HEAVEN SENT Coach Sean Payton built the Saints from ground up, transformed them into champions
 

Sean Payton fielded one question after another in the bowels of Miami’s Sun Life Stadium. The New Orleans Saints’ fourth-year coach had just won a Super Bowl, and Payton understood what that means.
Perception being reality and everything.
Champions. He likes the sound of that.

“It just happened,” Payton said 30 minutes after the Saints zapped Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 on Feb. 7. “This is what you work so hard for. This is a team, and an organization, that represents so much ... I’m really proud of these guys.”
Payton is right. The Saints represent a lot more than just themselves. They’re icons of the Gulf South, even before Payton’s impressive run that began in 2006. They’re symbols of New Orleans’ recovery from deadly Hurricane Katrina, a gradual process that is less than five years into the process.
They’re the first Saints team to win a Vince Lombardi trophy, and in a nice bit of symmetry, Payton’s 39-year-old quarterbacks coach is Joe Lombardi, the grandson of the late, great Green Bay Packers coach.
When Payton got back to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Tuesday, he thrust the Lombardi Trophy through the open sunroof of his car, sharing the Saints’ accomplishment with the thousands of fans to greet the team upon its return.
“I know not only the city, but the entire region, will appreciate this trophy,” Payton said.
“I just wish we could split it up into a lot of little pieces and give it to everybody. They are a part of it, and I’m happy to be a part of it as well.”
Payton and Mickey Loomis, the Saints’ general manager, built the bulk of the team’s roster with players signed after the team’s run to the NFC championship game three years ago.
The Saints lost that game 39-14 to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, but some of the Saints’ key cogs were establishing themselves that season.
Drew Brees, the Saints’ quarterback, signed with the team as a free agent after undergoing shoulder surgery and deciding to part ways with the San Diego Chargers.
Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita, two of the linebackers on Payton’s former team, the Dallas Cowboys, followed Payton to New Orleans, even though the Saints’ coach has a background in offense. Jon Stinchcomb came into his own that season as the Saints’ right offensive tackle. Will Smith had emerged as a top-flight defensive end.

HEAVEN SENT Coach Sean Payton built the Saints from ground up, transformed them into champions - Sports - SunHerald.com

Re: HEAVEN SENT Coach Sean Payton built the Saints from ground up, transformed them into champions
 

I agree that Payton was Heaven sent...So was Drew and the rest of the team. Most of the credit needs to go to Payton for making the right decisions when he signed on with the Saints. It was just time for good things to happen in New Orleans after the Flood washed the curse off of New Orleans. Thanks Sean.

Re: HEAVEN SENT Coach Sean Payton built the Saints from ground up, transformed them into champions
 

We can't forget Mickey Lommis too. Coach Payton, Greg Williams, Drew Brees, and all of the Saints players and front office people and the FANS !!!

This one for you New Orleans.