Saints Kick Some ESPY; Now Time to Move On

by Dave Cariello on Jul 15, 2010 6:01 AM CDT

Had the pleasure of watching the ESPY's last night. Never paid attention to it before this year, when I actually had a horse in the race. A couple of the races actually. The Saints as a team were nominated for two awards, 'Best Moment' - for their Super Bowl XLIV performance - and 'Best Team,' which they took home with them at the end of the night. Drew Brees was the star of the show, earning the award for 'Best Male Athlete' as well as three others.

Sure, winning an ESPY is meaningless. It's a pat on the back, a thumbs up and a Good job! A trophy for having already won a trophy, and a better one at that. One that you've dedicated your entire life to earning. But as a Saints fan, there's something nice about seeing the team get a little more respect on a national stage one last time. With their votes, fans all over the country said We see you. Plus, beating the Yankees at anything is always icing on the cake. I don't know about you but I'm beginning to get used to this winning thing. Not much more and I'm going to start expecting it.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the fun is over. Last night's award ceremony was the going away party for the Saints 2009 championship season. The final celebration. We see you. Now let's see what you've really got. I think the entire organization did a great job of getting the most out of winning but it's time to move on. The record books have been written. Training camp is now just around the corner and with it brings a brand new season. A season that has no memory of the one that came before it.

So I offer my sincere thanks to the Saints for everything they've given us, the fans, this past year. It truly was magical. But it's time for the team to get back to business because the work is not over. Part of winning a championship is how you follow up that championship the ensuing year. The encore performance. Come out flat, and the accomplishments from the year prior are tainted. Come out strong, and they're amplified. The Saints now sit at a fork in the road. Which path will they choose?

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Opie Miller still kicking it with the boys. You don’t see Darnell Dinkins on stage. Do you, Dave?

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jul 15, 2010 7:09 AM CDT reply actions

I echo Dave's sentiments

Just please don’t have any jazz funerals putting all those awards in a casket and burying them

"Bow Down Before The One You Serve"

by MobileSaint on Jul 15, 2010 8:05 AM CDT reply actions

What about the visit to the white house?

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by DrWhoDat on Jul 15, 2010 8:32 AM CDT reply actions

That's in the middle of training camp

2010 season will have already started. More of a distraction, really.

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by Dave Cariello on Jul 15, 2010 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

But they get to ~~beat up~~ have a scrimmage with the Patriots.

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. " ~Benjamin Franklin

by Dan Kelly on Jul 15, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

btw, I finally had time to make my predictions, Dave. I wouldn’t want to miss a chance to be held accountable. ;-)

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. " ~Benjamin Franklin

by Dan Kelly on Jul 15, 2010 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Nice write up.

Being part of your on-line community has been great. You and all the others that provide insight to the game should get a big thank you. This is one of the best fan sites. This SuperBowl run last year was great sharing the experience with all the other fans on this site. The game threads are the next best thing to being at the actual game.

by rustdog74 on Jul 15, 2010 8:35 AM CDT reply actions

Could not agree more

So I offer my sincere thanks to the Saints for everything they’ve given us, the fans, this past year. It truly was magical. But it’s time for the team to get back to business because the work is not over. Part of winning a championship is how you follow up that championship the ensuing year. The encore performance. Come out flat, and the accomplishments from the year prior are tainted. Come out strong, and they’re amplified. The Saints now sit at a fork in the road. Which path will they choose?

We’ve GOT to keep it going. Show the world we’re no fluke. I want the Saints to become one of those teams that are expected to contend each and every year. With Brees, we already know they are, but the rest of the world doesn’t. To me, this upcoming Vikings matchup is NFCCG version 2.0. It’s more important than just a regular season game. We’ve got to defend our turf and championship.

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Jul 15, 2010 9:46 AM CDT reply actions

me too, Satch

In Payton’s book, two things surprised me. One, he admitted that they were cold and miserable during the 2006 NFC championship game at Soldier Field. That is astounding to me.

Two, he glossed over the 2007 and 2008 seasons with the buried coffin story and a couple of “oh well” paragraphs.

We don’t want another 2007 or 2008 this year. They need to get to work and get focused.

The order is rapidly fadin’
And the first one now will later be last

by stujo4 on Jul 15, 2010 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely

Another 0-4 start would be a disaster. At least this time, we won’t have Chasin’ David repeatedly getting burnt by opposing offenses like we did to start 2007.

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Jul 15, 2010 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions

We could very easily be 4-3 or 3-4 to start season.

by shn_hldn on Jul 15, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Vikings Game

I am only 24 so my memory of the Saints 49ers rivalry is a bit vague. I know it was a tangible thing…but that’s about it. Then we kind of stunk…for a while.

Then we’ve been solid the last 4 years but I can’t say there’s been a team I actualy despise. A team that I circle on the schedule and say I can’t wait to pound these dudes. That’s changed. The Vikings haven’t stopped bitching since we pummeled Favre into submission (and his family into tears) in the NFC ‘ship last year. Their site is filled with claims of it being due to luck or a fluke. I haven’t wanted a regular season opener to get here so badly before.

Even though they aren’t in our division and there isn’t really a collection of players that have swapped between the two teams, let’s face it…these our are rivals for the 2010 season. Whether it’s because they keep claiming they should have won the championship (Apparently we weren’t allowed to intercept Favre on the final drive…someone get a memo over to Tracey.) or because of Shiancoe and Sharper’s tweets (Not that I agree with Darren alluding to trying to hurt Favre’s recently reconstructed body) or because I’ve never seen such a bitchy fan base before. I hate the Vikings right now.

I can’t wait to see Drew light them up week 1.

WhO dAt?!?!?!

by SxSnts9 on Jul 15, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Nobody!!

by ReggieVilma on Jul 15, 2010 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

SxSnts9 Well Said!

It’s sad that a fanbase is unable to lose with grace. They hate us too and probably forever. They still hate the cowboys since the Drew Pearson Hail Mary. Even Colts fans hate us as well. We’ve been fraud cheap shot artists, frauds, fluke, lucky. And it gets old fast.

Saints are loved by alot and hated by alot. Due to the fact the Saints ruined everyones dream. The Brett Favre and Peyton Manning Bowl…known as Golden boy vs Golden boy. And it makes me sick. But hey, I’m glad it was the “Saints” that took it away from them.

I congratulated Viking and Colts fans for their hard efforts, but man I got nothing but obsurd hateful comments from them.

I also lost respect for Peyton Manning when he ran to the locker crying instead of congratulating Brees and the Saints after the game.

And for Colts fans to say ugly things about the Saints, the fans, and the Katrina remarks. Makes me wonder knowing that Peyton’s father Archie played for our team. And yet they still hate us.

I could care less about Favre and Manning…“The Golden Boys”

by Jricky70 on Jul 15, 2010 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions

So Brees won

Best male athlete, best NFL player, best champ performance, and you said their was one more. What was the other award?

by ReggieVilma on Jul 15, 2010 10:20 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Shared the best team award.

by jeff.l.b on Jul 15, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Grats on the awards and accolades.

Now how about we see if we can do it again?

by jeff.l.b on Jul 15, 2010 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

St. Rita in kimono give coldpizza happiest ending of all.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jul 15, 2010 11:19 AM CDT reply actions

You’re a dirty old man. Which is of course why we like you.

by jeff.l.b on Jul 15, 2010 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I think we will be fine

Our team is loaded and I don’t see a 2007 repeat at all. Saints were coming off a 2006 high in 07. We had Jason David, huge problem there. The burial, bad move. you want to remember your successes but don’t let it get in the way of the big games the year after. And our defense was very anemic. Just like when you Eagle a hole in golf. It’s so easy to screw up the next hole because you’re still focused on that “Eagle”. Same with football.

2008. Alot of very pretty exciting games where we could not close the deal due to that lousy kicker Gramatica. 3rd and short, and our anemic defense. We were an inch away from being 12-4 or 13-3 that year. What was missing? Greg Williams, Tracy Porter, Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer.

I see the first 7 games us being 6-1.

by Jricky70 on Jul 15, 2010 11:46 AM CDT reply actions

Great analogy

Just like when you Eagle a hole in golf. It’s so easy to screw up the next hole because you’re still focused on that "Eagle". Same with football.

Here’s another: Just like when you score with a hot chick. It’s so easy to………because you’re still focused on that hot chick.

"As soon as Tony (Dungy) said we had no chance, I knew we had 'em right where we wanted 'em"--Coach Sean Payton right after Super Bowl XLIV with the Lombardi Trophy firmly in hand. WHO DAT!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Jul 15, 2010 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

We had Fred Thomas stinking up the join in 2006. Was HWSNBN really THAT big of a dropoff? I see it as more of overachieving against a 4th place schedule, versus underachieving against 1st place schedule, a swing in talent we’ll again be facing in 2010.

"I was not on the boat in question." -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jul 15, 2010 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions