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Jerry Rice 2010 NFL Hall Of Fame!

2010 Hall Of Fame - Emmitt Smith Part 1 of 2

2010 Hall Of Fame - Emmitt Smith Part 2 of 2

Colston Goes Off For The Saints in Super Bowl 44 For The Saints

Colston Goes Off For The Saints in Super Bowl 44 For The Saints

Tracy Porter's Pick Six on Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 44

Tracy Porter's Pick Six on Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 44

Colts or Saints? Who Cares, Gossip Girl = Best Show EVER!

Colts or Saints? Who Cares, Gossip Girl = Best Show EVER!

Nice Colts Picture!

Are the 2009 Colts BETTER than the 2006 Colts?

Many of the Indianapolis Colts' most important players have been here before.

Literally.

Following the 2006 season, the Colts came to South Florida and defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 on a rain-soaked field in Super Bowl XLI.

Three years later, the opponent has changed, but the location remains the same, down to the hotel the Colts have stayed at all week and the rainy forecast for the weekend.

In all, 19 Colts have Super Bowl experience, including 17 who were with the team in 2006. Add cornerbacks Tim Jennings and T.J. Rushing, who were with the team and inactive for Super Bowl XLI, and the Colts' number grows to 21.

The New Orleans Saints, on the other hand, have four players with Super Bowl experience: fullback Kyle Eckel, cornerback Randall Gay, linebacker Jason Kyle and safety Darren Sharper. Gay is the only Saints player to have participated in a Super Bowl and won, doing so with the New England Patriots in 2004. Tight end Jeremy Shockey was on the New York Giants' roster when they won Super Bowl XLII, but he was inactive because of a leg injury.

Of course, all eyes are on Colts quarterback Peyton Manning this week as he looks to cement his legacy with a second Lombardi Trophy. But Manning was quick to downplay any advantage his team gained from having played here three years ago.

"I don't think staying at the same hotel helps you stop Drew Brees' offense or figure out where Darren Sharper's going to be," Manning said. "It still has a different feel. We have a new head coach, it's a different team. We have a number of new players."

Manning probably would rather forget his performance in Super Bowl XLI, when he threw one touchdown but also turned over the ball twice with an interception and a fumble.

Overall, Manning's journey to Super Bowl XLIV has been a much smoother ride this time. In 2006, Manning threw three touchdowns and seven interceptions in four playoff games. This postseason, Manning has been far more efficient, posting five touchdowns and one interception in two games leading up to the Super Bowl.

Saints or Colts? Manning makes Indy overwhelming pick.

Find Out Who Will Win The Super Bowl Today & Why!

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com Senior Writer: Colts 41, Saints 27 | Pete's Pick

Blitzing Peyton Manning is like sticking your finger in Mike Tyson's face. You're asking for it. Gregg Williams is asking for it. Williams, the Saints defensive coordinator, is a former head coach. He wants to be in that spot again. What better way to make your résumé sparkle than with a game plan that features exotic blitzes that slow Manning? The problem is that isn't the ideal way to stop the Colts offense. To do that, you have to play sound principles, making Manning be patient. He cut up the Jets in the AFC title game when they blitzed him, and that was the top-rated defense. He'll do the same here against a New Orleans D that struggled vs. the pass much of the season. It will take one or two series, but by then Manning will have Williams and his defense figured out. He'll get Darren Sharper to bite on two throws, each leading to big plays. Aggression will work against the Saints. The New Orleans offense will score early, but then when they realize they have to match the Colts score for score it will wilt under the pressure. The Saints will keep it close for a half, but in the third quarter Manning will have it rolling. New Orleans will have a big third-quarter turnover that leads to separation for the Colts. In the end, Manning has one of the all-time great games by a Super Bowl quarterback -- 345 yards and four scores -- as he gets his second ring, putting him in the argument for greatest all-time.

Clark Judge, CBSSports.com Senior Writer: Colts 34, Saints 23

I was there when Peyton Manning put up 30 points on the No. 1-ranked overall defense, the No. 1-ranked pass defense, the No. 1-ranked scoring defense and the best cornerback in the league. So if he can do that to the New York Jets, what does he do to New Orleans? This is a club that forced Minnesota into five turnovers, yet the Vikings still produced 28 points and pushed the game into overtime. Let me put it this way: I like the Colts' chances of stopping Drew Brees more than I like the Saints' chances of stopping Manning, and here's why: The Colts' defense might surrender more yards than you would like but it doesn't surrender a lot of points or a lot of big plays. In fact, before the final two games of the regular season, where they weren't at full strength, the Colts were tied for second in the NFL in scoring defense. And it's there where they win this game. Coach Jim Caldwell last week described his defense as "fast," and the Saints are about to find out just how fast. "A lot of people use their speed," said defensive end Raheem Brock. "We think Minnesota played [the Saints] well. They haven't seen our speed yet, our whole team defensive speed." They will soon, and it will make a difference.

Gregg Doyel, CBSSports.com National Columnist: Saints 41, Colts 34

I could tell you this is Dwight Freeney's fault. He's the Colts' best defensive player, and he has that bad ankle. While I'm sure he'll start, I'm just as sure he won't be able to finish. Or I could tell you this is Reggie Wayne's fault. He's the Colts' best receiver, and he reinjured his knee Friday, and while I'm sure he'll start, I'm just as sure he'll play at less than full speed. The same goes for left guard Ryan Lilja (back) and cornerback Jerraud Powers (foot). They'll play, but they'll play hurt. But when the Saints beat the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, it won't be because of injuries. The Colts aren't going to lose because they're less than full strength. Nope. The Colts are going to lose because Saints coach Sean Payton is the best in the league at getting his team ready to play a big game. This is a pretty big game, right? The Saints have more firepower than the Colts. The Colts have been more focused and more consistent throughout the year, but when the Saints are at their best -- like they were against the Giants, Patriots and Cardinals this season -- they're frightening. And they're the best team in the NFL. That's my theory, and I hope like hell that theory gets tested on Sunday. Because if the Saints bring their 'A' game -- the Colts definitely will bring their 'A' game; it's what they do -- this would be one of the best Super Bowls ever. And it will end with New Orleans on top.

Mike Freeman, CBSSports.com National Columnist: Saints 28, Colts 25

The lack of respect shown the New Orleans Saints is starting to reach asinine proportions. The latest example comes from Tony Dungy. In picking the Colts, he was quoted recently as saying, "I don't think it's going to be close." Dungy is the former Indianapolis coach and it's expected he'll support his team, but that kind of prediction demonstrates an inexcusable arrogance. Not close? Has Dungy been watching the Saints this year? New Orleans was first in points scored, first in yards per game, fourth in passing yards and sixth in rushing yards. The Saints' defense isn't very good, but it hasn't had to be because that offense is so brilliant. They lit up a solid Minnesota defense in the title game and they'll do the same to the Indianapolis defense with a limited Dwight Freeney (if he plays at all, and I'm not convinced he will). Not close? The Saints play with passion and skill and, oh yeah, they have quarterback Drew Brees. Let's also remember something: The Colts' defense is a bit banged up. Not close? The Saints deserve more respect than that. They've earned it. And you know what Dungy has done with his insane prediction? He has given coach Sean Payton more bulletin-board material, and from what I'm told he has been working the lack-of-respect angle all week with his players. Not close? C'mon, Tony. You're better than that.

Larry Holder, CBSSports.com NFL correspondent: Saints 38, Colts 31

New Orleans' opportunistic secondary is the primary difference in what sets the Saints and Indianapolis Colts apart and this element will be what ultimately lands the Lombardi Trophy in Louisiana. By far the most important change in the Saints' defense is the ability to create turnovers. New Orleans has taken the ball away 46 times, including seven during its two playoff victories. The Saints are the No. 1 red-zone defense, as opponents only score touchdowns 39 percent of the time. It begs the cliché of bend but don't break, but it's true in the Saints' case. When the Saints need a turnover, look to safety Darren Sharper or cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. Once these three players returned healthy after they all missed time in the second half of the season, the defense returned to its opportunistic ways. Sure, Peyton Manning can read defenses, but if there's anyone who can bait Manning into throwing a pass that shouldn't be thrown it's Sharper. Greer has become the shutdown cornerback you've never heard of, and Porter will come up huge like he did when he picked off Brett Favre near the end of regulation in the NFC Championship Game.

John Oehser, CBSSports.com NFL correspondent: Colts 31, Saints 23

The Colts will win Sunday. They're the more experienced team, have the better quarterback and a slightly better defense. In Super Bowls, those three factors matter. Maybe more than any other. Forget all the talk about Peyton Manning and his legacy. That's postgame talk. What matters Sunday is Manning's unique ability to decipher a defense, with an equal ability to exploit what he deciphered. The Colts' NFL-record seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season were no accident. The early parts of games were about figuring out what the opponent was doing, and because the Colts are an experienced, poised team, whatever the situation, they overcame it. The Colts played 16 games that mattered this season and never panicked in any of them. They also won them all, and if they stay poised in the frantic early minutes, they should win Sunday, too. Actually, even if the early minutes go wrong, that won't ruin their chances. The defense -- even without end Dwight Freeney -- is quicker and better than many observers believe, a unit with a knack for big plays at proper times. They will get the Saints off the field just enough to allow Manning to control the second-half momentum. That has been the Colts' way all season. Hard to imagine it changing Sunday.

Is Peyton Manning the Best Ever? One win, and one never-ending argument.

One win, and one never-ending argument.

Brees vs. Manning

That’s where Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning(notes) finds himself heading into Sunday. A victory over the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV would thrust him into rarefied air at his position – amongst such names as Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw and a precious few quarterbacks who have won multiple Super Bowls. In turn, it would secure Manning’s elevation onto another plain of debate, into the dog-eared pages of quarterback autopsies. It’s the kind of debate that had former Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese almost incredulous when he was asked last week if Manning would rank as the best all time at his position.

“No, no, you can’t take him,” Griese said. “If you took Peyton and put him back with Archie [Manning], he wouldn’t be doing all that stuff [statistically]. If you took Archie and put him in Peyton’s time, Archie would be doing all this stuff – with legs. … But no, you take Peyton back then and he’s doing the same thing [Johnny] Unitas was doing. He’s just another Unitas. That’s why you can’t compare teams and players from different eras because it is so different.”

And yet, as debates go, Manning is poised to take his place in historical donnybrooks over quarterbacks. But what about the larger view? What about Manning’s plans to play through at least 2013, when he’ll be 37 years old? And what if Manning plays until he’s 40, which he seems more than likely to do, now that he’s on the verge of yet another massive contract with the Colts? How long before the argument expands from “best quarterback ever” to “best player ever”? Manning is undoubtedly heading in that direction. He may even get there with a win on Sunday.

So we decided to compare Manning to five other players – four who are already in the “greatest ever” conversation, and a fifth who is standing shoulder to shoulder with Manning and heading in that same direction. The list is by no means comprehensive, since many players have some ground to stand on in the great debate. But we pressed Manning’s accomplishments, as well as his potential accomplishments over the remainder of his career, and tried to stack them up against those of the names mentioned most often.

Starting with …

Jim Brown

Brown

The case for Brown being the best ever has many layers, both statistically and from his sheer uniqueness. At 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds, his body was far ahead of its time in the 1950s and 1960s. Indeed, he was barely smaller than the Cleveland Browns offensive linemen who blocked for him. Yet he displayed a combination of speed, power and grace which wouldn’t become typical among elite running backs until decades later. Even today, there are only a handful of top-level runners who can cut a similar physical comparison to Brown. And while the phrase “changing the game” has become cheap hyperbole, Brown embodied it. His size and skill set created an ideal at his position which has stood the test of time.

Brown’s numbers were equally as impressive – he claimed eight rushing titles in his nine seasons, rushed for 12,312 yards while boasting 5.2 yards per carry, and – despite splitting his career between 12- and 14-game seasons – put up annual rushing totals that would make him a consistent Pro Bowler even in this era. He also won a championship playing in the pre-Super Bowl era, and retired with 20 NFL records. And he’ll always have one uncommon edge in this argument: He shocked the football masses and retired at the age of 29, at the very peak of his game. There’s no telling how much more Brown could have done with his career numbers.

How Manning could win the argument: Win more Super Bowls
Manning will never be able to compete with the “what could have been” romanticism surrounding Brown’s early retirement. And while it would be an apples-to-oranges debate physically, Manning does seem to be light years ahead of almost every quarterback compared to him. But ultimately, it’s Brown’s single championship that leaves him vulnerable in this debate. He was undoubtedly great, but he achieved the so-called “greatest goal” only once. Manning has a chance to exceed that this weekend, perhaps a few more times before he retires.

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Jerry Rice

Rice

He pretty much has it all: three Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, awards, intimidation, domination, big-game flare, durability, longevity, physical prowess, and absurd statistical records likely to stand for years if not decades. Since Rice’s retirement from football in 2004, many have made strong arguments that he is the greatest player in the history of football. Even with the final six years of his 20-year career lacking his trademark dominance, he still has few flaws on his résumé.

Like Brown, Rice’s dominance had many layers. He always had a finely tuned physique that was the result of obsessive workout habits. His hands were arguably the softest of any receiver in history. He ran razor-sharp routes. And he would out-physical cornerbacks while boasting deceptive speed and quickness.

But nothing speaks like his numbers, which are mind-blowing. His 22,895 receiving yards are 7,687 more than 37-year-old Isaac Bruce, who is in second place on that list. That number might be the least breakable record in all of professional football. The only player who is even on the same continent is Randy Moss; and if Moss played until the age of 40, he’d have to average 1,053 yards for each of the next eight years to catch Rice. It’s a similar uphill climb for those chasing Rice’s career receptions (1,549) and career touchdown catches (197).

How Manning could win the argument: Win additional Super Bowls and MVP trophies
Manning has a shot to equal Rice in terms of statistical domination. If he plays another seven or eight years, he should own essentially all of the league’s passing records. And like Rice, there are few players who will be anywhere near him for years or even decades. For example, though Manning entered the NFL only three years ahead of Drew Brees, he has 19,482 more passing yards. Brees and other stat monsters are simply too far behind.

Manning needs to close the gap in Super Bowl wins, trailing Rice by two heading into Sunday. If he can do that, he’ll have one decisive edge. For everything Rice has, he never won a regular-season league MVP trophy – not even once. And while the award is slanted to favor quarterbacks and running backs, you would think that if any receiver could have broken the trend, it would have been Rice. But he never did. Meanwhile, Manning has won an NFL-best four regular-season MVP awards, and likely will add to that total before he retires. In a comparison that will likely be excruciatingly close, those MVPs could be the difference.

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Joe Montana

Montana

He wasn’t as statistically dominant as Rice in terms of the quarterback position, but Montana was a pure winner. He was the centerpiece of a storybook turnaround for a moribund San Francisco franchise, taking the franchise to four Super Bowl wins and winning three Super Bowl MVP awards along the way. And he did it with a smooth excellence and command which define greatness at his position.

What makes Montana stick out? He was the golden boy at a time when the NFL was entering its golden era. He was the face of the league and was a winner, plain and simple. He also mastered a West Coast scheme that would eventually proliferate and have a long-standing impact on passing offenses in the NFL. And his clutch performances in the playoffs were legendary, from “The Catch” in the 1982 NFC championship game to his 92-yard drive to win XXIII.

How Manning could win the argument: Win additional Super Bowls
Manning already has the edge in league MVPs – Montana won the honor in 1989 and ’90 – and vastly superior statistics. Like Montana, he has shown the ability to be a clutch player. But he needs to win at least one more Super Bowl to fully trump Montana. Why only one? Because Montana had more complete teams helping him win, thanks to playing all but one season of his 16-year career without a salary cap. That gave him a distinct – and arguably unfair – advantage over Manning, who has thus far never played without a cap.

---

Johnny Unitas

Unitas

He’s the wrench in the mix that makes the “all-time best” argument so different. Unitas played in an era where you simply didn’t rack up massive passing statistics, and yet he finished his career with 40,239 passing yards and 290 touchdowns. They’re still impressive today, but they were downright jaw-dropping in his time (1956-1973). He also played on three championship teams, including one Super Bowl winner.

What makes Unitas so timeless in this argument is that, like Brown, he was doing things ahead of the curve for his era. He was a true, tough, pocket passer who was ahead of his time in film study and the ability to understand and exploit defenses. He had a big arm and a pretty ball. And when you talk to coaches and executives who saw him up close, they will tell you that, like Brown, Unitas could have played and flourished in today’s NFL.

How Manning could win the argument: Super Bowls and statistics
Once again, like every argument, Manning needs that additional Super Bowl win to vault himself into the top-of-the-list debate. Though his statistics were eye-popping in his day, Unitas’ numbers don’t rival those of Manning. His career completion percentage was 54.6, more than a full 10 points below Manning’s 64.8. And, like most quarterbacks of his era, Unitas threw a lot of interceptions (253). To draw a comparison, Manning already has 76 more touchdowns than Unitas, and he reached that total while throwing 72 fewer interceptions. That’s a drastic disparity.

---

Tom Brady

Brady

Yes, Brady is basically in the same boat as Manning in that he also needs to fill out the remainder of his career to truly enter the argument as the greatest player in NFL history. But you get the feeling Manning and Brady are going to duke it out all the way to the ends of their careers and be tied together like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux or Dan Marino and John Elway. Indeed, Brady has already carved out his case in a short amount of time, notching arguably the single greatest season ever by a quarterback in 2007, winning three Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs. And his leadership qualities rival Manning’s – which is a feat unto itself.

How Manning could win the argument: Super Bowls and statistics
Manning is going to finish with better stats than Brady, but he’s trailing the Super Bowl end of the argument 3-1. And that means a lot since they are being measured against each other in real time. But if Manning wins on Sunday, he’ll make a good case for being back in the driver’s seat. Particularly when you consider that since the Patriots were caught in the Spygate cheating scandal – in which they were taping the defensive signals of opponents – they haven’t won a Super Bowl. That’s definitely a twist in the debate.

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Ultimately, Griese is right about it essentially being impossible to hash out players who have made their fame in different eras. The changing, growing nature of the game keeps us from ever being able to measure numbers and skill levels on an equal plain.

Perhaps the only sure point is that any measure of one player against another is sure to elicit an unwinnable, unanswerable argument. However, just being included in that argument is a rare honor in itself. And Manning finds himself on the cusp of it going into Sunday, with one win promising to thrust him into a debate that will likely rage for as long as the NFL exists.

In-D ( The Colts Defense)

Don't say the Indianapolis Colts can't play defense. They can, and if you don't believe it, you weren't paying attention to their last two games. They stiffed Baltimore and they stifled the Jets, and I don't care that neither was "The Greatest Show on Turf."

They didn't do diddly poo.

That's a testament to Indy's defense that's better than it looks on paper. The Colts ranked 18th overall and 24th against the run this season, and though neither is all that impressive, don't be deceived. These guys are better, much better, than those numbers, and I offer their eighth place standing in points allowed as Exhibit A. In 10 of their first 13 games, the Colts allowed 17 or fewer points, including two where they surrendered no more than 10.

What happened down the stretch when their last three opponents averaged 30 points apiece, including offensively challenged Buffalo? The Colts started backing off, resting starters and not playing at full strength. So their second and third-stringers get drilled by Buffalo. Big deal, it doesn't matter.

This does: Neither of their playoff opponents figured them out.

"I think we're a great defense," said Colts defensive lineman Raheem Brock. "I think we have a great run defense and a great pass defense overall, period. We've been trying to earn respect all year. A lot of teams came to Indianapolis and they ran the ball on us or passed all day. And I think we did a great job the last two games of the playoffs shutting down the top running teams."
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Ah, yes, the top running teams. There was no team more effective running the ball than the Jets. Five times they ran for 200 or more yards, including a season-best 318 against the Buffalo Bills. Then they shredded Cincinnati for 171 and San Diego for 169 in the playoffs before running into the Colts, and look what happened -- they had a season-low 86.

The Ravens had the league's fifth-best rushing attack, one that annihilated New England in the first round of the playoffs with 234 yards. Then they ran into Indianapolis, and said goodnight, folks -- they limped to 87.

"You look at this season and we won in a lot of different phases -- special teams, offense and defense," said linebacker Gary Brackett. "I think [recognition for the defense] is starting to come, and I think it's the old adage -- offense sells tickets, defense wins championships."

That was true the last time Indianapolis made it this far. The Colts won four playoff games after ranking dead last against the run and allowing Jacksonville's backs to rip them for 375 yards three years ago. Yet once the playoffs began, opponents couldn't budge them, and, yeah, it had a lot to do with the return of safety Bob Sanders. But it had a lot to do with the timing, too. Then, like now, they played better when games mattered more.

"Our style is a little different [now]," said Brackett. "I think our defense is a little bit more aggressive. We do a lot more things on the defensive side of the ball. We're not as predictable as we were in 2006, but the '06 team has a title. Up until this point I think they still have an edge because they have a title, and that's something that resonates with this '09 team."


If there's a knock on the Colts, it's that they wilted against the best quarterback they faced, Tom Brady, surrendering more points (34) and passing yards (375) to him than any opponent. But read the fine print, people: Indy buckled down on defense when it had to -- holding the Patriots to 10 second-half points, including one score that followed a Peyton Manning interception.

More important, they stuffed the Pats on a critical fourth-quarter possession, and so what that coach Bill Belichick gets an assist for trying to convert a fourth-and-2 late in the game -- what matters is that he didn't make it.

And that's what I like about this defense. When it has to make plays, it does. After spotting Houston a 20-7 halftime lead this season, the Colts surrendered one second-half touchdown. After spotting the Jets a 17-6 first-half lead in the AFC Championship Game, the Colts allowed nothing in the second half.

Yeah, sure, Brandon Marshall had a league-record 21 catches against them. So what? Thirteen of them were under 10 yards, and seven were five yards or fewer. Marshall averaged 9.5 yards per reception, and welcome to the club. Larry Fitzgerald caught seven on the Colts, yet averaged 10.9 yards per grab. Andre Johnson had 10 catches against them, but averaged 10.3.

I think you get the idea. You can find holes in the Colts secondary, but it's rare to beat it for big plays. So it happened a couple of times against the Jets -- it didn't happen after Indianapolis buckled down.

And there's where these guys are solid. They're resilient, holding up when they must. They're better against the run than most people think, and while they can be punctured by the pass, their defenders are quick to the ball, rarely miss tackles and are seldom gashed for big gains.

"That's why we're excited about going up against the Saints with a high-powered overall offense, not just a running team," said Brock. "Everybody will finally respect us if we dominate the game."

I respect them already. I don't care that it's not an elite defense. It doesn't have to be -- it's good enough to win.

Dem Colts

Saints' Hargrove: From rock bottom to Super Bowl

Few people other than Anthony Hargrove know exactly what the bottom was for him. He was a drug addict who lived a brutal and unforgiving life. The bottom was probably deep, but it may have been deeper than publicly understood.

Hargrove's story is one of perseverance and hope, but it also contains sharp edges and cautionary tales. He was exiled by the NFL for the entire 2008 season after repeat violations of the league's drug policy. After time in drug rehabilitation and being reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell, Hargrove, a defensive tackle, sent a video to a number of NFL teams explaining his story and how he had corrected his life.

The Saints took a chance on Hargrove, and the rest of the story is remarkable. He hasn't eroded the trust the Saints and his teammates have put in him and as a result, Hargrove is quite possibly the best story of Super Bowl XLIV.

Did he think, considering his past, he'd be right here, right now?

"You're talking to somebody who's been through a lot," Hargrove said. "I don't believe [anything is] unrealistic. But when you're sitting there and you're going through it, all you have is your thoughts and wishes. So to say if it's realistic or not, I don't know. But I know what I wanted at that point. If I had gotten my opportunity, I was going to do whatever it took to get here. Did I think it was going to happen this fast? No. But did I want it this fast? Yeah."

The concern isn't gone. Recovering addicts face the possibility of a relapse. It's a cold truth that remains in the thoughts of not just Hargrove but many of the Saints players.

"We watch out for each other, but mostly probably him," Saints teammate Will Smith said. "We know he can be on edge sometimes, so we try to do our best to help him out as much as we can. He's always on edge. Everybody cares for him so much that they don't want to see him doing something he'll regret. For the most part, he's a stand-up guy. Everybody always has that feeling that you've got to watch out for him every now and then."

Hargrove, 26, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and spent time in the foster care system. His mother died of complications of AIDS when he was 9, and he settled with an aunt in Florida.

He flunked out of Georgia Tech but was still drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Rams in 2004, despite being out of football for at least a year. It was then when everything began to disintegrate. He disappeared for several practices without explanation, and the Rams eventually traded him to Buffalo.

There things went from bad to worse. He was arrested after an altercation with police outside a Buffalo-area club. Soon after that he failed a drug test and was suspended for four games. He was then suspended for an entire season after failing another drug test for what he said was use of cocaine and marijuana, as well as alcohol.

Hargrove spent more than a year in various rehab facilities. Much of the time he was alone. He didn't want friends and family to see him.

Saints turnaround formula: GM + coach + QB = Super Bowl

In a list of lowlights the length of a skyscraper, it's difficult to pinpoint the lowest point in the history of the New Orleans Saints, but one candidate begins with a man named Ditka.

In the 1999 draft, it was Mike Ditka -- coach and commander of the franchise -- who made football's version of a criminally negligent decision to trade eight Saints draft picks to the Washington Redskins, including each of their 1999 picks and the first and third round selections in the 2000 draft, for the opportunity to select runner Ricky Williams.

After the disastrous trade was consummated, a scout for the Redskins remarked privately: "We just embarrassed the entire New Orleans Saints franchise."

Unfortunately, for many years, that wasn't all that hard to do.

But the Saints have proven more resilient than anyone imagined. Once malignant, the Saints have emerged not as a cancer but as an inspiration.

How the franchise overcame the Ditka debacle as well as decades of incompetence, ownership stupidity -- and, yes, a horrific natural disaster -- to reach the Super Bowl is one of the inspirational stories in the history of American sports.

The question is how exactly did the Saints do it?

There are a handful of key critical moves that helped the Saints overcome their painful past and emerge as a hopeful story. Many were tactical, most demonstrated the smarts the Ditka trade never did, and some were as a result of good, old fashioned luck.

Here's how the Saints' turnaround happened.

The quarterback

It's hard to believe but Drew Brees wasn't always so coveted. A shoulder injury left many (including his own team, the San Diego Chargers) skeptical about his long-term future. The Saints took a chance on him and he took a chance on them, signing as a free agent in 2006 to a six-year, $60 million deal. Mickey Loomis, the team's general manager, remembered: "It's easy to say how great Drew is now but not everyone in football felt that way then."
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"All the intangibles were there," Loomis added. "From high school to college to his pro career, you heard over and over how professional he was."

Getting Brees was the most critical factor. His deep pass prowess and accuracy allowed Sean Payton to run his wide open offense. But Brees didn't provide solely physical skills -- he gave the Saints greatly needed stability. After Brees went to New Orleans, it showed both the league and players on the Saints that New Orleans was a place where players could go and win.

"When I was first drafted by the Saints, I am not going to lie, I was pretty scared," said Reggie Bush. "I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect. It was a year after Hurricane Katrina, and they didn't even know if they were going to have a home field to play on. I didn't know what to expect.

"Drew Brees called me the night I was drafted and told me he was excited to play with me. He told me how he got to play with LaDainian Tomlinson and he was looking forward to playing with me. That changed my entire view on what I was going into. It also eased my mind. I had a chance to watch Drew play when he was with the Chargers, so for a guy like Drew to call me says a lot about him. It eased my emotions about what I was getting into."

The only free agent acquisitions in NFL history more important than the Brees signing was Reggie White going to Green Bay, Deion Sanders signing with Dallas and San Francisco, and Curtis Martin going to the Jets.

The coach


As a young coach, one of the people Sean Payton admired was Bill Parcells. When they met on a flight from New York to Dallas (on Jerry Jones' private jet) the two men drew up plays on a napkin for over two hours. Actually, Parcells did much of the drawing and Payton did much of the listening.

"For a young guy to work with a Hall of Fame coach," said Payton, "it [was] invaluable."

Payton took the lessons he learned from Parcells and others -- how to organize, how to teach, how to motivate -- and over the years morphed those lessons into his own coaching style.

The general manager

Loomis came to the Saints in the aftermath of the Ditka disaster. He was initially an assistant personnel man on the team but still knew just how badly that trade had wrecked the Saints.

"The thing that stood out for me was because of the trade, we didn't have any second-, third-, fourth-round picks," said Loomis.

Eventually he took control of an atomized franchise and began steering it from oblivion. Truthfully, the conduit of the Saints' success runs through Loomis. He hired Payton and signed Brees, drafted Reggie Bush and signed key free agents Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer.

The 2006 draft by Loomis started the re-engineering of the team. He took offensive lineman Jahri Evans in the fourth round and he was named to the Pro Bowl that same year. In the seventh round came Marques Colston and initially, Colston looked like a bust. He showed up to rookie minicamp out of shape and with an ailing back. Then Payton and other coaches pushed Colston hard (Colston believes he was given the unusual jersey number 12 because the Saints didn't think he'd make the team) and Colston responded with a 1,000-yard season and eight touchdowns in his rookie year.

One year later, Loomis drafted wide receiver Robert Meachem, a critical contributor this season. Then came the pick of Sedrick Ellis in 2008. Other players like Mike Bell and Jonathan Vilma were solid pickups.

What Loomis did was take an organization that was literally in pieces and slowly, through many chess moves, glue it all back together again.

"This isn't a team that was built in two or three moves," said Loomis. "It was a lot of moves."

They were a wreck, the Saints, both figuratively and literally. Then after the storm, both figuratively and literally, came the drafts and free-agent pickups, a bevy of them, and then came the calm.

After that came the Super Bowl.

Colts Super Bowl loss would ‘absolutely’ shock Tony Dungy

Tony Dungy is convinced that his former team, the Colts, will win Super Bowl XLIV against the Saints.

Dungy might be a little biased and stating the obvious — like Microsoft founder Bill Gates announcing that he’s rich — but the retired coach made a compelling point for the Colts while appearing on Dan Patrick’s syndicated radio show (via the USA Today).

“I would be absolutely shocked (if the Colts lose Sunday),” Dungy said. “They haven’t lost a game yet this year that they were trying to win.”

Of course, many would have been shocked if Dungy said something different.

Dungy certainly looked shocked when the Chargers ended his coaching career by handing the Colts a 23-17 wild-card loss in the 2008 playoffs. That was the last time the Colts lost a game they were trying to win.

The Colts finished this season 14-2, but they drew criticism for resting their starters down the stretch instead of pursuing a perfect record.

Dungy was open about his feelings on who will win the Super Bowl, but he suggested that his replacement, Jim Caldwell, play it cool with DE Dwight Freeney’s ankle injury.

“That way, New Orleans really has to think about (Freeney possibly playing),” Dungy said.

Super Bowl History 1980 - 1989

Super Bowl XIV

Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers would repeat to win Super Bowl 14 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on January 20th, 1980 against Ray Malavasi's LA Rams. Terry Bradshaw took home MVP for the second straight year as the Steelers won their 4th Super Bowl before any other team had won three. John Stallworth and Lynn Swan each caught touchdowns, while Franco Harris ran for two. Dave Elmendorf, Rod Perry, and Eddie Brown intercepted three Bradshaw passes, but it wasn't enough. Lawrence McCutcheon connected with Ron Smith on a halfback pass but quarterback Vince Ferragamo couldn't make the big throw for the Rams. Unsung hero, Larry Anderson, had 162 return yards setting up the Steeler win, 31-19.
Super Bowl XV

Tom Flores' Oakland Raiders beat Dick Vermeil's Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, in Super Bowl 15 on January 25th, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Ron Jaworski had 291 yards, but was intercepted by linebacker Rod Martin three times. Jim Plunkett threw three touchdowns in Super Bowl Fifteen; an 80 yard bomb to Kenny King, and two shorter scores to Cliff Branch. An Eagle defense led by John Bunting and Herman Edwards couldn't slow Plunkett and Mark Van Eeghen (75 yards). Ted Hendricks, Matt Millen, Dave Browning, and Martin led the stout Raider defense.
Super Bowl XVI

On January 24, 1982 Super Bowl 16 was played in Pontiac, Michigan at the Pontiac Sliverdome. Bill Walsh's San Francisco 49ers faced Forrest Gregg's Cincinnati Bengals. MVP, Joe Montana, inched his Forty-Niners into Super Bowl Sixteen by completing a last second touchdown to Dwight Clark in the NFC Title Game, known as "The Catch". Montana took home MVP honors, throwing one touchdown to Earl Cooper, while running for another. Ray Wersching had a Super Bowl record 4 field goals. Ken Anderson brought the Bengals roaring back with a touchdown run and pass to Dan Ross. But early turnovers by Chris Collinsworth and Anderson were too much to overcome as Eric Wright, Lynn Thomas, Ronnie Lott, and Dwight Hicks led San Francisco's defense to victory.
Super Bowl XVII

On January 30th, 1983, Joe Gibbs' Washington Redskins beat Don Shula's Miami Dolphins 27-17 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Super Bowl 17 MVP, John Riggins, rushed for a record 166 yards, and Joe Theismann threw two touchdowns, to Alvin Garrett and Charlie Brown, leading the Redskin comeback in the second half. Miami's 17 Super Bowl Seventeen points came in the first half; a 76 yard touchdown pass from David Woodley to Jimmy Cefalo, a short field goal by Uwe Von Schamann, and a 98 yard kickoff return by Fulton Walker. Vernon Dean and Mark Murphy led the Washington defense that held Woodley and Don Strock to 4-17 passing.
Super Bowl XVIII

Joe Gibbs' Washington Redskins were back as Defending Champs for Super Bowl 18 in Tampa, Florida on January 30th, 1983. Super Bowl Eighteen was different for Joe, as Tom Flores' Los Angeles Raiders blew-out Joe Theismann (2-ints), John Riggins (64-yds) and the rest of the Redskins, 38-9, in the Super Bowl's most lopsided contest yet. Marcus Allen literally ran away with Super Bowl MVP, compiling over 200 total yards and two touchdowns, with a record 192 rushing. Derrick Jensen blocked a punt for a touchdown and linebacker Jack Squireck returned an interception for a score to end the half. Jim Plunkett tossed a TD to Cliff Branch adding fuel to the fire.
Super Bowl XIX

On January 20th, 1985 Don Shula's Miami Dolphins played Bill Walsh's San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 19 at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. Two of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks of all time, Dan Marino and Joe Montana, led their respective teams into what promised to be an offensive explosion. But Walsh's Nickel Defense held Marino well below season averages while the Dolphins couldn't coral Super Bowl Nineteen MVP Joe Montana (361 yards, 4 total touchdowns), Roger Craig (3 scores), and Dwight Clark, as the Niners nailed Miami, 38-9. Manu Tuiasosopo, Ronnie Lott, and Eric C. Wright halted Mark Clayton, Mark Duper, Tony Nathan, and the Dolphins.
Super Bowl XX

In Super Bowl 20, on January 26th, 1986, Mike Ditka's Chicago Bears destroyed Raymond Berry's New England Patriots 46-10, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Bear's "46 Zone" that helped Chicago to a 15-1 record, recorded 7 sacks, holding Steve Grogan, Tony Eason, Morgan Stanley, and the Patriots to 10 points and just 7 yards rushing. One of the most popular teams of all time, the Bears were led by Jim McMahon, Walter "Sweetness" Payton, Mike Singletary, Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent, Willie Gault, and rookie William "Refrigerator" Perry. Their famous "Super Bowl Shuffle" rap song peaked at #41 on the Billboard charts. Their nearly perfect season, tagged the Bears one of the greatest teams of all time.
Super Bowl XXI

On January 25th, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Dan Reeves' Denver Broncos lost 39-20 to Bill Parcells' New York Football Giants in Super Bowl 21. Super Bowl Twenty-One MVP, Phil Simms was 22-25, for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 88% completion percentage is a Super Bowl record. John Elway led the Broncos in rushing and passing, throwing for 304 yards. Vance Johnson led the game with 121 yards, but neither could bring home the Broncos' first Super Bowl. Joe Morris and Mark Bevaro helped Simms control the second half as a record 8 different players caught passes for the N.Y. Giants.
Super Bowl XXII

Super Bowl 22, played on January 31st, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California, saw Joe Gibbs' Washington Redskins maim Reeves' Denver Broncos 42-10. John Elway threw a 56 yard touchdown to Ricky Nattiel and Rich Karlis' field goal put the Broncos up 10-0. It was false hope for Denver as the Redskins ran off 42 unanswered points to win Super Bowl Twenty-Two. MVP Doug William's had a record tying 4 touchdowns to Ricky Sanders (2), Clint Didier (1), and Gary Clark (1).Two records fell as Sanders had 193 yards receiving and rookie runner Timmy Smith rushed for 204 yards. Led by Barry Wilburn and Alvin Walton the Redskins held Denver scoreless for the last three quarters.
Super Bowl XXIII

On January 22nd, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida, Sam Wyche's Cincinnati Bengals lost to Bill Walsh's San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 23, 20-16. Super Bowl Twenty-Three MVP, Jerry Rice, set a Super Bowl record with 215 yards receiving and Joe Montana had a record 357 yards. Boomer Esiason, Anthony Munoz, Tim McGee and Icky Woods all struggled against Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Tim McKyer, and the 49er defense. But, the Bengals' D, led by Jason Buck, Leon White and Solomon Wilcots, made big plays when they had to, as Cincinnati found themselves up 16-13 with 3:20 remaining. Montana led an 11 play, 92 yard, game winning drive that ended with a 10 yard touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining.

Brees gets his closeup

Brees, now 31, is clearly one of the premier quarterbacks of his era. But with only one playoff win before this season, he’s never really earned the headlines. That’s about to change.


Brees is an easy guy to root for. Maybe it’s because he looks like the guys paid to write about him. Maybe it’s because he’s the genuine article; a leader who “gets it.” Brees is the rare quarterback that can match Peyton Manning from the neck up, and he’s got more weapons around him. He’s embraced New Orleans from Day One, and the city has embraced him back.