QBREES9

Teen Take - Saints as champs and looking ahead
Written by Paul Brennan | Wednesday, 17 February 2010 00:16 | Paul Brennan's Blog

It seemed like a total paradox when it happened. The New Orleans Saints are World Champions. Can you believe it?

It seemed like yesterday that Jim Haslett was coaching a team that nobody could get excited about. And I mean nobody.

I recall a story from the Haslett era in which a friend of mine offered a homeless person some free Saints tickets that he could not sell outside the Dome. The homeless man replied that he didn’t want them and promptly walked away. Oh how times change.

Unless you were willing to shell out several hundred dollars per ticket, you weren’t getting into the NFC Championship game against the Vikings in what was more than likely the hottest ticket in the history of the Superdome. Bourbon Street rocked that night as it would two weeks later when the Saints brought home a piece of hardware I thought I’d never see adorn the halls of the Saints practice facility on Airline Drive.

You have to give kudos to Sean Payton for his second half adjustments. I guarantee you that no other coach in the league would have called the onsides kick to start the third quarter. Not many others would have gone for it on fourth down deep in Colts territory either. He showed an awful lot of guts that evening.

But I’m not going to talk about all the other things that happened that night because every analyst has broken that down. That’s not where my worries lie. As we enter into the 2010 offseason, there are many unknowns surrounding not just the Saints, but the entire league.

The 2010 season is uncapped, providing teams like the Cowboys and Giants with infinitely more opportunities than most other clubs. It’ll be harder to retain free agents, and the Saints have over 30 right now. Although some are restricted free-agents, it will certainly be interesting to see who the Saints are able to retain, especially guys like Reggie Bush, who is rumored to have multiple suitors in Detroit and San Francisco among others. But, keeping all of our vital parts isn’t my only concern.

Consider this: The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl last year and missed the playoffs this season. Same thing happened to the Patriots after they won their first Super Bowl with Belichick, as well as the Bucs in 2003, and many other teams over the years. Everybody is patting the Saints on the back right now and deservedly so. I just hope the Saints don’t fall into the trap that so many other teams have after winning a Super Bowl.

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

homerj07

It is very hard to get back ina rythym - Our team is already 3 weeks behind other teams & then more so with the partys interviews & so on!!

Rugby Saint II

I don't think it's a trap so much as players and coaches being raided, not to mention the shorter preparation time.(which I'm happy to have) It is tough to repeat but the pieces are in place to stay on top for a while. I believe that Sean Payton and Drew Brees will be able to help the team stay focused. I think our young players have potential and we will go deep into the playoffs at the very least.

SaintPauly

Not to mention, the Bucs are NOT a good example. Their QB, Brad Johnson, was what, 39, when they won the superbowl? Sapp was getting up there as well.

That team was looking at a rebuild then.

subguy

It's true about the Bucs....we have alot of youth, just hope we can keep them.

QBREES9

I just hope the Saints don’t fall into the trap that so many other teams have after winning a Super Bowl.

Don't think this will happen, I know it won't happen Payton, Brees won't let happen.