Rookie of the Year: For most of the early going this was Marques Colston's race to lose. But his ankle injury and the fact that fellow rookie receiver Reggie Bush is now threatening to split the Saint vote has made Vince Young the new favorite. Colston finally made it back on the field last night.. but limped off.
Rough going lately for number 12. TD Tally: Colston 7 Stallworth 5
MVP: The one-armed Drew Brees is making a strong case for this. With 384 yards and five touchdowns last night, he's back to chasing Dan Marino's single season record for passing yardage. Saints fans have seen enough poor quarterback play to know how much difference Brees has made simply by being competent. Still, San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson who set a record of his own yesterday (touchdowns in a season) is likely to edge out Brees for the award.
Brees demonstrates the special exercises he performs to keep his surgically reattatched right arm from falling off.
Coach of the Year: There's been talk lately that this was slipping away from him but last night's game clearly reestablished Soupy as the front runner. Of all the things we could point to from last night's game, I think the onside kick in the third quarter is the best example of Payton's feel for the game. The kick allowed the Saints to answer Terrell Owens's fluke TD reception through the hands of Fred Thomas with two scores. That completely killed Dallas's only shot at gaining the momentum. There's more, of course. The offensive game plan was well thought out as always. The reverse on 4th and short was gutsy. Did the Saints get called for holding, false start, or delay of game even once last night? We say it every week but the quarterbacking and the coaching have made all the difference this year. Still... is he a big enough jerk to be considered an elite coach? Remains to be seen.
So that's how this election cycle looks to me at this point. We're still waiting to see if Harry Lee will make a recommendation. I hear he thinks Hollis Thomas has a "fat mouth".
More stuff from last night:
- The Saints wore those stupid leotards again. Compounding the fashion faux pas was fullback Mike Karney who appears to have taken some advice from all the teenage girls he communicates with via his gay-ass MySpace site. The plump Karney scored the first three touchdowns of his career last night while sporting a bare midriff. Not a good look.
- Unusual Jim Henderson complaint: The Saints' play by play man is one of the best in the business. But did he really break into a spontaneous "Reg-gie Reg-gie" chant while describing Bush's 61 yard touchdown reception? Yup.. listen via nfl.com's highlight reel. Come on, Jim. We expect better.
- This game also gave us an occasion to celebrate r's birthday. Our regular Dome group (plus Shehateme who we don't get to see very often as of late) took over the oyster bar at Acme on Iberville St and engaged in much frivolity throughout the game. In case you haven't had the opportunity to discover this for yourself, oyster shooters are a bad idea. r's decision to consume eight oyster shooters....really bad idea. r is a fervent Cowboy hater. The Saints couldn't have given her a better birthday present.
- Quote of the night: Menckles says, "Sometimes I have trouble telling right away if it's Deuce or Reggie with the ball... but then I remember, Reggie's the one who can fly."
Saints fullback Britney Spears celebrates hitting the endzone one more time. Someone alert Chris Rose.
Yeah,whatever.
Finally, calm down, everybody. After beating the national media darling Cowboys, the Saints are going to start generating some buzz. Soupy's job now is to keep it from getting to the players' heads. The rest of us, I guess can go as nuts (link fixed) as we deem appropriate. Or is that go as crazy as we deem appropriate? I don't know if this will influence any of your travel plans but.. sources (Leo) have indicated to us that the halftime entertainment at this year's superbowl will in fact be Prince. Is it a sign?
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