New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Not ready for Primetime players.....

Commentary: Saints may not be ready for prime-time
06:07 PM CDT on Monday, September 22, 2003

Jim Henderson / WWL-TV Sports Director

The Saints will enjoy their first prime time exposure of the season this Sunday night in the Superdome when the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts visit.

Given the recent play of each of these teams and the history of the Saints at home - in prime time - and on ESPN, "enjoy" might be replaced by "endure" their first prime time exposure of the season this Sunday night. The Saints' record in prime time recently has been about as good as the supporting cast of Seinfeld's.

2-5 in their last 7 Sunday night games.

1-3 at home in those 7. 4-8 overall on ESPN.

If you saw last night's ESPN game between the Bills and the Dolphins, you saw 60 minutes of intense, hard-hitting, focused football. You also listened to a game-long "love-fest" about Ricky Williams who carried 42 times.

Should the Saints play the way they have been playing in losses to Seattle and Tennessee, if they play the way they've been playing for the most part on the Sunday night stage, I can't imagine that they'll benefit from any announcing comparisons between last night and next Sunday night - between Ricky Williams with his new team and Ricky Williams with his old.

Next Sunday night figures to require one of the greatest turnarounds in Saints' history because this is currently a saints team being out-played in all areas:

Decimated on defense, emaciated on offense. Emasculated on special teams.

Will the fans be emancipated from one of the most discouraging starts in recent team history given expectations and results?

The challenge is huge for every facet of the organization including the ticket office. 8,000 tickets remain to be sold for Sunday night. Selling those may fall in degree of difficulty between selling a muzzle to a dog and selling a humidifier to a cajun.

The Saints need to put on a show that gives their fans a reason to come back and national cameras a reason to be enthusiastic about ever coming again.

Might be a good nickname for this team. The Not Ready for Primetime Players. :P