VIDEO:
Saints Lease Agreement from WWL TV

Back when Katrina hit, I don’t think too many Saints fans thought we’d ever see this day.  Heck, I still have my “Save Our Saints” magnet on my car!  But I have to give props to the team and the state for coming together on this one.

The improvements to the dome are going to provide a lot more comfort for the fans, and a lot more revenue potential for the team.  The Central Business District will see two vacant buildings buzzing again and it’s going to create a better fan experience.  It’ll also help New Orleans lure another Super Bowl and show the world why it’s the #1 place in the world to party.

This just goes to show the resilience of the city and will ensure that the Black & Gold will continue to thrill fans in the Gulf South for a long time to come.  Rejoice!

Eric & Natalie

Our daughter Natalie was born back on March 25, and obviously we’ve been a little busy!  I’m enjoying being a dad more than I could have ever imagined.  Don’t worry, she’s already got some Saints gear

So, I won’t be doing a show again for a little while.  But I think I’ll be back in action around the time training camp starts.

But, I have to say I’m impressed with the offseason the Saints have had so far.  Drafting Malcolm Jenkins and signing veterans Jabari Greer and Darren Sharper are going to make the defensive secondary much better.  And, while it’s sad to see heart and soul guys like Deuce McAllister, Mike McKenzie and Mike Karney go, at least we will always have some great memories of each of them.

I really can’t wait to see what Gregg Williams does with this defense.  His M.O. is bringing pressure and you have to believe we’ll get to the quarterback much more effectively than in years past.  If the upgraded secondary holds up, then we could be looking at a defense that is ranked at least in the top half of the league.

On offense, we didn’t make a whole lot of moves and that’s a good thing.  While Deuce and Mike are no longer in the backfield, we still have Reggie & Pierre to make plays. Devery Henderson was given a long-term deal, and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) I think it was the right move.  He seems to have gotten past his old habits and had a good 2008.

Plus, having a healthy Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey are going to make things even tougher for opposing defenses.

The rest of the NFC South is kind of hard to figure. The Falcons let a few longtime leaders go, but they added Tony Gonzalez.  Our secondary couldn’t have been upgraded at a better time!

Tampa has made some changes but I’m not sure about their offense. Carolina has resigned Jake Delhomme long term – was that a good move? We’ll have to wait and see. It’s hard to predict what anyone’s going to do until the games begin.

This game was an absolute classic, and congrats to the Steelers. They deserved to win. But you know their history says they’ll be back again. The Cardinals history says they may never get there again and it was a shame to see them fall just short when they got their chance.

Both teams showed incredible heart. But how amazing was the Cardinals fourth quarter comeback? They were down by 13 and, all of the sudden, they came on like gangbusters. Suddenly, Kurt Warner (like we’ve seen Drew Brees do many times), started firing bullets to Larry Fitzgerald and company. Suddenly, they were not only back in the game, but Warner’s 64 yard strike to Fitzgerald gave the Cards their first lead of the game with just 2:37 left. It was the biggest comeback in Super Bowl History.

But, much like we’ve seen the Saints do, the Arizona defense couldn’t get that one last stop. Of course, I have to give a lot of credit to Big Ben and Santonio Holmes for making spectacular plays on that fateful game-winning drive. Still, the Cardinals defense had done such a great job in keeping their team in the game. And to fall just short in the end hurts an awful lot.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for Arizona. However, I think they showed the league (and especially the Saints), that you can have a great offensive attack and still have an effective defense. Hopefully with new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on board, NOLA will be able to experience a magical Super Bowl run just like those in the desert did this season. How sweet it will be.

Why are these playoffs lonely???  Because I’m watching them without my Saints!  But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things to discuss with our team.  Gregg Williams is our new defensive coordinator, Drew Brees is the AP Offensive Player of the Year and more news & notes from the Black & Gold.

Episode Length: 20:40

PS – GO CARDINALS!

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We look back at the tough loss against the Panthers and review the highs and lows of 2008.

Episode Length: 33:22

As impressive as it was to see this team overcome a 30-10 fourth quarter deficit, it was equally heart-breaking to watch the Saints defense allow Carolina to march right back down the field.  John Kasay kicked a 42 yard field goal with just 1 second left on the clock to seal the win, and the division title, for the Panthers.

While Drew Brees overcame a slow start on Sunday, he came within just 16 yards of Dan Marino’s hallowed single-season passing yardage record.  It was no easy task against a very tough Panthers defense.

Sunday wasn’t just about Drew, it was also about Deuce.  This may very well have been the final time we had the pleasure of seeing Deuce McAllister in a Saints uniform.  He started for the injured Pierre Thomas and, while he didn’t score one final touchdown, he showed the heart and determination that made him a fan favorite for so many years.

As for this team, it was a shame to see what amounts to another wasted year.  High expectations early on led to just an 8-8 finish.  Not terrible, but not exactly great.

Overall, it wasn’t the season we all hoped for.  The NFC South turned out to be the toughest division in football.  Still, the Saints missed several opportunities to win games that could have put them near the top.  Losses at Washington, Denver and at home against Minnesota and Carolina were not only heart-breaking, they were season breakers as well.

Perhaps it will be those missed opportunities that stand out the most in 2008.

Please do join in the conversation:
The show is INTERACTIVE, meaning you can call in or join our chatroom.  All the details on how to participate are right here.  When the show is going on live, just check out the TalkShoe Player on the right side of this page to and click on the “Live Now” button, or visit our TalkShoe page.

Call Us When the Show is Live:

1. Dial 724-444-7444 (long-distance charges may apply or use Talkshoe’s VOIP Client for FREE!)
2. Enter Talkcast ID: 5319
3. Enter 1#

Need some technical help to participate? Click here for some help!

NOTE: Can’t make it to the live show?  You can also send an email to me with your comments about the game and I’ll read it “on the air!”.