Bleacher Report - Articles by Kyle T. Mosley

Drew Brees Sits Out Scrimmage Due to Death of His Mother

Kyle T. Mosley — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:33:31 -0400

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees did not participate in the New Orleans Saints' Black and Gold scrimmage due to the death of his mother, Mina Brees. She died in Colorado at a friend’s home. The cause of death is unknown.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that Brees’ brother, Marty Akins, who is also a lawyer and former University of Texas quarterback, said he was told Friday morning that Brees died in Colorado, where she was visiting her son Reid. Akins said he did not know the cause of her death.

“It’s my understanding that she was at her girlfriend’s house,” Akins said. “That’s all I know. I just know that she passed away, and I loved her very much.”

Drew and his mother had an estranged relationship since 2006 after she used his image without permission while campaigning for an office in Texas. She recently came under fire when she sent letters informing a number of prominent Austin and Houston restaurants that they had lost the legal right to use their business names, but could get them back for up to $25,000.

SaintsNews.net

The NFC South: Where the NFL's Premier Tight Ends Reside

Kyle T. Mosley — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:30:04 -0400

After New Orleans mega-deal for Shockey last season, Tampa Bay and the Falcons have followed suit for the 2009 season. Tampa Bay traded for the youthful Kellen Winslow, Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons have traded for Tony Gonzales.

Shockey, Gonzales, and Winslow has positioned the NFC South rivals to have a three of the best tight ends in the NFL. But why have the need for Tight Ends become the new “vogue” thing to do for the NFC South.

If Shockey remained healthy for New Orleans, he would have allowed the Saints to exploit the aging secondaries of the NFC South rivals. However, Shockey was still riding a a “bum wheel” and nursing a case of the “dropsies” for the Saints. Grade the Saints trade a C-.

Atlanta did not have a decent TE since Crumpler left to reside in the AFC South with the Titans. With the emergence of Ryan and the “team concept” of the Falcons, adding Gonzalez and giving up a second round pick in 2010, may be the smartest and most impact acquisition for a TE.

Tampa Bay’s arrival of Winslow may have the best long-term effect on the division. The Bucs needed someone to exploit the “slower” linebackers in the division and work the middle of the field.

The Saints may find out by this year if the Shockey trade will pay major dividends. It may be Payton’s and Bush’s last year with the team if they cannot go to the Super Bowl this upcoming season. The Falcons may have a edge with the “confidence” factor, but two years ago, so did the Saints. The Bucs need to clear-up their QB situation before giving them kudos for Winslow’s arrival.

DeuceandReggie.com

New Orleans Saints Got "Out-Thunked" Against Bucs

Kyle T. Mosley — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:53:20 -0500

Last week, I reminded all of the Saints Fans that “We Still Have a Problem,” and I was right. Sean Payton and his band of inconsistent professional football players were dismantled by THEMSELVES.

Tampa Bay Bucs didn’t win the game on brute strength, defense, and a high-powered offense, they simply “out-thought” the Saints within the critical elements of the game. Coach Payton and the New Orleans Saints' game plan was easy to defend against by a disciplined Tampa Bay defense.

Here is what I mean:

1. You put Reggie Bush in the game - He’s not going to over-run anyone, so that means you are going to pass. Result: Interceptions and three-and-outs.

2. Jason David’s on the field - He’s not going to get any safety support (Kevin Kase-of-not-protecting-the-backfield was out injured and Josh-so-full-of bull-locks was in the game) The result was an easy pitch and catch touchdown for Jeff Garcia and Antonio Bryant.

3. Blitz Brees every time Bush is in the backfield on a passing down, and have Derrick Brooks scout him on any routes out of the backfield. Result: Bush was too scared to catch the ball over the middle and dropped two passes on important series of the game.

4. You need a yard for a first down. Sean Payton’s stubborn, so let us put nine in the box and wait for the run. Result: Stopped in the backfield that results in a 4th-and-5.

5. They can’t run; so play the pass and jump the routes. Result: Interceptions. Two in the red zone.

Tampa Bay simply did what Green Bay didn’t, they "Out-Thunked" the Saints. Hence, the Saints must start planning for 2009. With Atlanta, Carolina and the Tampa Bay all winning on Sunday, the Saints are too far out of the picture for the 2008 playoff race in the NFC South.

The reality is these guys are not a focused team. Eight dropped balls are enough at Week 12 in the season to diagnose the problem. You are not as good as we thought you were. Maybe I’m not a very good fan to speak the truth.

Why will a projected Super Bowl favorite be in this situation? It is because the coach and his staff is consistent at being “OUT-THUNKED” in the NFL. As my wife told me at the altar after the preacher just pronounced us Man and Wife, “Some things got to change around here!” So should same go for the 2009 Saints. Change.

deuceandreggie

Mike Celizic: Brett Favre Wouldn't Have Rescued the Green Bay Packers

Kyle T. Mosley — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:17:13 -0500

Aaron Rodgers gave the Packers all he had on Monday night, but he couldn’t stop the Saints’ offense now could he? You think of a lot of things while watching a 51-29 game, and not many of them have to do...

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New Orleans Saints Turn Wiggle Room into Giggle Room in Blowout Win

Kyle T. Mosley — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:58:08 -0500

With six games remaining in the regular season and facing the third-ranked pass defense in the NFL that featured a Packer secondary with a league-best 16 interceptions, the Saints were out of wiggle-room. Bu...

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Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings - Running Backs

Kyle T. Mosley — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:16:20 -0500

Week 13 is here and with that comes plenty of heartache, but also plenty of happiness as well, depending on your playoff hopes and whether they have been crushed or not. If you are still in the hunt though you definitely have to start paying attention to the Bruno Boys and all of our weekly rankings.

Hit those forum boards and obviously hit us up twice a week in our ever-so-popular live Q and A sessions. Let's stomp out your competition from here on out. Now let's get to what the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 13 Running Back Rankings have to offer. Key Abbreviations: RYPC (Rushing Yards Per Carry), RYPG (Rushing Yards Per Game), RTD's (Rushing Touchdowns)

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1. Thomas Jones (New York Jets) vs. Denver

This week a gut feeling tells me that Thomas Jones will excel beyond belief. The Jets are taking on a Broncos rush defense that surrenders 144.5 RYPG, and a whopping 15 RTD's on the season. Jones has been hot as of late, scoring five TD's in his last four games, plugging away at a 104.5 clip. If you have him on your team, he must be in your lineup. And that is why he is the Bruno Boys top-RB play of the week.

Point Projection: 22 points

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To find out where the rest of the running backs rank in week 13, click the link...

Drew Brees vs Kurt Warner for MVP Comparison

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:50:24 -0500

Don Banks, of SI.com, gives a great comparison of the Drew Brees vs. Kurt Warner MVP race. The stats and production favor Drew Brees as the competition for MVP heats up in the NFL:

– Brees leads Warner in passing yardage, 3,574 to 3,506. (Note: Warner, too, is on pace to beat Marino’s mark, with 5,099 passing yards. But Brees figures to get there first and throw for more.)

– Brees has thrown more touchdown passes, 22-21.

– Brees has out-paced Warner in the important yards per pass attempt stat, 8.4 to 8.1.

– Brees has more interceptions, 11 to Warner’s eight. But when you factor in that Warner has fumbled nine times, losing six, and Brees has lost just one of his six fumbles, Warner leads in total turnovers, 14-12.

– Brees has more completions of 20-yards-plus (45-35), and almost twice as many passes of at least 40 yards (15-8).

– Brees has been sacked just nine times for minus-59 yards, while Warner has been dropped 19 times for minus-143.

– Brees has five games with three or more touchdown passes to Warner’s two.

– Brees has six 300-yard passing games and two of 400 or more, with no games fewer than 216 yards passing. Warner has six 300-yard games, one 400-yard game, and two games in which he didn’t reach 200 yards.

– Lastly, the Saints rank first overall in offense (411.9 yards per game), first in passing (319.5) and fourth in points (28.8). The Cardinals are second in offense (390.7), second in passing (309.6), and third in points (28.9). Sense any trend in all of this?

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Saints Roll Over Packers 51-29 on MNF

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:27:19 -0500

After an offensive shootout in the first half, the New Orleans Saints pulled away in the third quarter with a real team effort that included three interceptions, Deuce McAllister breaking the franchise record for rushing touchdowns, and their explosive passing game.

This was an important game for two teams trying to reach the playoffs. Coming into the game, both teams had even records after 10 games but had not broken .500. However, the Green Bay Packers are more competitive in the NFC North while the Saints will need some help to catch up to their division rivals in the NFC South.

This was also a special victory for New Orleans who has been trying to put together two wins all season and show that the team has more going for them than just the record-setting season of Drew Brees.

Saints QB Drew Brees had his eighth 300+ yard game of the season, throwing for four touchdowns. Brees finished the night with 20 out of 26 passes completed, 323 yards, and no interceptions. He has the most yards of any quarterback through 11 games (3,574) and is on pace to break several league records this season, including the most yards (Dan Marino’s 1984 record is 5,084 yards) and most 300+ yard passing games in a season (the record is 10).

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was 23 for 41 with 248 yards, 2 TDs, and 3 INTs.
The Green Bay Packers scored first with a one-yard leap into the end zone by FB John Kuhn. The Saints answered back quickly with a short pass to WR Lance Moore from the New Orleans 30 who ran the remaining yards in the end zone, a 70-yard play that left the much-vaunted Packers secondary looking outmatched.

The Saints scored again in the first quarter RB Pierre Thomas ran 4 yards in for a touchdown on short drive that began from the Packers 41 yard line after the ball was punted out of bounds.

Green Bay tied the score at 14 early in the second quarter with a short pass to WR Greg Jennings that went 7 yards and into the end zone. New Orleans then drove down the field and found Lance Moore again for his second touchdown, this time a short pass that went for 14 yards. The Packers tied the score again when Rodgers scrambled into the end zone from the 10 yard line, leaving a little less than two minutes in the first half.

On the ensuing kick, Saints WR Courtney Roby caught the ball from the 6 yard line and ran the ball 62 yards to start the drive at the Packers 32. The Saints managed to get to the 12 and rookie Garrett Hartley kicked a 30-yard field goal to continue his streak since his debut with the Saints. The Saints led at halftime 24 to 21 but it looked like the outcome would be decided by who had the ball last.

But, oh, the third quarter!

New Orleans began with a long drive of 13 plays that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown to TE Billy Miller. On Green Bay’s second play after getting the ball back, fan “favorite” CB Jason David intercepted a pass meant for Jennings at the Packers 43 yard line and ran the ball back all the way to the three before getting pushed out of bounds. After an incomplete pass to Lance Moore, Brees handed the ball off to RB Deuce McAllister who ran the three yards in for his 54th rushing touchdown.

Last week, McAllister tied the franchise record for rushing touchdowns and with an expected suspension by the league for violating the substance abuse policy, two years of season-ending injuries, and a high cap number next season, there has been much speculation that this would be his last game as a Saint. Coach Payton was the first to greet McAllister from the sidelines after the score, embracing him and apparently telling him how valued he was to the team.

With seven and a half minutes left in the third quarter, Green Bay tried to make up the 17-point deficit. On the third play of the possession, Rodgers’ pass to WR Jordy Nelson was intercepted again by Jason David at Green Bay’s 29 yard line. Coach Payton trotted out another one of his trick plays by having Brees throw to Lance Moore who then threw to Pierre Thomas but this was the Packer’s turn to make an interception. Green Bay could not capitalize on the turnover as the New Orleans defense stepped up and made them go three and out.

With a little under four minutes to go in the third, Brees then threw a deep pass to WR Marques Colston for a 70-yard touchdown that made the score New Orleans 45, Green Bay 21.

Green Bay settled in for a long drive that ate up the rest of the third quarter and gave them some points when Rodgers hit WR Ruvell Martin for a four-yard touchdown pass. The Packers then went for two and made it with another pass to Martin.

The Packers onside kick was not successful however and the Saints scored for the final time with a 31-yard touchdown run by Pierre Thomas, making him the second Saints player with two touchdowns in the game. The Saints went for the two-point conversion with a rush by McAllister but failed when he slipped. Saints LB Kevin Kaesviharn intercepted Rodgers for the third time when he caught a pass in the end zone meant for Nelson late in the fourth quarter.

Pierre Thomas had 87 yards rushing for the Saints. Lance Moore led all receivers with 115 yards, followed by Marques Colston with 70, and TE Jeremy Shockey with 57 yards.
Packers RB Ryan Grant had 67 yards, 64 in the first half. Greg Jennings had 101 yards.
CB Randall Gay and rookie DT Sedrick Ellis both had a sack in the game.

Some interesting notes from the game: Saints Coach Sean Payton did not throw a challenge flag. Second-string QB Mark Brunell came in after the second touchdown by Pierre Thomas but did not throw a pass. The Saints had only two penalties for a total of 10 yards. This was the Saints fourth game without RB Reggie Bush who injured his knee against Carolina.

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New Orleans Saints, We Still Have a Problem

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:19:54 -0500

I love the way the Saints demonstrated consistency and passion in the Superdome against the Green Bay Packers. It's a huge win, BUT, they still have a problem in the NFC South.

The division leaders, Tampa Bay Bucs, Carolina Panthers, and the Atlanta Falcons have the best chance at winning the NFC South title and one wild-card slot.

Unfortunately for the Saints, they have the best chance at being competitive, yet serving one another popcorn during the NFC Playoff broadcasts in January.

Pessimistic? Well, as Sarah Palin would say it, “You Betcha!” The poster-children for underachieving, inconsistency, and being a buzz killer the past two years has been the Saints—a team I have loved and cheered and cried for all of my life.

But the reality will have to become a miracle for the Saints to gain entrance into the playoffs this season. Why would you doubt their chances? Why would you throw water on the fire? Why, Why, Why? Well, because I must end my codependent relationship with my beloved team and must rationally analyze our relationship.

The Saints will face Tampa Bay on Sunday—and will win. I believe Garcia and the Bucs will fall due to their own inconsistent play. Don’t be fooled by their record. Next, the Saints will face the Falcons at home. I predict the Saints will win this game. Ryan will not have the same luxuries in the pocket this second go around with New Orleans in the Superdome.

Then Chicago and Detroit. Both “winnable” games. Detroit will be the Saints' “trap game.” They can’t afford to slip. Finally, the Saints will return home and play the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 28 in the Superdome.

I believe that either one or two scenarios will play out in this game. Either the Saints will be playing a Carolina team that will rest its starters and the Saints will win. Or, the Saints will face a gamed Panther team fighting for their playoff aspirations in the season finale.

Whatever the case, the Saints cannot lose a game. Hold on, maybe they can pull it out and finish 11-5, 4-2 in the NFC South. Maybe and just maybe, they decide to change their fortunes one win at a time. Maybe Drew Brees will play Moses and take the Saints to the promise land. The Super Bowl. Reggie Bush will be starring as Joshua. Didn’t you want Charlton Heston on Easter evening for the past 40 years, too?

Whatever my dreams and pessimism may dish out, the Saints still have a problem. Themselves and the rest of the NFC South. If they go to the playoffs, it will be because they earned it. Wasn’t that the same phrase on their training camp T-Shirts that Payton made them wear? Earn It!

Geaux Saints!

New Orleans Saints, We Still Have A Problem

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:43:01 -0500

I love the way the Saints demonstrated consistency and passion in the Superdome against the Green Bay Packers. It's a huge win, BUT, they still have a problem in the NFC South. The division leaders, Tampa Bay Bucs, Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons have the best chance at winning the NFC South title and one wild card slot.

Unfortunately for the Saints, they have the best chance at being competitive, yet serving one another popcorn during the NFC Playoff broadcasts in January.

Pessimistic? Well, as Sarah Palin would say it, “You Betcha!”

The poster-children for underachieving, inconsistent, buzz killers the past two years have been the Saints. A team I have loved, cheered, and cried for all of my life.

The reality will have to become a miracle for the Saints to gain entrance into the playoffs this season.

Why would you doubt their chances? Why would you throw water on the fire? Why, Why, Why?

Well, because I must end my codependent relationship with my beloved team and must rationally analyze our relationship.

The Saints will face Tampa Bay on Sunday. And will win.

I believe Garcia and the Bucs will fall due to their own inconsistent play. Don’t be fooled by their record.

Next, the Saints will face the Falcons at home. I predict the Saints will win this game. Ryan will not have the same luxuries in the pocket this second go around with New Orleans in the Superdome.

Then Chicago and Detroit. Both “winnable” games. Detroit will be the Saints' “trap game.” They can’t afford to slip.

Finally, the Saints will return home and play the Carolina Panthers on December 28 in the Superdome. I believe that either one or two scenarios will play out in this game.

Either the Saints will be playing a Carolina team that will rest its starters and the Saints will win. Or, the Saints will face a gamed Panther team fighting for their playoff aspirations in the season finale.

Whatever the case, the Saints cannot lose a game. Hold on, maybe they can pull it out and finish 11-5 with a 4-2 NFC South division record.

Maybe, and just maybe, they decide to change their fortunes one win at a time. Maybe Drew Brees will play Moses and take the Saints to the promised land. The Super Bowl.

Reggie Bush will be starring as Joshua. Didn’t you want Charlton Heston on Easter evening for the past 40 years, too?

Whatever, my dreams and pessimism may dish out, the Saints still have a problem. Themselves, and the rest of the NFC South. If they go to the playoffs, it will be because they earned it. Wasn’t that the same phrase on their training camp T-Shirts that Payton made them wear? Earn It!

Geaux Saints!

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Reggie Bush's Status for Packers Game Is Mysterious

Kyle T. Mosley — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:34:18 -0500

Conflicting and confusing.

Earlier this week, Reggie Bush and Sean Payton were “optimistic” for Bush’s return to the Saints lineup for the Packers game, but things many have changed. Fox Sports reporter, Jay Glazer, reported that Reggie is “Questionable” for tonight's Monday Night Football matchup, according to his sources.

If he can not play, Pierre Thomas, Deuce McAllister and newly-acquired Mike Bell will “RUN BY COMMITTEE” for the Saints. This can work, but Bush’s presence on special teams and in the passing game would be sorely missed by New Orleans.

Watch for the Packers linebackers to key in on the run and blitz Drew Brees early in the game. The desired way to neutralize their attack would be with Jeremy Shockey (if he holds onto the ball) and Billy Miller. Fantasy owners may want to pick them up, if it is not too late.

The wideouts will face the some physical defensive backs like they experienced with the Vikings. unfornately, Lance Moore and Devery Henderson don't fare well against more physical DB's. This is why Reggie would have been great to have in the lineup. If you take them long and expose the linebackers, then the Saints can move the ball in the middle of the field.

Let’s see if Bush can make the return. I’m starting to wonder if most of Reggie’s injury recovery is more psychological rather than physical. Or, is it Payton’s psyche we can call into question?

Original story is at DeuceandReggie.com

For complete Saints news, go to SaintsNews.net

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Reggie Bush Is a “No Go” for Sunday

Kyle T. Mosley — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:41:50 -0500

Reggie Bush will not be in the Saints' backfield on Sunday in Kansas City. The Saints will go against the Herm Edwards’ Chiefs who are playing decent football despite their record. If the Saints lose the game, their playoff aspirations will go down the toilet. Arrowhead stadium is a difficult place for opposing teams to win, and minus Bush, the Saints will have one of their most difficult games of the year.

Kansas City is a “trap game” for the Saints. Historically, Sean Payton teams do not fare well in these games. Without Bush, Karney, Goodwin, expect Drew Brees to be under assault from the blitzing linebackers all day long. This game will be closer than expected.

Geaux Saints!

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Are Will Smith and Charles Grant Gone in 2009?

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:30:12 -0500

The Saints need a complete defensive overhaul in 2009. A new defensive coordinator, defensive backs, linebackers (Fujita and Vilma can stay), and defensive ends (McCray stays).

Will Smith has not been productive at all this year. On Sunday, he over-ran a simple containment play that resulted in Michael Turner gaining 20 yards on third down. In addition to that, he was penalized for an offsides play AGAIN that allowed the Falcons to continue a drive.

Smith has allowed critical drives to continue in the Redskins, Denver, Vikings, and Falcons games this year. Bonehead plays. Maybe it is the masking agent affecting his play? Smith and Grant have definitely been good players in the past, but they have not fulfilled their end of the high-dollar contracts they signed these past two years.

Smith and Grant have a combined 58 tackles and five sacks in 2008. The entire team has 14 sacks in nine games. Grant is out due to injury and Smith may be on his way due to a violation of the NFL’s drug policy.

McCray has outperformed both of his fellow defensive ends. What is odd about the situation is that the Saints have not attempted to sign an additional body to shore up the ends. Rice and KGB are two of the bigger names that are still available. What’s the hold up? Only Payton and Loomis knows for sure.

It will be very difficult to take the cap hits on Smith and Grant, but maybe Smith may help the Saints if a trade is discussed. 2008 is coming to an end, unfortunately, two of the Saints highest paid players stint with them may be ending as well.

www.deuceandreggie.com

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MVP or MIP - Who is more Important for the Saints?

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:14:35 -0500

For the New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees may be the Most Valuable Player, but Reggie Bush’s absence (due to injury), has proven he is their Most Important Player. Without any doubt, Brees’ performance is outstanding in the Saints offensive scheme. However, Reggie Bush is indeed the centerpiece of the team’s offensive attack. The Saints appeared lost without Bush. Payton appeared lost. A lost sense of identity. They lacked a sense of purpose. Why is it so and how can this be true?

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NFL Recap: Week 10

Kyle T. Mosley — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:42:50 -0500

Thomas Jones has been part of the resurrection of New York’s “other” team. Jones’ day consisted of 26 carries for 149 yards and three touchdowns as the 6-3 Jets pounded the Rams 47-3.brbrGiants 36 - Eagles 31: The Giants put the Eagles in their rear-view mirror in terms of the division title. Chargers...

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Fantasy Football Week 11 Waiver Wire Add Drop Advice

Kyle T. Mosley — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:09:14 -0500

Still looking to add depth to your fantasy football roster? Not sure what to do with your struggling skill player?

With another week of fantasy football in the books, it means it’s time to look at the Week 10 Waiver Wire. With the playoff rapidily approaching there is still time to find that free agent with a favorable schedule the rest of the way..

To find out who to snag from the Week 10 free agent list click the link below…

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Saints-Falcons: New Orleans Falls to 4-5 After 34-20 Thumping By Falcons

Kyle T. Mosley — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:19:38 -0500

Before the game started, the big question was how well newly-signed Kicker Garrett Huntley would do. As it turns out, Huntley was perfect for the day but you couldn’t say the same for the rest of the team with the exceptions of Brees and Colston who had outstanding days.

Drew Brees continued his passing streak finishing the day with 422 yards, completing 31 of 58, with two touchdowns and three interceptions while Atlanta QB Matt Ryan had 248 yards, making 16 of 23, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

This was the seventh 300 plus yard game this season for Drew Brees. It was also his second 400-plus yard game of the season and his highest yardage. Brees threw for 421 yards in the week three loss to Denver.

In the first half, Atlanta made touchdowns while New Orleans could only make field goals. The Saints started their first possession of the game by throwing a deep pass to WR Devery Henderson in double coverage that was intercepted by Safety Erik Coleman.

Starting from midfield on their next possession, Atlanta quickly drove down to the red zone and made their first touchdown of the day with a 16-yard pass to WR Roddy White.

A long drive for New Orleans on their next possession resulted in a 24-yard field goal by newly signed Kicker Garrett Hartley. Atlanta answered by driving down from their 20 to a RB Michael Turner two-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Following the only sack of the first half, New Orleans was then forced to kick a 44-yard field goal midway through the quarter.

Atlanta answered back again with their own field goal from 22 yards, making the score at halftime, 17-6 Atlanta, with Atlanta also leading in total yards and time of possession.

The one bright spot at halftime was that the Saints had outrushed the Falcons 87 to 55 yards, the difference maker being Devery Henderson leading the Saints with a 30-yard run on one play.

The second half started out pretty quietly, with the only score in the third quarter being a 27-yard field goal for Atlanta to cap a long 60-yard drive which took 13 plays and eight-and-a-half minutes. After shutting New Orleans down on their next possession, Atlanta then started out the fourth quarter, scoring quickly with a short pass to RB Jerious Norwood, who then turned it into a 67-yard play and a touchdown to put Atlanta ahead 27-6.

On their first possession of the fourth quarter, New Orleans was able to make a crucial play on 4th-and-1 that led the team to make their first touchdown of the game on a short pass to Deuce McAllister, who jogged 15 yards into the end zone. This was the first receiving touchdown for McAllister since 2002.

After flubbing the on-side kick, the Saints' defense held tight, forcing the Falcons to go three and out. New Orleans also ran into trouble on their next possession, going for it on 4th-and-5 and making it with a 19-yard pass to David Patten. The drive ended when Brees threw a pass intended for Lance Moore that was intercepted in the end zone by Falcons CB Chris Houston.

New Orleans drove down the field again within the last two minutes of the game, making it to the five-yard line but Brees was intercepted again, this time by Chevis Jackson, who ran 95 yards for a touchdown with a minute and a half left in the game.

New Orleans finished the game with a hail mary pass into the end zone that gave them their second touchdown, as time expired.

Probably the best news of the game was the return of Marques Colston as a receiving threat. He had 140 yards on seven catches. Lance Moore had 76 yards and a touchdown and TE Billy Miller had 65 yards.

The Saints were not able to establish much of a rushing game as Henderson led with his 30 yards.

Coach Payton continued to call challenges at questionable points in the game, losing a challenge that Atlanta RB Michael Turner made the first down on a two-yard run in the third quarter. CB Mike McKenzie injured his right knee late in in the third quarter and had to be carted off the field. He did not return.

New Orleans will face Kansas City next week as they try to improve from their four-and-five record.

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NFL in UK Has Long Way to Go

Kyle T. Mosley — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:00:07 -0400

Honestly, I had an amazing weekend in London, and with the Saints winning, I think I probably speak for a lot of other Saints fans who also made the trip. But the purpose of the game, for the NFL at least, is not as much about pleasing American fans making the trip but more about spreading the great game of football to further markets and gaining new fans.

I asked a lot of questions in my short time and first got the impression that football had no chance. That isn’t fair though. Really, this is simply a young, fledgling project in its early stages of development. Of course, that means there are a few areas that need improvement. Below are three of those areas that should definitely be addressed before next years event.

The idea of playing abroad is not going to last too long if teams become hesitant about participating in future events because they know it will be nothing more than a hassle and distraction.

”It’d be hard for me to say it’s a great experience, a great thing for your club, ” said Payton, who said San Diego Coach Norv Turner experienced some of the same problems.

“Logistically, I think it’s hard to bring two teams over there and play a game during the regular season like this. The travel, the transportation, those aren’t club issues, those are league issues...I think they just have a lot of work to do to figure this thing out.

"It’s not just about the traveling either. After last years Mud Bowl we saw only little improvement in the field this year."

New Orleans coach Sean Payton said the quality of the field was poor and blamed it for the struggles endured by his defenders.

He said: “The footing was bad, the field was slick and choppy and generally it comes in favour of offences.

”After our run-through on Saturday we knew it would be a sloppy field regardless of whether it rained.”

To be sure, Sean Payton has not been the leagues best ambassador so far this season and is becoming increasingly outspoken. Giving teams the bye week after the game is a good idea, but it can’t just stop there. You may never be able to completely control transportation issues, and you certainly can’t control time-difference issues, so I’m not sure what the answers are. Regardless, it might not be too long before coaches and owners start clashing over the possibility of playing a game abroad.

While I was over there, I was sure to get an idea of what the NFL was doing to get butts in the seats. I asked one of Adam’s friends, an American who has lived in London for four years, what he thought of the promotion.

"When they announced the game last year it was one of the most hyped-up events I’ve ever seen. I was really impressed with the promotion then. But then that game ended up being horrible, so the end result was a bit disappointing. This year there was far less promotion. All I ever saw were emails, and I only got those because I was on the list from last year."

Add to that a breakdown between ticket supplier and end users. I found this comment after an article from Britain’s iTimes Online.

"I was there yesterday and really enjoyed it but thought the refs were a bit too officious—also I think the NFL have to look at selling the game better—I knew loads of people who wanted to go but whent on the nfl uk website it was impossible to get tix yet there were tons of empty seats."

A few other people I spoke with expressed the same sentiment and apparently, if we are to believe Roger Goodell, it’s valid.

Of more concern to the NFL will be the patches of empty seats amid a crowd of 80,000 in a stadium that could have been sold out “several times over,” according to the league commissioner, Roger Goodell. However, that did not affect the enthusiastic atmosphere created by those in attendance.

The blocks of empty seats most likely belonged to independent ticket brokers who bought them out but for whatever the reason, didn’t sell them. That needs to be resolved and tickets need to be more readily available and at reasonable cost.

You probably noticed the many different NFL jerseys being worn by fans in the stands. Among the majority were Dolphins and Redskins jerseys. That’s because they were younger when the NFL was more popular during the '80s. Sunday’s game was their chance to break out their old jersey from the back of the closet; their chance to come out and enjoy the sport they love the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

NFL was first shown here on TV live in the mid ’80s, so the biggest support here is for teams which were good those 20 years ago—the Bears, 49ers, Redskins, and Dolphins.

Like most sports fans, they all caught the football bug at a young age and that is exactly where the NFL needs to focus. Another American offered his opinion.

"Much like everything else, start ‘em young and that’s where you’ll have the most influence. I think the impact will be seen in another 10 years from the kids that saw the game. Much like how soccer in the states has moved to the forefront as a result of the 1994 World Cup, NFL in the UK (if they keep promoting it) will increase in popularity as a result. As far as immediate effects, it only benefits existing football fans living abroad or those in the states looking for an excuse to travel–which isn’t a bad thing!"

Believe it or not, football is not currently an obsession in England like it is stateside. Crazy, I know. They have their own sports like football (you know what I mean), cricket, and rugby. To create a culture of football, the likes the NFL is surely trying to establish in England, with its deeply rooted history, is a monumental feat.

Think about how hard it would be to get all of us to start watching cricket. Probably not happening. But what if cricket was always there? What if you grew up watching cricket? Whole different story.

To really make this successful, the NFL will have to change the culture and the best chance they have to do that is with younger generations. This also means another key is to really commit for the long haul. Results might not be evident for years. We know Europeans can be extremely passionate about sports, so for the NFL, it’s just a matter of transferring that passion.

Getting the NFL to gain popularity in the UK and other parts of Europe won’t come overnight, which is good, because the NFL and NFLUK still have some learning and growing to do. In the meantime, it should be enjoyed simply for what it is...a novelty.

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New Orleans Saints Choose Garrett Hartley and Glenn Pakulak

Kyle T. Mosley — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:05:00 -0400

The Saints have signed kicker Garrett Hartley and punter Glenn Pakulak after auditioning several players at both positions at their practice facility on Wednesday.

”We were impressed with both Garrett and Glenn throughout the competitive sessions and we will continue to evaluate the positions closely throughout the remainder of the season,” General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a press release.

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Reggie Bush Injured

Kyle T. Mosley — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:39:09 -0400

Reggie Bush has been diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left knee.

He is expected to have surgery tomorrow. He may be out of the Saints' lineup for at least three weeks.

DeuceandReggie.com

Fantasy Football Start Em & Sit Em—Week Seven

Kyle T. Mosley — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:16:52 -0400

Sometimes injuries and bye weeks fill in your fantasy football line-ups for you; however, more often than not, you have a choice to make. Make the right choice and you’re Sunday will be golden; make the wrong choice and you’re cursed with the dreaded “What ifs!”

We, here, at the Bruno Boys don’t want you to go through that misery. So, take a gander at our Week Seven Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em. At the very least, you’ll free yourself of the blame for making the wrong choice.

——————–

QUARTERBACKS - START ‘EM

Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) vs. Detroit

In the past three weeks, the only thing that has been able to prevent Schaub from putting up 300+ passing yards and 20+ fantasy points was the flu that kept him out of the Texans Week Five match-up with the Indianapolis Colts.

With running back, Steve Slaton, helping to keep defenses honest and Andre Johnson returning to stud status, Schaub has things rolling, and he should roll over a Detroit Lions defense that ranks 30th in the NFL against the pass, giving up nine passing TDs already on the year and an average of 250.6 passing yards per game.

TO READ THE REST OF THE WEEK 7 START ‘EM & SIT ‘EM CLICK THE LINK BELOW…

Reggie Bush Is No Bust—He Sets NFL Records

Kyle T. Mosley — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:41:06 -0400

How does this bust continue to set NFL records? The experts, commentators, NFL scouts, and GMs have given their opinions on Reggie Bush and his production in his first two years in the NFL.

The usual label of “bust” has been mentioned time and time again. However, Reggie has quietly produced in areas they have not focused on.

The first is receptions. Reggie, a running back, set and tied NFL records in his last two games. He and the Cardinals’ Boldin, a wide receiver, have more receptions in their first 33 and 34 games of an NFL career at 199 and 200 respectively than anyone ever to start their careers.

Boldin’s record is typical because wide receivers get the ball thrown to them more than other positions in the NFL, but Bush’s record is unique. Reggie and Drew Brees have connected faster than any other QB-RB tandem in NFL history. Just think about this: Bush didn’t play in four games last year, therefore, he would have shattered the record earlier than Boldin.

This number is very impressive. We must credit Payton’s play-calling and Bree’s execution, but most of all, Reggie’s hands. If we equate most of those receptions as handoffs in the West Coast Offense, then Reggie’s run production is definitely better than his handoff run production that has been over-criticized weekly.

If Reggie had a dollar for every ESPN, FOX, CBS, and NBC analyst to say the word "bust" in reference to his running back skills, I bet Reggie wouldn’t need the outside endorsement dollars to be a multi-millionaire.

Mr. Bush is making his mark on the NFL in a unique manner—not to mention that he tied the two punt return for touchdowns mark in the Vikings game.

Will he ever be what they want him to be? No. Will he have the impact they want him to have? No.

We must not forget that Reggie set two records in his first year. First, the most receptions by a rookie running back. Second, the 80-yard touchdown reception in the NFC Championship game.

But I have a sneaking suspicion that by the time his career in the NFL begins to fade into the twilight, Reggie will have had an impact on the game that no one expected. He's a record setter, not a bust! He’s just a man that does it HIS WAY.

DeuceandReggie.com

Raiders @ Saints: The View from Section 108

Kyle T. Mosley — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:33:55 -0400

This one was a good one. Pure domination. The Saints were all business and steamrolled over a weak Raider team. Actually, the game went very quickly and was a little boring compared to last week’s nail biter.

Make the jump to check out my initial observations in no particular order. I just got back from the game and haven’t looked at anything yet so take this with a grain of salt.

Colston was not introduced as a starter. Maybe next week.
Today was former Saintsation day. All of the former Saintsations reunited for this game and watched it from seats on the field. This means, of course, that I got a chance to see Renny, of Big Brother fame.
The giveaway for today’s game was a foam stick. Very phalic if you ask me. While we’re on the subject...I will never understand those people who hoard the free giveaways. I know the economy is bad, but these cheap items will not be used to replace American currency if the dollar continues to tank.
The Saints secondary missed a couple of interceptions opportunities, particularly safeties Josh Bullocks and Roman Harper.
On Weatherford's first punt, he made a nice hit on the returner, up-ending him.
Following a nice 29-yard catch by Mark Campbell, he is shaken up and slow to get up. Somewhere Stujo4 is laughing. Fortunately Campbell would be fine.
There was confusion in the crowd around me after Mehlhaff’s first field goal attempt. It looked like he had made it but obviously he did not. Not sure what to make of Mehlhaff at this point. He kicked one into the end zone and went 2-for-3. Not sure if he is the next Morten Andersen, but I’m sure we will find out sooner rather than later.
Reggie’s numbers actually weren’t that great, particularly on the ground, but he is turning out to be quite a playmaker and defenses need to account for him. He got a great block from the ref on his second touchdown.
Deuce had another solid game. I think it is safe to say that he is back, and I see no reason why we shouldn’t continue to see more and more of Deuce running the ball up the middle. It makes Reggie and Drew so much more effective.
The Raiders did a good job containing Reggie on punt returns with very high kicks and decent coverage. Fortunately, you can’t stop Reggie you can only hope to contain him.
The Saints' defense initially looked poor. The Raiders seemed to convert easily on key third downs. After a slow start, however, the defense picked it up and played a great game. Fargas and McFadden were extremely limited. The Saints have become quite adept that stopping very good running backs.
I think we might have to accept the fact that Payton is going to be hard headed about Reggie with regards to running him between the tackles. Personally, I think his touches in those situations should be very limited, but coach continues to try and fit a square peg in a round hole. Maybe it’s purely to mislead defenses?
The Saints put together a masterful 18-play, 86-yard, 10-minute drive capped by a Reggie Bush run for a touchdown to put them ahead 7-3. That Saints never looked back.
Brees put up ridiculous numbers. He is not even human! Where would we be without him? Seriously?
Janikowski has a hell of a leg. Fortunately, it's not very accurate. Those 53 and 57-yard attempts had the distance.
The turnover streak is over!!
My waving hand made the corner of the Jumbotron as they put members of my section up on the screen.
How good is Jonathan Vilma? He is all over the place. I feel like I say this every week but he was a steal this offseason.
It was at about the middle of the game when I realized that I never set my fantasy football rosters or make my weekly pick’em picks. Gil Fenerty...you’re welcome!!
While it didn’t affect the game like last week, the officiating seemed a little lacking again. A couple of calls that appeared to be penalties went unnoticed. The refs were loudly booed off the field yet again following the first half because the crowd felt there was still enough time on the clock to kick a field goal.
Halftime saw a team of children play football against a collection of mascots including ones from the Saints, Zephyrs, Voodoo, LSU, and, randomly, the Miami Dolphins. The mascots lost.
Guess who got a pick off? Everyone’s favorite cornerback Jason David.
Bobby McCray got himself two sacks today. McCray has three tackles for the entire season. All of them are sacks. The Saints defense had a tough time taking the very large JaMarcus Russell down however, and could only do so late in the game.
Russell has a cannon of an arm and overthrew his receivers more than a couple of times.
Aaron Stecker continued his comeback from injury by getting himself a touchdown. I like Aaron.
Lance Moore had another great game as Drew Brees’ favorite receiver. Though he did drop one, Lance did a great job getting open and making tough catches. Meachem didn’t even make the box score. Henderson also came up big on his two catches.
Quite a few Raider fans came out to support their team in the Dome. Behind me was a loud-mouthed Raider fan who talked trash about Reggie Bush and the Saints kicking woes through the first quarter. Didn’t hear much from him after the second quarter. There were also two Raider fans sitting in front of me but being respectful and polite. Unfortunately for them, the two parentless 10 year olds sitting next to them weren’t so respectful. In the fourth quarter, the kids continued to sarcastically ask the pissed off Raider fans how they were doing, taunting, teasing and poking them with their foam penis. Funny kids. Poor guys.
On the ride home, the streetcar I was riding hit a car full of Saints fans that had cut in front of it on Lee Circle. The car pulled over to assess damage and maybe wait for the police. The streetcar just kept going.

Tailgating.

More tailgating.

That’s a Norman Hand jersey, not Hollis “Spongebob Squarepants” Thomas.

Autographed Brees jersey up for auction.

More items up for auction.

Mehlhaff missing his first NFL field goal attempt.

Reggie’s first touchdown.

Karney laying into a Raider defender.

Mehlhaff after his first NFL field goal.

Here is the roll call for the open thread. Great job guys. Thanks for coming out!

Name	# of Posts
dell00	36
SpindianSaints	27
xen-cuts	21
FrenchFreak	19
SaintBevo	15
BayouRebel	13
stujo4	3
MattHaggard	2
kssaints	2
TAYDIGGA	1
SSreporters	1

Poll

Who is the player of the game?

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Saints Fans Love/Hate Reggie Bush

Kyle T. Mosley — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:37:23 -0400

Saints Fans Love/Hate Reggie Bush

Despite the cheers you heard for Reggie Bush after his electrifying punt returns Monday night, Saints fans have developed a love/hate relationship with him. The overwhelming majority of them would rather see Deuce McAllister carry the load at running back.

All those “Deuuuce” chants in the Superdome are more than just love for McAllister. What you can’t hear on TV is that they are often accompanied by under-the-breath knocks on Bush, cursing his sideways (pussyfoot?) running style that often takes him out of bounds. Many have clearly grown tired of waiting for Bush to reach his much hyped potential.

Breaking Down the Radiers Matchup w/ the Saints

Kyle T. Mosley — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:30:32 -0400

The Oakland Raiders are hoping a shift at the top of their coaching ranks will pay off as they travel to New Orleans on Sunday to take on the struggling 2-3 New Orleans Saints.

Al Davis finally did what he said he was going to do for sometime, and that was fire coach Lane Kiffin in what turned into a circus by the time it was said and done. Now new coach Tom Cable has the task of trying to take a team that came close to winning games, and pushing them over the top.

The Saints are smarting after a stunning 30-27 loss to the Vikings on Monday night. They got two punt returns from Reggie Bush, yet could not overcome a blocked FG for a score, and a late Ryan Longwell field goal. They only allowed 44 yards on the ground, but still could not get the job done at home. Now they return home on a short week for the Raiders, a team that can run the ball, but struggle in other areas.

Mistakes plagued the Saints, who had four turnovers, several dropped passes and 11 penalties for 102 yards. They will attack the Raiders with their usual solid offense, with Drew Brees looking for leading pass catcher Reggie Bush (38 grabs) and more down the field threat Devery Henderson. Brees has already thrown for 1673 yards and nine TD’s on the season. Bush has added 212 yards and one TD on the ground.

The Saints D is ranked 24th, and will have to play as well stopping the run as they did Monday night. The Raiders have players that can run the ball, such as rookie Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. They are averaging 155 yards per game on the ground, good for 3rd in the league. Look for JaMarcus Russell to take some shots on the Saints D, as he has been throwing the ball better the past few weeks.

Oakland is ranked 17th in the league on D, and have been good early in games, but then they give up some big plays (like the last two games to Buffalo and San Diego) and fall late. This is why they are sitting at 1-3 on the season instead of possibly 3-1, and challenging the Broncos for the top spot in the AFC West.

This game is going to be critical to see how much fight both teams have. The Raiders are a group that has taken a beating due to the acts of their owner, but they are a better group this season than in years past.

The Saints need a win to build some confidence, and should have better success at home this week than last. Look for New Orleans to have another big day from Bush and co. and come out with a 10-point win.

Tracy Porter Out for Season

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:17:20 -0400

Tracy Porter Out for Season

The Saints have placed starting cornerback Tracy Porter on injured reserve, ending his first season in the NFL.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday in a news conference that Porter needed surgery on his right wrist, which he dislocated against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. Greg Bensel, the Saints’ vice president of communications, later confirmed that Porter was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list.

I hate to be the bearer of even more unbearable news. Sorry guys.

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New Orleans Saints Blog Upgrades

Kyle T. Mosley — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:00:06 -0400

The fine technical staff over at SB Nation have done it again. They have hooked you guys up yet again. The truth is, I was already planning on putting up one of these “business” posts anyway to let you guys know about some of the different things I have added around here and welcome some of the newer members.

Then I got a bunch of emails telling me about all the cool stuff SB Nation has been working on too. Some of it has been around a bit and you may have already noticed it and some of it is brand spanking new. Without further ado, let me show you around some of the new digs.

First of all for some of the newer members be sure to check out this very old Tour of CSC post I wrote a while ago. Some of it doesn’t apply anymore but I guess it’s worth the read.

On to some of the new stuff!

In the very top right corner you will see a revolving list of headlines from around the sports world. It also alerts you of new SB Nation features. Feel free to click on those if they interest you. Always remember that there is coverage of almost every sports related story right here at SB Nation.

I have moved the FanShot section up so it now sits just below the FanPosts (wink, wink to whoever suggested that). For those of you who don’t know, that is where I usually put links to stuff about the Saints from around the web. I usually give it to you as a quote to intrigue you. Click on the link to read the entire article.

Sometimes I put them on the front page just to break up the regular posts. However, they are not just for me, they are for you too. If you find a funny video on YouTube, you can just copy the embed code in a FanShot and it goes right up.

If you’re reading an article about the Saints and it hasn’t been posted on CSC, open up a new tab and just put up a quick FanShot. It takes literally seconds. Hook everyone else up. The power of numbers people. Moving on.

On the left side you will find our new RSS feed. Remember two seconds ago when I told you about how I put everything I find up as a FanShot and I encourage all of you to do the same? Well if you grab the FanShot section feed, it’s like having a feed to almost every story about the Saints out there. Cool!

You will also see a link to all of our other great SB Nation blogs. Just click on the sport and the list will magically appear. There’s my email address and all that stuff below that.

On the left side I also added a Canal Street Chronicles widget. This one is cool. Please listen carefully as this can really help CSC grown. I put this up for you guys.

For those of you who have webpages, including other blogs, MySpace pages, Facebook profile, etc. you can grab that widget and put it on your pages or profiles. Just click on “Get Widget” and follow the instructions. That would be awesome!

I don’t know if any of you have noticed this, but on the left sidebar there is a list of current Saints player injuries. Below that I also put the injuries of the upcoming Saints opponent. Good idea huh? Speaking of future opponents, you might have noticed the countdown clock on the right hand side. I don’t suggest starting, it only makes it go slower.

If you are getting bored of all this technical mumbo jumbo, maybe you would prefer to get your Saints news from this exciting guy! Hold on to the edge of your seat before pushing play on this one!!

Back to work…

You might have noticed I added a new video widget. That will automatically update with random Saints related videos it finds from around the internet. More coolness.

Also, Canal Street Chronicles and all of SB Nation is now mobile! That means whenever you’re not near a computer at home or work, you can get on your handy dandy iphone, itouch, blackberry or other mobile internet device you may own and easily read your favorite website. You can’t comment from your mobile device yet, but that is coming very shortly.

This last one is probably my favorite because it’s something I personally wanted to see so pay attention. You know how I always keep saying that the FanPost section is really just a glorified message board. Well now it is!!

Click on the FanPost button on the top navigation bar (just below the banner ad and to the right of the CSC logo) or click on “All FanPosts” at the bottom of FanPost section. Cool right!? It’s a message board! You can sort the board any way you like, but I suggest doing by “Most Recent Activity.”You can always look at it in good old fashioned Full View.

The reason I’m excited about this is because I have high hopes that this will increase participation. This section is what makes this site so cool. I only post every so often but you guys are always out there and always checking in at all hours of the day. Lots of activity in this section will always keep it fresh. Take advantage of it. Do fun stuff like a player look-a-like post for each weeks upcoming opponent, take a poll (you can do that!), write a rant, give everyone your keys to the game, talk about something funny you noticed during the game or bash Tony Kornheiser (this one is coming on Tuesday morning I can feel it!). It might be frustrating if you don’t get a lot of comments on something you write but it will come.

Some other random notes to remember:

If you like something, rec it. When something receives 4 rec’s, it gets promoted. If a front page post gets rec’d enough it becomes a featured story. You can even rec individual comments to highlight them! Let others with not a lot of time know where to go first.
Buzz the heck out of my front page posts. That is a traffic generator. The more a story gets buzzed, the more people will find it. Help us grow.
Always feel free to email me with anything. Even with technical aspects.
I encourage you guys to tag anything you post with the appropriate players and teams. It helps with search engines.
I write all my posts in Wide format. That may effect the look if you are in Narrow.
This post will permanently be found in the Tour of CSC section for later reference.
My final point is important. Do anything you can to help spread the word about CSC. If you participate in other Saints/sports message boards or blogs, let them know about us. Tell all of your friends. Put us in your profiles. Buzz the stories. Tag your posts. Every little bit helps! The bigger this community, the better.

Thanks to all of you out there who make this fun for me to do. I promised myself I wouldn’t get emotional. I have to go…

Poll

Did you learn something from this post?

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Magic Number Is 20 for New Orleans Saints, Deuce McAllister

Kyle T. Mosley — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:25:57 -0400

The fine folks at ESPN’s research department sent over some very interesting numbers about the Saints and running back Deuce McAllister. He was the center of speculation after barely playing in the first three games and the center of attention after getting 20 carries in Sunday’s victory against San Francisco.

That’s kind of ironic because it appears 20 is the magic number for McAllister and the Saints. In the games where McAllister has played—and carried at least once—since the arrival of coach Sean Payton, the Saints are 6-0 when the running back gets 20 carries.

Here’s a break down of what the Saints have done in games where McAllister gets 20 carries and what’s happened when he doesn’t get the ball as much.

20 carries or more Less than 20 carries

Team record 6-0 5-9

Points per game 31.2 21.3

Drew Brees pass attempts 32.2 39.6

Brees yards passing 264.0 288.9

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Deuce McAllister: The Return of a Hero

Kyle T. Mosley — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:39:16 -0400

Helmet in hand, Deuce McAllister jogged triumphantly into the tunnel of the Louisiana Superdome, past celebrating Saints fans howling his name. Then came another thrill.

McAllister’s childhood idol, former San Francisco running back Roger Craig, called to congratulate him on his first validating performance since his second knee-reconstruction.

“I talked to my hero,” McAllister said. “He told me he was proud of me.”

San Francisco’s shaky run defense had trouble stopping McAllister’s power running, and New Orleans avoided an early-season hole with a 31-17 victory on Sunday.

The Saints’ all-time leading rusher hardly looked like he was playing on two reconstructed knees when he bowled over tacklers for first downs, moved the pile, or dived over it for his first touchdown of the season.

“I’m sure a lot of people weren’t giving him a chance to come back,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. “He proved a lot of people wrong.”

Read more: ESPN - San Francisco vs. New Orleans - Recap - Sept. 28, 2008

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Reggie Bush Signs New Deal with the Saints

Kyle T. Mosley — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:56:43 -0400

According to Scout.com, Reggie Bush and the New Orleans Saints have restructured his initial contract. Reggie's new contract will give him "achievable" incentives for the next several seasons. Bush’s agent, Joel Segal, confirmed that the Saints restructured the tailback’s contract this offseason, but it was more of a bookkeeping issue than anything else. Here are the highlights of the contract:

The team included a $4 million signing bonus as part of the new deal, which runs through 2011, and a $4.5 million roster bonus for the 2009 season.

Bush had four years remaining on his original deal with $10.25 million in salary and $10 million in prorated bonus money scheduled spread out through 2011. But he also had $20 million dollars of “Not Likely to Be Earned” bonuses at a rate of $5 million per year that didn’t count against the Saints’ cap unless he reached those incentives.

Under his new deal, which also runs through 2011, Bush will see practically all of that money as long as he plays out his contract.

While his salary stays the same in 2008, he’ll see a marginal increase in 2009 ($2.2 million to $2.6 million) before making a huge jump from $2.9 million to $8.0 million in 2010. And in 2011, he will receive $11.8 million in salary instead of the $3.575 million that was in his original contract. In addition to the $4 million signing bonus, which adds an extra million dollars to the Saints cap hit for each of the remaining four years, Bush will still have the opportunity to earn $1.5 million in NLTBE bonuses. And he can earn $800,000 more in 2011. But all other NLTBE bonuses have been eliminated.

Instead, the team has put up $1.5 million in “Likely to be Earned Bonus” money for both the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and another $700,000 in 2011. All of that money hits the cap immediately when the contract year begins since it’s assumed that the player will reach those goals.

Nola.com reports "the deal was altered primarily to account for potential changes in the league’s collective bargaining agreement, after the league’s owners decided to opt out of the current CBA this past spring. It’s a fairly common practice in the NFL to move some money around in long-term deals."

My guess is the Saints are considering this season as a "make it or break it" year for Bush. The team is also preparing itself for the upcoming free agent "feeding frenzy" in 2010. In either case, I believe Reggie will rise to the challenge as surprise many of his critics this season.

Read more details on DeuceandReggie.com or Scout.com.