Saints one win away from keeping the dream alive

By Randy  |   Friday, January 19, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

New Orleans Saints
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Let's take a deja vu trip back in time, shall we?

It's late January, 1981. A Pittsburgh preacher named Dr. Peter D. Weaver is consoling members of his flock as he preaches from his Steel City pulpit at Smithfield United Church. It's frigid on that Sunday morning in Pittsburgh.

In a service titled, "None for the Thumb," Pastor Weaver warns of the inherent dangers of coveting thy neighbor's Super Bowl. Unlike recent years, Pittsburgh is an eerily silent place on this weekend in '81. The rival Oakland Raiders - and not the aging Steeler dynasty - will represent the AFC against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in New Orleans, denying the Steelers an opportunity to win a fifth Lombardi Trophy - "One for the Thumb."

"Shakespeare called it ''The Green Sickness,'' that kind of envy and jealousy of the good fortunes others are having....to the point that it becomes a compulsive obsession," Pastor Weaver warned beleaguered Pittsburgh fans on that Sunday morning 26 years ago.

Forgive Saints fans for feeling "The Green Sickness," that burning envy Shakespeare wrote about and the good preacher quoted way back in 1981. Experiencing a tinge of "The Green Sickness" is understandable when you have tasted the sweetness of playoff victory only twice in 40 years and nary a single Super Bowl.

Saints fans aren't worried about, "One for the Thumb," as those Steeler fans were in that House of Worship back all those years ago. "One for the Index Finger," would suit them just fine, thank you.

It's Friday morning in the historic French Quarter. Haunted history tours abound. That Vince Lombardi poster, "What It Takes to be Number One," still stands in the window of the poster shop on Bourbon and Orleans. It doesn't look as out of place and far-fetched as it did on that afternoon in late October. A mix of anxiety and anticipation fills the air. All week long, Saints fans have listened to high-profile sports announcers from around the country sing the praises of their beloved football franchise.

And yet after 40 years, can the dream become a reality? Sean Payton tells them to forget all that Marie Laveau voodoo curse nonsense. Father Tony over at the International Shrine of Hopeless Cases says all that curse talk is a lot of malarkey that, if subscribed too, can lead straight to the gates of Hell. Parishioners tell the good reverend that if the Saints make it to the Super Bowl, it's a sure sign that Hell is freezing over.

In two days, the Saints will face the Chicago Bears, not in the friendly confines of the Superdome. This win will have to occur at Soldier Field -- in wintry conditions amid possible snow flurries. However, Saints fans seem to possess a cautious and quietly confident optimism. After all, this isn't that Super Bowl shufflin' Bears team of 1985 that terrorized the NFL with Buddy Ryan's "46" defense en route to a 46-10 win over New England in Super Bowl XX at the Superdome. Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and William Perry have long since retired. The 2006 edition of the Bears doesn't seem nearly as menacing by comparison.

Way back in early September, it's difficult to fathom Payton, a rookie head coach, could have deemed this magical season that has unfolded in step after dramatic step even remotely possible as he prepared for his NFL debut against Cleveland. Circumstances just did not dictate it. The team lost 13 games one year prior. The Saints had not even settled on a starting linebacking corps by the end of a brutal training camp in Jackson, Miss.

"I think it is a results-oriented business," Payton said back then. "You know, the fear of failure is sometimes what drives you the most, I think. The fear of not being successful."

"That's the dread factor," said University of Oregon psychology professor Paul Slovic in a December Time Magazine cover story that addressed the subject of worry. That dread factor must be one mighty effective weapon, if you ask me. From last to first. From 3-13 to 11-6 and an NFC South championship. Worrying must not be as harmful as all of us seem to believe. Perhaps it produces some unlikely results. Who knows?

By mid-week, Rex Grossman seemed to be feeling the heat. Bears quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, a former Saints QB, says this is not necessarily a bad thing. He says he likes the on-edge Grossman. He says Grossman is more focused when he is peeved at us media types.

When asked on Wednesday by a reporter if he was having fun this season, Grossman shed his usual off-the-field cool demeanor and said in a snippy, Al Gore kind of way, "Why wouldn't I have fun. Yeah, I've had fun. I think it's obvious. I don't think I have to explain why this is fun, being in the NFC Championship game, being the Chicago Bears quarterback, playing with a bunch of great guys, having fun, making plays."

"That's what it's all about. It's not about patting yourself on the back and reading something saying you played great or you're the best or all that crap. I'm just excited about everything that has happened, and all the scrutiny is just part of it. That's part of my responsibility as a quarterback to deal with some of that."

Not exactly sure what he meant by all of that. But he said it a testy way and with a lot of conviction. And, one must suppose there is something to be said for that these days.

By contrast, Drew Brees is never edgy, testy or snippy. Saints fans approach him on the street expressing their appreciation for his gallant efforts and he acknowledges them in a very gracious way. He seemed as unflappable as ever in leading the Saints to a come-from-behind, 27-24 victory over the Eagles last week. Brees and running back Deuce McAllister dominated. The sight of the latter carrying the entire Eagles defense on his back as he willed his way into the end zone from five yards away will leave an indelible mark in the memories of all the Saints' faithful.

Chicago Tribune columnist David Haugh forewarned Bears fans about these New Orleans Saints. Forget the fairy tale. Talent is the main reason for the Saints revival, according to Haugh.

"They run. They pass. They protect the quarterback with an offense rebuilt in one season with spare parts. They rush the passer from the edge and just disposed of the hottest team in the playoffs," wrote Haugh.

"Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith are the top three reasons New Orleans is capable of beating the Bears."

Added Fox Sports analyst Jimmy Johnson, a man who is no stranger to winning Super Bowls, "Chicago's defense hasn't been the same for the past four or five games, and I can see the Saints scoring at least three touchdowns. They may score more than that. I'm not sure what's wrong with Chicago's defense, but they just don't look cohesive anymore."

Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, a member of the 1985 Bears that won the Super Bowl under Ditka and Ryan, says turnovers and the running game will decide it. The Saints have the better rushing attack but the Bears hold a definite edge in creating takeaways.

Brees vs. Grossman. McAllister and Bush vs. Urlacher and Briggs. Sean vs. Lovie.

It may well turn out to be an NFL version of the Thrilla in Manilla. Another Ali vs. Frazier.

Will America's new team keep the dream alive? The wait is nearing an end.

Get more New Orleans Saints' prose from Randy Savoie at RealFootball365.com
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CommentsComments: 4  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Sue :-)		02:19 PM
01/19/2007
Randy, This is a Great and very informative article. The Saints, I feel have taken the message on that Lombardi Poster to heart,...
No.2
Eclipse		02:43 PM
01/20/2007
Just 15 more days between a meeting of the two greatest feel-good stories in NFL history in the Super Bowl, the two greatest...
No.3
Chris Drury		11:44 PM
01/20/2007
Bears are going to win tomorrow, thus ending the Saints' fantasy camp. I like the Saints a lot as a team, but I'm tired of this...
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