Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

When Saints receiver Robert Meachem scored the first touchdown of his second stint in New Orleans on Sunday, he did what he often did during his first stint in New Orleans: He flipped the ball into the stands and let a fan have it as a souvenir.

But once Meachem stopped to think about the journey that took him back to New Orleans after a tough season in San Diego last year, it dawned on him that there was a lot of sentimental value to that ball.

“I was kind of mad at myself,” Meachem told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “That ball meant a lot to me, but some fan got it.”

Meachem may have been mad at himself, but this story has a happy ending: The group of fans who took home that ball heard about Meachem’s comments and contacted the Saints to offer Meachem the ball back. The Saints confirmed today that the fans came to the facility, where Meachem gave them all autographed footballs, and they gave Meachem the touchdown ball back.

That seems like a fair trade. But perhaps Meachem can score a touchdown on Monday night and give that ball to the same fan.

Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem | ProFootballTalk

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Very Cool!

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

“That ball meant a lot to me, but some fan got it.”

Kind of sounds like a dick. Some fan. lol

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

So the fans have heard about meachem complaining and decided to give him the ball back

Classy move by the fans, don't immediately throw it into the stands if it means alot to you meachem lol

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

“That ball meant a lot to me, but some fan got it.”

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

I never liked that dude in the first place.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Ehhh, what the hell. Everybody got balls.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

sometimes I wonder if SOME FANS on here are falclowns wanna be. always having something negative to say about a positive or crying about a player paycheck and worth,,,,,, geesh!!!!!

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Tossing the ball was a reflex; God, being the Saints fan we all know he is, made sure that Sr. Bertrand got the ball, heard the story, and was inspired to return it. The gentleman who gave her the ball in the first place, is also a "Saint!" The signed ball she received could be raffled off if she desired to do so and would probably raise a little money for her convent or whatever her favorite charity is. I think everyone won in this situation!

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

It may not have been elegantly stated, but the sentiment is that he's glad to be in New Orleans. I hope he's glad enough to keep making the effort to have an opportunity to throw more balls into the stands!

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Totally agree. Meach is a pretty humble dude, much in the mould of Colston in that manner. His choice of words doesn't look elegant on paper, but there was nothing malicious meant by it. No way. And the story of the fans bringing it back is another feel good story for a franchise that is only one season removed from being more hated than the devil incarnate.

Just another piece of media for a franchise heading in the right direction in EVERY aspect.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

It shows that the fans have class. The organization has class for arranging it. And he has class for signing & giving the all their own footballs.

Fans feel good & the team looms good.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

What do you mean "you people"? :p

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

In the end they were all good. Who dat

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

"The journey back to New Orleans"?

Oh please tell me what life crisis constitutes this "journey". Or are you referencing your voyage through mediocrity while you chased $25M?


The fans ALWAYS deserve the ball.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

It's a great story, it was a natural impulse for him to throw the ball, glad we have a great fan-base that has class.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Reflex = regret.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Gah why the hate on meach ... Go away saint haters

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Nice one, Saints fans

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

There are only a few footballs worth asking a fan to give back.. Your first in the NFL, your last in the NFL, one that breaks a record, and one that wins a Super Bowl.

When you give something to someone its gone.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

And one that get you to meet the player and give you multiple autograph footballs. For the record, he didn't ask for it back

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

So..... They were coming back from Wal-Mart and just decided to swing by and give him the ball ?

He voiced his upset at some fan having it. That is saying it would be nice to have it back.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

He was not upset that a fan had the ball; he was upset with HIMSELF for given away a sentimental football. You can only imagine the scrutiny he went through and to be given a second chance to prove his worth, he give it away to a fan

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Makes no sense. He is not upset with what he did, just with the outcome?

Putting the fans as second fiddle to a player is exactly what the league does... its bassakwards, with out the fans there is no league.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

It was "some fan" that caught it, so I don't see anything wrong with the statement.
He obviously made it worth the fan's while to bring it back to him.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Meach is a cool guy off the field. At least when I met him he was all smiles. I'd trade that ball for an autographed one any day. :beer:

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

My point is being missed completely.. You don't give someone something then get in front of a reporter and publicly state you are mad at your self for doing it... That brings guilt.... Its bad form... Its like giving your wife or girlfriend a gift then saying... Man I wish I wouldn't have spent so much on you.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Totally understand this point. For me though, let's look at the positive. He went for the move to San Diego as much for the money as we did ship him out. We wouldn't have given him anywhere near that sort of money so we can't beat him up for that decision.

Also, if coming back to New Orleans means this much to him, and keeping the ball that he scored his first TD with back where he feels 'home', then I am looking into the positive, feel-good nature of this whole thing. Trust me, those fans were a shed-load happier getting autographed balls, meeting the player/s and being in an article :)

Let's look into the good...he says in a hippie voice :)

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

brother thebdj... I understand the positive, the feel good moment, and the fan giving him the ball back and why... That is a testament to Saints fans..

My point being also... What would be said on the interwebz today if the headline reads "Fan would not give the ball back to Meachem"? And yes.. thats a but, the fan did give him the ball.


Why are the balls flipped into the stands in the first place? To recognize the fans and give them a little piece of the game.

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

Yeah the flipping of the ball is for the fans, for sure. I personally liked the time Pierre Thomas signed a ball and put a bow on it ... and then got fined by the ultimate grinch, the NFL! :)

I think it would have been left as a comment if the fans didn't return the ball. Just another one of those 'I'd have loved to have kept the ball....' nobody says anything and away it goes into the annals of time.

Maybe we could negate this by having ball launchers during the game. Like the t-shirt shoots! Or maybe like 20 local kickers shooting field goals up into the terraces :)

Re: Fans give touchdown ball back to Robert Meachem
 

1. He didn't ask for the ball back. As a nfl player he is required to be available to press; and he answered the question with a big heart explaining how he appreciated being back


2. Some Fan, really!!!! excused the guy for not knowing who he gave the ball to. The guy whom he gave the ball to is not complaining so why should bloggers on here cry like he stole something from them. All you cry babies on here complaining about pety stuff like this need to go jump on the falclown bandwagon, I am sure they have enough room for you there


3. A true Whodat fan would embellish in this story and a 3-0 start instead of finding something so petty to whine about

Looks like auto-complete hung you out to dry.