Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams

Attached Thumbnails · 01-30-2010, 03:57 PM

METAIRIE — When Randall Gay saw middle-aged men exchange tearful embraces in the Louisiana Superdome, he could relate.

Gay grew up in Brusly, near Baton Rouge, in a home of Saints fans. Just about all his relatives loved the Saints, his friends loved the Saints, and so did he.

“When you get accustomed to something, which, everybody around here is accustomed to losing, you really get accustomed to it, so you never think it's going to change,” Gay said, talking about Saints fans' reaction to reaching the Super Bowl. “It just shows the passion and how people really love this team and what they've been through all these years.”

After playing in two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and winning one, Gay joined the Saints as a free agent in 2008 — but not without loved ones — even the die-hard Saints fans — trying to warn him about what he might be getting himself into.

“Coming home, people were like, ‘You know, the Saints don't go to the playoffs,'” he recalled. “I was like, ‘I've been in the playoffs every year.' They're like, ‘You're not going no more.'”

Gay is one of three Louisiana natives who are regulars with what is now the greatest Saints team in the club's 43-year history, along with wide receiver Devery Henderson and cornerback Tracy Porter.

Two players on the practice squad, defensive tackle Marlon Favorite and defensive back Greg Fassitt, grew up in the New Orleans area.

As kids, they all saw embarrassed fans wearing grocery bags on their heads in the Superdome.

They heard about how the lovable losers from New Orleans wouldn't win the Super Bowl until hell froze over.

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Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams | HoumaToday.com

breesfan27 · 01-30-2010, 04:10 PM

...the greatest Saints team in the club's 43-year history...

I get chills everytime I read that! Awesome!

QBREES9 · 01-30-2010, 04:11 PM

Its just awesome !!!!

UK_WhoDat · 01-30-2010, 04:16 PM

It is truly heaven for these guys. Just how awesome was it for Porter to take that interception? You couldn't make it up!

Ashley · 01-30-2010, 04:40 PM

That was awesome !! GEAUX SAINTS!!

JoanieNTX · 01-30-2010, 05:52 PM

Seriously, I would not want to be Payton Manning. To think he was raised in New Orleans, and how the state has supported him and his family, and HE could be the one thing that stands in the way of the Saints finally achieving the dream that has been a lifelong one for so many fans......nope...sure wouldn't wanna be him!

xan · 01-30-2010, 06:53 PM

I'd be Payton in a second. Well, no, but I'd like to be his wallet for a second.

breesfan27 · 01-30-2010, 07:53 PM

Say what you want about him, but I idolize Peyton Manning. Regardless of what happens next weekend, I won't feel any different about him. I've been a fan of his since he got drafted. I used to wish that he would have gotten drafted by the Saints, but since the arrival of Drew Brees, I'm content with how things worked out.

darstep · 01-30-2010, 10:43 PM

Saints ball boy, Saints equipment helper, Saints practices, Saints locker room...N.O.R.D. to Newman, to college then the pros. How can you not appreciate what Manning has done and is doing for football, especially knowing where he comes from. He is proving out to be one of the best QBs that has ever played the game. I just hope we make him have to work harder next year.

01-30-2010, 03:57 PM	#1
Threaded by QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985 Rating: (0 votes - average) METAIRIE — When Randall Gay saw middle-aged men exchange tearful embraces in the Louisiana Superdome, he could relate. Gay grew up in Brusly, near Baton Rouge, in a home of Saints fans. Just about all his relatives loved the Saints, his friends loved the Saints, and so did he. “When you get accustomed to something, which, everybody around here is accustomed to losing, you really get accustomed to it, so you never think it's going to change,” Gay said, talking about Saints fans' reaction to reaching the Super Bowl. “It just shows the passion and how people really love this team and what they've been through all these years.” After playing in two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and winning one, Gay joined the Saints as a free agent in 2008 — but not without loved ones — even the die-hard Saints fans — trying to warn him about what he might be getting himself into. “Coming home, people were like, ‘You know, the Saints don't go to the playoffs,'” he recalled. “I was like, ‘I've been in the playoffs every year.' They're like, ‘You're not going no more.'” Gay is one of three Louisiana natives who are regulars with what is now the greatest Saints team in the club's 43-year history, along with wide receiver Devery Henderson and cornerback Tracy Porter. Two players on the practice squad, defensive tackle Marlon Favorite and defensive back Greg Fassitt, grew up in the New Orleans area. As kids, they all saw embarrassed fans wearing grocery bags on their heads in the Superdome. They heard about how the lovable losers from New Orleans wouldn't win the Super Bowl until hell froze over. 1 2 3 NEXT PAGE Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams \| HoumaToday.com Attached Thumbnails
Views: 1803

01-30-2010, 04:10 PM	#2
breesfan27 Mrs. Drew Brees Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Who Dat Nation (by way of South Dakota) Posts: 2,276 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams ...the greatest Saints team in the club's 43-year history... I get chills everytime I read that! Awesome!

01-30-2010, 04:11 PM	#3
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams Its just awesome !!!!

01-30-2010, 04:16 PM	#4
UK_WhoDat 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Wherever I lay my hat Posts: 3,983	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams It is truly heaven for these guys. Just how awesome was it for Porter to take that interception? You couldn't make it up!

01-30-2010, 04:40 PM	#5
Ashley Site Donor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Colorado Springs Co Posts: 2,760	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams That was awesome !! GEAUX SAINTS!!

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01-30-2010, 05:52 PM	#6
JoanieNTX 500th Post Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 825	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams Seriously, I would not want to be Payton Manning. To think he was raised in New Orleans, and how the state has supported him and his family, and HE could be the one thing that stands in the way of the Saints finally achieving the dream that has been a lifelong one for so many fans......nope...sure wouldn't wanna be him!

01-30-2010, 06:53 PM	#7
xan Professor Crab and Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Princeton Posts: 3,371 Blog Entries: 34	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams I'd be Payton in a second. Well, no, but I'd like to be his wallet for a second.

01-30-2010, 07:53 PM	#8
breesfan27 Mrs. Drew Brees Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Who Dat Nation (by way of South Dakota) Posts: 2,276 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams Say what you want about him, but I idolize Peyton Manning. Regardless of what happens next weekend, I won't feel any different about him. I've been a fan of his since he got drafted. I used to wish that he would have gotten drafted by the Saints, but since the arrival of Drew Brees, I'm content with how things worked out.

01-30-2010, 10:43 PM	#9
darstep SaintSince67 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PortCity Posts: 2,044	Re: Louisiana-born Saints players living out their childhood dreams Saints ball boy, Saints equipment helper, Saints practices, Saints locker room...N.O.R.D. to Newman, to college then the pros. How can you not appreciate what Manning has done and is doing for football, especially knowing where he comes from. He is proving out to be one of the best QBs that has ever played the game. I just hope we make him have to work harder next year.