New Orleans Saints moon. It's in the voice of Kermit Ruffins, two hours into his standing Thursday night gig at a packed club hidden in the neighborhood behind the French Quarter, the place weathered and peeling like the side of a workingman's boat.

He plays a song he wrote, "All I Want for Christmas Is the Saints in the Super Bowl," and the crowd dances and sings all the words. When he takes a break, he calls me in closer. There's something he wants to show me. He undoes his thin black tie, and the top two buttons, then pulls both his collared shirt and T-shirt down just enough so I can see. I notice the top point first, and slowly, the entire tattoo comes into view, a month old, enormous, covering his entire chest. I start laughing, and so does he. A symbol of the city adorned with a symbol of the city. Kermit Ruffins has gotten an enormous fleur-de-lis, the Saints' helmet logo, tattooed on his chest.

"Only in New Orleans," he says, winking. "I'm killing 'em when I take off my shirt at the beach. Especially at the Super Bowl."

Read the rest...http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?page=hotread14/Saints

Poll

Does the media understand New Orleans?

Cowboys's Williams: "We should be victorious [in New Orleans]"

xen-cuts — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:48:45 -0000

Today Roy Williams decided to run his mouth about how the Cowboys were going to come to New Orleans and give the Saints their first loss of the season. It was picked up as a top 10 story by ESPN.com. The short article is definitely worth a read. More after the jump.

Roy also decided that the Cowboys will beat the Saints en route to the playoffs. "If we pack our bags and show up in New Orleans on Saturday night," he said, "we should be victorious."

I cannot top the article's report. Here it is quoted directly:

With a straight face, Williams said he is also looking forward to a rematch with the Saints in the Superdome.

"This is a two-round fight, and this is just the first round, in my eyes," Williams said. "I don't know about everybody else, but I think we're going to see this team in the playoffs down the road."

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4745595

I guess we'll find out on Saturday, Roy. It doesn't help that America's Team (hahahaha) will be without DeMarcus Ware who is out with a neck injury.

Poll

Roy Williams's trash talking made me dislike the Cowboys...

Saints ink McCalister for stretch run

xen-cuts — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:03:29 -0000

Preparing for a stretch run into the playoffs and trying to shore up a secondary so depleted that the Rams almost eeked out a victory against the Saints in St. Louis last week, the Saints picked up Chris McCalister. McCalister was highly touted as a top corner with the Ravens. What should New Orleans expect?

So the Saints know that McCalister is coming off major knee surgery. But it's been almost a year of rehab so McCalister is likely back in business with the knee. The real question is can this guy cover? Was he actually a good cornerback in Baltimore of was he propped up by one of the best d-lines, the best linebacker, and one of the best defensive schemes in the league?

I'll appreciate any insight from you guys. I'm a Saints fan and am hoping that this is a diamond in the rough, but there is plenty of reason to remain skeptical. We have to believe that there is a reason McCalister was still available. Most of the NFL news media talk seems skeptical of the move.

Also, if y'all want to come on over to Canal Street Chronicles and make a fan post about McCalister we would definitely welcome the insight. http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/

Best of luck for the remainder of the season!!! -xc

Poll

What is your opinion of the Saints' signing of Chris McCalister?

If healthy this is a great thing for the Saints secondary.

30 votes

McCalister is a bum who will contribute about as much as Deuce McCalilister (no longer on Saints) this season.

8 votes

38 votes | Poll has closed

What happened to Craig "Buster" Davis?

xen-cuts — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:28:43 -0000

Saints and LSU fan here. Just wondering what happened to this former Tiger, Craig Buster Davis. I thought he'd be pretty good in the NFL but it looks like injuries got him. Can anyone update as to whether he's still with the Chargers and whether he's going to play this year?

This guy was a phenomenal athlete from the New Orleans area. He was a standup guy at LSU and I hope he succeeds in the NFL. We Louisianians like to see our Tigers do well...except against the Saints... Hey, everyone's gotta have an off day at some point, right?

ps - thanks for Drew Brees! ;)

Roddy White's HUGE payday.

xen-cuts — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:30:12 -0000

Roddy White just got a huge payday following a one week holdout. For vets a short holdout like White's is more of a rest. But the payout is the big news. Reportedly, White is now the second highest paid receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald! That's INSANE!!! White has received a six-year, $50 million contract with $18.6 million in guaranteed money. He should make around $28 million in the first 3 years of that contract.

White caught 88 passes for 1,382 yards and seven touchdowns last season. "We're always going to be an organization that rewards players for being productive on the field and good citzens off of it," said Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff. "We are glad to get this contract situation resolved and look forward to a long association with Roddy."
Roddy is a former UAB Blazer. I attended UAB for a while and enjoy supporting that school (after LSU of course.) I'm happy for Roddy. But how can this affect the Saints?

The obvious answer is that Colston may need to get paid more than Roddy White. But Colston's stats from last season, 47 catches, 760 yards, and 5 TDs, do not compare favorably with White's. If Colston has one breakout year this year, White sets a precedent for Colston to hold out and ask for even more money.

On the other hand, overpaying Roddy White might bog down the Atlanta Falcons's payroll so that after their elite tight end, Gonzales, and White, the talent dropoff is dramatic. A quick look at the Falcoholic page suggests that after their top two receivers, the rest are still vying for position. "Now that White's in camp, he'll resume his spot atop the depth chart, which leaves the Falcons to shake out things at the lower levels. " The money, much of it wrapped up in performance bonuses, could nevertheless create problems for Atlanta down the line.

Falcoholic does not think the expenditure is too high: "Obviously, this was a deal that had to get done so we could have our best receiver in camp, particularly after we lost Harry Douglas for the year and our depth took an enormous hit. While the length of the contract is pretty staggering, White's still quite young and the guaranteed money involved is nothing that's going to break the bank. If Roddy puts up huge numbers and racks up bonuses like it's going out of style, I don't think any of us are going to mind paying him. I'll chip in ten bucks myself."

He has a good point because IF White can make those same numbers alongside Gonzales, then the Falcons's offense should be rolling along quite well. But last year the dropoff after Roddy White was quite dramatic. And none of Roddy's highlight reel shows him making spectacular grabs. The guy is a #2 receiver maquerading as a #1. White reminds me of Devry Hendersen of 2008--he is fast and he doesn't drop too many passes. And if Gonzales can draw more coverage perhaps White can get open more often this year.

But think about this: where is Roddy White in your fantasy draft? He's not even close to the top in mine. The Falcons surprised some people last year and they added a big weapon in the offseason. But I think that Gonzales's glamour might take away from the workman like atmosphere surrounding last year's receiving corps (which, let's face it, was carried by the running game.)

Ultimately, Gonzales is a much bigger name than White. Gonzales is used to being #1 in the locker room. Gonzales should command a lot of attention from the QB...not just from opposing defenses. Although Gonzales has never been a big ball hog in the mold of Terrell Owens, I do not see this contract working out in favor of Atlanta. It is just too much money for mediocrity. According to the Falcoholic fanpage, when asked whether White's contract is worth it, most Falcon's fans are not overly enthusiastic about the deal.

As with all holdouts, the Falconer sums it up nicely: "As you can probably tell, I'm just relieved this situation is over."
Now, can we get Jenkins into camp before our beloved Saints are left to lament the loss of an entire draft class?

citation link: Falcoholic article on Roddy White's big payday