Leave The Paper Bags Home Please

Do you remember the NFL days of old when the New Orleans Saints were the laughing stock of the NFL? A franchise that has endured so much, losing seasons year after year. Even one of the best quarterbacks (Archie Manning) to come out of college could not save this beleaguered program. Tom Dempsey’s record breaking field goal with his special shoe was probably the greatest moment in Saints history, next to last weeks clinching of a berth to the big dance.

A franchise that only recently was playing games at LSU due to Hurricane Katrina. Katrina nearly destroyed the team, but the city rallied and like the spirit of the city, rebuilt. On Sunday the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana will be joined with those Americans who love an underdog. An underdog that has been beaten up, ridiculed, blown away (literally), and mocked with paper bag masks.

We loved it when John Gruden brought Tampa Bay a Super bowl appearance and Championship ring. We remember how they unseated the Saints with the bags and then were transformed into a winner with a new image. The Colts will be going for their second title in recent decade with a quarterback who is the son of a quarterback that lived through the paper bags and booing. Archie Manning’s son Peyton Manning remembers those days when his father was playing for a losing team and the frustration of not winning.

He remembers the city that supported and crucified the Saints. It is ironic that what eluded Archie for many years (Super Bowl Appearance) has been earned with his two sons; Peyton and Eli (NY Giants). Although Archie never got close to the summit in the NFL playoffs, the city of New Orleans time has arrived, win or lose the paper bags are vanquished once and for all.