More Praise for Karney

WhoDat205 · 08-20-2007, 01:52 PM

Karney Leads The Way

Rustin Legendre, NewOrleansSaints.com
Monday, August 20, 2007 - 11:50 AM

Mike Karney will always cherish December 10, 2006.

It was the night he was in the ‘zone.’ He could do no wrong.

“It was a magical night for me,” said Karney, the Saints’ 5’11” 258 lb. bowling ball of a fullback. “Everyone has that one moment as an athlete. That night, I felt like anything I did turned to gold.”

It was that night when Karney scored his first career touchdown--followed by his second and third--as the Saints stormed into Dallas and dominated the Cowboys 42-17. Karney finished the game with a two-yard touchdown plunge and two scoring receptions.

“Just to play a big role in that night was pretty special,” Karney said.

There aren’t too many nights, though, like December 10, 2006 for Karney as the Saints’ starting fullback. Karney, who was voted second-team All Pro by the Associated Press and is regarded as one of the best blocking fullbacks in the NFL, rarely touches the ball. He rarely gets national attention and is seldom mentioned as one of the Saints’ top offensive weapons.

And he couldn’t be happier.

“My position is an unsung position, but I just try to bring my lunch pail every day and lead by example. You can score touchdowns and catch balls, and that’s fun. But there’s nothing like hearing the crowd roar when Deuce (McAllister) or Reggie (Bush) break a long run,” the fullback said.

Karney enjoys blowing up a middle linebacker on a running play as much, if not more, than when he blew up the stat sheet against Dallas in 2006.

“It’s a feeling like I can’t describe. It almost feels like a touchdown for me when I do my job and the back is off and running,” says Karney. “It’s why I play the game.”

Karney’s unselfish attitude, toughness and grit have made him an invaluable cog in the Saints’ offense and his teammates in the backfield credit much of their success to his services.

“He’s an extended part of the offensive line,” said running back Deuce McAllister. “He’s a lot like the five guys up front--as far as my success, Drew’s success and Reggie’s success--a lot of it depends on him.”

“He’s a guy who plays a very important role with what we do on offense,” said Pro Bowl starting quarterback Drew Brees. “He’s so versatile and he’s a great ball-catcher out of the backfield, and plus he’s just a tough presence.”

Karney’s bone-jarring blocks and fiery attitude infuse an electric energy into the Saints’ offense when things get too calm. “He’s the guy, you know when there’s kind of a lull in the game, all of a sudden here comes Mike Karney knocking the middle linebacker on his tail and that gets everybody going again,” says Brees.

Karney never takes a play off. Not even in practice. In fact, he sets the bar when it comes to intensity and he makes his teammates he practices against better.

“He’s just a throwback,” says linebacker Mark Simoneau. “On the isolation plays you have to really bring it because he’s going to bring it every time. He’s a complete fullback and he makes us better competing against him every day.”

Karney’s allies and adversaries will both attest his calling card is toughness. While exuding a polite smile and extending a “hello” off the football field, Karney possesses a bitter demeanor and a mean streak when the pads and helmet are put on.

“You see the nastiness. That’s the first thing you notice about how he goes about his job,” says McAllister. “You know when he’s mad. He’ll start talking real fast and it comes out funny. He’ll turn jet-red and all that, but it’s all for the good of the team.”

Karney has missed only one game in his career since being drafted in the fifth round in 2004 out of Arizona State, where he started 28 of 46 games and hauled in 37 catches for 308 yards with a touchdown. His consistency is a key reason the Saints selected him.

Karney’s energy and endurance are infectious. His teammates look to him for a jolt when the monotony of long practices and team meetings can wear players down.

“He’s never a guy who would make you think he’s tired,” says Brees. “He always looks like he’s got another play in him. He keeps everybody going.”

The position of true blocking-fullback is a dying breed in the NFL. Offenses are more pass oriented and three wide receiver sets are the norm. The I-formation is becoming a lost art in professional football.

But Karney knows that great runners in the NFL have great blockers in front of them. That’s why he takes such pride in what he does for the Saints. “The passing game has gotten pretty intense over the past ten to 15 years,” acknowledges Karney. “But I always say, look at the top five running backs in the league. Who do they have in front of them as a fullback?” he inquired as a grin crept across his face.
“LaDanian Tomlinson has Lorenzo Neal. Ahman Green, when he was in Green Bay, had William Henderson. Sean Alexander has Mack Strong. The list goes on.”

Karney tries to follow their footsteps, or blocking lanes, if-you-will. “Those veteran guys set a great example at the fullback position, so it’s on the younger guys like myself and other fullbacks in the league to carry that torch,” said Karney.

Karney will continue to mold his game after former and current great fullbacks as he paves the way for the two-headed backfield of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. He is the Saints’ secret weapon who does the dirty work while the rest of the offense works their magic.
And he’ll continue to love his role on the team.

Even if magical nights like December 10, 2006 are few and far between.

I think Karney makes the Pro Bowl this year.

LongTimeFan · 08-20-2007, 08:55 PM

A co-worker and I were talking today about how Karney destroyed the Cowboys defensive line last season..
I hope to see more of him this year..

08-20-2007, 01:52 PM	#1
WhoDat205 Prediction Pain Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,082 Blog Entries: 2	More Praise for Karney *Karney Leads The Way* Rustin Legendre, NewOrleansSaints.com Monday, August 20, 2007 - 11:50 AM Mike Karney will always cherish December 10, 2006. It was the night he was in the ‘zone.’ He could do no wrong. “It was a magical night for me,” said Karney, the Saints’ 5’11” 258 lb. bowling ball of a fullback. “Everyone has that one moment as an athlete. That night, I felt like anything I did turned to gold.” It was that night when Karney scored his first career touchdown--followed by his second and third--as the Saints stormed into Dallas and dominated the Cowboys 42-17. Karney finished the game with a two-yard touchdown plunge and two scoring receptions. “Just to play a big role in that night was pretty special,” Karney said. There aren’t too many nights, though, like December 10, 2006 for Karney as the Saints’ starting fullback. Karney, who was voted second-team All Pro by the Associated Press and is regarded as one of the best blocking fullbacks in the NFL, rarely touches the ball. He rarely gets national attention and is seldom mentioned as one of the Saints’ top offensive weapons. And he couldn’t be happier. “My position is an unsung position, but I just try to bring my lunch pail every day and lead by example. You can score touchdowns and catch balls, and that’s fun. But there’s nothing like hearing the crowd roar when Deuce (McAllister) or Reggie (Bush) break a long run,” the fullback said. Karney enjoys blowing up a middle linebacker on a running play as much, if not more, than when he blew up the stat sheet against Dallas in 2006. “It’s a feeling like I can’t describe. It almost feels like a touchdown for me when I do my job and the back is off and running,” says Karney. “It’s why I play the game.” Karney’s unselfish attitude, toughness and grit have made him an invaluable cog in the Saints’ offense and his teammates in the backfield credit much of their success to his services. “He’s an extended part of the offensive line,” said running back Deuce McAllister. “He’s a lot like the five guys up front--as far as my success, Drew’s success and Reggie’s success--a lot of it depends on him.” “He’s a guy who plays a very important role with what we do on offense,” said Pro Bowl starting quarterback Drew Brees. “He’s so versatile and he’s a great ball-catcher out of the backfield, and plus he’s just a tough presence.” Karney’s bone-jarring blocks and fiery attitude infuse an electric energy into the Saints’ offense when things get too calm. “He’s the guy, you know when there’s kind of a lull in the game, all of a sudden here comes Mike Karney knocking the middle linebacker on his tail and that gets everybody going again,” says Brees. Karney never takes a play off. Not even in practice. In fact, he sets the bar when it comes to intensity and he makes his teammates he practices against better. “He’s just a throwback,” says linebacker Mark Simoneau. “On the isolation plays you have to really bring it because he’s going to bring it every time. He’s a complete fullback and he makes us better competing against him every day.” Karney’s allies and adversaries will both attest his calling card is toughness. While exuding a polite smile and extending a “hello” off the football field, Karney possesses a bitter demeanor and a mean streak when the pads and helmet are put on. “You see the nastiness. That’s the first thing you notice about how he goes about his job,” says McAllister. “You know when he’s mad. He’ll start talking real fast and it comes out funny. He’ll turn jet-red and all that, but it’s all for the good of the team.” Karney has missed only one game in his career since being drafted in the fifth round in 2004 out of Arizona State, where he started 28 of 46 games and hauled in 37 catches for 308 yards with a touchdown. His consistency is a key reason the Saints selected him. Karney’s energy and endurance are infectious. His teammates look to him for a jolt when the monotony of long practices and team meetings can wear players down. “He’s never a guy who would make you think he’s tired,” says Brees. “He always looks like he’s got another play in him. He keeps everybody going.” The position of true blocking-fullback is a dying breed in the NFL. Offenses are more pass oriented and three wide receiver sets are the norm. The I-formation is becoming a lost art in professional football. But Karney knows that great runners in the NFL have great blockers in front of them. That’s why he takes such pride in what he does for the Saints. “The passing game has gotten pretty intense over the past ten to 15 years,” acknowledges Karney. “But I always say, look at the top five running backs in the league. Who do they have in front of them as a fullback?” he inquired as a grin crept across his face. “LaDanian Tomlinson has Lorenzo Neal. Ahman Green, when he was in Green Bay, had William Henderson. Sean Alexander has Mack Strong. The list goes on.” Karney tries to follow their footsteps, or blocking lanes, if-you-will. “Those veteran guys set a great example at the fullback position, so it’s on the younger guys like myself and other fullbacks in the league to carry that torch,” said Karney. Karney will continue to mold his game after former and current great fullbacks as he paves the way for the two-headed backfield of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. He is the Saints’ secret weapon who does the dirty work while the rest of the offense works their magic. And he’ll continue to love his role on the team. Even if magical nights like December 10, 2006 are few and far between. I think Karney makes the Pro Bowl this year.
	"defence's personal to allwats double team or watch is over, that one reason why the saints or not any good." - Vador101

08-20-2007, 08:55 PM	#2
LongTimeFan Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 2,403	Re: More Praise for Karney A co-worker and I were talking today about how Karney destroyed the Cowboys defensive line last season.. I hope to see more of him this year..

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