Raucous behavior from the Kingpin’ s diehard Saints faithful etched more unforgettable memories in Big Daddy’s mind, watching loyal patrons yell like crazed maniacs as the Saints dismantled Tampa Sunday afternoon. Proprietors Ben Sherman and Steve Watson drew on their vast experience to prepare a stick-to-your-ribs menu meant to recharge the batteries of crazed Saints fans who jammed into the city’ s best big game hot spot. Ben’s scalloped potatoes and Steve’s rib eye steaks kept crowd roars soaring above deafening levels all day long. Totally Awesome! If you’ve never been blindsided by the Kingpin’s magic spell, come test your mental at the Big Daddy Tailgate Bar-B-Q, which starts at 4 p.m. Monday. Dress yourself in all black (including your drawers) ’ cause rain or shine the combination of Big Daddy’ s intensity the Kingpin’ s unmatched atmosphere and will get you ready for a huge gridiron test.
The Tampa Bay game recap starts with Thomas Morstead’s 53-yard punt pinning the Bucs on their own 5-yard line. Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman (first-round draft pick from Kansas State) engineered a 12-play drive, hitting former LSU stand-out Michael Clayton in the back corner of the end-zone for the touchdown. The score put Tampa ahead 7-0 in the first. Drew Brees used 7 plays to cover 68 yards, throwing a 4-yard scoring pass to Robert Meachem, knotting the game 7-7 after one. Saints rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins intercepted Freeman (the first of his NFL career) set the Saints up at Tampa’s 29. John Carney’s 38-yard field goal put the Saints in front 10-7 with 4:11 before the half. Just before the break, Brees’ 6-yard play-action pass to Meacham gave the Saints a 17-7 halftime advantage. Linebacker Scott Fujita’s sack and subsequent forced fumble recovered by Anthony Hargrove handed the offense a short field. Tight end Dave Thomas hauled in Brees’ 11-yard scoring toss, stretching the lead to 24-7 early in the third. Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma snared the Saints second pick against Freeman. Six plays later Mike Bell’s 3-yard TD run swelled the margin to 31-7 Saints, heading to the fourth. Mike Bell bulled in again, capping the Saints impressive run of 38 unanswered points. Saints reserve safety Chris Reis snagged Josh Freeman’s last pass, salting away New Orleans’ second “Pummel” in the state of Florida this season. Oh Lord, grant The Big Easy one more!
How many Saints fans remember the 1990-’ 91 season? Big Daddy recalls two results that had eerily similar results to modern-day outcomes. Examining these occurrences, you’ d think you were comparing the mythological Egyptian god Horus to Jesus’ life story. On New Year’ s Eve, Morten Andersen’ s last-second kick sent the Saints to Chicago for the wildcard round of the playoffs. Sixteen years later the Saints returned to Soldier Field for the ’ 06 NFC Championship. Both times Saints fans endured terrible abuses from Bears fans and the bitter finality of a playoff loss. Sunday’s game also reminded Big Daddy of our week 10 foe in 1990, Vinny Testaverde, who led the dreamsicle-clad Bucs into the Superdome. Freeman’ s long opening drive Sunday was a carbon copy of Testaverde’s in ’ 90. After trailing 7-0, the Saints reeled off 35 straight points, cruising to a 35-7 victory. Whether it’ s Chicago fans being jerks or two teams playing identical games 19 years apart, history repeats itself. Unless of course you’re Dick Cheney who used a Hit ’ n’ Run approach in the first Gulf War, thank goodness he got a second chance to correct that mistake in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Imagine, more than six years of nation building with who knows how many more to come. ... Gosh, the Iraqi people are so lucky Cheney had the resolve to get right.
Experts say the NFL is a copycat league. If that’s the case Big Daddy knows New England quarterback Tom Brady does not like getting touched. When the New York Giants upset the Patriots in the Super Bowl, relentless pressure on Brady from the Giants front four was crucial. Big Daddy’s defensive keys to the game are: pressuring Tom Brady with the guys up front, calling timely blitzes by Gregg Williams, doubling Randy Moss, bump and run coverage on Wes Welker, and creating turnovers. Offensively, running effectively, controlling time of possession, protecting the ball, and scoring touchdowns in the red zone. If we do those things and play wisely on special teams we will win this marquee game.
Tune in next week for another thrilling Saints Beat edition when Big Daddy recaps the huge Monday Night New England match-up, describes the action from Section 645, and highlights the revelry from the Kingpin’s Big Daddy Bar-B-Q Tailgating extravaganza. Hey guys and girls, please don’t forget to Click For Cans at: www.chunky.com/ClickforCansLanding.aspx. You’re allowed to vote every day, it’ s easy, and its fun, so don’t miss out. Before the playoffs start, brush up on your knowledge of Saints trivia by logging on to: www.NOSaintsHistory.com, cause who wants to be the only chump at the Super Bowl that doesn’t know Saints football? Now Big Daddy releases his World Famous Pregame Information: — Take the Saints minus 1.5 —
