NFL Super Bowl Champions: The New Orleans Saints

They weren’t supposed to win. After all, the New Orleans Saints were a five-point underdog (or more, depending on who you spoke to).

The media had latched on to what they claimed was the greatest quarterback of all time in Peyton Manning, a New Orleans native playing for the Indianapolis Colts. The problem was the media forgot that Super Bowls are won by teams and not by one person. New Orleans had the better team.

“Oh, wait a minute, you might say, the better team was the Colts.” Or at least that’s what the media said. So, you bought the story. A lesson to learn is that teams win championships, not just one person.

“Build for your team a feeling of oneness, of dependence upon one another, and of strength to be derived from unity.” VINCE LOMBARDI

Someone once said that winning is not as important as playing the game and having fun. Sure, having fun is one thing but winning is everything. Especially in this case.

Vince Lombardi wrote, "Winning is not a sometime thing. It's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while. You don't do things right once in a while. You do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."

Lombardi continues:

"There is no room for second place. Every time a football player goes out to ply his trade he's got to play from the ground up...from the soles of his feet right up to his head. That's OK. You've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more important, you've got to play with you heart...with every fiber of your body. If you are lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second."

I think Vince Lombardi was watching Drew "Cool" Brees from above.

After all, have you ever seen a player play with his heart more than Drew Brees?

The difference in the game is the Colts used the playbook and they did play with their head. New Orleans coach Sean Payton and his team played with their hearts. Enough said.

Ironically, Lombardi’s grandson is now the quarterback coach. Interesting, isn’t it?

Put it all together. It was destiny. Or maybe it was a plan. Ask Sean Peyton. He would know. After all, nothing was going to stop the New Orleans Saints.

“A great leader never sets himself above his followers except in carrying responsibilities.” JULES ORMONT

What I’ve learned over the years is the heart controls the mind and the muscles in the body. At this point is where you will find champions. The champions fight and play hard and with a positive mental mindset. They play like champions. They think like champions.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” CALVIN COOLIDGE

I’ve also learned another lesson. I’ve also learned from the New Orleans Saints that the humblest of all men are the strongest. 75 percent of everything we heard from the media for the last two weeks was about the Colts and their greatness while New Orleans sat back being humble but strong in their courage and believing in themselves.

The Saints played with their hearts and didn’t mind the "blood, sweat, and tears" they experienced along the way to become the World Champions in Super Bowl XLIV. They enjoyed the discipline and hard work they engaged in to become winners. They were a team of left-overs—players that other coaches forgot about.

No, I don’t believe they will be called “America’s Team." The Dallas Cowboys own that title.

This is the "Dream Team." A team of players and coaches who believed in their dream. A group of ‘Who Dat" fans that continued to believe in this football team for 43 years. Sure, some attended games with bags on their heads years ago but they still came to the games hoping one day they could remove those bags. Now, they can forever throw them away. The Dream Team has arrived.

The Colts had to not only play the Saints, they had to play the whole state of Louisiana. A state of 4.5 million WHO DAT fans full of emotion. The Colts knew that coming in. Especially, Peyton Manning. That was too much to overcome.

If you could take a silent voting poll among NFL players I can almost guarantee you that 80 percent were pulling for New Orleans in their hearts. Call it "gris-gris" or "voodoo"—or just call it destiny.

It was New Orleans’ time. It was meant to be. They were unbeatable and proved it by dismantling all the great quarterbacks in the NFL this season, especially in the playoffs.

31-17.

World Champs.

Who dat, who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Who dat? Who dat?

Kerry is a contributing writer for THE ACADIAN, a public speaker, an author and life coach specializing in mental fitness. Kerry is also a professional boxing agent and works in all 50 states in the United States and 22 countries. More of his articles with THE ACADIAN can be found on www.keeppunching.com . His health website is www.kerrydaigle.com . You can email Kerry at [e-mail] or by calling 1.800.485.9323. Kerry is also available for consultations, speaking engagements and workshops. He has co-authored four books and CD’s that have been sold worldwide on the art of mental fitness and sales. Kerry lives in Lafayette, Louisiana with his wife, Mickey, and his daughter Angela.