Saints go from Stephen King to Rocky

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, October 19, 2006  |  Comments( 1 )

New Orleans Saints
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No one in his right mind would consider 2005 a good year for the New Orleans Saints.

Once upon a time, the Dallas Cowboys cheekily referred to themselves as "America's Team." Last year, the Saints were America's Poster Child -- the world's first homeless football team.

With their home stadium not only trashed by Hurricane Katrina but then converted into a real-life Stephen King movie for all the world to see, the Saints limped off to play (a word that sounds funny in that context) in Shreveport, Baton Rouge and San Antonio, losing 13 of 16 games that were witnessed mostly by strangers.

It was, every current Saint will tell you, a nightmare.

But as the saying goes, whatever doesn't kill you (or, in this case, drown you) makes you stronger. And it can now be argued that the surreal 2005 season has a lot to do with an equally surreal 5-1 Saints record thus far in 2006.

Last year's team bonded in a way no other NFL team has ever done -- they had no choice.

And when they returned to open the 2006 home season on a Monday night against Atlanta, the Crescent City embraced them as if they were soldiers back from Iraq. Whoever heard of attendance for a 3-13 team going up the following year?

Intangibles? The Saints have them in spades.

Also, 2006 offered an intriguing mix of old and new. The team was back home, and back in its old stadium. Star running back Deuce McAllister was back in uniform after missing most of 2005 with a knee injury.

At the same time, there was a new coach (fiery, 42-year-old Sean Payton), a new quarterback (Drew Brees) and a high-profile rookie (Reggie Bush). Payton has cajoled and browbeaten the team into an NFC South contender (the division leader, even), Brees has maintained a steady hand on the throttle, and Bush has been, like his new city, a work in progress but fun to watch.

The offensive line and most of the defense are no-names, but that line has protected Brees far better than it warded off harm to Aaron Brooks last year.

It's such a fine line in the post-parity NFL. Last year, the Saints' defense surrendered 25 points a game, near the bottom of the league. This year, it's 18.3 points -- less than a touchdown and an extra point -- and they're 10th. The offense has improved by more than a touchdown, from 14.7 points a game to 24.

Payton has proved an interesting study, as well, using tough love on his team and embracing the fans and the community with open arms. After three of the New Orleans home victories, he rushed over to the stands and went down the line slapping hands.

Perhaps that's because many of those fans suffered, too, in 2005, creating an emotional connection between audience and performers that probably exists nowhere else in sport. It will continue to exist, at least for this year, even if the Saints fail to win another game.

The Saints are not America's team -- there's no such thing. Right now, they're just enjoying being New Orleans' team.

Follow the New Orleans Saints journey in 2006 with RealFootball365.com
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