Quarterback Drew Brees sets record, wins crown

Photo credit: Michael DeMocker, Times-Picayune

On the night after Christmas, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke an NFL record that had stood for nearly three decades, and New Orleans beat its archrival Atlanta 45-16 to clinch the fifth division crown in franchise history. The victory keeps the Saints (12-3) in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, and its convincing nature offered further evidence no team in football is more explosive than New Orleans.

The Saints, undefeated at home this season, have now won seven in a row.

All of those heartwarming holiday milestones the team reached paled, however, to Brees breaking Dan Marino's record of 5,084 passing yards in a season. Brees threw for 307 yards in the game, but it was a 9-yard scoring pass to running back Darren Sproles with 2:51 remaining, and the Saints already holding a commanding lead, that gave him 5,087 for the season.

Brees thrust a fist into the air exultantly and then was mobbed by teammates led by guard Carl Nicks. Even referee Jeff Triplette came over and shook Brees' hand. The performance also left Brees as the only player in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season twice.

"It was a big win, a special night for us with all of it kind of culminating in one game," Coach Sean Payton said.

Brees' record overshadowed a more sustained assault the Saints are putting on the NFL's offensive record book, in an outing that left the already playoff-bound Falcons (9-6) completely outclassed by the divisional champ. For example, Brees also extended his streak of consecutive games throwing a touchdown pass to 42 as he chases a mark even older than Marino's -- Johnny Unitas' 47. Similarly, the Saints amassed 463 yards, leaving them with 6,857 yards for the season and 219 short of the all-time record set by the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf."

There's a lot still to be written, and we look forward to that," Payton said.

The Saints now host the Carolina Panthers on New Year's Day in a game that holds significance only if the San Francisco 49ers lose at St. Louis on the same day. In that case, a Saints' victory would give them the No. 2 seed and a bye in the playoffs before hosting a home game.

From the outset Monday night, a setting in which the Saints traditionally play superb football, it was clear New Orleans was a team on a mission.

While opening a 21-10 halftime lead, the Saints converted eight of eight third-down opportunities and scored touchdowns on three of their four trips inside the Falcons' 20-yard line. Running back Pierre Thomas began what would be the most points scored against Atlanta since 2004 with a 4-yard scoring run, and Atlanta sandwiched a field goal and touchdown around that to hold a 10-7 lead.

However, Brees then marched the Saints 81 yards in 10 plays, the last of them an 8-yard scoring toss to wide receiver Marques Colston, and though 70,086 in attendance didnt yet know it, the rout was on.

"It was a huge deal," Colston said of Brees' record and the win. "To be able to do it against the Falcons and for the division and on Monday night, all those things just make it more special. It was a huge win, and to be able to achieve that is obviously a great thing for us. But we've got higher places to go."

With just 24 seconds left in the first half, Jimmy Graham collared a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brees, a catch that made Graham the first Saints tight end to have 10 touchdown catches in a season.

In the second half, Brees added a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem and then the record-breaker to Sproles, giving Brees four scoring strikes in the game.

Brees said that, after the Meachem score, he overheard a voice on the sideline saying, "you're really close," and it struck him as an improper vibe.

"Like jinxing a no-hitter," Brees said. "I mean, we were rolling at that point. Like a pitcher -- don't talk to him, leave him alone."

Yet, from a purely statistical standpoint, it wasn't his finest effort. Brees also threw two interceptions, one of them a bizarre pass to the end zone that Falcons safety William Moore batted high in the air and back toward the goal line, where it was caught by cornerback Dominique Franks.

The first of those picks ended a streak of 233 passes by Brees without an interception, the longest such streak of his career, and the second helped hold his quarterback rating for the game to 96.8. But all of that could not blemish the uncontestable fact Brees was commanding one of the best offenses football has ever seen.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who completed 34 of 52 passes for 373 yards, managed to move the ball at times against a Saints defense that appeared to play with more and more emotion as New Orleans' lead widened and Brees closed on Marino's mark. Despite the Falcons best efforts, they managed two field goals by Matt Bryant in the second half -- the first a 51-yarder that made the score 28-13 and the second a meaningless 30-yarder that finished Atlanta's scoring.

The Saints' defensive spirit burst into flower after Bryant made that second field goal. After the Saints, playing conservatively with the big lead, went three-and-out, linebacker Scott Shanle stripped Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones of the ball. New Orleans safety Malcolm Jenkins scooped up the bouncing ball and raced 30 yards untouched for a touchdown that made the score 38-16.

That score also provided Payton the cushion he needed to give the green light to Brees push for the yardage record in the closing minutes. With the game and the divisional crown in hand, the team cast its steely gaze at Marino's venerable achievement when they took over on downs at the Atlanta 33 with 5:08 left.

Brees insisted he didn't know the exact number he needed at that point. Leading up to the game Brees said he strove to compartmentalize the record and the game itself, and that mindset carried over into the fourth quarter.

On a third-and-9, Brees went to Colston on the left side for 12 yards, then hit Devery Henderson for 11 more. After a bullet to Henderson on the next snap went incomplete, Brees and Sproles hooked up for the memorable touchdown.

"That's when I knew I had done it," Brees said. "Just an amazing feeling."

Nicks said the pretzel he put his quarterback in when he "bum- rushed" him after the record was set was a labor of love.

"If Hollywood were to make a movie I don't know if Tom Cruise could play him," Nicks said. "This guy is out of this world. Probably one of the best guys I know, period. If I could put him on my shoulders and parade him around the whole stadium I would have done that."

Afterward, even the media broke into applause when Brees entered the postgame interview room.

"Not as tough a crowd as I thought," Brees joked, before immediately turning to the rewards the team had reaped. "It feels great to be division champs. It feels great to have done what we just did, especially on Monday night before a national audience."

But he did permit himself a personal note.

"I haven't had a whole lot of time for reflection," he said. "For now, I just feel like there's still so much to be done. I do feel life his short and you have to enjoy these things. I'm never going to take it for granted."

James Varney can be reached at jvarney@timespicayune.com or 504.717.1156.

Who Dat Hallelujah!

Photo: Chris Granger, Times-Picayune

As the New Orleans Saints began their season, Rev. Tony Ricard, Saints Team Chaplain, leads the Who Dat Nation in a pre-season petition for Super Bowl blessings. 

Lord, hear our prayer:

God of Many Nations,With joy in our hearts, we the people of the Gulf South join with all the angels in heaven as we proclaim, "Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints?"

Since the dawn of time, you have been calling your saints to levels of heroic greatness and miraculous victories.

Thousands of years ago, you called Abraham and Sarah to unite as one and form a nation of good and holy people. Through their love and your providence, the Hebrew nation formed the foundation of a multitude of prophetic saints.

While the descendants of Abraham and Sarah prayed in the West, the followers of Buddha and Confucius called the people of the East to form additional nations of love. Through their prayers and words of wisdom, the nations of the Orient have become saints who fully understand that we are all connected by your wisdom.

Later, you called Muhammad to unite a band of men and women to form a nation of devoted believers and followers. Through their sacrifices, the nations of Islam received your blessings and became saints that are devoted to your love.

Your son, Jesus Christ, entered the world to announce to all the nations that your universal offer of love was opened to all. Through his sacrificial offering, the Christian nation spread across the world and called every man, woman and child to a new level of sainthood.

On Nov. 1, 1966, you united all these faiths under a new sacred banner of excitement and joy. On All Saints Day, you created a band of people that would be forever known as the New Orleans Saints -- , and their faithful disciples as the Who Dat Nation.

Like all sacred families, we have journeyed through a storied history of peaks and valleys. We have rejoiced on the Miami mountaintop of the Super Bowl and wept in the crevices of painful defeat.

But at no point did the truly faithful members of the Who Dat Nation abandon our call to be Saints. Even when we seemed to be martyrs and sacrificial offerings, we refused to walk away from the Who Dat family.

Today, we call upon you to bless this Who Dat Nation.

Bless Mr. Tom Benson, Mrs. Gayle Benson, Ms. Rita Benson LeBlanc and all the Saints' staff. Just as you did for Abraham, Sarah and Moses, please give them the wisdom to lead the us to the NFL's Promised Land.

Bless head coach Sean Payton, defensive coordinator Greg Williams, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael special teams coach Greg McMahon and all our coaches. Just as you did for Buddha and Confucius, share with them strategic insights that will take us to the highest levels of glory.

Thousands of years ago, you called Abraham and Sarah to unite as one and form a nation of good and holy people. Through their love and your providence, the Hebrew nation formed the foundation of a multitude of prophetic saints.

While the descendants of Abraham and Sarah prayed in the West, the followers of Buddha and Confucius called the people of the East to form additional nations of love. Through their prayers and words of wisdom, the nations of the Orient have become saints who fully understand that we are all connected by your wisdom.

Later, you called Muhammad to unite a band of men and women to form a nation of devoted believers and followers. Through their sacrifices, the nations of Islam received your blessings and became saints that are devoted to your love.

Fr. Tony Ricard
Photo: Ted Jackson, Times-Picayune

Bless Drew Brees, Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith and all our players. Just as you did for Muhammad and his people, give them the strength and courage to represent the Who Dat Nation with unending pride and boundless gifts.

Bless all our fans, near and far. Just as you did for Jesus and his apostles, allow them to continue to grow as a powerful band of peoples. Although they come from many faiths, keep them united as one nation under God. Give them the power to always be one voice and one people.

Under the banner of the fleur-de-lis, let them be the energetic boost that will propel the New Orleans Saints to Super Bowl XLVI.

Lord, please bathe us in your grace so that the Who Dat Nation will continue to reach heroic levels of victory. May our efforts find approval in your eyes and may all the saints and angels in heaven join their voices to ours as we proclaim, "Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints!"

Amen.

The Rev. R. Tony Ricard

Pastor, Our Lady of the Sea Catholic ChurchNew Orleans Saints Catholic team chaplain

BY: Sheila Stroup can be reached at sstroup@timespicayune.com or 985.898.4831. 

© 2011 NOLA.com. All rights reserved

Superdome's bad rap forgotten

I really hate to bring back bad memories, but do you remember after Katrina, there was talk about tearing down the Superdome? The word was nobody would ever be able to forget the horrible incidents that had occurred - or were supposed to have occurred - there after the storm. It was horrible, but I guess we just forgot.

The Saints helped us forget by winning the Super Bowl. Everybody bought season tickets and replaced the bad images with victorious ones.

Last week, for the start of exhibition season, Saints fans returned to the Dome and marveled at the latest $85 million in renovations. Officials state the 36-year-old stadium now ranks among the top 10 in the National Football League. Wider concourses, more seats, club lounges with flat-screen TVs and VIP parking are just a few of the amenities.

Since Hurricane Katrina, there has been $336 million in renovations, including $155 million from FEMA, $121 million from the state of Louisiana, $444 million from the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District and $15 million from the NFL.

We're happy for short memories.

Brees is Our Sportsman of the Year

The Saints' QB is a 'brilliant choice' for prestigious award

By James Varney

Times-Picayune

Drew Brees, who brought his rebuilt shoulder to a city some thought would never rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and led the Saints to a Super Bowl title last season, was selected Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year on Tuesday.

As Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell, who personally made the pick, put it, Brees didn't win because his admirable work is done. Rather, more is to come with Brees, he said. His artistry on the field is inseparable from his work off. All of which, McDonell said with undisguised astonishment, is genuine.

"If you look at the oldest definition we have for the Sportsman of the Year -- that it's not only about victory but the quality of the effort -- then you see why Drew Brees is a brilliant choice," McDonell said. "There's something old-fashioned about Drew Brees. He's aware this honor is for him, but he's aware and we're all aware that this award is really for the city, too."

Brees is the 57th honoree since the magazine's founding in 1954, joining a transcendent group of athletes and sports figures including Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Derek Jeter, John Wooden, Cal Ripken Jr. and Jack Nicklaus.

Brees is the first New Orleanian to win the accolade, which is arguably the most prestigious in sports. And in some respects, the fact he can be called a New Orleanian without an eyebrow raised from Riverbend to the 9th Ward underscores why he won. After a Texas childhood, college at Purdue, and a professional start in San Diego, Brees is at home in New Orleans.

Even before the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, Brees had been enormously successfully. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times -- with the Chargers in 2004 and with the Saints in 2006, 2008 and 2009. He was the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2004, the Offensive Player of the Year in 2008, and he was the Super Bowl MVP this past February.

Reflecting on that odyssey Tuesday night, Brees said it doesn't strike him as odd. The world offers few examples of people as great at what they do as he, but it wasn't something planned when he was young, Brees said, and it's not something achieved unilaterally.

"None of this happens without Ncw Orleans," Brees said.

Brees began Tuesday in New York on the Today Show and then ran from one event to another, and even the polished Sports Illustrated public relations team was scrambling to keep up.

Brees was honored Tuesday night at a downtown Manhattan dinner where Katie Couric was his introductory speaker.

Enough to scramble the average mind. Which, and this is the point reinforced by the Sportsman of the Year award, is not the Brees mind.

"You know, I don't take things in that way," he said when asked if he had ever envisioned a day when he would be Super Bowl MVP and Sportsman of the Year. "In fact, I never even knew Purdue was a storied place for quarterbacks when I went there."

Brees has talked at length about his introduction to New Orleans, how Saints Coach Sean Payton gave Brees and his wife, Brittany, an unintended car tour of the gashed post-Katrina city. And how, when Payton thought for sure his pitch was blown, Drew and Brittany caught an immediate vibe that said, no, actually, this is the place.

As unlikely as that tale may seem, Brees insisted Tuesday night it is a piece of his development as a man and an athlete. He conceded his competitive fire burns at a high degree -- some of his Saints teammates will roll their eyes and say Brees is off the top of the competitive meter -- but he said what has happened now wasn't planned.

And that goes to another Brees element that McDonell mentioned: New Orleans spies a fake a mile away. McDonell has friends in the Big Easy who called him down to see the notes fans had left around the Brees' Uptown home.

"We knew about all the stuff he had been doing in the community," McDonell said. "But when you go down there you realize it's more and more powerful and less and less ostentatious."

In Manhattan, Brees was reflective.

"I don't know -- I mean, I think about all the people who have been part of this journey," he said. "But the truth is something I've said many times, that the best way to describe New Orleans is that if you love them, they will love you back."

. . . . . . .

James Varney can be reached at jvarney@timespicayune.com or 504.717.1156.

INFOBOX:

Even the dead turn out for All Saints Day

The Halloween parade on Frenchman Street was over and trick or treating had ended, but there was still an excuse to party today on All Saints Day. The Day of the Dead may be unknown in many parts of the country, but here in this Catholic city, it's a time to honor ancestors and take tours of ancient cemeteries.

I'd never before been into St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 on Basin Street, just outside the French Quarter, but plenty of people were wandering through the tombstones, including a few in 18th century costumes.

The original Sugar Daddy

I spoke for a long time to Etienne de Bore, the inventor of granulated sugar and New Orleans' first mayor. Audubon Park and Tulane University stand on the ground where his sugar cane plantation was cultivated and where the World Cotton Centennial, or World's Fair, was held in 1884.

The playboy, Bernard Marigny

Bernard Marigny was there for the occasion, as well, and kissing the hand of a real French woman, mais oui!

Born in New Orleans in 1785, Bernard was sort of a n'er do well, gambling and philandering away his inheritance. But he was fun and that's what we appreciate here in New Orleans.

He subdivided his father's plantation behind the French Quarter and made a subdivision, which is still named for him - Marigny.


Marie Laveaux was on hand and a jazz band too. Volunteers served complimentary red beans and rice 
because it's Monday - a New Orleans tradition.

Marie Laveau, the Voodoo queen

It looked like all the family names were French until I stumbled on a mausoleum with Spanish surnames. French and Spanish amicably intermingled during New Orleans' golden age, 1820-1865. It was the uncultured Americans they didn't like.


De Bore pointed out that New Orleans was not built to be a pioneer outpost; it was founded to be a mini-Paris with a sophisticated opera house and fine restaurants. Seeing the elegant funerary statuary, I could only imagine what fineries they'd enjoyed in their lifetimes.


For the occasion of All Saints Day, St. Louis II and III were also opened for  public viewing.


It gives one pause to think what full and comfortable lives those people had and are now buried almost underneath the Claiborne overpass.