Who Brett? Why The New Orleans Saints Will Roll

Favre on the ground, Favre on the ground, how ya gonna beat the Saints with Favre on the ground?

The sun is setting on Brett Favre’s season and perhaps, career. Cue up Sinatra’s “My Way.”

Favre doesn’t need to win the Super Bowl this year to validate his great career. He  doesn’t need to win the Super Bowl to prove that he still belongs in the NFL. Mission accomplished.

But this is the New Orleans Saints time. Some enterprising Saints fan should print up hot market T-shirts that read: Who Brett! Geaux Saints!
I think it’s fair to say that in large part Favre wants to win for Favre and that Drew Brees wants to win for the city of New Orleans. I’ll take the bigger heart, greater cause six ways to Sunday.

I think back to Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome between the New England Patriots and the St. Louis Rams. The Rams came out of the tunnel first and were introduced individually to the crowd. The Patriots chose to be introduced as a team, a single unit. It was a great psyche job, the Patriots struck a blow right then and there. The game was over before the first snap. 

The emperor has no Packers clothes. I don’t fault Favre for joining the Vikings, but it doesn’t feel right that he should lead them to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. And while Vikings fans are long suffering, Saints fans are even moreso. As has been pointed out by others, no city would get more of a lift from a Super Bowl victory by its team than New Orleans. 

Oh, and about that late touchdown Favre threw to Visanthe Shiancoe yesterday that  pissed off the Cowboys. Not good. Sure, it's defensible. The pat (Pat?) answer goes something like this: Stop us if you don’t like it. 

It’s the same kind of karma that the Patriots were working in 2007 when they ultimately -- and deservedly -- stumbled in the Super Bowl. The Patriots were arrogant all year until then. That organization has been eating a lot of humble pie ever since.

Mess with good sportsmanship at your own peril. But karma aside, the game gets played on the field, which is the real reason why the Saints will beat the Vikings.