CharityMike

In recent years, the rivalry between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons has been the best in the NFC South. Heck, I think it’s become one of the NFL’s best rivalries.

There have been some great games and even some heated words, especially after a 2010 game in which the Saints took pictures on the Falcons’ logo after a victory in the Georgia Dome. Add on this year’s free-agent defection by linebacker Curtis Lofton from Atlanta to New Orleans and the rivalry should only go stronger.

But now there is evidence the rivalry may be going too far. James Varney reports that the Falcons refused to allow their logo and images to be included in a “Rebirth’’ statue of Steve Gleason that was unveiled outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Friday. The statue captures a classic moment in Saints history.

It portrays Gleason’s crucial block of a punt in the first game the Saints played in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. The 2006 game was against the Falcons and Gleason blocked Michael Koenen’s punt.

There’s a punter in the statue, but he’s not in an Atlanta uniform and Koenen’s name isn’t on the back of the punter’s figure in the statue.

I understand this was a great moment for the Saints, but not for the Falcons. But I think that not allowing the use of Atlanta’s logo and images might be going a bit too far.

Anyone that walks by that statue that knows anything about history knows that the punt block game against the Falcons and that Koenen, who now plays for Tampa Bay, was the punter.

An NFC South rivalry gone too far? - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN


What do you expect from a crap organization...the dirty turds are showing there true colors on this one!

FinSaint

Better not to taint the statue with the Failclowns logo, IMO.

Seer1

Just paint a little brown stain on the punter. Everybody'll know what team he's from.

ChrisXVI

Damn! Look at Pat Yasinskas going out of his way to have the Saints back!

vpheughan

If you are New Orleans and a Saints Fan you will know who the punt was blocked against like you know who Morgus and Mr. Bingle are!!!

spkb25

bahahaha, love it

spkb25

Brilliant, lol!!

saintfan

This says all that needs to be said about the difference between us and them. We don't suck. They do.

73Saint

Classy that they were even asked. Classless Falcons would have made the statue the way they wanted without asking.

FinSaint

Now, if only they would've replaced Koenen's face with that of Goodell, the statue would've stood for much more than it already does.