Former LSU Star Skyler Green Tells Bleacher Saints Will Be in the Hunt Again

Former LSU star Skyler Green told Bleacher Report on Friday afternoon that as long as Drew Brees is leading the offense, the New Orleans Saints will be a serious contender for the Lombardi Trophy for the foreseeable future—just in case those Green Bay Packers had any notions of a dynasty.

"They still have a good, young football team and they'll be back in the hunt next year, and that will probably be the case for the next few years," said Green, who was with the Saints through the final preseason game of 2009.

"We'll always see the Saints in the playoff picture, always focused on trying to get that next Super Bowl."

Green said the thing that impressed him the most during his stay with the Saints was the unparallelled work ethic.

You've heard all the stories about Brees arriving before sunrise.

It's all true says Green.

"The work habits of those guys was exceptional. They really put in the work and they really were well deserving of a Super Bowl," said Green.

"The work they put in actually showed up during the Super Bowl season.

"Me being with them in the beginning of the 2009 season and seeing the things these guys do was tremendous and it really paid off for them in the end winning the Super Bowl."

Green added that head coach Sean Payton's determination to go all the way to the top of the NFL mountain carried over to his players.

"We had spoken about it in the beginning of that season," said Green.

"Coach Payton was always focused on making it to the Super Bowl and everybody had one focus, one mindset, one team.

The diminutive Skyler Green first became a somebody as a multi-threat QB at Higgins High School located in a New Orleans suburb.

Then he caught the nation's attention as a dangerous receiver and punt returner on LSU's 2003 National Championship team.

In 2003, Green was a first-team ESPN.com and SI.com All-American.

After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, Green would go on to play in New Orleans last two regular season games in 2008 and he made the most of the opportunity as he returned four kicks for 160 yards—highlighted by returns of 60 and 42 yards.

On Friday, Green was hanging out with his friend and current New England Patriot defensive lineman Marlon Favorite, also a New Orleans native and former New Orleans Saint. The pair spoke to a group of students at New Orleans Job Corps Center as part of the school's Black History Month celebration.

Favorite says there a lot of similarities between his former coach Sean Payton and current boss Bill Belichick.

"Oh, playing for Belichick is great," said Favorite.

"Like Coach Payton, he does a great job with the players in terms of communication and his relationship with us is great."

While Favorite will attempt to crack the roster of the Patriots, Skyler Green works out diligently in New Orleans waiting for the phone to ring from a team in need of a speedy return guy.

In his spare time, he goes about the task of motivating young people to stay in school as he did Friday afternoon at New Orleans Job Corps Center.

"You just try to show these young people how to maintain a positive frame of mind," said Green.

"You remind them to always stay positive, always look forward and not look back. If you make a mistake, it doesn't matter. Just always keep your focus on what's ahead of you - and that's a bright future."