If you have been watching the New Orleans Saints for awhile, you’ve gotten used to disappointment: twenty years before the first winning season, five playoff games before the first victory, only needing to win one more game out of the last four to get into the playoffs. Their history is full of times where they got the special guy (be it coach or player) who was going to make the difference. “This time, I know we’re gonna make it!”
The team is better now, maybe the best they’ve ever had. Drew Brees has shown that he is an exceptional quarterback. Marques Colston has come from nowhere to put up two solid seasons. Some of you may think that Reggie Bush is over-hyped but I say that the challenge is figuring out the best way to use his talents. Deuce McAlister (may his knees still work once he has left us) has better stats than any of our running backs ever. The defense is a little different, but has shown promise and the talent has improved.
Last year, the conventional wisdom was that the Saints would make it to the Super Bowl. Everyone knew that Chicago would not be as lucky to get in again with Rex Grossman at the helm and the NFC had few other contenders. As you know, the Saints didn’t even make it to the playoffs. The team that surprised everyone in 2006 surprised everyone again in 2007.
