The New Orleans Saints are a good story.
The Indianapolis Colts are the better team.
Super Bowl XLIV could turn out to be one of the best ever if both offenses play up to their abilities.

The Saints carry the hopes and dreams of fans in the city still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina.  Not only have they been a source of inspiration with their play on the field, but they have given their time and money off it to help New Orleans.  A victory on Sunday would touch off celebrations that will last a week or more.

Unfortunately for the Saints, they are matched up against a team that can match them offensively and has the edge defensively.  Plus, the Colts have the experience of playing in and winning the Super Bowl just three years ago.  However, karma may be an issue for Indianapolis, as fans remain angry about the team’s failure to play for a perfect season by pulling their starters in Week 16.

The scoreboard will be hard pressed to keep up with the offenses.  Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie will score points in bunches, no matter the blitzes Gregg Williams dials up.  Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Robert Meacham, Devery Henderson, Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell will do the same, regardless of whether Dwight Freeney plays or not.

Though my heart lies with the Saints, my head says the Colts.  Too bad they won’t become the first team to ever finish 19-0.

Indianapolis 38, New Orleans 34

-Jake Stevens

THERE IT IS!

There’s never been a more clutch kicker in the NFL than Adam Vinatieri.  Period!  (Editor’s Note: If you disagree with that premise, stop reading this post immediately)

His legend began with the Patriots when he made a 45-yarder in a blizzard to send a 2001 playoff game to overtime (which he won with another kick).  It grew when he won Super Bowl XXXVI with a field goal at the gun to beat the Rams, then did it in almost identical fashion in Super Bowl XXXVIII to defeat the Panthers.  He cemented Hall of Fame status by adding another ring with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI.

But this year, he won’t be kicking at all.  His injury at the start of the year opened the door for veteran Matt Stover, and despite Vinatieri returning late in the season, the Colts decided to play it safe with Stover in the playoffs and will do the same on Sunday.

I’m not saying it’s the wrong move.  Stover is healthy and has a ring of his own that he earned with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.  But if it comes down to a last second kick for the win and the pressure is almost unbearable, wouldn’t you rather have Vinatieri out there? 

I would.

-Jake Stevens

THERE IT IS!

I’m starting to change my mind about domes.  Because if the Super Bowl was played today, the NFL might’ve had to postpone it due to the weather.  OK, so that would never happen.  But I’m pretty sure Noah and the Ark would be comfortable in South Florida this week.  In fact, my SUV almost disappeared in a puddle during the 10 minutes I spent at the store.  In case you’re not getting my drift, it rained a lot.

1. While it’s fun to joke about, the rain could become a big factor.  Three years ago, the Colts resorted to the run game because of the rain and it worked out just fine as they beat the Bears.  This time around, they have no run game, but the Saints do.  Considering how well-balanced New Orleans’ offense is, the weather could be a big boost for them.
2. Dwight Freeney’s ankle will be talked about more than any other body part this week.  The debate has begun about how serious his injury is.  The Colts are calling it a sprain, while a source said it’s a torn ligament.  I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv, but if it’s torn, I don’t think Freeney can play.  If he can’t play, that’s another big plus for the Saints. 
3. Sean Payton isn’t going to provide bulletin board material.  He spoke for 15  minutes and I’m not sure he actually said anything.  He was happy the team was able to get a workout in and did express the belief the fields will dry up well.  Let me know when you’ve calmed down long enough to continue reading, I’ll wait.
4. However, Payton did something that gave an insight into how he’s handling the hoopla.  In preparing to greet the players that weren’t already down for the Pro Bowl, he decided it would be funny to act like a bellhop at the hotel.  And he convinced Drew Brees and the others to join him.  Something tells me this group won’t be tight come Sunday.
5. Brees is a great public speaker.  Of course, stepping to the podium after Payton will make anybody seem animated, but Brees was at ease and enjoyed his 15 minutes, smiling, laughing and answering all the questions will real answers.  In case you were wondering, he enjoyed his time as a bellhop, thinks the Colts are a model organization and he won’t fall into the trap of trying to be Peyton Manning.
6. And he also knows how lucky he is.  In 2006, he was a free agent and it came down to Miami and New Orleans.  In what he referred to as a defining moment in both his career and his life, he ended up with the Saints.  You never know what might’ve happened if he became a Dolphin.  But he knows he’s playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday.  It’s better to be lucky than good.  Brees has been both.

-Jake Stevens

THERE IT IS!

This Sunday, for the first time since September 13, 2009, there won’t be an NFL game that matters.  I know, the Pro Bowl will be on.  But it’s not a real game.  Heck, it’s not even as interesting as the preseason.

For 20 consecutive Sundays, I watched my favorite teams and players battle it out four quarters at a time.

For 20 consecutive Sundays, I wore my jersey, tailgated, cheered, booed and yelled at the television.

For 20 consecutive Sundays, I knew exactly what I was going to do that day from morning til night.

Now, I’m a little confused.  I’m like a fish out of water.  A dog without a bone.  Bacon without eggs. 

My constant companion, which helps me define who I am, won’t be here.  And I’m not quite sure what to do with myself.

Perhaps I should take a cue from the bears.  No, not the ones in Chicago.  I mean real ones.  When there’s nothing to do, they hibernate.  Maybe I’ll just sleep all weekend and pretend like it never happened.  It’s not like I’ll be missing anything.

-Jake Stevens

THERE IT IS!

Andre Dawson was recently elected to the baseball Hall of Fame.  He wanted to be inducted as a Chicago Cub.  Instead, the HoF decided he would enter as a Montreal Expo.  And that’s just not right.

If a player has performed at such a high level as to be enshrined in Cooperstown, he has earned the right to choose how he wishes to be depicted.  However, I think there should be some general guidelines:

1. The player must have played at least five years with the team
2. The player must have reached some major milestone with the team (3000th hit, 500th HR, 300th win, MVP Award, etc)

Those two rules would ensure a player doesn’t just randomly select one team because he was unhappy with ownership/management of another team or something petty like that.  But it does allow a player to have the final say, which makes perfect sense.  Of course, it’s the baseball Hall of Fame, so sense isn’t always perfect and sometimes, like in this case, isn’t even common.

-Jake Stevens

THERE IT IS!