Jeremy Shockey Redux

Stunning Euphoria

2010-02-01T02:26:00.000-08:00

Jshox would like to apologize for being silent for more than a week after the greatest moments in Saints' history.

But it just goes to figure, after starting this blog in preseason, I get sidelined by a work/living transition during a part of the year none of us have ever seen the Saints still alive.

Saints Alive!

I'm feeling pretty good about this matchup with the Colts. For one thing, I can't think of a single game where the Colts lit up an opponent like what we did to the Giants, Hoodies, and Cardinals. Peyton's team has been on survivor-mode all season.

But give Sean and Drew a couple weeks to plan and design and, oila, the Pats and Cardinals are burned to smithereens.

History is on our side. I even say the NFL's whorific attempt to claim rights to 'Who Dat!' is, in part, a presumption that a dynasty could possibly be in the making, although the corporate vermin who run the NFL didn't care who said 'Who Dat!' or sold a shirt with the phrase for the past 30 years.

Whatever. I have to admit that when this blog started, I, jshox, thought it was more likely Shockey himself would 'badass' it back to the Pro Bowl before the Saints reached the Super Bowl. But I prefaced the description of this blog with 'Saints Win the Super Bowl!' So consider this site a token to destiny.

Keep bringing wood

2010-01-22T02:27:00.003-08:00

Last Sunday's victory against the Cardinals was the greatest playoff game in Saints' history.

It was also Reggie Bush's most explosive. It stacks against any singular performance he dished for USC.

On Sunday the Saints play the biggest home game in the history of New Orleans professional sports. It's history some -- like me -- had felt would elude us forever after our team won its first playoff game (2000 against the Rams) only to fall next to the Vikings, 34-16.

Yeah, Minnesota. The Saints, who are 2-7 thus far in the playoffs and will be fighting tooth and nail for a third win, also dropped their first playoff game to the Vikings in 1987.

Yep, we got a heaping pile of history.

Of course those games were eons ago in the time line of professional football. And rosters change. But colors stay the same. And epic games in which your beloved sports team gets crushed don't fade easily. They stick in your craw like Skittles compacted in the cavities of your freshly pulled third molars and resurface with surprise when you see something good -- like the 49ers' heir to Joe Montana winning Super Bowls or a bowl of freshly popped popcorn.

Which is kind of like saying it takes a stud quarterback to make a second appearance in the NFC Championship in four years. This is the Drew Brees era.

But it's also coach Sean Payton's, who now seemed to have presciently held Reggie back much of this season while he regained strength following knee surgery. During pre-game against the Cardinals Reggie gripped a bat emblazoned with 'Bring da Wood' before splitting Arizona's defense with a north-south running attack that No. 25 had never displayed in the Dome before. It's like what G. Bomb said in the comments: "He hit those guys early and they went 'Hey, aren't you supposed to be dancing and stuff back there until I catch you?' 'No,' Reg said, 'coach said bring the wood. So I am bringing something. Even though I don't know what that means.'"

It seems that no one in this country realizes what this Saints season for the fans means. Like as if the city of New Orleans is rebuilt and the washing away of 42 years of mental anguish and ineptitude for a sports team is less a story than an over-the-hill solipsistic quarterback who went to the Dark Side for one last chance at glory and a new Wrangler jeans contract.

It's like a fluff fest for 40-year-old Favre out there. And his biggest lover, Madden, isn't even around to fellate with the rest.

The Saints are used to getting hosed. As one of five football teams to never reach the Super Bowl -- including Browns, Lions, Jaguars and Texans -- the Black and Gold are on the brink in its own venue and set to recalibrate the way a nation and sports culture identify with a city's team.

Destiny, which doesn't count yet for the Jaguars and Texans because they are still infants in the realm of expansion teams, is on the Saints' side. Revenge is ours against the Vikings. And Favre, who hasn't won a road playoff game in 12 years, is set to crack. I've watched him this year and he played his best game against the Cowboys -- no way he follows that with an identical performance.

I see Favre getting smashed in the mouth and intercepted at least twice. Yep: twice.

As for Brees and Co., it will be same 'ol same 'ol: Saints score at least 35.

This is a new Saints era. No one outside the team and fan base is ready to accept the team as contenders -- but one more win will change that.

No one is ready to accept Brees as the best quarterback in the NFL, despite breaking records and putting up better numbers these past two seasons than the Colts' quarterback -- but one more win will change that.

The main ingredient is there. The most explosive offense is ready. We're already proud of our Saints team, but let's cheer them on so we can proudly back our loyalty in the face of Cowgirls, Massholes and numerous other douchebag fans of America.

Since I was born, Saints quarterback spot, you've come a long way, baby: Archie Manning, Bobby Scott, Bobby Douglass, Dave Wilson, Ken Stabler, Guido Merkens (why bother with a last name when you have that perfection?), Ken Stabler, Dave Wilson, Richard Todd, Bobby Hebert, John Fourcade, Steve Walsh, Mike Buck, Wade Wilson, Jim Everett, Doug Nussmeier, Heath Shuler, Billy Joe Hobert, Danny Weurffel, Billy Joe Tolliver, Kerry Collins, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Blake, Aaron Brooks, Todd Bouman.

And coaches too (Ditka was only half dumb, Mora was total passive-aggressive asshole (NSFW)):

The Deuce is loose!

2010-01-15T13:59:00.000-08:00

In what is undoubtedly the most surprising and inspiring game plan this season, the Saints have re-signed half back legend Deuce McAllister a day before the divisional playoff game against the Cardinals.

So far most sources are saying Deuce will be listed as inactive but an honorary team captain. While that's great, this smells as of a purely a crowd-motivational move, and also a psychological one. The Dome wasn't rocking when the Cowgirls came to town a few weeks ago and Dallas won easily.

But when Deuce is introduced, you know the crowd will go nuts. And the signing has likely gotten most of Who Dat Nation wondering what the signing of Deuce means instead of fretting about Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald. Slick move, Saints organization. And with that, here's a tribute to No. 26, who embodied both power and speed.

Bring on the Cardinals

2010-01-12T01:25:00.000-08:00

After watching that 51-45 barn-burner in which Arizona outlasted Green Bay with a turnover returned for a touchdown, I'm not sure it mattered who won. Either team is a tough match-up.

Indeed, Arizona will be tough. Obviously this team can stretch the field like a coonass can stretch a pot of chili with rice.

Defense on either side might be an afterthought.

But here's how we'll be alright: Drew Brees and the boys score seven on their first possession, just like they did in every game of the first half of the season, and finish strong in the fourth quarter.

Until the last third of the season, no other team was more impressive than the Saints with beginning and finishing a game.

As for the defense, we can only hope for a few three-and-outs; a couple turnovers. Arizona seems to have hit its prime with the passing game at the right time of year, just like last year. The best possible scenario, I believe, for defending Arizona is to get ahead quickly and make the Cardinals play catch-up.

The defense will get its turnovers.

Also, after weeks of substitutes, Gregg Williams will finally have the luxury of calling blitz packages with an entirely healthy secondary. Jabari Greer, our best cornerback, is returning after several weeks of being sidelined by a MCL injury, and Tracy Porter and Scott Fujita should be in tip-top shape.

And I'm sure GW will have schemes designed to kill those post routes the Cardinals used to destroy the Packers.

Defensive end Charles Grant, however, is lost for the playoffs with a torn tricep. But defensive end Will Smith is the star in our front-four pass rush, clocking in twice as many sacks as Grant; and more tackles. And backups Bobby McCray, Anthony Hargrove and Paul Spicer shouldn't be a big drop off from Grant's play.

We hope not.

First off all, GW should plan to wear a visor and punk them blonde tips. That shit is scary. With that in order the blitz packages should fall in line.

In other news, besides Drew Brees getting hosed by voters who chose Peyton Manning for MVP a second consecutive season, despite Brees' nearly breaking Dan Marino's single-season passing yardage record (falling 15 yards short) in '08 and completing over 70 percent of passes this season, a new NFL record . . . my quarterback is smarter than your quarterback.

As previously posted here, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis, who felt in 1974 that his team was intimidated by the Big Red Machine before pumping them up with yells of "We gonna get down! We gonna do the do! I'm going to hit these motherfuckers!" and beaning Rose, Bench, and three other players before getting tossed (his team got the message and won), had a interesting documentary made about a certain no-hitter he threw in 1970.

Although Mark McGwire admitted today that he did use steroids during his career and 1998, when he smashed 70 home runs and Roger Maris' record of 61, the latest baseball documentary to go viral is one about Keith Hernandez:
I'm Keith Hernandez from water&power on Vimeo.

Let's do what we do -- let's be special!

2009-12-31T02:43:00.000-08:00

My Grandpa and Uncle Boo used to say there are only two teams you ever cheer for -- the Saints and whoever's playing the Cowboys.

This code of fandom was usually reminded to me on the way home from a Saints and Buccaneers game in the Dome, back in the '80s, when the Bucs were horrible and I was young -- and older relatives joined my Grandpa and Uncle Boo for better games.

So it still pains me to have watched the Saints get a boot in their ass from the Cowgirls.

And it churned greasy bacon and eggs on top the previous night's whiskey and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale in my stomach to watch the Saints get shutout by the Bucs in the second half and lose by an overtime field goal.

I was bitter. And I was traveling and visiting relatives during the holidays. Without a laptop. And too pissed to hop on an in-law's pc and blog about two games the Saints showed up a total three quarters for.

I'm sure we're all bitter. But remember this: so far this season has been one a fan can only dream about. And it's far from over.

Ironically, the Saints can prove their road invincibility by beating Carolina, although the only road win that matters from here on out is the one in Miami: the Super Bowl.

Still, the Saints should destroy the Panthers -- like they did the Jets, Giants and Patriots -- so they can get their swagger back and game-plan aggressively with confidence for the playoffs.

After all, it'll be a new decade. A new year to spit-shine the rust off the run-defense that made Cadillac Williams look like a Pro Bowler and Tony Romo a Top Five quarterback, instead of just a smirking douchebag.

Let's hope the offense in this Carolina game will get back to 40-plus-point scoring fashion. It will be special against a Panthers defense that has allowed less than 12 points a game in its last five match ups.

I want to see the Saints air it out. Let's watch Drew Brees and our offensive arsenal torch them cats -- let's do what we do and let's be special.

The running game, honestly, with Brees and Sean Payton -- and the arsenal -- forever shall be, secondary. We are the forerunners in the modernization of the NFL: pass, pass and more pass. Only rely on the run in red-zone, short-yardage and run-out-the-clock situations.

Let's slide into this postseason with our guns blazing. Our defense is still ranked third in pass defense, behind the Jets and Bills, and Jabari Greer is due back.

Our defense is still ranked ninth in http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/2_988_Bendability_Index.html">bendability index.

And our offense is the only one to score 500 points. And by the way, Brees leads the quarterbacks of the Colts and Chargers, teams that lead in power rankings, with a 109.6 passer rating and 33.3 ppg.

The Saints are doing better than your TV-shooting-neighbors would lead you to believe. It's damn hard to win more than 13 games a season. Just ask the 2008 Steelers (12-4), 2007 Giants (10-6), 2006 Colts (12-4), and 2005 Steelers (11-5).

Who was the last team to win a Super Bowl with 14-2 reg-season record, you ask? Yep, the 2004 Patriots. And they did it in 2003 too. But shit on them.

So it's time to concede that I, jshox, the alter ego of Jeremy Shockey, is a bit disappointed my namesake did not make the Pro Bowl. But this blog is really about the Super Bowl!

And there's always next year.

However, let's congratulate the Saints who have been honored this year among peers and fans: Brees, Jahri Evans, Darren Sharper, Jonathan Stinchcomb, and Jonathan Vilma.

Now let's put our Who Dat! asses in Miami for another reason.

Most single-season wins ever

2009-12-15T03:25:00.000-08:00

With the Saints marching to 13 wins, the team's most in a single season, Who Dat Nation has plenty to cheer about. The Saints swept division-rival Falcons 26-23 in Atlanta on Sunday, a feat I didn't think was possible in August, and keep the magic of an undefeated season alive.

The Saints' previous best two regular seasons were in 1987 and 1992, both of which they won 12 games, only to get drubbed in the playoffs 44-10 by the Vikings and 36-20 by the Eagles, respectively.

In fact, the Saints and Colts have already joined a very elite club even if neither go 16-0. Only five other teams have gone 13-0.

Here's how that panned out: 2007 Patriots, 16-0, lost Super Bowl XLII; 2005 Colts, 14-2, lost divisional playoff; 1998 Broncos, 14-2, won Super Bowl XXXIII; 1972 Dolphins, 14-0, won Super Bowl VII; 1934 Bears, 13-0, lost NFL Championship.

With that record in mind, it's safe to assume both the Saints and Colts have an 80 percent chance of playing in the Super Bowl. Of course, history will be made if both teams go 16-0 to get there, wherein the Saints crush the Colts 36-24.

Needless to say, that fearless prediction will prove true as long as cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter return healthy. Linebacker Scott Fujita will be a welcome return over third-string action too. Because we're gonna need the best talent our roster has to offer if we're gonna stop Peyton Manning's aerial attack.

Especially after witnessing the defense allow two Sundays in a row quarterbacks Jason Campbell and Chris Redman pass all over it as if they're Peyton Manning. Filling in for injured Matt Ryan in his first full game, Redman chunked the pigskin around for 303 yards.

Sedrick Ellis got a handle on Redman in the first quarter. But the front four didn't put him on his backside enough and had zero sacks.

However I'm confident the return of Greer and Porter -- which is highly likely since neither have been moved to the injured reserve list -- will get defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' schemes back to their disruptive orders, allowing the front four to wreak more havoc.

When it looked like the Saints put the game away in the third quarter by going up 23-9 with a Reggie Bush screen, the Falcons got right back in it with Redman's 50-yard-pass to Michael Jenkins. Williams had dialed up a "Chucky" -- a double cornerback blitz he had designed years ago when facing Jon Gruden's Buccaneers -- and the Falcons immediately recognized it and got free safety Darren Sharper to bite with a stutter to a seam route over the top.

When the same thing had happened in the first quarter Jenkins had dropped the ball.

Reggie had a big day with two touchdown catch-and-runs and also ran for 33 yards on six carries. His 79 all-purpose yards was a great return to the lineup -- again.

Stay healthy Reggie.

For the second week in a row middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma practically saved the game himself. It's like as if he's Mr. T with a Night-F Mohawk, intercepting passes on final drives or shutting down the Falcons in the middle on fourth-and-two.

With 1:12 remaining, Vilma sniffed out a short pass to Jason Snelling -- the same play went for 38 yards in the first quarter -- and stuffed the running back on fourth down.

It was a pretty big deal because the Falcons were at mid-field and had plenty of time to tie it up.

Of course, if kicker Garrett Hartley hadn't missed that extra point in the first half the game wouldn't have been another fibrillative story.

Then again, if we had just kicked a field goal on our final drive the Falcons would have been forced to score a touchdown to win it.

Instead, coach Sean Payton ordered a fake. And who else but Mark Brunell rolled out to his left and attempted to line up guard Carl Nicks, of all people, though I won't question his athleticism, for a touchdown pass, before checking down to tight end Darnell Dinkins in the flat. But Brunell waited too long to pass, so when Dinkins caught it he was already stepping out of bounds.

But did Nicks' fat man route running fire me up? You bet!

Despite the close wins these past two weeks, the Saints have remarkably allowed only two sacks and two turnovers in the past three games.

Drew Brees rarely rolls out of the pocket and almost always steps up to get defenders behind him, but showed some nimbleness by evading Thomas DeCoud.

Falcons coach Mike Smith provided

some comic relief in the third quarter when he smashed his headset after the Falcons were penalized for pass interference.

On Sunday Terry Bradshaw expressed concern for the Saints moving away from a balanced attack. The Saints have thrown the ball more than 40 times in the past two weeks while running it about 25 times a game.

Then again, in just 49 plays while destroying the Patriots, the Saints ran the ball 26 times and Brees had 23 pass attempts for the best day ever.

Pierre Thomas has thus far rushed for 713 yards for 5.3 a carry. It'd be pretty cool for him to break 1,000.

Mike "The Hammer" Bell has ran for 598 yards at 4.2 a carry.

The Saints haven't had a thousand-yard rusher since Deuce McAllister.

Bush has added 310 yards at 5 a carry.

I'd say we're running the ball pretty well.

Having said all that, I keep failing to mention the Saints locked up a bye, only their second in franchise history. And we've got a two-game lead on the Vikings for home field advantage. I say bring 'em to the Dome, where we can get it on!

As usual, Brees got all his receivers involved in the game. Here Devery Henderson runs past cornerback Brent Grimes.

By the way, Lance "Mighty Mouse" Moore is due back for Saturday's game against Dallas. It'll be interesting to see how Payton and Brees mix it up to get 2008's best receiver involved.

In another update, The Unknown Who Dat, TUWD, Mr. Meaux Jeaux, 'Ol Blue Dat, Crazy Uncle Saints Fan, or whatever you might call him, is still out there. But I'm hoping there's some sort of fan tribute to him in the Dome this Saturday so maybe he'll actually find out there's a nationwide search for him. A fan with a sign needs to proclaim a TUWD Alert!

Until then, you absolutely must see this "gif," a preview of what we'll do to the Cowgirls come Saturday night.

Didya see that guy in the saloon window?

(Hey Meach, you think you can keep your pants on a little longer?)

By the way, my brother smartly equated the search for TUWD to Conan O'Brien's long-ago search for "Grady" of Sanford and Son.

It took 47 days, but they finally found him.

Brees can always count on his main man Marques Colston.

Deezzy, take it away.

Who Dat Nation Wants to Know: Who Dis?

2009-12-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

Normally jshox tries to steer clear of re-blogging content that has appeared elsewhere on the internets, but Who Dat Nation is in search of a fan, and I'm not talking about a super Saints fan, because what's a super fan? But sometimes there's a fan. And I'm talking here about the The Unknown Who Dat.

At the Redskins game he was the fan for his time and place, appearing on TV decked out in black and gold in the classy seats with a grin void of teeth and hair that had that freshly rained on look, although it did not rain at this game, sending ghastly bewilderment throughout Who Dat Nation -- who is The Unknown Who Dat!!?? -- just before Drew Brees delivered a touchdown and 12-0 salvation.

Reportedly, and jshox has talked to one eye witness who sat a couple of rows behind him, The Unknown Who Dat arrived to the 45-yard line seat, located behind the Saints bench a few rows up, steaming and with at least one corned-up female companion in tow during the final quarter.

The Unknown Who Dat gave it his best in overtime, pumping his fists with fingers taped up in white tape.

And even if The Unknown Who Dat is a lazy fan, and he quite possibly could be the laziest fan in all of Saints history, he is an authentic fan, without desire to paint himself or strut like a peacock in a homemade costume. No, indeed, The Unknown Who Dat might possibly drink the paint and do his thing. And that's why he is loved -- he's one of us.

He who has never drank too much paint at a Saints game can cast the first Dome Dog. But this guy's got mojo.

Sometimes there's a fan . . . sometimes
there's a fan.

Game account from Bob Snowman: "I forgot about that! She had on gold tights. I still say this guy is about as hardcore as it gets. He was rocking out and keeping the faith when the Skins were driving towards that missed FG. One of our friends wanted to leave before the FG b/c she said watching the Skins seal the deal would make her sick. I told her, "We ain't leaving till that dude leaves!"

To help Who Dat Nation identify The Unknown Fan, visit the new fan page of his at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=199840076243

Or email Bobby Hebert at WWL -- cannon@wwl.com -- so he can help us figure out, who is The Unknown Fan?

Bob, you were right. There's a girl with gold pants on the shoulders of the very fired up The Unknown Who Dat!

'Maybe it's our time'

2009-12-08T04:02:00.000-08:00

The Redskins played the Saints very well. Quarterback Jason Campbell brilliantly threw for 371 yards and three touchdowns, seemingly owning Gregg Williams' defense as if the Redskins had dialed up its former defensive coordinator's number the week before in practice, and the defensive line straight-up owned the Saints' running game.

But when you're chosen, or picked for destiny, or riding whatever sort of magic voodoo carpet or propulsively gaseous red beans-gris gris the Saints have going for them this year, sometimes you're lucky. And lucky are the really good and greatly prepared. So it's not like the eminent Drew Brees is a Calvinist or Buddhist commie when he says he believes in destiny and karma,</a> he means the previous couple of years the Saints got hosed by bouncing balls and there ain't no shitting way in hell a team this good can continually be defined by tough breaks and forty years of organizational opprobrium. It's our turn to earn a break.

One play stood out among the others that collectively said 'Calm down (especially you, bandwagoning wife), Saints got this,' and that was Robert Meachem's strip of safety Kareem Moore in the second quarter which he recovered and returned for a touchdown just moments after Moore had intercepted Brees on a third-and-26 pass.

Now in his third season after being a first-round pick out of Tennessee, Meachem has finally caught fire and is proving his draft value with eight receiving touchdowns as a complementary burner to receivers Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, not to mention again this plucky defensive touchdown.

Meachem also got the magic touch from Brees in the fourth quarter when he scored on a 50-something-yard pass against former LSU safety LaRon Landry in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 30-30 and give Who Dat Nation even more mojo to believe in.

This might seem like a Meachem love fest but the dude virtually won the game, 33-30, to keep the Saints undefeated at 12-0.

Twelve and freaking 0. I wasn't so worried about the Saints not going undefeated on Sunday as they trailed the lowly 3-8 Redskins, at that point, all game, as I was about the national recognition and perception of the team doing a 180 following its rout of the Patriots only six days before.

Hell, even ESPN personality and everything-phobe Tony Kornheiser on Monday discounted the Saints as lucky. But hell, Tony Kornholio, what the hell has luck to do with any team, not to mention your vaunted Patriots, who won their first Super Bowl after Golden Boy had clearly got sacked and fumbled the ball in the Tuck Rule Game against the Raiders in the divisional playoffs.

But the Saints prevailed. After falling to trail by 10 points, 30-20, with over seven minutes remaining, you sort of knew that Brees could still get the team back in it. And he drove them to a field goal. But then the Redskins responded with another drive -- yet missed a field goal chip shot. At that point Redskins coach Jim Zorn had a look on his face that said We gonna lose! And about 33 seconds later Brees tied it when he hooked up with Meachem.

With still about a minute left in the game, the Redskins had enough time to drive the field for a field goal, but linebacker Jonathan Vilma came up with an interception. The Saints were without timeouts and failed to get the ball close enough to line up a field goal for kicker Garrett Hartley -- his 58-yard attempt was short -- but momentum of the game had definitely turned. Saints Alive!

Plus, a buddy at the game who was fortunate enough to sit behind the Saints bench in the eleventh row got to see Jeremy Shockey throw his helmet and knock over water coolers when the offense was initially taken off the field with seven seconds left on the clock before being sent back on to try and gain a few yards on a sideline route. That pass failed.

The Redskins won the coin toss in overtime. It appeared they might win -- NFL rules in overtime are sudden death, the first team to score in 15 minutes wins.

But then cornerback Chris McAlister forced Mike Sellers to fumble on a pass play, and Vilma got even more fired up.

Hartley celebrates the win after booting a chip shot hiked from the one-yard line.

Defensive tackle Remi Ayodele blesses Hartley.

Running back Mike "The Hammer" Bell is like Who's Twelve-N.O., now, beeatches!

And then Bell gets cozy with fans at the first game the Saints have won in cold weather -- 40 or below -- since 1995.

Wide receiver Marques Colston, who initially burned LaRon Landry for a big-play touchdown in the second quarter, autographed game programs pre-kickoff for fans Grayson Bralley and Shepp Shirey.

Brees warming up; calling for ducks.

And victorious. And 17-year-old vlogumnist Deezzy gets really Crunk.

Crunkville

2009-12-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

Another awesome video of Bobby Hebert, with wig, in the press box, and highlights from the Monday Night Football game. Although I heard today that on camera Golden Boy can be seen saying to Darth Vader's chick "They score so fast," this can't be seen on the video. Nor can Wes Welker be seen wide-eyed and shaking his head in the third quarter after Malcolm Jenkins and Roman Harper totally made him a non-factor. But those images will replay in my mind, so without further ado, Saints Go All The Way!

A must-read on Marques Colston

2009-12-03T03:27:00.000-08:00

Right here is a great little story about the third greatest Saints receiver thus far who is only 11 games into his fourth season.

21-point butt whipping of the Pattycakes

2009-12-01T00:22:00.000-08:00

I never thought the Saints would stomp the Patriots 38-17 on Monday Night Football to win their eleventh game in a row. Or that Drew Brees would surgically throw five touchdowns with only five incompletions for a perfect passer rating.

Nor did I think that Mike McKenzie would play like a Pro Bowler after sitting out for a year and getting called up by the Saints just before Thanksgiving. With our starting cornerbacks out due to injuries, I was concerned mostly about the play of McKenzie and rookie Malcolm Jenkins. But McKenzie was making tackles all over the place and Jenkins stuck to Wes Welker like white on rice. Jenkins shut Welker down; I've never seen anyone do that before.

The passes were incredible. Brees kicked the game off with a dime to Devery Henderson and I'm sure all of Who Dat Nation knew it was going to be that kind of game.

Pierre Thomas got the Brees Machine rolling after pirouetting down the sideline on a screen pass for the first touchdown, 10-7.

And Henderson set the Superdome on fire when he caught a 75-yard pass -- the longest of the season -- for a touchdown in the second quarter. But give Brees all the credit for pump-faking to the left after staring to the left while the Patriots blitzed to free up Henderson on a seam route up the middle.

No one was around Henderson for 30 yards. That was embarrassing for the Patriots.

Yeah you right!

Even Mark Brunell ran onto the field to celebrate after Brees' pass to Devery.

Anthony Hargrove started the pressure on the quarterback with this sack of Golden Boy in the second quarter.

Linebacker Scott Fujita got him some of 'ol Golden Boy. And Will Smith and Bobby McCray did too.

The defense played awesome -- after that first touchdown drive by the Patriots, who twice had to go for it on fourth and one to get that score.

I admit I was surprised that coach Sean Payton dialed up a field goal in the first quarter instead of going for it on fourth and one at the goal line.

And Darren Sharper, of course, and "Predator" McKenzie came up with interceptions.

Robert Meachem scores on a 38-yard rope thrown by Brees in the second quarter.

Meachem and Mike Bell celebrate.

Predator is back! Seriously, I see McKenzie starting now that he's back with the Saints, at least until both Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter are completely healthy.

The Saints played perfectly against the Patriots in all aspects of the game, except for one big blunder: when defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis picked up a fumble and ran with it until he fumbled it right back to the Pats and then coach Payton threw away a challenge and a timeout on a play that was obviously a fumble. I mean Big Sed was still standing when the ball hit the turf!

And what was Big Sed thinking, anyway? That he was gonna release his inner little Darren Sharper?

But that's all I can rant about.

Even backup tight end Darnell Dinkins got a touchdown -- his first -- to become the 19th Saint to score this season.

Golden Boy and Darth Vader's chick watch the carnage from the sideline after throwing in the towel with about five minutes left in the game.

Brees confirms Vader's chick's suspicion about that lump and advises he should get that checked while ESPN sideline reporter Suzy Kolber waits for a kiss.

ELEVEN & EAUX!

10 and Eaux!

2009-11-23T03:12:00.000-08:00

The New Orleans Saints are 10-0, the longest string of victories in the history of the franchise. Even better, the Saints pounded the Buccaneers today 38-7 to get back in championship form while their biggest challenge of the season -- hell, their biggest challenge since playing the Bears in Chicago three seasons ago for the NFC championship -- looms on Monday Night Football after Thanksgiving against the Patriots.

To hell with Golden Boy and Vader's Chick and the Pattycakes. The Saints will stomp 'em on national TV like we did Dallas in 2006. Believe!

Up top Robert Meachem drags linebacker Geno Hayes into the end zone for a first quarter touchdown. Meachem scored twice today. In three seasons he had never scored more than one touchdown in a game as a Saint. But now he's helping us load up the arsenal.

Drew Brees was not sacked today. Here he gets rid of the ball in the second quarter.

Anyone else loving the fact Brees threw for less than 200 yards today but we still score 38 points? Last season, when he nearly broke Dan Marino's single season passing-yardage record, Brees would have to throw more than 400 yards to give us a chance to win. I'm digging the balance.

Hell, even David Thomas outshined jshox at the tight end position today.

Thomas had four receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown.

Not too shabby.

That touchdown catch for Thomas came when he was in the fullback position. That's what I saw in a highlight. I can't tell you how or where he caught other balls because the National Fascists League kept kept cutting streaming video of the game from the internets.

Jshox had two catches,

Pierre Thomas ran hard: 11 carries, 92 yards.

Mike Bell ran hard: 13 carries, 75 yards, two TDs.

Reggie Bush and Lance Moore were out today. But New England, do you see how our weapons will destroy you?

We had, what, four cornerbacks out today? And the defense still smothered Tampa Bay. Here's Roman Harper and Leigh Torrence sacking quarterback Josh Freeman in the first half.

Hoo doggies, we're gonna be better on defense against the Pattycakes when tackle Sedrick Ellis and cornerback Jabari Greer get back in the lineup.

At the same time, here's a huge congratulations to rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins who stepped up big time in Greer's and Tracy Porter's absence. He had one interception and led the team with seven tackles.

Brees is victorious again.

Here's a three-and-a-half minute highlight reel of the game set to some old skool Metallica.

And here's vlogumnist Deezzy with a different tune after last week.

What's up, Dock, with the no-hitter?

2009-11-19T14:20:00.000-08:00

This has nothing to do with football, but in 1970 Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres while tripping on LSD. Thirty-nine years later Brooklyn-based illustrator James Blagden captures that trippy outing with this cartoon:

We rock, we roll, the Saints are 9-0!

2009-11-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

A Saints fan who traveled to St. Louie for yesterday's game sent me this video of a Who Dat rally on Rams turf:
And in breaking news today, Who Dats breathed a sigh of relief when the Saints revealed cornerback Tracy Porter's injury is a sprain to his left medial collateral ligament, which means he is likely to return this regular season. The MCL sprain is not nearly as severe as a season-ending ACL injury and the Saints have already seen this year running backs Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell return from MCL injuries and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis due to return from one in a matter of one or two weeks. The only difference to Porter's injury is the apparent pain he was in for such a long time after it happened, meaning he's still hurt pretty bad and it could take a lot longer than the minimal four weeks for him to bounce back and possibly push the six-week timeframe. But he's very young and should be OK, even if we can't count on the Saints' front office to be totally honest about the injury's extent. In the meantime, rookie Malcom Jenkins should get plenty of opportunities to prove he can translate those college shutdown corner abilities into NFL capability.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to include the ever eloquent jshox vlogumnist Deezzy and his reaction -- WTF!!!??? -- to Sunday's win. Deezzy, I might not agree with everything you say, but you sure make me laugh.

Ugly win ties franchise record for consecutive wins

2009-11-16T03:55:00.000-08:00

This 28-23 victory over the Rams, who averaged nine points a game going into this match up, wasn't pretty, but true Who Dats will take this win and many more like it. (Make that a couple.) And that's because any win on any given Sunday is a win -- just ask the Colts.

More on that later.

Not since 1987, when Bobby Hebert was quarterback and the Dome Patrol was gelling, have the Saints won nine straight games. That's the franchise record. But this Saints team has obviously reached that mark in its first nine games. That Saints team did it after a 3-3 start before losing to the Vikings in the playoffs. (The last of the 15-game regular seasons.)

Reggie Bush was in Stealth Bomber mode against the Rams. With some big-yardage runs and two touchdowns to his name, here he flys over Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe for a three-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Tied at 14-14 to start the second half, jshox began contemplating the Any Given Sunday mantra and for at least half a minute felt it was OK for the Saints' undefeated record to skid to a halt against a one-win team in their dome. And then Courtney Roby took the second-half kickoff for an untouched tear down the left sideline and jshox realized the specter of the Saints dropping a gimme to the Rams was unfathomable.

A possesion later, after Reggie gashed up the middle for 55 yards to the Rams' 22, the Saints were poised to go up 28-17 when Drew Brees hitched a short pass to Marques Colston crossing over the middle with much of the right side of his field clear of defenders. But there was Atogwe meeting Colston at the goal line and redeeming himself with a forced fumble by putting his helmet on the ball which Colston outstretched with a promising leap for the end zone. The ball dribbled for a touchback -- Rams possesion at their 20.

Give Colston credit for the effort despite the lack of ball security. I'm sure a veteran like Colston has learned a valuable lesson.

Take a look back there. Can you see jshox and Robert Meachem celebrating? One possesion after the Colston fumble and the Saints march right back down the field and score with a dandy of a pass of about 30 yards from Brees to Meachem, after he beat two defenders to the end zone. (In the foreground is Rams cornerback Ronald Buntell.)

Defensive end Will Smith racked up another sack today, while his counterpart Charles Grant played a respectable run-defense game. Smith now has 7.5 sacks after nine games -- Who Dat! Here he sacks Marc Bulger and forces a fumble:

Smith and Grant were bright spots on the defense with missing action from free safety Darren Sharper, cornerback Jabari Greer, tackle Sedrick Ellis, and in the second half cornerback Tracy Porter. Porter appeared to have sustained a substantial knee injury after suffering from friendly fire from free safety Usama Young when both defensive backs were trying to make a tackle. Porter had to be escorted off the field and eventually carted to the locker room.

Early speculation is figuring Porter ruptured an ACL and could be out for the season, which downright sucks. Porter, a native of Port Allen and a lifelong Saints fan, has developed into a premiere cornerback, a position where the Saints lacked depth in previous years, and was looking forward to a full season after proving his worth last year as a rookie but missing about the last five games due to a broken wrist.

Porter, you're one of my personal favorites. I hope you get healthy and see action again this season.

As for rookie Malcom Jenkins, first-round draft pick cornerback out of Ohio State, now it's time to earn your paycheck. Dude, we need you to step up big time. Just like how Porter did as a rookie when we were fishing for anyone to play bigger than former cornerback Jason David.

Is Mike McKenzie for hire? Seriously, dude is available and likely in game shape. Hell, Denver signed Ty Law about a week ago -- why not Mike?

Will Smith, Usama Young and D'Juan Woods celebrate a Rams fourth-quarter stop. (All photos by AP.) Bring on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week for a franchise record 10-straight wins before taking on Golden Boy and the New England Pattycakes.

That reminds me: I loved watching the Patriots lose to the Colts tonight. I threw in the towel on the Colts after they had fallen 31-14 in the fourth quarter and fell asleep on the couch, but sniffed a possible comeback with about three minutes left in the game and they were down by six. My wife, who has incrementally learned a little more about football each year over the past few seasons after knowing or caring for nothing about it, originally, also sniffed a comeback and turned up the TV when I rubbed my eyes and said "WTF?" And then just a couple of plays later it happened: Darth Vaderchick went for fourth and two on his own 28 and the Patriots failed on the conversion and the rest is history: Colts win in the waning minute and hand the Patriots their most ignominious defeat in the Golden Boy-Darth Vaderchick era. That I can clap for.

Boldly going where no Saints team has gone before

2009-11-09T00:59:00.000-08:00

8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0, 8-0. There's 42 of 'em for as many years as it took us to get to eight straight wins to start the season.

For the third straight week the Saints spot the opposing team a sizable lead, this one 17-3 against the Panthers before halftime, but come out ahead with a butt-kicking win, 30-20.

Darren Sharper, celebrating here, is happy about keeping Carolina to just three points in the second half after the Panthers' rushing attack ran roughshod over the Saints in the first half. But that's been the way it goes these past few weeks, first with Miami and its Wildcat, then Atlanta and bubble butt Micheal Turner, and today Carolina and DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

But just like the previous two weeks, the Saints adjusted to the run and the offense and Drew Brees found their groove.

The defense mobbed running back Tyrell Sutton in the second half. As for action photos, this is about as good as it gets on my end. I get shots from the AP and I think the one photog they sent to the game was busy eating Dome Dogs and shooting Saintsations, a la "Thib" of Houma style. Yeah you right!

Jshox and Marques Colston are like Tomahawk cruise missiles in this offensive juggernauts's weaponry, but both were off today with dropped passes, but better believe me and Marky C are going to the Pro Bowl.

By the way, did you see when jshox got called for offensive pass interference when it was obviously a foul on the defense? I could've sworn that ref was from a stupid SEC officiating crew.

Check out Will Smith -- all you can see is his hands on Jake Delhomme's shoulders -- sacking Carolina's quarterback for a fumble and turnover. Smith had two more sacks today for 6.5 on the season thus far. Playa in the house!

Here is jshox's confessional: when Delhomme was a Saint, about seven years ago, I once chanted with the Dome crowd "We want Jake!" during a poor Aaron Brooks performance, one of many at that point after the Breaux Bridge Bomber -- at least that's what I called him -- had shown a series of brilliance during his backup play when Brooks was hurt. In fact, those chants came against Carolina in the final game of the season when New Orleans was fighting for a wild card.

But then-coach Jim Haslett wasn't about to lean on the besotted advice of a crowd pining for Delhomme, who at that point in the season had completed eight of 10 passes. And the rest is history. The next season Delhomme led the Panthers to the Super Bowl, with Saints fans suffering tremendously more than usual, while Brooks regressed for three seasons until the Saints signed Brees in 2006 and traded Brooks to Oakland, where his career flamed out before the season's mid-point.

Jabari Greer, No. 32, played big again today but came up gimpy in the fourth quarter after tweaking his groin. Randall Gay and Malcom Jenkins filled in and rookie Jenkins, who came in for nickel packages, came up short on at least one play, proving how valuable Greer is. Here's hoping we won't miss him if he can't play in the next couple of weeks as we face the one-win apiece Rams and Buccaneers -- if Greer needs rest before our showdown against the Patriots on Monday Night Football after Thanksgiving then Jenkins should get the chance to hone his chops against these patsies.

Brees thanks Delhomme for showing up and attempting to extend his seven straight wins against the Saints in the Dome. Field play aside, let's break down this quarterback matchup by stature. OK, now Drew is listed at 6 feet tall, Jake is listed at 6 feet 2 inches tall. Although it's been rumored Drew is listed a little taller than he actually is. Someone said he's more like 5'10. Based on this picture, whaddya think? (Leave your answer in the comments thread.) And now here's jshox vlogumnist Deezzy getting crunkdiculous in his bedroom, at least for the first minute that's worth watching, after the game.

Saints are 8-0 for the first time in the history of the world. Whooooooooooo Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt!!!

If you bite it, they will . . . score at least 40

2009-11-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

You might remember former coach turned football analyst Jon Gruden on Monday Night Football raving about the highly specialized mouthpieces the Saints wear and benefit from in their offensive aerial attacks. Fellow analyst and former quarterback Ron Jaworski mockingly bit on a pen and said that's all he had to help him lead the Philadelphia Eagles in the early 1980s.

Just when you thought the rambling Gruden had truly lost it that night, hours after he had donned a Joker mask and raved about the wild card-aspect with which tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Tony Gonzalez brought to both of their teams, the color analyst fits his upper jaw with molded plastic and says something to the like "This is what makes the New Orleans Saints perfect."

As if all the praise he had lavished the Saints with up to that point wasn't already hard enough to believe, now Gruden was saying mouthpieces have a role in their perfect start. And as much as jshox wanted to further investigate the space age polymer discussed by the good friend of coach Sean Payton's, the Los Angeles Times posts the following tonight: "I wouldn't have dreamed in a million years that I'd be wearing a $2,000 mouthpiece," Saints cornerback Tracy Porter said. "That's like a grill."

Dome Patrol flashback

2009-11-05T00:58:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid the Saints fired us up with quarterback sacks, goal line stands, a tandem rushing attack by Dalton Hilliard and Rueben Mayes, Bobby Hebert passes to Eric Martin, and Morten Anderson field goals.

But no group of players on that team from 1987 till about 1993 was better than the 3-4 linebacking corps: LOLB Rickey Jackson, ROLB Pat Swilling, LILB Sam Mills, and RILB Vaughan Johnson. That foursome just destroyed opponents. Their defensive play was fierce and inspired a lot of cheering in the early Jim Mora years.

And Rickey Jackson, year in and year out, was a human wrecking ball whose play was second only to Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants.

Without further ado, here's an homage to the greatest group of linebackers who helped the Saints finish the 1987 season with nine consecutive wins and start the 1991 season with seven wins:

Those were the days of the Dome Patrol. Saints fans revered the Dome Patrol, it was our pride and joy. The offense may have stalled often, but at least on defense we could say Look at all those black jerseys around the ball! Indeed. I wish there was a highlight reel on youtube that encompasses some of the best Dome Patrol moments over six years, but this one culled from a few games is good enough:

7-0 again, 18 years later

2009-11-03T00:51:00.000-08:00

I remember when the Saints started 7-0 in the year of Cha-Ching, 1991. They seemed unbeatable. It was exciting. And it ended not so good.

While it felt great to put the Falcons away 35-27 on Monday Night Football to get to 7-0, less than 24 hours later my optimism is guarded. Yes, we're three games ahead in the NFC South. Yes, we're the last unbeaten in the NFC. But all this talk of going undefeated less than halfway through the season is getting to me. So here's the weird thing: I want the Saints to drop a game or two somewhere down the line so their mission of winning the Super Bowl is not derailed by the media's pressurized focus of going undefeated. But the loss can't happen in the Dome. The Saints must have the attitude that we're unbeatable in our house. So that means our two toughest remaining scheduled opponents, the Patriots and the Cowboys, must go down in our house. And at least one loss is going to have to come against a lesser team, Atlanta or Carolina, on the road.

Then again, could you imagine if the hype were to happen? The Saints, mainly a perennial pushover for most of its 42 years' existence, would have to be considered the greatest NFL team of all time.

That irony would be the sweetest glory forever.

But what's really important to consider is that as long as Drew Brees and Sean Payton are in New Orleans we've got a real shot at winning a Super Bowl. Or two. Or three.

Jshox doesn't plan on going anywhere soon. Last night I rambled with five catches for 72 yards. This one came over defensive end Jamaal Anderson in the first half when the Falcons blitzed their weakside linebacker.

See how our weapons will destroy you?

Will Smith caught fire again last night and sacked Matt Ryan twice.

Charles Grant, you still with us? You've been quiet since the Jets game, and that was weeks ago.

Besides being thin up front without Sedrick Ellis, we're definitely thin at linebacker without Scott Fujita. Take for example Marvin Mitchell's crawling after Tony Gonzalez in the first half or his offsides on third and four.

Pierre Thomas, as seen in the photos up top, and Mike "The Hammer" Bell were banging last night. But Michael Turner for the Falcons was even tougher, running for 151 yards. I think it's that bubble butt of his that gives him so much balance.

Drew Brees to Marques Colston is unstoppable. Every week they score or set up a touchdown on that deep route of about 30 yards where Brees puts the ball high and on Colston's back shoulder where he knows only his receiver can catch it. It's like they've created an entirely new NFL offense: This quarterback can throw the ball precisely anywhere and this big receiver can outjump and outmuscle you. Deal with it.

Jabari Greer proved with his pick-six that he is becoming a premiere corner. The only bad play he's had it seems like was last night when Roddy White scored on that deep ball, and White had to push off illegally to get Greer out of his way. So of course you can't put that one on Greer either.

Tracy Porter also is playing exceptionally well. Could the New Orleans Saints be cultivating one of the best corner tandems in the league? Well hot dog and Jason David alive! I think it could be true.

Porter's interception at the 1-yard-line to keep us ahead 28-24 was key to winning.

Notice the concentration? This is Shockey and awe with a one-handed grab of about 30 yards, courtesy of Drew Breeeeeeeeeeesssss!

Pierre wasn't done in the second half after coughing up the ball previously and got his second touchdown on this swing pass which was a convoy led by Jon "Stinchy" Stinchcomb, 35-24.

Archie told Drew that for the sake of Who Dat Nation he must destroy any and all Mannings who come before him in the postseason. Jshox concurred Archie's sentiments earlier on Halloween night by dressing in

an old jersey and pretending to be a lowly Giant. . . . What really matters is what you bring to the field. With that being said here's jshox columnist Deezzy on the win.

Brees casually stares down Ryan and thanks him for the effort. . . . All photos by AP . . . Bring on Carolina in the Dome this Sunday.

Unshaken, Unbroken, Unbeaten

2009-10-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Although the latest SI was delivered to jshox's house on Thursday, I'm just now getting around to encapsulating the magazine's article on the Saints following our gritty comeback against the Fish in Miami. Ya are probably wondering what's with the belated blog, jshox? Well, the blogger website and my computer for some reason weren't into rubbing each other's nubbins, if you know what I'm saying.

And yesterday jshox had to attend some Halloween functions dressed as The Dude, who abides.

First off, the SI article says Drew Brees went all "Jimmy Chitwood on his coach" to get that first touchdown in Miami. And when he spiked the ball in the end zone, Jonathan Vilma said "It was an emotional charge. I loved it. We all loved it."

On practice: Brees keeps all of the receivers after practice to make sure all of them run all the patterns.

On Devery Henderson and his improved catching abilities: "Now he begins practice every day by working with (receivers coach Curtis Johnson) on catching a falling handkerchief with his fingertips, to remind himself that passes should be caught the same way." He also plays catch with trainers throughout practices and games.

Jeremy Shockey says "It's a blessing to be here." Drew always finds the open receiver. "In my experience, that's unusual."

Jonathan Stinchcomb expresses the surprise of seeing Brees dunk the ball over the field goal post: "Who knew?" And more from Stinch: "Pure attitude. In past years, a game like this, I don't know if we get there at the end. There's no question about it -- we'll be better because of this."

Kung Fu Panda a riot; Hornets got work to do

2009-10-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

Fans, ya gotta know, when I Twitter something like "Kung Fu Panda is a funny ass show.. lol" . . . that's for real.

I'm not trying to insincerely woo the affection of under-developed hotts. Jack Black voices a funnyass panda! And if that panda were on our team, I'd rotate him in at defensive tackle.

OK, so Twitter is how we really speak. After all, what else can I say about our last win? "This game was great for our team!! we never gave up and this will bring our locker room closer!!"

Take Reggie for example. This week he went on some radio show talking about how his past sub-par performances will be vindicated when we win the Super Bowl and he makes it to the Pro Bowl and is voted NFL MVP.
I can't wrong a guy for saying any of those things. So here's Reggie, quick to dispute, via Twitter, what he said: "Ok just need to clarify one thing since you can't trust REPORTER's these days! Our team does not think or talk about going undefeated!" . . . "We take it one game @ a time and one play @ a time! The undefeated talk is left up to the fans and media. We just play the game. Humble pie!" . . . "I love how the ESPN reporter basically cut out my whole answer to his question about going undefeated and just used the end of it..." . . . "Gotta love the media!"

If jshox knows anything, it's not to trust the media. And the New York version will run you out of town. So lately I have stayed shut the hell up; on best behavior for at least two years now.

I live in the same apartment complex as Reggie and Chris Paul of the Hornets. I'm buds with all them, but I passed on the party Reggie hosted Monday night. However, here's a picture of an ice sculpture of Reggie's jersey from that night.

So Bruce Bowen is retired; gone from the San Antonio Spurs. And the Spurs are now loaded, picking up Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess and this beastly rookie power forward DeJuan Blair to back up Tim Duncan. Whom then, without Bowen, should CP3 battle individually? I say Jefferson. Number 24 seems a bitchass already.

Hell, CP3 builds a rivalry by himself. I don't see any other Hornets proving their guts on both sides of the floor like him.

Brees keeps bandwagon seats warm

2009-10-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid the old man would take me and my brother fishing in the Atchafalaya Spillway and it never mattered how badly the day would begin, we'd fish our hearts out till the very end.

We may not have filled the box up every time with fish, but we finished.

When we went down 24-3 against the Miami Fish, did you really think we wouldn't finish? That's where we dominate -- and it's our modus operandi -- finishing in the fourth quarter. And on Sunday we scored 22 points to the Dolphins' 0 in the fourth to finish the Fish 46-34.

You might think Drew Brees got the team turned around with five seconds to go in the second half when he persuaded Sean Payton to skip the field goal on the half-yard line and let him punch it in. That did leave us down by just two touchdowns at half time. But I'm here to tell ya it was middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma in the second quarter who shut down the Wildcat -- "We gonna make it into a pussycat offense, we gonna make it purr," as Bobby Hebert said last week -- and gave us some three-and-outs and changed the tone of the game.

Vilma finished with 10 tackles.

Courtney Roby came up big on special teams with a big return in the first quarter -- and a great tackle on punt coverage -- that set up our first score, a John Carney field goal of 46 yards! That old man's still got legs, I tell ya, even though he missed another field goal and an extra point later on.

And then of course Darren my-main-mofoing-man Sharper picked off his sixth interception and third pick-six of the season to close it 24-17. Unreal.

Ricky Williams certainly has got a lot left in the tank. The 32-year-old ran a career-long 68-yard touchdown in the first half.

Hells yeah for adversity. Big-time sportswriters and Baton Rouge poo pooers, the naysayers, the unBelievers who in the first half quit watching after saying "Same 'ol Saints", are assured a warm seat on the bandwagon after this game. You now have a team that overcame four turnovers on the road and readjusted in the second half to kick ass.

It wasn't easy. The same offensive line that kept Brees upright against the Giants all day gave up five sacks to the Dolphins, most of those in the first half. And No. 99 Jason Taylor had jshox cursing as he sacked Brees and forced a turnover, making me wonder again why the Saints signed Jeremy Shockey instead of Taylor in 2008.

But jshox showed up with four catches for 105 yards. And that 65-yard-pass, the one where I proved to The U and the 305 that I still got it after breaking a tackle and pushing Gibril Wilson for 30 yards with a stiff-arm, was my old-school kickass self. Wilson got Shockeyed!

Mark Brunell and Carney discuss early bird options for dining after the game.

You know, I had a funny thought while we were getting whipped in the first half: Miami is winning with Nick Saban's players.

Get it, you looney and ungrateful LSU fans? Yeah, jshox saw thousands of you leave early Saturday night after beating down Auburn after crying for seven weeks about the Tigers not beating anyone down.

Ya'll got some warm seats saved right here.

In the fourth quarter the NFL's fourth-best rushing attack, yeah, that's us, and you don't have to be told we can throw it, too, leaned on Mike Bell, who rocked chinstraps on 12 carries for 80 yards.

Fullback Heath Evans also played big but got rocked on one catch-and-run; we're confident he's alright, if not immediately.

'Breesus' blesses his battering ram.

Congratulations also to Porter for returning his first pick-six at the end to give us 47 points. I wanted another touchdown on the board and I know we wouldn't have put another one up there, running the clock out and satisfied with 40 points instead, because coach doesn't believe in running the score up like ogre Bill Belicheck.

It's too bad I don't have any photos of Porter or Sharper or even of myself, but I rely on the AP for photos and those plays took place between the thirties. I guess AP photogs just park behind the end zones all game.

Now jshox vlogging columnist Deezzy on New Orleans' win.

And Reggie still flies. Who Dat my True Dats!

Why Brees ain't no two-timing Dolphin

2009-10-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

Most of us know how the 2006 free agency courting of Drew Brees between New Orleans and Miami ended: Nick Saban and the Dolphins lowballed, preferring free agent Daunte Culpepper instead, and the rest is history.

But Miami also had zeroed in on Brees for the 2001 draft. Ultimately, the organization at the time decided to stick with quarterback Jay Fiedler and use their first round pick for a corner back who went bust. Here's The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero's recalling of how the Miami Dolphins dropped the ball on 'Breesus' twice.

Then again, I think Mike Triplett of The Times-Picayune has brought even more insight into why Brees chose Sean Payton and New Orleans over Saban and Miami. At the same time I appreciate the relationships Triplett built with the coach and quarterback to bring that kind of insight to print, because on a base level I love learning more about how Saban failed in the NFL.

On another note, here's jshox's new feature of vlogging Saints columnist Deezzy, recapping Sunday's game between the Saints and Giants.

I love that bedsheet over the window, but what are those designs on it, Deezzy? Be sure to ask him or just give a shout-out in the comments thread. And here's Deezzy 'coming right back atchyou' for a preview of the Saints at Dolphins.

Jeff Duncan and Peter Finney, eat your complimentary pressbox poboys out.

Marques Colston on Jim Rome is Burning

2009-10-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here's Marques Colston on Monday's show Jim Rome is Burning in case you missed it:

Reby Sky kiss your ass goodbye

2009-10-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

A pop culture guru jshox is not. Before today, I had never heard of Reby Sky or the New York Giants Girl. So when a reader pointed her out as the attention whore who recently promoted herself on MTV as a Giants fanatic and also is in that dejected slump in the second-to-last picture of photographs from Sunday's game, well, jshox had to learn more about this tart.

Nice catch, PC Ice.

For those of you not familiar with this Stage 1 Bleeth, as DB1 might describe her at hcwdb.com, Reby Sky is a shameless no-talent glamour girl who apparently is cashing in as a fan girl hott in New York's mammoth sports market, hence nygiantsgirl.com.

And that's just one Web site. For the goods, go to rebysky.com, where you'll find Rebecca Victoria Reyes of Queens in all sorts of poses ranging from her undies to her waxings. To further sum up her career, here's PC Ice: "MTV did one of those "True Life" stories on her. She's bat shit crazy. She changes her whole life around because of the Giants (she dumped her old man sugar daddy boyfriend on camera to move closer to the stadium). She started what was basically a Giants/porno Web site that the league cracked down on, because she was selling pics of her goodies covered in only NFL-licensed pasties (or something like that). Her dream was to make a living being a slutty Giants fan. Her MTV show concluded with her failing at that. Shock me, shock me."

OK PC Ice, how about when she blew her top at police officers and cursed them out for pulling her over because her tail lights didn't work?

Imagine that, barely C-list celebrity and already going bad girl. Good riddance, Reby Sky. Though I'll be looking for your sour mug at future Giants losses on my TV set.

And spray on some more body tanning crap, for chrissakes -- jshox

A sports bars in the NFC North last Sunday

2009-10-20T00:30:00.000-07:00

The Vikings are 6-0 with at least two very lucky breaks in the final seconds of games. First there was Brett Favre's bomb a few weeks ago to beat San Francisco; last Sunday Baltimore kicked a potential game-winning field goal that went wide left by a couple of feet.

Besides Saints fans, there are millions of people rooting against Favre. Jets fans aside, I can't imagine what it's like to be a Packers fan and be three division games behind Minnesota. But this rough cell phone video provides a glimpse:

Saints 'Brees' past Giants, vengeance is mine

2009-10-19T02:48:00.000-07:00

You know those F-22 fighter jets that Congress this past summer decided to quit funding to cut back the Pentagon budget? Well, we got more than a half-dozen of them elite bombers in our hangar.

In a 48-27 rout of the Giants (don't believe their final score, it could have been a lot less if we weren't so far ahead and relenting), seven different F-22 fighter jet Saints scored touchdowns on the so-called G-men.

Thankfully jshox was one of those, although I think Jermon Bushrod or Jonathon Stinchcomb could score a touchdown if they were lined up at tight end on Drew Brees' team.

Yes, jshox scored a touchdown in the first quarter on the Giants to put the Saints up 14-0, and it was the sweetest thing ever. I, jshox, have dreamed about this since January 2008.

Fifteen plays into it Mike Bell dives for a touchdown on a fourth-and-less-than-a-yard-for-a-first-down at the goal line.

Both Bell and Pierre Thomas ran hard today. And although Thomas led the rushing attack with more than 70 yards, Bell ran over three different Giant players over the course of his runs with an aggressiveness that looked like he was trying to knock snot bubbles out of their face masks.

Bell has proven to be an awesome off-season pick-up.

And then sweet bejesus Breesus, I easily beat linebacker Danny Clark on a first and goal after a spectacular catch by Marques Colston at the goal line.

Let the rout begin of the overrated G-men, who essentially had been on an in-season vacation while playing patsies before they came to the Dome.

Robert Meachem has now proven he is a homerun hitter, just like Devery Henderson. Now we've got two homerun hitters. That's like having Manny and Big Papi in the lineup.

Meachem put the third touchdown on the board with this catch over safety C.C. Brown.

Meachem also burned the defense again in the second half for a catch at the goal line. That one was funny because while we were obviously gong to win the game, hell, we scored 34 in the first half, Brees was yelling and cursing about how the pass and catch didn't make it into the end zone. Stinchcomb had to say 'Drew, we're on the one-yard line. Let's get em!'

Lance Moore is back beeatches! Here's the Saints version of Wes Welker burning cornerback Kevin Dockery for a score to put 27 points on the board for the Saints (the pat was blocked).

Lance was so excited about scoring as a Saint again even I for a second was like 'Dude!'

Lance had a big day back in the lineup: six catches for 78 yards.

Can everyone just admit now that Colston is a beast??!! Huh bruh? Colston caught eight passes for 166 yards and a TD -- he grabbed everything thrown to him -- while Brees was passing to everyone but the water boy.

He broke the bread, he passed the bread, and said, 'Take this, all of you, and march with it, for these are the yards we eat on our way to the Super Bowl.'

Cornerback Jabari Greer intercepts in front of Hakeem Nicks in the second half. Ya know, I'm gonna go with what Bobby Hebert said, 'Greer is the best cornerback the Saints have ever had in a Saints uniform.'

Dude is fast. What an off-season pick-up. How about that Giants drive in the first quarter when Eli tried to hit a homerun to Dominick Hixon and Greer regained the ground he lost and swatted the ball away?

That's Pro Bowl shit, son.

Even fullback Heath Evans got him some TD today, his second for the season -- that's one less than me! -- but check him out as we ran onto the field for pre-game warmups. He's my kind of football player.

Sometimes during warmups you have to set a tone. So I stared down my former teammates and let 'em know I'm still just as crazy as ever.

Insert caption here: douchebag.

Ya know, this is the kind of lady I could have got behind during my New York playing days. Thanks for making the trip, honey!

Anyone notice how awesome our offensive line is? I know a lot is said about how fast Brees gets rid of the ball, but our O line straight up dominated the purported best defensive line in football. There were zero sacks of Brees. And I think he got hurried and knocked down only three times.

In fact, he had so much time back there on a few occasions, we could have suited up Archie and let the old man show his young 'un how it's really done.

Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod, who is filling in for Jammal Brown, owned Osi Umenyiora today.

Who remembers Brandon Jacobs of Assumption High School jumping up at Remi Ayodele in the second half and putting up his dukes? That really made me laugh.

Here's the screen shot that sums it up.

Better luck next time, homeboy.

Saints win 48-27.

The Saints have now scored 45 or more points in three of their first five games this season.

Who Dat!

All photos provided by the AP.

So the Giants are in town?

2009-10-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

Jshox has been quietly preparing for Sunday's game, treating it like any other Sunday, because this team is too good to take focus away from my teammates.

It's like what I tweeted Thursday: "have nothing to say about the giants!! wish them the best... a great 6yrs up north what more could a guy ask for??"

You know, fans have been talking about a three-game sweep of New York teams this Sunday. "fk the ny sweep we need the whole east.. from miami to buff"

When Reggie's not busy cheering on SC, he's busy doing charity work and filming commercials at St. Jude Childrens Cancer Research Hospital, and dishing on the internets what we were doing Thursday: "That ballon traveled like 70 miles!!! LMAO! Somebody going to jail for that one! Funny part was my whole team glued to the tv watching it!"

Did anyone else share my schaudenfreude this week when the NFL told Rush Limbaugh to go back to the bigot-filled cave he came from? I thought Michael Wilbon wrote rather eloquently on this subject. And though I tend to agree with one of my friend's assessment of the situation -- "This is America and any jackass with money can own whatever the fuck he wants. I don't understand the controversy really. Yeah I think Rushbo is a jackass, but let the jackass own a team if he wants for chrissake." -- you have to understand the NFL business is more concerned for its bottom line. It's a shared revenue system. If Rush-owned Rams can't sign quality free agents, the team perennially sucks and relies on other teams' profits to stay in the black -- no pun intended. Just go back to what Art Modell, former owner of the Cleveland Browns, once said: "We're 26 Republicans who vote Socialist!"

But jshox isn't here to write about politics. Hell, I tried watching a United Nations summit on Fox News the other day and nearly brained myself.

Ya been reading the comments to Saints stories on nola.com? kewlbrees, this one Budweiser tonight is tipped to you, my lucid friend.

So a Saintstard sent me this pic this week of custom T-shirt. I don't know if Drew Brees is my life coach, after all, I don't need a life coach like Mike Vick needs Tony Dungy, but Brees is my life's favorite quarterback.

Get you some Charles Grant, Eli!

On another note, "Drag Me to Hell" is the most fun I've had in about 20 years watching scary movies. The DVD arrived in the mail Friday and my old lady, who loves scary movies and seriously doubted the writer and director of the The Evil Dead trilogy was capable of frightening her, actually screamed so loud she scared the dog, my dachshund named Poboy.

In fact, the old lady screamed out loud four times! I've never seen her scream out loud once before. And even without Bruce Campbell, whom I seriously hoped would make a cameo, Sam Raimi throws several bones Evil Dead-style to his oldest fans. Watch it tonight!

Cajun Cannon goes cuckoo for Saints D

2009-10-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

First of all, I had no idea Bobby Hebert and Drew Brees were hocking wine together. Is that the WOW brand of Covington?

Ol' Bobby, the Cut Off, La., native who quarterbacked the Saints in the late 80s and early 90s, a team that was the franchise's first quality team since the organization's 1967 inception, co-hosts post-game sports radio and other weekly call-in-and-rant shows on WWL 870 and 105.3 FM in New Orleans. Those radio credentials get him in the pressbox on game day.

Say what you will, Bobby is passionate. Maybe overly passionate. Like when Will Smith sacked Mark Sanchez in the end zone for a New Orleans touchdown:

Which kind of got jshox wondering if ESPN intended for this commercial to mock Bobby just a bit, although I believe overall its intention is to generalize all sports radio homers.

And now for WWL play-by-play announcer Jim Henderson to save the day from total inanity.

We got defense too, beeatches!

2009-10-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

The defense is what really stood out in this 24-10 Saints win over the Jets. And that's today's focus.

Who would've thought the Jets -- who had previously held opponents to an average 11 points a game during their first three victories -- would hold Brees and Co. to 10 points in the Dome?

No matter. Darren motherfucking Sharper put us up 10-0 when he intercepted his 58th career interception and took it to the house from 99 yards away. He's now returned two in his first year as a Saint and 10 overall for his career -- only Hall of Famer Rod Woodson has more.

And then the defense gets a 3-and-out.

By the way, Peter King on Sunday reported that Sean Payton had indeed took a $250,000 pay cut to hire Greg Williams, the mad-genius defensive coordinator. Cha-Ching! for us, I say.

Following that 3-and-out, we go for it on fourth down at the goal line and fall short. But that intensity, that killer instinct, is a lot of fun, and I expect coach in that situation to do it again.

No matter about previous execution. Two plays later, with the Jets backed up, Will Smith sacks Mark Sanchez to cause a fumble and we recover for a touchdown.

By the way, didya notice how Charles Grant ended the first half with a sack and began the second half with a sack? That got me more fired up than a Dome Dog topped with jalapenos and chili and Tabasco. Woooooooooo! (As I'm sure Chris Paul and the rest of the Hornets, who were given a day off from training camp by Bryon Scott to attend the game, said interspersingly (that's an adverb!) with their Who Dats!)

Oh, and when Grant batted down a pass after Reggie Bush's fumble, Greg Gumbel yelled "He's playing a whale of a game!" Yet he resembles a dreadlocked walrus. But God bless him. Even if I think he should spend some of that money on buying muffalettas at Central Grocery for the city.

(Ashley Ambrose on my right played his final season with the Saints in 2003 before going to the Chiefs for a couple of years and ending a very respectable career as a defensive back.)

Both of those guys were so funny and so nice. I literally looked like that the entire time I interviewed them in a hospital wing in Thibodaux, La., where they were charitably visiting the sick.

That's my quarterback But you gotta give it up to the Jets to playing the pass so well. Then again, Pierre Thomas rushed for nearly 90 yards on just over a dozen carries.

We sacked Sanchez four times and intercepted him thrice. Thrice! I don't even know how I know that word, and I spent three semesters at the U.

Bobby McCray gets him some.

Huddle!

"Nothing fancy there. Good old-fashioned powerhouse football!" -- Dan Dierdorf on the Saints' 11-play drive in the fourth quarter in which Pierre Thomas ran it in from a couple yards out.

And then D motherfucking Sharper gets another interception. Port Allen-native Randall Gay, looking on, walked away with a big smile on his face and shook his head while thumbing over his shoulder at No. 42.

A few plays later Gay got his own.

Game over, but Sean Payton still has the fire in his eyes and wants to stomp fat throats.

'I want to hoist that trophy'

2009-10-04T04:36:00.000-07:00

If you didn't catch Drew Brees on the front page of USA Today on Saturday -- yes, Jennifer Garner, to your right that's "a guy's guy" with an Africa-sized birthmark on his cheekbone -- then you've really got to read this kickass story.

Favorite part: Says Fox analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman: "Saints safety Darren Sharper said he's played with Brett Favre in his prime in Green Bay, and Darren would take Drew Brees over Brett Favre in his prime."

Let's chew on that a minute. If Drew Brees wins a Black and Gold Superbowl, he will not only be canonized, fashioned into a true Saint who usurps St. Christopher as the dashboard protector who protects all travelers' passage, but he'll be allowed to play in the Dome until 2025, when that recently renewed contract extension ends. No one's gonna prefer him, or even allow him, on the bench over some young buck like what Favre supposedly faced at the end in Green Bay. Hell, Brees can be mayor and passing at the same time into his fifties, far beyond the years of old man Saint Kenny Stabler.

A couple of weeks ago jshox was thinking it could be a Saints-Ravens Superbowl. Is that what Inside the NFL is talking about?

Bobby McCray has got his own website: http://www.bobbymccray.com/ . . . and I'm not sure why. But what I do know is that the defense is playing great, so each his own. And if they keep it up, hell, I'll take up Tracy Porter on that sac-a-lait fishing trip to Lake Verret this bye week if the defense keeps the Jets to 20 points or less.

We're averaging 40 points a game. But I'm sure you knew that.

It's Breast Cancer Awareness week in the NFL. I can't wait to see Reggie return a punt for six in these cleats.

Twitter around the horn: Pierre Thomas tweeting on Wednesday: "Is it Sunday yet? Hope ya'll are ready to Rock the Dome! Whoooo Daaaaat!!"

Pierre tweeting Reggie after stomping the Bills: "@reggie_bush: Man Mondays are the worst waking up the day after a game! Body feels terrible! Lol! - Maaan nothing like a first game back!"

And the only time you'll see the unflappable Drew Brees flustered:

Saints drub Bills, pics, part 2

2009-09-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

That's me. That's Jairus Byrd. Byrd got rolled up.

Reggie!

Pierre Thomas just blew up yesterday. And he didn't even play in the first half. But 14 carries for 126 yards and a couple of touchdowns is superstar stuff.

Greg Williams' defense had the Bills on their heels all day. If it weren't for that lucky fake field goal for a touchdown -- Jonathon Vilma nearly sacked the place kicker, too -- Buffalo would've scored only three points. Whew! I gotta go back in the archives and figure out when's the last time the Saints kept a team to seven points or less.

Jabari Greer tees off.

Charles Grant, get you some!

2009-09-28T01:11:00.000-07:00

He broke the bread, he passed the bread, and said, Take this, all of you, and run with it. For these are the yards we march into the Super Bowl.

Saints drub Bills!

2009-09-28T00:59:00.000-07:00

Oh momma, there's a reason why we don't need running commentary. But for a game that took the Saints all game to get going, that defensive effort was awesom e.

Smith!

Lynell Hamilton -- sit down!

What Would Breesus Do?

2009-09-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

Led by our savior, his almighty, Breesus, the Saints will be marching next February.

For all of us, including out-of-market fans on the West Coast, tomorrow's game is an afternoon game. So let us all pray Sunday morning for another 40-plus kickass performance from Drew Brees and Co. while playing the Buffalo Bills. If you can't make it to church, consider this blog post a midnight mass of sorts, for the ego of jshox, which attended St. Alphonsous in the 70818, is far from his place of baptism, confession and worship.

But he's working on a Bloody Mary, if that counts for anything.

That reminds me of a famous depiction of Breesus passing a Hail Mary.

In Breesus & the Saints we pray, amen.

DB's balls spin at 52-mph, says Sport Science

2009-09-23T23:56:00.000-07:00

According to Sport Science on Fox Sports, Drew Brees throws footballs more accurately than Olympic archers shoot arrows.

Not surprised, huh? Me neither.

But their study of his passing dynamics is pretty remarkable. My quarterback, whom I promised a roast beef poboy from Parasol's after film study on Friday, consistently passes footballs at 52-mph with a 6-degree vertical extension and 600 RPMs with a gyro scoping torque that defies gravity and aerodynamically forces wind around the ball, which counterbalances itself, while slight wobbles purposefully keep the ball on target against prevailing winds.

Imagine that.

Oh, Yeessssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!! Here's two of my favorite bastuhds to run into at Parasol's, I GAH-Ron-Tee! (Where's The Force?)

Three wobbles per five spins is key, says Sport Science. Which means wobbly passes are good when outdoors in January/December. But if you're a fan who likes the game's technicalities as fully dressed as your poboy, here's the Sport Science video (I'm already dreaming of extra au jus on the side for dippings, yeah you right!):

Saints shred Eagles in Philly

2009-09-21T01:36:00.000-07:00

When Campbell's Soup Co. calls Drew Brees to chow down a bowl of Chunky, it had better have one of those big crawfish pots fully simmering with the goop -- because the team's coming and we're hungry as hell.

This franchise is hungry. This organization is hungry. This city is hungry. And this offense can't serve up enough points -- although 93 points in two games is second-best in league history -- because we're too damn hungry.

Check out Marques Colston scoring on Asante Samuel in the first quarter. Colston had two touchdowns for the day (three on the season), but it was the second one that came with just over a minute to play in the second half that was astounding: He was covered on a 25-yard post route to the end zone when Drew Brees missiled a high dart away from the defender and to Colston's back shoulder.

Colston, who at 6-4 can catch just about everything from his ankles to over his head, latched on to the pass like it was just another day of routine pass and catch. After the game he said he knew exactly where Drew was going to put it when he saw his quarterback's eyes.

I had a decent outing in the 48-22 romp, playing a pivotal role in the first drive with a few catches, one of those going for 22 yards. (Nice tackle Macho Harris (what a name!).) I finished with four.

But I'm most proud of the fact that after the game, when Brees was explaining how well the offense is working together, he also threw in "Shockey's coming along."

Jshox redux! Huh bruh?

By the way, was anyone besides me surprised by the athleticism Heath Evans displayed when he tip-toed and spun down the sideline after catching a pass in the flat before lunging for the goal line past two defenders and reaching the ball inside the pylon? Dude's got game, and two touchdowns already with that play.

I don't like to post photos of the other team playing well, but I think this one is testament to Drew's toughness. And I'm in it too, so that helps.

Jshox recovered that fumble, by the way.

You know the Eagles defense is tough. And we certainly didn't think we'd throw up 40 or more on it. But that's how we dejected it.

After the game, Eagles defensive back Sheldon Brown had a couple things to say about the juggernaut that is us.

"They executed," Brown said in post-game interviews. "When you play that team, you have to create turnovers. And you can't have any. That's it."

Drew has now thrown for nine touchdowns. Nine, Eli!

Mike Bell had another solid game, even though he left in the fourth quarter with what Coach Sean Payton called a slight sprain. Let's hope he rebounds quickly.

Next Sunday we take on the Bills in Buffalo, where I expect Reggie Bush to take the load of snaps while Pierre Thomas is worked back into the rotation.

Reggie had a good game today too. Little dude gets fired up. We were whooping and hollering on the sideline when he scored on that nearly 20-yard run up the middle in the fourth quarter.

Here's Pierre Tweeting: "Who Dat! Our squad is something serious, we're in for one exciting year! Great win today, back to work tmro"

Oh, and how bout Darren Sharper, huh bruh? What a free agent pickup. He now has the most interceptions (50-something) of all active players in the NFL, but when he picked off Kevin Kolb at the end for a 97-yard score he actually tied Deion Sanders, at nine, for interceptions returned for touchdowns.

That's crazy. Sharper has as many Pick Sixes as Neon Deion. I heard coach owes him a dinner for that too. During practice last week coach was heard ribbing Sharper, who had two picks against Detroit, that at 33 he was too old to take one to the house.

"We want to have the mentality that if we have a team down, we want to stomp on their throat and not let them come back," Sharper later said.

Sharper, my friend, be sure to order Oysters Bienville. Awesome appetizer.

And this game, Brees shared the ball with nine different receivers.

"He gets the ball off quick," said Eagles cornerback Joselio Hanson. "It seemed like we were a step behind. He knows where he wants to go with the ball.

"Drew Brees is an animal. He's one of the best."

"Tyson" doc a tearjerker . . . Go Canes

2009-09-18T01:49:00.000-07:00

The U just looks faster than ever -- look out Top 10!

Holding down the 305, Miami whooped that Georgia Tech ass tonight 33-17. Canes are looking better than they have in a long time. I can go to bed and rest happy tonight.

But before I do, I'd like to talk about "Tyson," the documentary. I watched it the other night and it got the jshox whooping and hollering and even a bit weepy. I mean, the dude was knocking grown men out at the age of 19, 20, and yet he had no one on his side for real advice when his only mentor in life, and boxing coach, Cus D'Amato, died in 1985 at 77 before Mke Tyson won the heavyweight title.

D'Amato was the first and last positive force in Tyson's life and the former heavyweight boxer isn't afraid to admit in this documentary culled from about 80 hours of taped interviews. When Iron Mike cries, jshox gets teary eyed too.

"Madness, the chaos of the brain," says Tyson about the ferociousness D'Amato taught him to use in the ring and pulverize opponents. Oh, and "speed kills."

As a 14-year-old, Tyson knocked a kid out in just 14 seconds in a junior championship match: "There's nothing like when you're young and having fun."

Tyson became a knock-out master. When throwing a punch, he explains that he pictures his fist going through the back of his opponent's head. Sure, it sounds brutal, he says, but there's an art form to the accuracy of deadly precision.

When Tyson won the heavyweight title, he did so by knocking out Michael Spinks in about 90 seconds. It's kind of hard to tell where the last punch landed, but after a couple of watches you can tell it didn't matter if it had been the solar plexus or or the left eye or a grazing of the bottom jaw. Knockout.

I won't give away everything about the movie, but Tyson admits more than once that skyrocketing fame and fortune were too much for a very young person to handle when the only mentor around is a blood-sucking leach like Don King.

We all know about the rape conviction, the ear bite (although Tyson makes a convincing case for his frustration and anger toward Holyfield for two consecutive fights of illegal headbutting), and the crazy tattoos, though they don't seem so crazy long before the credits roll.

Despite Tyson's transgressions, you'd be cold not to sympathize with him for at least few moments during this 90-minute confessional. He appears to be focused on being a father and putting his mistakes behind him. And he says it well, even with that famous lisp.

Brees is a machine . . . redux right on course

2009-09-14T02:32:00.000-07:00

Twenty-two months ago I caught a touchdown pass in the NFL. Until Sunday, it had been the last one.

Now it's jshox redux!

On Sunday I caught two touchdown passes from Drew Brees.

Then again, it's hard not to catch a touchdown from DB. Especially when he's breaking another record by becoming the first NFL quarterback to throw six touchdown passes in a season opener.

I mean, you'd be more likely to catch a Juan's Flying Burrito out of the sky on Magazine Street than not catch a pass or two with Brees at the helm in the Superdome.

Brees surgically lasered the ball to eight of us -- 8, Eli! -- while we whipped the Lions 45-27.

Brees hooked up with me on consecutive drives before the end of the second quarter from 1 and 15 yards out. And that first one, no matter how short, was sort of a big deal. Because now my disappearance from the endzone last year is shelved away.

The game itself should have been more of an ass whooping. The Lions, however, were lucky recipients of bad special teams play from us; three horrible and consecutively egregious officiating calls against us with the Lions on the goal line; and a fumble returned for a touchdown.

Mike Bell left the rock on the turf for their last score but the dude also ran for over 140 yards for what, 28 carries?

Anyhow, we gotta do better than that. Last season we were 2-6 on the road. And now we march to Philadelphia. It's time to get a couple of road wins (at Buffalo is Week 3) while eliminating simple mistakes to prove to the so-called experts that as a team, we are the real deal.

Undoubtedly, Drew is the deal. He has now thrown for 300 yards or more in 24 of his last 49 games with the Saints.

And onward he marches. Who Dat!

Marques Colston got him some touchdown action on the opening drive. Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

And I was giddier than a 18-year-old Baptist with a Bourbon Street Big Ass Beer.

Hold me, Marques.

"Call the 219 Zip over the middle, coach, and I'll stomp that Larry Foote!" -- jshox

Darren Sharper celebrates his first of two interceptions of Matt Stafford, while the D ended up with 3 ints. Hell yeah!

Daunte Culpepper thanks Drew Brees for the How-to-be-the-most-awesome-quarterback-in-the-NFL-clinic on Sunday before asking No. 9 for directions to the nearest Popeyes.

Hey, I know what you're thinking, and I fucking luuuv Popeyes too!

Supa Saints Fan: I will redeem us, we'll redeem you

2009-09-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Nine months ago our 2008 season collapsed. In the aftermath, a fella by the name of Supa Saints Fan posted a dance interpretation of his frustrations, which caused him to dance ala-Bret, or is it Brit? (they talk funny), of Flight of the Conchords. That was funny. I had never seen anyone dance like that before. But Supa Saints Fan has his own interpretation of Bret's hilarious New Zealand jig: (Bluegill, this is highlighted, meaning you must click on it if you want to remain germane, and not tito, to the conversation. (Bluegill is a coonass out of Dulac who guided us on that redfish-bowhunting trip that Drew took us on in May. (Don't ask. All I know is that coonass is an affectionate term and Bluegill insists he certainly is one and that we must call him one.) Anyway, Bluegill ain't too internet savvy, but he does like to stay connected, and sometimes you have to point him in the right direction.)

But here's my point: I'm pissed Supa Saints Fan opens his video of letdowns, less than a minute into it, with me dropping a pass and Drew subsequently ripping into me. Because I can GAH-Ron-TEE that shit ain't happenig again. And Supa Saints Fan, this all I have to say: Let's see you and your cape and fu manchu and wig and glasses down in the stands where everyone can see you. Otherwise, your get-up ain't shit.

Really, and this concerns you, all Saints tards, how brilliant would it be to market yourself on youtube as a super fan and present yourself in the box seats at each home game and kind of give a roundup of the season's progress after every three or four games? That could make you a hometown star! But that's my idea. And I just trademarked it. So I request a 15 percent commission from anyone and everyone who pulls it off. No. 88!

Whatever. I need rest. Kickoff vs. the Lions is about 36 hours away and I'm as giddy for the season opener as an overpaid rookie walking inside the Gold Club for the first time.

Before I go, and this is hard to admit, but I gotta say that I admire certain players in the NFL. Hell, I have a fucking blast watching everyone play. But I have a few favorite players. And I gotta tell ya, on Thursday night, against the Titans, James Harrison did not relent. Dude was throwing off blocks and tackling Chris Henry for losses. I, Jeremy Shockey, have a bit of a man-crush on No. 92. And why not? F it! The 100-yard pick-6 against Arizona in the Super Bowl sealed it for me. But everyone's seen that. So without further ado, may I introduce a highlight reel of my favorite player in the AFC, James Harrison, aka The Silverback:

Drew Brees is my leader

2009-09-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

Since I was busy holding down the 305 when SI's NFL preview was delivered to my nola home, and later there was football to watch and practice resumed Monday, I've been slow to peruse the latest issue's contents.

But here are my thoughts:

Drew Brees is outshined by Tom and Peyton in the minds of so-called NFL experts only because he hasn't won a Super Bowl. Yet.

Brees will win a Super Bowl. He's too f'ing damn good not to (only qb in history of the game to have three consecutive seasons of 4,400 or more yards and 26 or more touchdowns, and the march continues).

On that note, I still can't believe Peter King predicted we'll finish behind Atlanta and Carolina at 7-9. Does he really think our defense is gonna be the same, or worse? Last year we finished 8-8 -- five of those losses were by a field goal or fewer points. So our D was porous.

But now we're better, and obviously under the radar. All Brees and Co. need from the new defense under Greg Williams are more forced turnovers and three-and-outs. It'll be a few weeks until we really know how they shape up in the latter, but as far as preseason and camp have shown, we're better at getting the ball back into our qb's hands.

Back to the so-called experts: In seven categories that SI asked them to rank quarterbacks -- best overall, best deep arm, best game manager, toughest, most athletic, best at the line of scrimmage, best under pressure -- Drew ranked in five of the best-of-five listings. And he was top in toughest. But he followed Tom and Peyton in best overall. I can't wait to hear the experts run their gums when he wins a Super Bowl.

Who Dat!

Can't wait till Sunday

2009-09-09T02:24:00.001-07:00

After holding down the 305 last weekend with some buddies, it was a blast watching the Canes yesterday beat Florida State 38-34.

Man, I had some good times on that team.

And now the speed is back. I'd love to watch the Canes crack the Top 10 again. I'd fly back to South Beach every f'ing chance I get.

By the way, you'll never see me wear Purple and Gold, but if Joe McKnight -- whom Pete Carroll stole from the Mad Hatter -- has a breakout year and is a main reason the Trojans land in a BCS bowl, I'll do what I can to get Regg in a LSU cap.

Speaking of the beach, anyone listen to Iggy Pop's latest album, the one he sings standards on? I know I've been a lifelong fan of Phish and Kid Rock, and although I've never paid much attention to old Iggy before, this latest from the seminal punk rocker got me through some rocky nights earlier this summer. In fact, this number, I Want to Go to the Beach, always gets me in the mood for South Beach and mojitos.

Oh yeah, did I tell ya I finally got my '69 Dodge Challenger shipped down to me? Whhoooooooooweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Huh bruh? Who Dat! . . . Who wants to race now? Yeah you right!

Ya know, this car is like the Saints' revamped defense with an all-out blitz against Matt Stafford and the Hyundai Sonati-like Lions.

On a different note, is Michael Crabtree trippin'? Everyone in the league is sniffin' the season opener and the boy ain't even signed with the 49ers yet. Shit, he coulda got the rookie year outta the way and already have a few cool mill in the bank. But no, he thinks he's Rubio of Spain or some shit. Don't he know NFL careers are ephemeral, or is his agent so greedy it's become the signing percentage that matters? I bet it's the latter.

Five days ago LaGarette Blount, of Oregon, which was sniffing the Top Ten and is no longer even ranked, cold-cocked that Boise dude, knocked around fellow teammates, and went after Broncos fans. And I still can't stop watching IT.

I'm fired up about playing for real in about five days. But I feel bad for Billy Miller. Hell of a player. Dude picked up the slack last season when I was down coming off a broken leg and then suffering a sports hernia. But Billy instrumentally kept the chains moving with Brees and Co. You hate to see any player miss an entire season because of something like a ruptured Achilles tendon, but I know Billy will be back. So in the meantime it's up to me. REDUX!

One last note: I was cruising yesterday with Regg on I-10 when we saw this ghetto fabulous Altima, decked out with twenty-sixes and in powder blue. He implored me to to slow down so he could get a PHOTO.

Sniffing the regular season, and it smells like . . . Victory

2009-08-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of preseason. It's just one long practice. The games' outcomes don't mean much. And teams don't want to risk injury but at the same time want their units to find rhythm and cohesion.

For the first-team starters, this should be happening by the third game of preseason. And it's definitely happening for us. On Saturday, like a 1980s elementary school principal paddling bastard kids who egged their school bus, we laid the wood to the Raiders and scored at will on our first three possessions for a 45-7 ass-whooping.

We were supposed to play into the third quarter. But we were pulled from the game before the middle of the second, with Coach saying "I've seen enough."

As for myself, I can't wait to see more. Everything's coming together and I feel as if I'm on the verge of a breakout season. I've got the best quarterback in the business chunking the rock in my direction; I'm on an offense with more deadly weapons than Uzbekistan has in its entire possession; and I'm developing a rapport with Drew Brees who says we're not only on the same page but we're developing a rapport.

And he's not shy to explain to me the definition of rapport, either.

Anyway, four catches for 48 yards for myself in just three series of work against Oakland and I'm ready to get this Redux mission rolling. If I were to average just that a game this season (56 catches, about 800 yards), I'd nearly match my last very good season -- 65 catches, 891 yards and seven touchdowns in 2005.

Enough about that, though. What's really got me and the rest of the offense excited (and I'm not naming names) is how the defense is showing marked improvement over last season. The defense might not be stifling, but for chrisssakes the turnovers are encouraging. Watching Pearson Prioleau (the best name on the team, by the way) strip the ball from Oakland's Richard Murphy and Usama Young, in his new role at safety, break to the ball for a near interception has got the O-line giddier than a fat boy who hears the ice cream truck jingling down his street. And I'll tell you why: this team is approaching this season with a more-improved running attack, and there's nothing the big men up front enjoy more than pushing some Butterballs off the ball and eating up the clock. Because that's what wins games in the fourth quarter.
Devery Henderson also had a blow-up game. He's really turning it on, with even more improvement after his much-improved season last year. For chrissakes, what do defenses prepare for with Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, Lance Moore, Devery, Pierre Thomas and myself as threats?

Get some, JaMarcus, from Bobby McCray!

From right to left, '70s style: Me, Reggie, and some broad who shoots topless

2009-08-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

Rehab pool parties on Sundays at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas notwithstanding, Reggie and I occasionally like to relax together at the movies. So with camp winding down this week and starters like us preparing for our last big outing this preseason against Oakland on Saturday, Nos. 88 and 25 found the perfect opportunity tonight to slip away from 5800 Airline Dr. for a few hours and catch Quentin Tarantino's latest beat-down instructional.

Yes, RSVPs at titty bars and Halo on Fridays will have to wait. For it's not the regular season. Until then, it's Inglorious Bastuhds.

Here's what I came away with: I.B. is a good talky. Talk, talk, talk. And then blow a little shit up. Watch The Bear Jew bash a Nazi. But just once. And too quickly.

And that's the problem with this movie. It's too broad. It's too far-reaching. It's without the buddy development that Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson and Jim Brown portrayed in the movie it's supposed to pay homage to. Instead of watching Brad Pitt's Lt. Aldo Raine and The Bear Jew and Hugo Stiletz -- played by that funny drug dealer in SLC Punk! who tried to shoot that floating car on the Great Salt Lake into submersion -- pulverize and tenderize Nazis for a couple of hours in the north and south of France, while maybe fighting amongst themselves ala-Dirty Dozen style, we're directed instead to a cinametheque operated by a Jewess and her black boyfriend. We're directed to a blathering Hitler who doesn't castrate but takes way too long to tell a private not to mention again The Bear Jew.

Tarantino wants it both ways. He gives you pure direction and stiff writing in the opening sequence, then sensation with the introduction of the Bastuhds. And just when you get comfortable with sensation -- you could of gave us more from other Bastuhds characters, Tarantino, at the very least Hugo -- he gives us long scenes of his signature dialogue, albeit with some psychological interplay between a couple of characters who are nearly underscored by the previous schlock.

Let's just say Christoph Waltz, who plays the "Jew Hunter", is by far the funnest to watch here. Col. Hans Landa. Dude is slippery cool. And I loved the way he moved from German to French to English to Italian. Skills like that and a playa not need a NFL contract.

And then there's that trilingual German broad who wears a high-heeled leg cast at the end. I don't speak German, but put her together with the Jewess, and to them I'd say all I know in French: menage a trois.

There's also a good bar scene that's played out during the latter half of the movie. But for the faux pas that apparently gives away a German-speaking British intelligence officer to a German officer, I hold up my forefinger, middle finger and ring finger -- together -- and say read between the lines. Good scene tension but the conclusion took way too long.

So that's my Bastuhds movie review. I don't normally do movie reviews, but I was moved enough by the incongruous stylistic direction of Tarantino's latest to share my piece on the flick. And blogging about it helps keep my mind off of easily had RSVP-gash. Which I've sworn off until I catch a TD in Black and Gold.

And then I'll inevitably begin a run.

Mike Bell's about to break out!

2009-08-24T01:53:00.000-07:00

What if Mike Bell, who in the second pre-season game juked and jived the Houston Texans for 100 yards on 10 carries, can run like that six or eight times this season? And I'm not talking about having a half-dozen long TD runs, similar to his 46-yard follow-the-blocking-and-cut-brilliantly scamper on Saturday. But really, what if he actually breaks out this year and rushes for at least a 1,000?

Based on what I saw Saturday, why can't he?

Think about it.

Couple that with the expected output from Bush and Pierre, and I get giddier than The Bear Jew anticipating a Nazi bashing. And that's because of all the unmentioned intangibles.

However slightly, the defense has improved. Put that alongside the game's most explosive passing offense with a RB trio that so far promises to improve to at least NFL-middling-quality, and every opposing team's offense will find itself off the field for at least a few more minutes each game, giving QB Drew Brees and Co. plenty of cushion as they pass and catch for about 30 TDs.

Hey, I'm part of that Co. too. And though I didn't catch one of Drew's 34 last season, I'm getting at least a baker's half dozen this year. Who Dat!

But back to you Bell: Here's to you.

As for the rest of you NFC South mofos (Gonzalez, Winslow): Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

DeMeco's got it coming, son.

2009-08-22T02:55:00.000-07:00

It took a lot to hold off on this post. But with less than 24 hours to go before some Houston middle linebacker-thrashing time, I just wanted to remind everyone who has the upperhand: me. mofos. I GAh-rON-TEE. Me and Drew ain't even hiding that shit.

DeMeco: You're gonna get yours before the first quarter is over.

Red Hook: keep making thems tasty Long Hammers. . . . . BOOYAH! (ready for game time, is all) #88

Gotta get the lead out . . .

2009-08-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

OK Saintsnation, this is what I have in store for you: 80 catches this season, 6 touchdowns, and a big wide-open target for Drew.

I'm back! And I'm ready to roll up some DBs with the rock in my hands, just like the old days. And I thank the Lord for having Drew Brees as my pilot.

So here's 5 things I think I think will get this team steamrolling in 2009, including my improved performance:

1. Reggie is hitting the holes great this training camp and I see a great mis-match in the backfield between him and Pierre Thomas for opposing defenses. This backfield is gonna surprise people.

2. Drew and Colston are gonna blow up. We're injury free, including me, and though our backfield will be better, Drew will pass close to 5,000 yards again. No matter what.

3. Our defense is stiff. And it's gonna help us win games this year. I predict 30 3-and-outs this season -- look out! That's all Drew and Co. need to keep the ball rolling and your def. coord. scolding. Ha, ha, ha, (eagle tattoo: squawk! squawk!), ha, ha, ha, ha.

4. John Carney just gets older and colder.

5. Jason Witten, Chris Cooley -- get Shockeyed! Prepare for a Pro Bowl shakeup. And Tony Gonzalez and Kellen Winslow, I ain't even thinking about you in the slightest. Welcome to the NFC. Baahhhrrruuuuummmmpppppp! (I stop drinking Crown when training camp starts, but sometimes Busch beer gets the best of me.)