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How low can you go?

(In which MtnExile continues his floundering attempts to replace the irreplaceable...)

I'd like to talk to you about ducts...er, I mean, the Saints' all-black uniforms. (If this isn't proof that it's the slow season, I don't know what is.) I'm not sure which I'd rather see happen: us winning the Super Bowl, or banishing the all-black, ballerina-pants look to the deepest pit of hell from which it escaped in 2006. If we never win a championship, at least I can stand to watch them; if we win the Super Bowl wearing leotards, I don't know if I'll even bother to tape it. Those uniforms are that bad.

My opinion, anyway. Which makes it right, but I digress.

Star-divide

I wondered what the rest of my subjects thought, so I went to Uni Watch to find out. Doing a simple search for "Saints black pants" turned up a number of threads, and the following comments are taken from several of them. Each of the following comments is from a different poster, and it's not hard to see what the common thread is:

"This is the NFL, not high school. Get rid of the black pants!"

"Agreed! They look like pajamas. In fact ALL color-on-same-color combos do. Just stop it!"

"I disagree! Of course. I like the monochromatic look, for the most part (teal Seattle is an exception), and I especially like all black. It is sleek-looking with a hint of danger. Love it."

" I think the Saints look great in the black britches."

" I’m sick of the Saints and Ravens wearing all black!"

"...the Black Pants STINK !!! especially w/o the Stripes to break up the arobic [sic] leotard look."

"Gotta disagree on the Saints all-black. TERRIBLE, especially with stripe-less pants. High school look, all the way."

"we need to work on Tom Benson and Sean Payton to get rid of those horrible black pants the Saints keep wearing."

"Amen!!! Every Sunday, I turn on the game hoping to see the gold pants. With the white jerseys, the black pants are at beast [sic] tollerable [ditto]. But with the black jerseys they’re just hideous."

"the current pants…yes…these pants, while still black, are much more preferable to this crap"

"Saints dressed like ballet dancers last night…and played like ones too."

"Saints solid black pants leaking into solid black socks - awful (just like their second half effort)!"

"I’ll second (or third, fourth, fifth…) this sentiment as well."

"The Saints played amazing even if they looked like hell"

"the Saints look awful when they wear the black pants instead of the gold"

Okay, some of those are outsiders...but it's still useful to find out what the rest of the world thinks. But how about New Orleans? A recent edition of Jeff Duncan's Mailbag elicited these comments regarding the leotard look:

"The all black uniforms or black pants are the worse uniforms in the history of sports"

"When the Saint's where black on black with no stripes on the pants, they look like a high school football team."

"I disagree with you the black on black is the best looking uniforms the Saints ever had."

"i don't care for the black pants, stripe or no stripe."

"I hate the all black look. I like the white jersey/black pant look we had around the time of the Bum Philips era."

"The black on black looks like a div II college team."

This completely unbiased and scientific study makes it obvious that the all-black look is scorned not only by native fans, but by NFL watchers in general. Why, then, does Payton insist on inflicting this sartorial torment upon us?

Poll
What is your favorite Saints look?
Black jerseys/black pants
110 votes
Black jerseys/gold pants
121 votes
White jerseys/gold pants
55 votes
White jerseys/black pants
49 votes
Whatever makes M-E shut up
21 votes
Why, no, I didn't realize mods could reword poll questions
1 votes

357 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 42 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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the only way I'd like to see the black pants is with a gold stripe on the side and with the white jerseys as our road uniform

And I would be just fine if I never see those gold jerseys we wore against TB on the SNF game in 2002 again…

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jul 1, 2009 8:04 PM CDT reply actions  

i vote for this one

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Jul 1, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

ooooooh, that IS nice!!!

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jul 1, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

Hans

I’ll do a magic trick every now and then. Notice the black helmet, reminiscent of the ’69 preseason.

Who Dat?...... Drew Dat ! ! !

by Big and Easy on Jul 1, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

I totally dig that black helmat - you are David freaking Copperfield (or Doug everloving Jennings if you prefer)

I try, try, try to understand….you’re the Magic Man!!!

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jul 1, 2009 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions  

I like it

That could be the home uniforms

"All kind of knowledge, eventually becomes self knowledge" - Bruce Lee

by SBookerSaintsFan on Jul 2, 2009 12:53 AM CDT up reply actions  

why can't they just put that gold and white stripe back on the black pants???

I’d also be in favor of using that old two-color SAINTS patch/shield from the inaugural season again – you can see it on the link Steve the Fan posted a few comments back right before B&E’s uniform image…

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jul 3, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions  

why can't they just put that gold and white stripe back on the black pants???

I’d also be in favor of using that old two-color SAINTS patch/shield from the inaugural season again – you can see it on the link Steve the Fan posted a few comments back right before B&E’s uniform image…

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jul 3, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

i like the gold jersey

with the black pants. also like the gold pants with the black jersey. i don’t mind the black on black look. i actually like those better. they’d be good for games if they could let fans know when they are wearing them and we could black out the superdome. my HS colors were black and gold and i liked it the few times we wore black on black. i prefer the HS look over alot of the college looks

Superbowl bound!!!...I hope? Go Saints! :D

by skinnykinney on Jul 1, 2009 8:35 PM CDT reply actions  

You just might be surprised

Top ten uniforms in the NFL, check here.

Who Dat?...... Drew Dat ! ! !

by Big and Easy on Jul 1, 2009 9:43 PM CDT reply actions  

i actually like the all-black look

and apparently i’m not alone. although the throwback one posted is awesome

by jful on Jul 1, 2009 10:50 PM CDT reply actions  

Black on black

would be fine, provided the pants didn’t resemble leotards. I’m right there with Mt-E on that. The gold jerseys are hideous, though it’s a truer shade of gold than the pants have been since the Bum Phillips era. I’m sick of the khaki look. Never understood why they could match the helmet color to the tee back then, but not now. I like B&E’s photoshop job for an alternate, only I think it would look better if the fleur de lis on the helmet was solid white w/ no trim. There’s enough gold with the double stripes and white on black just stands out more. The trim takes away from the logo regardless of the colors, imo.

I always thought they should try to play up the medieval angle on the name Saints. Have a black & gold knight on horseback as a secondary logo and/or mascot. Imagine that badassness riding around on the sidelines … lance in hand, decked out in armor. You could still incorporate the fleur de lis as a symbol on his shield. Maybe go with a more regal style of flower, while you’re at it.

… looks a whole lot less like a banana than what currently graces our helmet.

by coldpizza on Jul 1, 2009 11:10 PM CDT reply actions  

The Saints

DID wear the black helmets during the 1969 preseason, btw.

Nice change of pace … i’d just much prefer gold-white-gold on the stripes and an untrimmed WHITE fleur de lis.

by coldpizza on Jul 1, 2009 11:13 PM CDT reply actions  

Whoooo! Talk about throwback!

"All kind of knowledge, eventually becomes self knowledge" - Bruce Lee

by SBookerSaintsFan on Jul 2, 2009 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions  

pizza

I did reference the ’69 preseason black helmets.

Who Dat?...... Drew Dat ! ! !

by Big and Easy on Jul 2, 2009 6:01 AM CDT up reply actions  

The Story

is the Saints front office didn’t submit the change (in time)to the league to wear them for entire 69 season. They were allowed to for pre-season, guess they scrapped it for 1970. Still cool looking, I have the mini version myself…..still don’t understand why they won’t use them for special throwbacks week, maybe b/c it wasn’t really official? thanks 4 the memory c/p….

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will know..Jim Mora Sr.

by metryman on Jul 2, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions  

WGAS?

That is, Who Gives A Saint what uniform they wear? If you twinkies want to discuss fashion and wardrobe, I’m sure there’s a site moderated by Perez Hilton somewhere you can do that.
My take on this is purely scientific. They say that reading white text on a black page is easier than reading black text on a white page. The point is, if you are a quarterback looking downfield, which is easier for you to see? A reciever wearing all black or one wearing gold or white? The answer is obvious. You see, all teams wear black in their shadows. Black unis, black shadows, how’s a QB running for his life from Ray Lewis supposed to tell the difference? Besides, the black helmet craze is SO 90’s. Everybody, it seemed, switched to black or dark shades of their colors. Look at what happened to St. Louis. They won a SB wearing bright blue and yellow. The next year, they switched to navy and true gold and lost it. The Greatest Show on Turf was never the same.

I say, go with gold helmets, white jerseys and blue jeans.

There is nobody so irritating as someone who is less intelligent than us and yet is wiser.

by Tigernut on Jul 2, 2009 7:01 AM CDT reply actions  

Besides..

… I never said that my theory was without exception. However, I still stand by what I said. Brighter colors are easier to see. That doesn’t mean that brighter uniforms will make the Lions a contender.

But, it sure as Hell couldn’t hurt.

There is nobody so irritating as someone who is less intelligent than us and yet is wiser.

by Tigernut on Jul 2, 2009 7:40 AM CDT reply actions  

This is why..

… I believe we had more success in white jerseys. So much so that the Saints wanted to make them their home uni. Do you really think the white jerseys were just lucky?

There is nobody so irritating as someone who is less intelligent than us and yet is wiser.

by Tigernut on Jul 2, 2009 7:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

As long as there's

a contrast between the uniforms and the field, as well as the helmets of the two teams playing, I think the difference between darks and lights is overstated.

Boise State is a pure example of the former. Their uniforms blend in like a chamelon’s skin, resulting in a distinct home field advantage. At least, when they’re on defense. Theoretically, that same camouflage effect would make it equally difficult on themselves when on offense, but that’s not the case. Why? Because the human brain adapts to color contrasts (or the lack thereof), the more it’s exposed to them.

Case in point, Marshall holds a similiar visual advantage when they wear green-on-green, but it’s never as drastic as when teams play at Boise. Why? Because everyone is at least used to seeing green turf. The novelty of the blue grass plays tricks on the brain and makes it more difficult to differentiate. This isn’t just theory. There have been numerous scientific studies over the years that would back this up.

Conversely, there’s much to be said of the ADVANTAGES of contrasts — i.e., varying colors, not merely dark vs light — in general. Take the Buffalo Bills, for example. At one point, all five teams in the AFC East wore white helmets: Patriots, Dolphins, Colts, Jets and Bills. The Bills were the first to recognize the problem this presented QBs and switched to a red helmet. Is red BRIGHTER than white? Of course not. But it is easily VISUALLY DISTINGUISHABLE from white. The Bills went to four straight Super Bowls after the switch. Do you think red helmets were just lucky?

The Patriots also shifted away from white to much success. Again, not a BRIGHTER color, just a DIFFERENT color. The Jets switched to green and has since switched back. As you said, rarely is any phenomena of the sort without exception. I just don’t see a whole lot of evidence that points to BRIGHTER = more successful.

by coldpizza on Jul 2, 2009 9:12 AM CDT reply actions  

What I will agree with

is that we’re probably better off in a gold or white helmet than a black one, being that we play the Falcons twice a year. When the Falcons wore red helmets and the 49ers were part of our division, we would have been better served in black.

by coldpizza on Jul 2, 2009 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions  

White

would probably be best, being that Tampa’s pewter is in the same gold ballpark.

by coldpizza on Jul 2, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions  

Cannot watch

a game at Boise States’ stadium, even if its the only game on T.V., messes with my rods and cones….

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will know..Jim Mora Sr.

by metryman on Jul 2, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions  

haha - rods and cones

I haven’t seen those words in print since middle school science text book…

"Knock 'em the (- -) out!" - G Dub

by HansDat on Jul 3, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions  

From Seinfeld

the Kenny Rogers Chicken episode, a Kramer quote….

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will know..Jim Mora Sr.

by metryman on Jul 7, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions  

White Top White Pants

@ home just like 1975 season 1st in the Dome, call it a throw back, but its cool, just like the original unis from 67 with arm stripes…..

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will know..Jim Mora Sr.

by metryman on Jul 2, 2009 2:32 PM CDT reply actions  

For the record

I’m cool with the uniforms exactly as they are now. No changes necessary. Just tuck all the black leotards away in a cabinet somewhere and forget where you put them.

This is OUR year!

by MtnExile on Jul 2, 2009 3:03 PM CDT reply actions  

To quote Emilio Estevez

“They’re not tights. They’re the required wrestling gear.”

by coldpizza on Jul 4, 2009 4:15 AM CDT up reply actions  

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