Question for the Forum
 

In Saints Super Bowl, if Bell had scored a TD on the play when he slipped, what effect would that have had on the game?

I believe the score was 10-0 Colts.

Re: Question for the Forum
 

I think it was 10-3 at that time. We turned the ball over on downs. Colts went three and out. Then we marched down and kicked a field goal just before half time.

Re: Question for the Forum
 

Why does this matter? We won the game anyway...

If Bell had scored the rest of the game would have played out differently and none of us know how it would have turned out.

But, he didn't and we won!

Re: Question for the Forum
 

Landshark Stadium (or whatever it was called that week) would have been just as loud and we still would have kicked Mannings ass.

Re: Question for the Forum
 

We still would have won, and Bell would have lasted at least one more year with the Saints. That's all.

Re: Question for the Forum
 

Ambush would have never been born.

Re: Question for the Forum
 

My recollection of that particular moment was that I felt like the Colts defense was a puzzle or a lock that Drew had to pick, and I felt like he was getting somewhere with it, so I felt pretty good. I didn't like that we didn't get a TD, of course, but I felt like we had moved the ball and would be back there again soon.

I agree that Mike Bell would have stayed with the Saints at least a year, and I don't know what else would have happened to him. Scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl has a certain mojo to it, it's another level, on top of just being a small part of a super bowl team. It's recognition and clout. It's possible that he might still be playing in the league somewhere today, if he had the right cleats and gotten in the end zone.

Re: Question for the Forum
 

Think it all depends on what would have happened at the end of the half.

If Bell scores, the game is tied 10-all and the Colts start from their 20 or so with time on the clock before halftime, instead of being pinned back deep like they were. If the defense makes the stop and holds them scoreless and even to just a field goal, then ambush is still in play because Payton feels he can trust the defense. If the Collts go down for a TD before the half, maybe then Payton feels he can't trust the defense on a short field.

In the real game, of course, the defense held, so Payton felt better about their odds of keeping the Colts out of the end zone if Ambush had failed.

Letting Bell go was one of the weaker FA decisions in the Payton era. Here you had a physical running back who was a perfect fit in the system, who proved he could carry the load in a given game and also proved he could pick up the tough yards. He cost you no draft picks or other assets, and he only ended up making like 2 million. If Bell is on the roster in 2010, we probably don't go into the playoffs with Julius Jones as our #1 running back and we have a much-needed physical component to the running game on the road in a hostile situation.

Re: Question for the Forum
 

I agree with the Ambush impact. Regardless, Sean Payton was going to throw a wrench in the machine that day to get a momentum swing.

In fact, let's be real here - the Saints were going to get two momentum swinging plays that day AND win that game regardless of how much Viking and Colts fans wish it was otherwise. GOD said it was "to be" and destiny was fulfilled. That's a fixed point in history that always WILL BE, and will never change otherwise.

:bng: