Tracy Porter

When the New Orleans Saints host the Detroit Lions in this weekend's playoff battle, the stars will certainly be shining brightly. Everybody will be fixated on the likes of Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, but each team has 53 players, any of whom could have a very profound effect on this game.

It's difficult to predict exactly who those players will be, but it is pretty clear that some under-the-radar players will be put in positions to impact the contest. Here are three unheralded players that will ultimately decide who comes out on top.

RB Kevin Smith - Detroit Lions

When the Lions lost to the Saints, 31-17, about a month ago, Kevin Smith was dealing with an ankle injury. Despite that he racked up 80 total yards and a touchdown in about a quarter of play before he reaggravated the injury and was forced to sit. If Smith can last the entire game on Saturday, though, he could be a huge factor.

Injuries have always been an issue with Smith, but he has largely been productive when healthy.

The Saints' defense is solid against the run, but he had no problem picking up yardage the last time these two teams met. If Smith can once again average over five yards a pop, it will open up so much in the passing game for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions will beat you with their passing game, but Smith can make it much more potent.

CB Tracy Porter - New Orleans Saints

Saints cornerback is well known as the player who intercepted Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and returned it for a touchdown to ice the Super Bowl. Aside from that, though, he is a fairly anonymous player who doesn't get much publicity. That figures to change on Saturday, however, as he seems likely to draw the assignment of guarding freakish Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.

There is no question that Porter will have plenty of safety help, but he will be the one charged with sticking to Johnson like crazy glue.

Porter can probably run with Johnson, but the real challenge is defending jump balls with his 5'10" frame against the 6'5", 236-pound Johnson. Provided Porter can at least contain him and maybe keep him out of the end zone, though, it will be a major win for New Orleans.

RB Christopher Ivory - New Orleans Saints

Saints running back Christopher Ivory may have begun the season No. 4 on the depth chart, but it stands to reason that he could be New Orleans' most important rusher against the Lions.

With Mark Ingram on injured reserve and Pierre Thomas perpetually injured, Ivory has ascended to the spot of top power runner for the Saints, while jitterbug Darren Sproles plays the scatback role.

Ivory has received at least 15 carries in three of his past five games, which is pretty telling considering the Saints are clearly a pass-first team. He also will enter the playoffs on a high note, rushing for 127 yards and a score against the Carolina Panthers in the regular-season finale. If the Saints have a late lead, they will need somebody to chew up the clock and Ivory will have to be that guy. If he's effective, the Saints will win.

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Tags: Bleacher Report, chris ivory, football, New Orleans Saints, NFL Playoffs

With the high-flying, potent offensive attack of the New Orleans Saints, pinning down 10 touchdowns even in the last decade is a difficult task.

The Saints have been the most explosive offense in the NFL for the past six seasons under Sean Payton and Drew Brees.

As a result, a lot of eliminating has to be done in comprising such a list. There are some very worthy candidates that will be left off—Marques Colston's array of over-the-middle touchdown grabs between two defenders, key touchdowns in some of the playoff games (though a few playoff touchdowns will also be included), and even some defensive touchdowns that for many teams would make the cut. 

The list I've comprised is meant to be the most spectacular and memorable touchdowns the Saints have had in the past decade, save for one, for obvious reasons. And in most cases they are also the most important. 

Enjoy the touchdown-fest put on by and for Who Dat nation.

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The New Orleans Saints have a mediocre defense, and it just got even thinner with the injury to defensive back Tracy Porter.

Porter went down early in the first quarter of the team’s divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he tackled receiver Mike Williams.

The veteran defender was taken off the field on a cart and transported to a local hospital for a thorough analysis.

Who's the Backup?

Patrick Robinson has come into the game for the Saints, and will take the role as No. 2 cornerback against whoever is playing or running through the slot.

The Saints think Robinson is solid, but Porter was starting for a reason.

Devastation Scale: 4 out of 10

The New Orleans defense has been mediocre at best this season, and the loss of a player as talented as Porter is not good news.

The hope is that the injury isn’t that serious and he won’t miss much time.

What They're Saying

ESPN NFL insider John Clayton is reporting on twitter about Porter’s health outlook:

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NFL Page to get your fill of all things football.

Follow @Donald_Wood

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Tags: Bleacher Report, Breaking News, football, New Orleans Saints

Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005. The Crescent City and the Saints franchise, which was typically destroyed by other NFL teams, were forced to rebuild. And that's exactly what they did.

On December 31, 2005, a single play would change the course of two franchises. When Drew Brees, the San Diego Chargers' QB, injured his shoulder against the Denver Broncos, the long suffering Saints franchise was in the midst of a three-win season.

After New Orleans lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-13 the next day, the Saints completed their pitiful masterpiece and were rewarded for their poor play with the second pick in the NFL draft.

With such a high draft pick, the Saints only had two viable options: Mario Williams or Reggie Bush. However, the San Diego Chargers had a much harder decision to make about their future.

In 2004, the Chargers acquired Phillip Rivers, quarterback from N.C. State, from the New York Giants. The franchise believed that Rivers, not Brees, was the quarterback of the future.

However, the former Purdue standout played well from 2004-2005, making the Pro Bowl both years (once as an alternate). The injury Brees sustained in the final regular season game forced them to make a tough decision.

San Diego decided not to pay Brees the money he desired and handed over the reigns to Rivers.

After the Chargers declined to re-sign the QB, he began to talk with other teams. The shoulder injury scared away most people and only two teams showed major interest—the Saints and the Dolphins.

Although Brees wanted to sign with the Miami Dolphins, his shoulder surgery was deemed too risky by their medical staff. Nick Saban and the Dolphins decided to pass on Brees and instead signed Dante Culpepper as their starting quarterback.

Shortly after the Dolphins pulled out, Brees inked a six-year, $60 million contract with the New Orleans Saints. The black and gold seemed to be gambling on a player coming off serious surgery.

It would have been tough for Brees to disappoint the black and gold fanbase anymore than QB Aaron Brooks had in his recent tenure. As long as the former Charger QB did not throw the football backwards, everybody would be happy.

Once the Saints locked up their starting QB, the organization focused on the draft. With the second pick, they selected Reggie Bush, the Heisman trophy winner from USC.

Roman Harper, Jahri Evans, Zach Strief and Marques Colston were also selected in that 2006 draft. Hope replaced complacency in New Orleans and the black and gold faithful showed their approval by selling out the season for the first time in franchise history.

The Saints achieved much in the 2006 season, but the franchises’ dream of winning the city's first world championship came to an end in Chicago where the Bears defeated the Saints 39-14 in the NFC Championship game.

New Orleans made it to their first NFC Championship game behind their Brees-led high-powered offense. But it was not until the next season that they found their defensive leader.

In three full seasons with the New York Jets, Jonathan Vilma averaged 130 tackles a season, leading the league in 2005 with 169. Seven weeks into the 2007 campaign, he suffered a knee injury that left him sidelined for the remainder of the year.

During the offseason, the Jets traded Vilma to the Saints for a fourth-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in the 2009 draft.

Another NFL team decided a proven player is a risk because of injury—déjà vu for the Saints. Two years after that trade, they found themselves playing in the Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts.

Vilma matched wits with Peyton Manning, the four-time league MVP, sometimes changing the defensive call multiple times before the snap. He won the battle against Manning and the Saints came out victorious, defeating the Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV.

Yes, other people besides Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Jonathan Vilma were essential to the Saints' win in Miami. But those three, especially Brees and Vilma, turned in performances that will not be forgotten any time soon.

In just four years, the Saints went from lovable losers to perennial contenders. Two proven but wounded winners, Brees and Vilma, redeemed an organization mired in mediocrity for much of its history.

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In every Superbowl unsung heroes step up to help their teams claim a championship. Some have been the stars and captured MVP trophies, while others have made big plays to turn a game around. Who will (Read more...) this year's Timmie Smith, Doug Williams or Deion Branch.

Here are the 20 most unlikely heroes in Superbowl history.

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Tags: Bleacher Report, New Orleans Saints

Gregg Williams is a big name among NFL defensive coordinators. The Saints defense was once one of the league's elite. The two were united in January of 2009. Would the marriage get off to a rousing start?

It was risky to answer in the affirmative. It usually takes at least a year or two for even the best coaches to transform a defense that is clueless in defending the size and speed of the crafty playmakers on the other side of the ball.

Given the Saints' penchant for surrendering the big play before Williams' arrival, some New Orleans partisans were hoping Williams was the Rembrandt, the Monet, the Da Vinci of assistant coaches.

The Rev. Bob Harrington, the late Chaplain of Bourbon Street, once said his God has the power to raise the dead and often does. The reverend preached his brand of old time religion to many a forlorn Saints fan over the years before finally succumbing to the many temptations the street has to offer.

Perhaps with a little Divine intervention, Williams could revive the once proud New Orleans defense Saints fans hoped.

There was no questioning his credentials. He is a proven winner. The skins were on the wall. Williams  built stubborn defenses at Washington, Tennessee and Buffalo. He was influenced early in his career by the arrogant-but-lovable Buddy Ryan, architect of one the best defenses in NFL history. Ryan instilled an attack mentality in those '85 Bears.

Unlike his predecessor, the reserved Gary Gibbs, Williams has a gregarious personality and engages the local media with some witty repartee and colorful badinage.

He's known as dial-a-quote for a reason.

Here's a Williams sampler:

• "We want to be a tough defense, we want to be a smart defense, and everywhere I've been able to play, we've been pretty nasty. We've been able to play with good aggressiveness. Those are the things that I think win you football games, tough close football games—that's toughness and intelligence." 

• "There's going to be some blisters and some hurt feelings, but trust me, there will not be one player that isn't clear on what I want and what my expectations are. I can't do anything with the DNA your momma and daddy gave you, but I can make sure you're tough and play hard." 

• Buddy Ryan said it best. It's hard for a quarterback to throw with tears in his eyes. We brought the whole house" 

• Remember last year? "Gregg, you can't stop the run with that defensive line." "Gregg, these guys can't rush the passer.'"I don't know why I didn't cut my wrist and lay in a hot tub of water. Every one of them played with an attitude.”

Pretty heady stuff.

According to Psychology Today, one theory that is gaining momentum is that failure is at worst a mixed blessing that can pay off in the form of learning and growth and wisdom. Williams did not take that chance in 2009.

He parted ways with former secondary starters Mike McKenzie, Josh Bullocks and Kevin Kaesviharn and played an instrumental role in the team using its first-round selection on Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. Look for a lot of new faces in 2009.

Given the Saints high-octane offense—an NFL-high 463 points in 2009—NFL experts thought Williams' task may be no more complex than transforming a poor defense into an average one. After all, the Cardinals gave up 26 points a game in 2008 and came within a whisker of winning the Super Bowl. 

The offense was replete with firepower—Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey and Devery Henderson—and there was no reason to expect a drop-off in point production. The feeling was that if the Saints "D" could move from the bottom third to the middle of the pack, it may be all that would be needed for a deep playoff run.

One thing was evident following Williams' first minicamp: Attack would replace read and react as the Saints' defensive philosophy.

Knock them the (....) out!

Attack! Attack! Attack!

Whip his (...)!

If you want to make this team, you better show me something that is going to force me to keep you here!

Williams' aggressive style caught the attention of his new team.

Said first-round pick Jenkins last year, "If you are going to loaf or not play hard or make a bunch of mistakes, then he doesn't want you here. He's the type of guy who is real smart, but he's not going to take no stuff from you."

"That's the type of coach I like, that can rip you but teach you. He set the tone in the first meeting with us; he said as a defense we're going to set the tone, we're not going to react to what the offense does, we're going to dictate the practice.

"You can feel his intensity. You can see it in his eyes."

And now one year later, Williams has transformed the Saints, a team know for its pyrotechnic offensive displays, into the NFL's third-ranked defense.

They haven't given up more than 300 yards since Week 3 against Atlanta.

They have allowed only four touchdowns in their last six games. The other five TD's were scored as a result of offensive turnovers.

They rank 1st in the NFL in pass defense—an incredible feat considering that their starting cornerbacks, Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer, were injured at the same time forcing them to use safeties at corner against the Steelers.

Oh yeah. 

"You can feel his intensity. You can see it in his eyes."

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Click to read the original Saints article by FOXSports.com News for Saints

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New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush is not expected to play Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team source told ESPN.com's Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

Bush has missed five games since fracturing his right fibula in Week 2.  Earlier this week, Bush said doctors gave him permission to test his leg at full-speed in practice.

Bush's return on Sunday is unlikely.

But when the Saints took the practice field on Wednesday, Bush was off behind one end zone, working out on a step-climbing machine and a stationary bike.   It was a sign of progress for a player who for the past few weeks has usually been in the training room while his teammates were on the field.

Saints coach Sean Payton said Bush did some running on his own the past two days.

"We just keep taking it day to day and monitoring the progress, monitoring the next day after the workout and kind of go from there," Payton said.

The Saints (4-3) say they don't like to use injuries as an excuse for sagging performance, but there's no question that a number of key players have missed action while New Orleans has lost three of its last five games.

Injuries have also afflicted running back Pierre Thomas, starting linebacker Scott Shanle, starting cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer, starting strong safety Roman Harper, starting defensive end Will Smith and others.

"The disappointing part is you haven't seen the complete team since Week 2 when Reggie went down," said Shanle. "It absolutely has an effect. I mean, we do a good job of having guys who are backups come in and play good football, but there's a reason why Reggie Bush is Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas has done what he's done."

In the same game that Bush went down, nickel back Randall Gay was concussed and, following a brief comeback, has since been placed on injured reserve.

Thomas, who was last year's leading rusher and a productive outlet for Drew Brees on screen passes, sprained his ankle in Week 3.   Harper missed a Week 4 contest against Carolina with a hamstring pull.   Porter, who went down in Week 4, needed arthroscopic surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his left knee and has not played since.   Smith strained his groin in Week 4 and missed the next game.   Shanle pulled a hamstring in practice in Week 6 and has missed the past two games.   Greer left the Week 6 game at Tampa Bay with a left shoulder injury and has yet to return.

Now there are signs that the Saints are on the mend.

All-Pro safety Darren Sharper, who opened the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list while recovering from offseason knee surgery, finally came back last weekend to a defensive backfield that played without its top three cornerbacks.

Thomas, who has been absent during recent practices, was on the field in a jersey, participating in the team stretch and doing some light jogging.

Shanle returned to practice on a limited basis.   While Porter and Greer were not officially listed on the injury report as having practiced, both were at practice doing some light individual work.

"The progress with both Jabari and Tracy has been significant and positive and on schedule," Payton said.

Bush, Thomas and Porter were not available to speak with reporters after practice.   Greer said he was "optimistic" about returning this Sunday, as was Shanle.

Brees said the Saints believe their best football is still to come, adding that the rash of early season injuries could pay off in the long run.

"We faced this last year, but just later on in the season," Brees said, referring to the Super Bowl champs' three-game skid just before the playoffs. "Obviously we're facing it much earlier now.

"Are we more injured than other teams?  Probably most of them," Brees continued.   "It's allowed an opportunity for some young guys to step up and play pretty well.   I think that will serve us well down the road, once we get everybody back."

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The defense has improved.

But the offense has regressed.

In two of the Saints' three losses this season, the team has wasted a couple of stellar defensive performances.

Consider, over the last three weeks, the offense has allowed more touchdowns (four) than the defense has allowed (two).

That is a serious problem.

For the first time this season, the boos could be heard in the Superdome. The honeymoon period after February's Super Bowl win looks to be nearing its end.

But there is hope.

While the defense has been playing well, it hasn't forced turnovers in bunches as it did a year ago. Injuries have been critical in that, but safety Darren Sharper returned on a limited basis on Sunday and cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter should return within the next few weeks.

No player on the roster creates mismatches the way Bush does, and his absence since Week 2 has decimated the Saints redzone offense. Brees has struggled without his favorite checkdown target in Bush. Considering the pressure Brees has seen from opposing defenses, checking down to a back such as Bush, who can turn a 2-yard catch into a 10-yard play, could be a big help in giving Brees more time behind an underachieving offensive line.

For now, though, there are serious problems with the Saints offense. And those problems are making good defensive performances irrelevant.

HoumaToday.com Staff Writer Matt LeBlanc can be reached at 857-2212 or 448-7600 ext. 2212 or [email protected].

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Tags: Darren Sharper, defense, New Orleans Saints

The National Football League and NFL Players Association will support October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its largest on-field presence and a national breast cancer screening-reminder and fundraising campaign. In collaboration with the American Cancer Society, the initiative, called “A Crucial Catch: Annual Screening Saves Lives,” encourages women 40 and older about the importance of having an annual mammogram.

Beginning on October 3, including the Saints' contest vs. Carolina on Sunday in the Louisiana Superdome, and continuing throughout the month, NFL Breast Cancer Awareness games will feature:

• Game balls with pink ribbon decals used for every down
• Players wearing pink cleats, wristbands, gloves, chin straps, sideline caps, helmet decals, eye shield decals, captains’ patches, sideline towels and quarterback towels
• Pink coins used for the coin toss
• Pink sideline caps for coaches and sideline personnel and pink ribbon pins for coaches and team executives
• Officials wearing caps with pink ribbons, pink wristbands and pins and using pink whistles
• On-field pink ribbon stencils and A Crucial Catch wall banners
• Pink goal post padding in end zones
• The Saints will partner with ZTA to distribute Breast Cancer Awareness cards and pins.

The pink memorabilia will be worn by Saints players, coaches and personnel in this Sunday's game.

Game-worn pink merchandise and footballs will be autographed post-game and auctioned at NFL Auction (www.nfl.com/auction).  Unique NFL experiences such as a VIP trip to Super Bowl XLV and a 2011 Pro Bowl Spa Retreat Experience in Hawaii also will be up for auction.  All NFL Auction proceeds during the month of October will benefit the American Cancer Society and team charities. Special pink merchandise will be available at www.NFLShop.com, in stadium retail stores, at Dick’s, Hatworld and Lids, with a portion of proceeds going to breast cancer charities.

From cleats to gloves, towels to caps, NFL partners including Nike, Reebok, adidas, Gatorade, Wilson, Under Armour, Cutters Gloves, McArthur Towel and Sports and Longaberger are creating pink merchandise for Breast Cancer Awareness games. Many NFL licensees also will create special pink product, with a portion of proceeds benefitting breast cancer charities.  In addition to creating pink sideline towels for players, Gatorade sideline carts will feature pink ribbon decals during October. Trading card companies Panini and Topps will produce special pink trading cards featuring facts on breast cancer; they will be available, free of charge with purchase, at stadium retail stores.

In addition to the pink landmarks throughout the stadium for Sunday's game, as well as the pink equipment being worn by players and pins and caps being worn by coaches, the Saints are also playing an active role in the fight against breast cancer throughout the month.

The Saints are participating in the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to be held at City Park in New Orleans on Saturday, October 23. Saints Owner/Executive Vice-President RITA BENSON LeBLANC will participate in the race and serve as honorary chair.

The October 3, 24, & 31 games will feature Breast Cancer Awareness reminders on the message and halo boards.

Team partner, Ochsner Health System, will recognize breast cancer survivors during an in-game presentation at the October 31 game as part of their Ochsner Heroes program.  Benson LeBlanc also filmed a PSA in support of Ochsner’s “Ochsner Goes Pink” BCA campaign.

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Tags: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Tracy Porter