10:37

Okay, we get it; you can stop now. We understand Mr. Major Media, Talking Heads and professional bloggers, seriously, we got you; it’s clear now, crystal clear.

We finally understand, that no matter what Drew Brees and the Saints accomplish, he will always be the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL, and the team considered simply an upshot Arena League team.

After Week 17 I tuned into my usual ESPN and Sports Illustrated sites on Tuesday to see everyone’s final review of the year in the NFL. I expected the usual short shrift from most of them, but still thinking of the decent the Saints had put together, I was optimistic about the coverage. I knew a few records had been broken, but not how many or of what sort.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered the biggest stories were the top two seeds, New England and Green Bay, having the best offenses (almost true, ranked 2 and 3) and the worst defenses (definitely true, ranked 31 and 32), Aaron Rodgers breaking the QB rating record, and Stafford breaking 5000 yard barrier. Oh yeah, Drew Brees finished breaking Marino’s record by adding on 389 yards to his total, smashing the old 5084 with 5476 yards.

You kidding me? Barely a mention? That’s right, barely a mention. The usual game recaps dusted the surface with game stats, but none could tell which records or how many total. Peter King did an interesting Brees and Rodgers break down, choosing Rodgers of course, but no one really had any idea what the Saints truly accomplished this season. What was disquieting were the numerous Detroit Bandwagon Jumpers who suddenly Love the upset. Even the polls had overwhelming majorities picking the Lions as the most likely upset of wild card week-end.

To Make matters worse I discovered a piece that utterly enraged me, and started the train of thought that resulted in this rant. It was on SI.com, in the photo section, aptly entitled,

NFL Record-Breaking Moments of 2011

The Photos are spectacular, as usual with the incredible photographers who get their shots. It opened with Drew’s breaking Marino’s yardage record of 5084 yards last Sunday, but here’s how it reads,

“The Saints led by 22 late in their Week 16 game with the Falcons, but Brees, closing in on Dan Marino's single-season record of 5,084 passing yards, kept throwing. He broke the record on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles with 2:51 left and finished the season with 5,476 yards, crushing the 27-year-old mark.”

Now, is it me, or does that sound a little negative? Why mention he’s up 22 at all, since it has nothing to do with the record? I guess he bet on Atlanta and the under, and I clicked on to the next photo, and read this,

“Plain and simple, Aaron Rodgers had one of the best seasons for a quarterback, ever. Rodgers set a new record for passer rating with a mark of 122.5. He threw for 4,643 yards, passing for 45 touchdowns and a mere six interceptions. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards with six or fewer interceptions in a single season.”

Wait, what? Best season for a QB ever? You’re kidding, right? He set a Passer Rating record, and became the first to throw for 4000 yards and only 6 int’s, and that’s the best QB season ever?!

I was stunned so I just reached for my coffee and clicked onto the next photo as I sipped, hoping the coffee would clear my head, only to see a field goal kicker and read this,

“Few assumed a field goal kicker would prove to be the best pickup of last year's free agency. But the 49ers' David Akers made a strong claim for that honor with a season full of breaking records. Akers set NFL records for field goals made (44) and field goals attempted (50).”

“NO BLEEPING WAY!” I spluttered and coughed after spraying my coffee all over my computer. Fortunately it was a ‘work; computer so I dabbed dry the screen and keyboard as I tried to calm my shattered psyche. A FG Kicker the best free agent pick up?!? WHAT ABOUT DARREN SPROLES!! I thought clicking again; oh wait, he was a little further on, reading like this,

“The speedy running back and return man excelled in his role for the Saints' record-breaking offense. Sproles finished with 2,695 all-purpose yards, five more than Titans' wide receiver Derrick Mason had in 2000. Sproles ended up with 603 rushing yards, 710 receiving yards (on 86 catches) and 10 total touchdowns.”

Well, they mention his record at least, but again why a FG kicker as the best free agent pick up?!? A FG KICKER??!! Don’t misunderstand me, I really like kickers, even wanting Morten in the Hall of Fame, but no way is a kicker the best pick up compared to Sproles.

I honestly couldn’t stand it, not only did I not find the information I desired, I discovered that no one seemed even curious. My favorite pundit from ESPN’s page 2, who is well versed in political-social events of the day as well as all things sports, dismissively termed Sunday’s final Saints game “Stat-o-rama” which, though very apt, was a simple easy out in his story to gloss over the Saints easy win. As the high priest of the football gods, he should know that they are frowning.

So I did a little research and, with the help of Neworleanssaints.com, confirmed, for myself at least, the numerous NFL and Franchise records, as well as a few other tidbits that were accomplished. Out of curiosity however, and since I was doing the research anyway, I also compiled a list of the records the 2011 Green Bay Packers accomplished.

Tally of the 2011 Green Bay Packers

NFL

Team Records: Most Points Scored 560

Most TDs 70

Individual Records:

Rodgers Passer Rating 122.5

1st to pass 4000yd w/ only 6 INTs

Franchise Records:

Net Yards 4924

Fewest turnovers 12

Fewest Penalties 76

Fewest Penalty Yards 591

Individual Records:

Masthay Punting Average 45.6

Net Punt Average 38.6

TOTAL RECORDS 10

Tally of the 2011 New Orleans Saints

NFL

Team Records: Net Pass Yards 5347

Total Yards 7474

Most Points scored at Home 329

Completion % 71.3%

Completions 472

First Downs 416

First Downs by Pass 280

NFL Fewest Fumbles 6

Individual Records:

Brees Pass Yards, Single Season 5476

Completions 468

Completion % 71.2%

Games w/300 Yard Pass 13

Consecutive Games w/300 Yards Passing 7

Consecutive Games w/ 20+ Completions 35

Sproles All Purpose Yards, Single Season 2696

Franchise Records: Attendance 584,336 Home Win-Loss 8-0

Most Points Scored (3rd NFL Hist.) 547

Total Yards, Single Game (Wk. 17) 617

TD’s, Season 66

PAT’s 63

Average Yards per Play 6.7

Average Yards per Rush 4.9

Pass Attempts 662

Fewest Fumbles Lost 5

Fewest Turnovers 19

Punting Average 46.9

Individual 3rd Down Conversions 118

Franchise Records:

Brees TD’s, Passing (4th NFL) 46

Consecutive Games with TD (2nd NFL) 47 Passer Rating 110.6

Graham Receptions 99

TD’s, Receiving 11 tie

Rec. Yards, TE, Single Season (2nd NFL) 1310

Morestead Punting Average 47.9

Kasay Points Scored, Single Season 144

PAT’s 63

TOTAL RECORDS 37

Other interesting Saints bits that don’t quite qualify for records:

Ø This is the 3rd NFC Division Title in the Last 5 seasons

o The 5th Since 2000

Ø The 56.7% 3rd Down Conversion rate is the best recorded since the stat began being recorded in 1991, topping the 2006 Colts of 56.1%

Ø The Saints at Home out-scored their opponents by an average of 23.3 points per game, a 186 point difference; this is the 3rd best ever recorded, behind the ’99 Rams and the ’98 Vikings.

Ø Graham Briefly held the NFL Record for Rec. Yards, TE, Single Season, being the first TE to break Winslow’s record until Gronkowski of New England surpassed his total by 17 yards

One Last Item regarding the Rodgers and Brees race to the MVP, which most have seemed to have decided Rodgers as the unquestioned MVP. But I disagree, strongly. In 2008 Brees was amazing, but it was all about Brady. In 2009 Brees earned the MVP and more bringing the Saints their first Super Bowl Championship, but Manning got the nod, though he was beaten in the Super Bowl by Brees, the Super Bowl MVP, and The Saints not long after. Last Year Brees did great, but this year he was simply and truly amazing.

Yet Rodgers gets the nod with a 15-1 season, sitting out the last game while watching his back-up break franchise records, and he backs into a single season Passer Rating record without risking it in one more game. Some MVP, even his back up can do his job well, or is it both are MVP shoe-ins?

Give me Brees’ 9 NFL and franchise records, along with the other 28 records he led and motivated his teammates to accomplish. Yes he looked bad in the 3 losses, but Rodger’s looked worse in his one. Check it out below. I’ll give my vote to Brees, though it seems few others will.

Week 15 Green Bay 14 @ Kansas City 19

Rodgers 17 com / 35 att 48.57% 235 yds 1 TD 0 INT 1 FUM 80.1 rating

Weeks 1, 6, 8 New Orleans @ Packers 42-34, Bucs 26-20, Rams 31-21

Brees 32 com / 49 att 65.31% 419 yds 3 TD 0 INT 0 FUM 112.5 rating

29 com / 45 att 64.44% 383 yds 1 TD 3 INT 0 FUM 70.9 rating

30 com / 44 att 68.18% 269 yds 1 TD 2 INT 0 FUM 73.0 rating

Total 91 138 65.94% 1071 5 TD 5 INT 0 FUM

Check out the Photo Gallery of SI that I mentioned at the website below.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1201/nfl-record-breaking-moments-2011/content.8.html#ixzz1iYBDOUQV