Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning got to see one of his sons win a Super Bowl and Most Valuable Plyer in a city special to his family. It wasn't Peyton Manning, who hoped to lead the Colts to a Super Bowl title in their own stadium but wound up missing the season while recovering from neck operations.
It was a sight that was so familiar for Colts fans. A quarterback named Manning got the ball, trailing in the fourth quarter, and he coolly and systematically led his team to victory. It wasn't Peyton this time, it was Eli. And it wasn't the Colts, either. It was the New York Giants who rallied to a thrilling 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Eli Manning is elite, for sure. A king of comebacks, too. And far, far more than Peyton's little brother now. Spot-on from beginning to end Sunday night, Eli Manning won his second NFL championship in a four-year span -- and second Super Bowl MVP award -- for coolly, calmly steering the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots with a last-minute touchdown drive.
The Steve Gleason Story - Peter King's feature from Super Bowl pre-game
posted by MegaWarpSpeed
The Saints may not have made the Super Bowl this year (dagnabit, Hans!! why do you keep reminding us of that fact in every single $%&*ing post you've written today? WE GET IT ALREADY!!), but that doesn't mean they're not there in spirit or body. The body of players and coaches who used to work for the Saints, that is.
I thought it might help us feel more connected to the game to find out who from the Patriots and Giants used to be connected to the Saints.
So, make the jump to run down the list of former Saints players and coaches who will be part of the big game later on today...
Rob Ninkovich, OLB, New England Patriots
This may the biggest name of them all on this list. Ninkovich was originally a fifth-round draft choice (135th overall) of the Saints in 2006, and played in 3 games that year, recording two tackles, two assists, and a defensed pass. He played for the Miami Dolphins in 2007 and 2008, before catching on with the Patriots in 2009. This season he notched 80 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, four passes defensed, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions (and one INT TD return!).
We sure could have used that kind of production from a Saints OLB this year...
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Steve Weatherford, P, New York Giants
Weatherford appeared in 39 games over three years with the Saints from 2006-2008, averaging 43.5 yards per punt. He was cut seven games into the 2008 season, (after kicking five times for a 35.4 yard average @ Carolina, and just before the Saints got on a plane for London). He kicked for Jacksonville and Kansas City to finish 2008, and then spent 2009 and 2010 with the New York Jets, before joining the Giants in 2011.
The Saints haven't really missed Weatherford, replacing him with a couple of "camp legs" (Ben Graham and Glenn Pakulak) for the remainder of 2008, before drafting the Legatron of Destiny in 2009, Thomas Morstead. Anyone remember Ambush? Yeah, I thought so.
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Brian Ferentz, Tight Ends Coach, New England Patriots
Ferentz had a brief and mostly unremarkable two and a half week stint as an offensive lineman with the Saints during the end of training camp in 2007 (August 13 - September 1). He went undrafted in 2006, but spent that year on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad before getting cut by them on May of 2007. That's it for his NFL "playing" career.
He joined the Patriots in 2008 as a scouting assistant, then moved up to coaching assistant in 2009, and then again up to offensive assistant in 2010. 2011 was his first year coaching the tight ends.
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Now that I've covered the Saints Super Bowl connections, we can now briefly dip into the broader New Orleans and Louisiana connections to the game that I am aware of...
Everyone knows the obvious Eli Manning, nola native and son of former Saints QB Archie Manning, but the Giants' roster also includes two former LSU Tigers: starting CB Corey Webster (who notched a career-high 6 INTs this year), and IR'd WR Michael Clayton (who appeared in five games without a single catch before getting hurt).
On the AFC side of this matchup, LSU has two star running backs playing for the Patriots. The first is multiple-ring owning and 13-year veteran Kevin Faulk, and the other is young-pup rookie Stevan Ridley.
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Please take a moment in the comment section below to let us know if you are aware of any other Louisiana Super Bowl connections...oh yeah, you can also take a few minutes to tell me how lame this post is as an attempt to make up for the fact that the Saints aren't playing today.
hakimdropsball I used to think the ESPYs show was the worst in sports broadcasting. Holy s*** was I wrong. #NBC #NFLHonors
hakimdropsball This #NFLHonors show is the Egg McMuffin of award shows. If that Egg McMuffin was cooked by @darrenrovell ... #f***thatguy
hakimdropsball My condolences to Dave over at @CSCtweet who actually watched that God awful #NFLHonors show. #NBC "cancels" #Community and now this???
hakimdropsball "@whodat9000: Rogers was better. Brees was great, too. What a year for QBs!" is there a USA TODAY style chart or graph to demonstrate this?
ChrisHarrisNFL Cam look like he supposed to be on 125th street selling bean pies #imjustsaying #NFLHonors
Pierre_Thomas Da Bulls!!
BaxFootballGuru Most @ProFoootballHOF members by team (Primary): #Bears (27), #Packers (21), #Steelers (20) w/add. of C Dermontti Dawson & DB Jack Butler
scottfujita99 Very happy for @Willie_Roaf...he always treated me well, even as a punk rookie!
SI_PeterKing RT @Alex_Flanagan: @SI_PeterKing 's story on Steve, on NBC's pre game sun=must see ... Thanks a lot, Alex. On in the 4 pm ET hour.
team_gleason Just heard from @SI_PeterKing. The NBC feature on our journey with ALS will air at 4:37 EST. 1 big step 2 a solution. -SG #NoWhiteFlags
scottfujita99 Everyone please tune into NBC's pre-game SB feature tomorrow w/ @SI_PeterKing & @team_gleason at 4:37EST #NoWhiteFlags
scottfujita99 ... and there's a chance I make a small cameo... #NoWhiteFlags
thomasmorstead "@ProFootballTalk: Apparently, sarcasm doesn't translate well on Twitter." Haha #TRUTH
Pierre_Thomas Man I wish it was warm in Chicago...out here freezing!
FletcherMackel Per @scottfujita99 the report from Peter King on Steve Gleason will be airing on NBC (@wdsu locally) at 3:37pm CST.
hakimdropsball "@neiltyson: bet there's nobody left in America whose home TV isn't bigger than the ones in their local Sports Bar." /raises hand //cries
robyslyfe Those in Indianapolis we at Club 6 tonite..come party wit ya boi..!
camjordan94 Rev run Dj'n Hahahaha all da old heads are here two steppin listening to older songs like ballin n all I do is win... #silly
camjordan94 Haha it's gettin better more younger people my age comin n and we gettin it
Willie_Roaf Just landed in Indianapolis. Thanks to everyone for the congratulations. It's an honor just to be considered for the hall of fame
Deadspin The Drew Magary Super Bowl Chili Recipe deadspin.com/5882376/
NFLfootballinfo Something to watch for today: all 11 teams to return INT for TD in SB have won game, including past 3 SB champs
hakimdropsball If #Tebow winds up with 3 MVP votes in his life, I'm flipping cars and setting them ablaze. Only two votes for Drew Brees? #SMH #Saints
ZachStrief I think for tonight's game, I'll commentate on how Collinsworth commentates. Share my opinions of his performance how he does mine...
ZachStrief Congrats to @Willie_Roaf for his induction into the #halloffame. Truly deserving. He was an absolute monster.
JonVilma51 Who's throwing the best Super Bowl party this yr?? am I invited??
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Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and retired N.O. fireman having trip of lifetime at Super Bowl | NOLA.com
Jeff Duncan - Fireman Dudley Jordan won a contest to make the trip.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is on the verge of cementing his status in the QB hierarchy | NOLA.com
Mike Triplett - Manning has produced his best pro season.
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Former New Orleans Saints tackle Willie Roaf is elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame | NOLA.com
Mike Triplett - Roaf joining Jackson as Saints players enshrined in Canton.
Former Jets, Pats RB Martin headlines Hall's Class of 2012 | nfl.com
Willie Roaf got barely one sentence in this whole article.
Roaf HOF honor adds to Saints' legacy - NFC South Blog | ESPN.com
Pat Y. - As they near their 50th year of existence, the New Orleans Saints finally have a legacy.
What they're saying about Willie Roaf - NFC South Blog | ESPN.com
Pat Y. - Like you would expect from any proud franchise, the New Orleans Saints just sent out a massive media package moments after it was announced that offensive tackle Willie Roaf has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tackle Roaf elected to Hall of Fame | The Advocate
Sheldon Mickles - The New Orleans Saints will be represented at the Pro Football of Fame Induction Ceremony for the second time in three years.
Former Saint Willie Roaf inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame | wwltv.com
Former New Orleans Saints great Willie Roaf was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Willie Roaf Elected To Hall Of Fame | WWL.com - AM 870
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced today that New Orleans Saints offensive tackle William Roaf will be enshrined as part of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012.
Roaf's road to Canton | KansasCity.com
Personal and career highlights in the life of former Chiefs and Saints tackle Willie Roaf, 41, who on Saturday was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Morten Andersen getting Pro Hall of Fame word out | NOLA.com
Mike Triplett - Former Saints kicking great is eigible for induction next year. (HansDat note: oops - looks like this was written Friday night or early Saturday and an editor forgot to check it - "...and left tackle Willie Roaf is a strong candidate to be elected this season or next." 2nd HansDat note - I foresee much shameless self promotion - SSP - coming from the Great Dane in the coming year...)
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Video: NFL Honors: AP Offensive Player of the Year | nfl.com
Don Draper hamms it up to give Saints QB Drew Brees the 2011 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award after Brees set a single-season record with 5,476 passing yards. Includes Drew's acceptance speech.
Drew Brees is named NFL Offensive Player of the Year | NOLA.com
Associated Press - He broke Dan Marino's passing record.
Drew Brees gets consolation prize - NFC South Blog | ESPN.com
Pat Y. - New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has been named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press.
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