Joe Horn

USA Today

Seventh-year Saints wide receiver Joe Horn, who was one of the more active players in seeking out displaced fans after Katrina, agrees. But not completely.

"Here's the deal," he says. "It's not just another game for the fans or the citizens of Louisiana. See, we can lose to the Atlanta Falcons, and the fans will be upset for a little while, but they'll be more happy inside because they still have their team. The New Orleans Saints are back; the dome is opening."

He also has no doubt his eyes will be more than moist when he runs onto the field for player introductions. "Oh, I'm going to cry," he says with a sheepish chuckle. "I know I'm going to shed some tears. Damn right.

"I know what people went through, and I understand the emotional level. So there will definitely be tears — on one level, tears of joy, and on another level, tears flowing for the families that lost members in there, and the kids, and knowing that people still coming in the dome are able to swallow that pill and keep on pushing."