NOLAmite

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...s-burial_N.htm

Last week, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, coach Sean Payton and the rest of the Saints showed they were able to think outside — and inside — the box.

Talk about a creative twist of the phrase "Coffin corner." They filled a mock casket with replicas of 18 awards from their magical 10-6 season, then buried the black-and-gold coffin beneath the sideline of their Metairie, La., practice field.

The final resting place for the feel-good story that fell one game shy of Super Bowl XLI became the 4x4 wooden crate that held Brees' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Brees shared the honor with former San Diego Chargers teammate LaDainian Tomlinson.

"It was a big, hefty box and they rigged it up to look like a coffin with a lining and on top it said, 'Drew Brees Man of the Year' in black and gold," Brees said. "Every single honor that anyone won went in. And we basically said, 'The 2006 season is buried and in the past.' "

Saints assistant head coach/linebackers Joe Vitt suggested a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral.

"We had a six-piece blues band, a preacher, a coffin and somber music as our players gathered around," Payton said. "We dug a hole in the ground right outside on the practice field. The band, the preacher and the pallbearers came out with the casket from the weight room and walked real slow.

It was Payton's way of reacquiring the here-and-now focus required of each new season.

"I was fired up," said Rev. Frederick Henderson. "I said, 'Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. The 2006 season is no longer with us. Your eyes are on the high calling — the prize is the Lombardi Trophy.'




I like it... I like it alot...

WhoDat205

Right on...that's a really cool story. Good find NOLAmite.

hagan714

the sounds of building a winning attitude.

saintsfan1203

It feels good to know that he's a Saint!

BleedBlack&Gold

Now lets go bury the Oppostion!

Ashley

That is awsome, good read.