NFC South Part Deux: Saints' Heath Evans Says MSU Slinging Mud at Cam Newton

Yesterday, we gave you excerpts from two interviews that New Orleans Saints FB and Auburn alum Heath Evans did on ESPN Radio Thursday.

Evans, a former Seattle Seahawk and New England Patriot, said Sean Payton compares favorably to Bill Belichick and that unlike Mike Holmgren, Payton and Belichick don't allow selfish players in their organization.

Today, Evans talks about the meticulous work habits of Drew Brees and says he thinks Mississippi State is just slinging mud at Auburn QB Cam Newton. (excerpts from ESPN Radio interviews.)

Did Drew Brees get better during the Super Bowl season?

Evans: He had a national stage to display his talents and abilities.

Did he get better? I'm sure he gets better every year. This guys works at a level in which I've seen only one other guy and his name is Tom Brady with the long, pretty hair.

Drew gets better every single day in practice.

Do you always see that display itself on Sunday? No. But, the national stage allowed people to see who Drew Brees is, what he is capable of doing and what a phenomenal leader he is.

How difficult was it to miss the Super Bowl due to injury?

Evans: It was tough. Obviously, my first injury after 10 years in this league. I've obviously been blessed to have only one—a major knee injury in the midst of a magical year.

Listen, staying around and trying to be a leader but can't be on the field is tough but it was great to see a city revived because of a team and a win that really put an organization on the map.

Bad timing for a bye week?

Evans: Not at this time of year. You hate the ones that come Week 3 or Week 4 when you're really rested and you don't need it. You talk about Week 10 of the NFL season—if you could handpick your bye week, you would pick it around this time of year.

We're going to get a lot of guys back. Hopefully, we get Pierre (Thomas) and Reggie (Bush) back...we're 6-3 and we had some major injuries to battle. We're going to try and hit our peak here late in the year and win a bunch of games in November and December and see where that lands us.

What is the identity of this Saints team?

Evans: Our identity as a team is a team that is built around a bunch of guys willing to sacrifice for the men around us. Our identity lies in Drew Brees. He is our fearless leader. Our identity lies in the confidence Sean Payton instills in us week in and week out and the game plan in which we're put in and the identity of our team is really just that.

Our identity is wrapped up in a bunch of guys that are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team and teams like that always find a way to win.

You're an Auburn alum. How do you feel about the Cam Newton situation?

Evans: I've tried to remove myself from the biased opinion of an Auburn Tiger but for now it's hearsay. For now, it is a rival school (Mississippi State) in the Western Division of the SEC throwing some mud.

It feels like this is a political race. Let's throw some mud. Let's see what sticks. There's obviously some bitter resentment that Cam didn't sign with Mississippi State...and, as biased as I may be, why wouldn't you choose Auburn over Mississippi State?

Money aside, whatever, goodness gracious, this is Auburn. You have a chance to be in the mix every single year. You can't say that about Mississippi State.