Big Daddy has been training rigorously over the past two weeks, getting ready for opening day, which is now only 20 days away. After a grueling off-season enduring the NBA Playoffs, World Cup Soccer, Major League Baseball, and the Chocolate City’ s unbearably hot, sticky Summer, lifting frosty cold longnecks gets easier every August. Both of Big Daddy’ s arms were in mid-season form before halftime of the New England preseason opener. In this week’s edition of the Section 645 Saints Beat: Big Daddy gives news from around NFL, grades the 2010 draft class, points out free agent rookies to keep an eye on this preseason, delivers a Kingpin update, recaps the New England game, remembers Dave Dixon, and releases his World Famous Pregame Information.
As the ominous 2011 collective bargaining agreement drapes a dark cloud over the NFL looking toward next year, teams and agents seemed less eager to make personnel changes this past off-season than a Capital Hill Republican that says yes. Almost every contract Big Daddy heard about were all one year deals. Owners, general managers, agents, and players are waiting for the dust to settle before agreeing to any more long term deals for high-priced players. Therefore, the reigning Super Bowl champs’ roster remains virtually in tact from 2009, with Scott Fujita, Charles Grant, Jamal Brown, and Mike Bell being the notable exceptions. That should bode well for the Black ‘n’ Gold in 2010.
First round pick Patrick Robinson, cornerback from Florida State possesses the skills to handle NFL corner, but Robinson’ s 2010 assignment will likely be in nickel and dime packages, kick coverage, and increasing secondary depth. USC offensive tackle Charles Brown was the second pick, ranked 34th on national talent boards, Saints’ brass think they got a steal at the 64th spot. Brown’ s rookie campaign should be a redshirt season for before he vies for a starting job in 2011. Third the Saints grabbed Miami tight end Jimmy Graham, he’ s another example of taking the best available player. Graham’ s impressive athleticism has been very evident throughout training camp, considering the tutelage he will receive from under Billy Miller, Dave Thomas, and Jeremy Shockey, this youngster’s future looks bright. LSU defensive tackle Al Woods chosen in the 4th round provides run stuffing potential and should strengthen the defensive line’ s interior. Boston College center Matt Tennant drafted in the 5th round 5 is a solid choice for the future. In the Seventh, Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield comes in defining a work in progress experiment, but he’s got talent.
If you saw “ Rudy,” you know college football coaches consider scout team players practice dummies. At the NFL level, earning a spot on the developmental squad as an undrafted free agent is tougher gig than being a P & J oyster shucker thanks to BP. Fifteen rookie free agents were brought in by the Saints and only five remain after one preseason game. Big Daddy believes speed rusher Junior Galette from Temple, and Auburn wide receiver Montez Billings have the best chance to maybe make developmental squad. Big Daddy also considers Washington State running back Chris Ivory has an outside shot, especially since Lynell Hamilton’ s season-ending occurred last week, but Ivory’ s chance hinges on the recently signed Ladell Betts from the Redskins, and how well Betts fits Coach Sean Payton’ s system.
Stepping inside the Kingpin for Saints football for the first time each year cures the Summertime Blues faster than Tiger Woods’ calling Las Vegas escorts on his speed dial. Chef Dave Phillips’ chicken wings and boudin stuffed pistolettes with red roasted peppers tasted outstanding. Dave’s fantastic eats energized the Kingpin’s faithful Saints fans, keeping the unmatched atmosphere where we‘ve come to expect inside Ben and Steve’ s legendary establishment. Saints’ starters looked sluggish following their White House throw down, New England still angry from last season’s national TV beat down took it to the hung-over Black ’n’ Gold. Big Daddy’s posse found everything on the cool corner just as they left it last February, allowing a full inspection of the weather patterns. When the Saints roared back from that 24-7 deficit, even though the comeback fell short, the Kingpin’s magic spell engulfed everyone at the bar, that excitement sparked some of the awesome feelings felt in 2009.
Recapping the New England game, the Saints offense began the scrimmage with a 1-2-3-kick possession. Dismal special teams kick coverage became very scary for Saints fans, when Thomas Morstead’s injured his shoulder tackling Julian Edelman to save a touchdown after he boomed a 49-yard punt. Fortunately, Morstead’s X-rays were negative. Three plays later, Stephen Gostkowski’s 35-yard kick split the uprights and gave New England an early 3-0 advantage. Quarterback Tom Brady led the bunch 93 yards down field, Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis capped the long drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. The Saints trailed 10-0 after one. Drew Brees found a groove, and Reggie Bush scored on a 2-yard TD run, making it 10-7 Patriots. Laurence Maroney answered New Orleans’ challenge, running 5 yards right up the gut. Maroney sent the Saints to the locker room behind 17-7 at the half. Patriot reserves stretched the margin to 24-7 when Maroney punched it in again, this time from one yard out. Little known return specialist, Larry Beavers took the ensuing kickoff back 97 yards, cutting the deficit to 24-14. Former Tulane standout— now Saints backup signal caller, Patrick Ramsey played pretty well. Ramsey’s accurate passing set up Chris Ivory’s 2-yard TD run, closing to 24-21 heading to the fourth. Late in the game, the Saints moved into the red zone but the drive stalled at New England’s 6-yard line. Garrett Hartley’s 23-yard field goal tied the game 24-24 with 2:40 left on the clock. The Pats pleased the home crowd when Gostkowski’s 28-yard 3-pointer sealed the 27-24 victory.
On August 8th our community lost Dave Dixon at the age of 87. The man responsible for bringing the NFL to New Orleans. Can you imagine life here without the Saints? Big Daddy can’t! In the early 60s, Dixon organized NFL exhibition games in Tulane Stadium, based on those successful ventures, and lots of behind the scenes negotiating, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle awarded the Crescent City a franchise on November1, 1966. Tulane Stadium’ s lack of parking facilities posed problems for league’ s newest expansion team. Dixon’ s solution opened in 1975, 35 years later the amazing structure that was his vision is still the Saints home for foreseeable future. The Superdome has hosted an NFC Championship, Super Bowls, Final Fours, college football championships, Sugar Bowls, major concerts, huge professional prize fights, Bayou Classics, Essence Festivals, Tulane football, and countless other events. If you want more information about how the Saints and the Superdome came to be, pick up a copy of: “ The Saints, The Superdome, and the Scandal: An Insider's Perspective,” Dave Dixon’ s autobiography, which he published in 2008. Whether you read his book or, the next time you enter the Superdome make sure you glance up at Dixon’ s Wall of Fame banner and thank him for giving us so many cherished moments in the past, present, plus ones yet to come.Tune in next time when Big Daddy recaps the Houston preseason home opener, visits the Superdome’ s new “ Champions Square,” reports live from Section 645, and does the Parasol’ s second line farewell. Hey guys, if you’ re looking for something to do with your cool new girlfriend, or just to spice things with your old lady: Take her out to the Bayou Park Bar on Tuesday night to see The Parishioners. The show starts at 10 p.m., the beers are cold, Smoking Nola serves up great food, and the Americana rock will make closing the deal so easy. Now Big Daddy releases his World Famous Pregame Information: — Lay 1.5 with the Saints —
