Copper!

Of all the questions one could ask about the Saints' poor performance in the Superdome yesterday, the one that I think sticks out the most is this. Trailing by six points with time running out and facing a 4th down play on the Redskins' 8 yard line, Saints quarterback Drew Brees dropped back, surveyed the defense, stepped up and decided to hang the hopes of 70,000 fans, who came to see their team win its way into the playoffs, on a pass to TERRANCE COPPER.... why? Granted, Copper didn't actually drop this one. He didn't have a chance to. The ball was batted away by Washington DB Carlos Rogers. But in my mind that just raises the question, Brees pinned the hopes of 70,000 fans who came to see their team win its way into the playoffs on a pass to a WELL COVERED TERRANCE COPPER.... again why? Copper isn't very big and doesn't fight for position as well as you would like a receiver working in close quarters to do. And even when he's open, Copper drops the ball.. a lot. But he wasn't even open. Brees threw the ball at him on the game's most important play. This above all else explains why the Saints weakly backed into the playoffs yesterday.


Terrance Copper.. out of position to catch an ill-advised pass, watches the ball fall limply to the turf at the game's most disappointing moment

Of course.. other stuff did happen:

• Following the Dallas game, many fans were beating the Brees-for-MVP drums louder than r and Menckles beat on the Superdome wall. Some were even comparing the Saints' QB to (gasp) Joe Montana. I have a quarrel with this comparison as I believe Montana to be one the most grossly overrated athletes of the 20th century.. and I just hate the stupid smirk commonly found on Montana's face during the late 80s and early 90s as piss-poor NFL officiating his 49ers stole many a key game from the Saints in the crucial final minutes. Alas, there are a lot of Montana worshipers out there... I suppose because people are attracted to power deserved or not... who buy the myth that he was one of the best under pressure in the final minutes. It was this Montana myth that Brees failed to live up to this week as he was pressured into throwing a stupid 4th quarter interception and later an inexplicable last minute pass to TERRANCE COPPER.



Drew "Not Montana" Brees one-armed this 4th down pass to Terrance Copper who watches it fall limply to the ground


• The spectacular-but-largely-pointless Reggie Bush exhibited several spectacular-but-largely-pointless displays of superhuman athleticism as he jumped juked and spun his way to numerous spectacular-but-largely-pointless one and two yard gains. Bush also surpassed Earl Cooper's 1980 NFL record for receptions by a rookie on a spectacular hitch play during the final drive that was rendered largely pointless moments later by a lamentable pass attempt to Terrance Copper.



Terrance Copper ponders the meaning of Reggie Bush's football-related dance stylings as the football falls limply to the turf.


• With Hollis Thomas suspended for cheating and then cynically attempting to cover it up by exploiting his respiratory condition, the Saints defense was pushed around all day. Ladell Betts (22 carries 119 yards) slipped through gaping holes in the Saints front seven and Jason Campbell was afforded ample time on his passing attempts as the Redskins controlled the pace of the game. This kind of performance will lose a playoff game. Especially if it leaves you with no option but to throw the ball to TERRANCE COPPER at the last minute.



Terrance Copper wonders if clenbuterol would have helped him fight harder for the ball as he watches it fall limply to the turf


• This week's wardrobe malfunction is only tangentially Menckles's fault. Although she showed up in her Mike McKenzie jersey for Sunday's game, her visitor from the Chesapeake watershed region joined us fully bedecked in Redskins regalia and proceeded to disrupt the vibe in section 617 so badly that it caused Drew Brees to look for Terrance Copper on the game's final play.

Terrance Copper asks himself if the Redskins are wearing BURgundy or burGUNdy colored pants as an ill-advised pass falls limply to the ground

So the Saints are division champs.. albeit a bit humbled by yesterday's experience. All hair-splitting analysis aside, it is sufficient to say that NFL football can be an up and down ride. The last two weeks are evidence of that. Soupy says the Saints looked like they were asleep for much of the game. They'd have to be to dream up something as silly as an expectation that Terrance Copper would come through in the clutch.


Again.. why?

Update: Ian says the loss is all part of Soupy's grand strategy.

By dropping the game to the Redskins so badly, the Saints have introduced a third component to their rotation. Before, opponents had to guess which of two New Orleans teams would show up that day: the Awesome, NFC-Chomping Champion Saints or the Turnover-Laden Sloppy Saints. Now already confused teams will face a new third choice: the Shamelessly Shitty Saints. It's just another way to keep opponents off guard. Kudos!