Saints May Have Blown Their Cover

When the Colts and Saints square off in Super Bowl XLIV down in south Florida don’t be surprised if the X-factor in this game is wearing a striped shirt. New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, speaking earlier this week on a Tennessee sports talk radio show, said the Saints will need to deliver some “remember me” shots on Peyton Manning, he didn’t stop there adding “you hope he doesn’t get back up and play again.”

You can bet on Feb 7^th the NFL will be on high alert for any late or illegal hits to the quarterbacks especially after some missed calls this post-season already, two of which had significant game changing implications.

Vice president of officiating Mike Pereira conceded that there should have been a 15-yard penalty on the third-quarter play where Vikings quarterback Brett Favre suffered a left ankle injury.

On that play, Saints defensive end Bobby McCray hit Favre in what Pereira called “pretty much a direct shot into the back of the legs.” The hit violated an NFL rule that prohibits low hits on quarterbacks. Had the penalty been called, Jonathan Vilma's interception would have been nullified and the Vikings would have re-gained possession with a first down at the Saints’ 19-yard line.

In the Wildcard round, facing third-and-6 on the first series of overtime, Cardinals cornerback Michael Adams blitzed Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and knocked the ball out. It bounced off Rodgers' foot and into the hands of linebacker Karlos Dansby, who ran for a touchdown to give Arizona a 51-45 victory. Adams grabbed Rodgers' face mask on the play, but officials didn't throw a flag. Had the call been made, the interception would have been negated by a 15-yard personal foul penalty that would have given the Packers possession and a first down.

With the biggest game of all looming and NFL poster boy Peyton Manning at the helm for the Colts, don’t be surprised if the league is very tight on hits to the QB and a couple of key drives are extended by the officials. Gregg Williams, in an attempt to fire up his defense, may have given the least sacked QB in the league an extra security blanket.

Written by Eric Doppelt

JW = JW

As I logged Jim Hill’s interview with “Mr. Clutch,” aka Jerry West, something inside me snapped – in a good way. I realized that Jerry West, retired professional basketball player, Head Coach, and former GM of the Los Angeles Lakers, is much like UCLA Head Basketball Coach Emeritus and arguably the “Greatest Coach of All Time,” John Wooden.

Not only do their initials read “JW,” but their views toward sports, and presumably life in general share very similar qualities. The one underlying theme that struck me was Jerry West’s immense use of the word, “passion” throughout his interview with Jim. In one of his answers he said that, “Life is not worth living if you don’t have passion.” And being the biggest John Wooden idol I am, I immediately thought of him and his view on the subject. As Coach Wooden says, “It isn't what you do, but how you do it,” referring to the passion and emotion a person must implement into his or her daily tasks.

West went on to say that he believes in two things: “goals and passion” and that not a single person can get anywhere in life without having some substantial goals as a stepping-stone. Sounds like Coach Wooden, whose most famous quote is about success and being the best you can be. The interview went on and discussed West’s biggest passion of helping others and his desire to give back to people who have helped him in his life. As he says himself, “…if I can help someone, I truly want to do that.” And as Coach Wooden says, “You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” These two men, although one 71 years of age and the other just one short of a century, can still agree on one thing: passion is key to life.


Written by Robin Randolph