Football | Who Dat Saint

Roaf Named Pro Football HOF Semifinalist

2010 Nov 30

CANTON, OHIO – Five first-year eligible players – Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, and Deion Sanders – are among the semifinalists being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011. Although the semifinalist list is usually limited to 25, this year there are 26 resulting from a tie for the final position. The Pro Football Hall of Fame By-Laws for the Selection Committee provides that the list shall consist of “twenty-five nominees plus all ties.”

The Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee chose the 26 semifinalists from the previously announced list of 114 preliminary nominees. Also, for the second consecutive year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has teamed up with Van Heusen to ask fans to voice their choice for whom they think should be included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011 at www.fanschoice.com.

In addition to the five first-year eligible nominees, two other previously eligible candidates, Edward DeBartolo, Jr. and Ed Sabol have made it to the semifinalist’s list for the first time. Each of the remaining 19 nominees on the Selection Committee’s list has been a semifinalist at least once prior to this year.

Roaf played nine seasons with the Saints from 1993-2001, was named All-Pro (first or second team) seven times while with the Saints and was elected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 1994-2000 as a member of the black and gold. Both are the most by any player in New Orleans Saints history. The offensive tackle was named to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2008.

In addition, Roaf was named to the NFL’s 1990’s All-Decade Team. In 2000, Roaf was a pivotal part of the Saints NFC South title team and the first playoff win in franchise history, 31-28 over the defending world champion St. Louis Rams.

The complete list of 26 modern-era semifinalists is as follows:

Jerome Bettis, RB – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Tim Brown, WR/KR – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Carter, WR – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
Roger Craig, RB – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
Terrell Davis, RB – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Dermontti Dawson, C – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner – 1979-1997 San Francisco 49ers
Richard Dent, DE – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Chris Doleman, DE/LB – 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
Marshall Faulk, RB – 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams
Kevin Greene, LB/DE – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
Ray Guy, P – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Charles Haley, DE/LB – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Lester Hayes, CB – 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Cortez Kennedy, DT – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
Curtis Martin, RB – 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets
Art Modell, Owner – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
Andre Reed, WR – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Willie Roaf, T – 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs
Ed Sabol, Contributor – 1964-1995 NFL Films
Deion Sanders, CB/KR/PR – 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens
Shannon Sharpe, TE – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
Aeneas Williams, CB/S – 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
George Young, Contributor – 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League

The list of 26 semifinalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists. That list increases to 17 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are linebacker Chris Hanburger, Washington Redskins (1965-1978) and linebacker Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams (1954-1962).

The results of the modern-era reduction vote to 15 finalists will be announced in early January, 2011.

To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated player or coach must not have participated as an active player or coach for five consecutive seasons. A contributor, who is a nominee who has made outstanding contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing and coaching, may still be active in his pro football career.

Although there is no set number of Enshrinees for any Hall of Fame Class, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s current ground rules do stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year. No more than five modern-era nominees can be elected in a given year and a class of six or seven Enshrinees can only be achieved if one or both senior nominees are elected.

The Class of 2011 will be determined at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting on Saturday, February 5, in North Texas the day before Super Bowl XLV. The election results will be announced at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) during a one-hour NFL Network special, live from the Super Bowl media headquarters.

For the second consecutive year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has teamed up with Van Heusen to ask fans who they think should be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011 at www.fanschoice.com.

After the first cut-down and nearly two million votes, the Fan’s Choice for the Class of 2011 is in lock-step with the selectors on 10 nominees, including Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Marshall Faulk, Kevin Greene, Ray Guy, Lester Hayes, Andre Reed, and Aeneas Williams. In addition, fans placed Gary Anderson, Cornelius Bennett, Todd Christensen, Tom Flores, Eddie George, Kent Hull, Chuck Knox, Stanley Morgan, Jim Plunkett, Art Rooney, Jr., Donnie Shell, Fred Smerlas, Darryl Talley, Steve Tasker, and Dick Vermeil in their top 25.

Launching this week is an exciting new component to the Fan’s Choice program - “Smack Talk Your Way to the Super Bowl” - enabling one lucky fan to announce the Fans’ Choice for the Class of 2011 on national television in February during Super Bowl week. The program gives fans the opportunity to make a passionate case for their top choice for the 2011 Class through a 60-second sound bite at fanschoice.com. The winner will be selected by a panel of Hall of Famers and representatives from Phillips-Van Heusen and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Reggie Bush’s 2nd Annual Youth Football Camp

2010 Apr 8

Saints RB Reggie Bush has announced dates for his 2^nd annual Old Spice Reggie Bush Football Camp. This two-day event will be held Tuesday, June 1^st and Wednesday, June 2^nd at Tulane University from 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Bush will be on site to direct the activities of the camp and provide instruction. The camp will also feature a selection of the top prep and collegiate coaches from the New Orleans area. The camp will be open to all boys and girls ages 7 to 14.

Each day, the campers will experience various stations, specializing in fundamental skills and the team concept of football. Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum personalized instruction.

In addition to seven hours of football instruction, all campers will receive an autographed camp team photo with Bush, a camp T-shirt, and the opportunity to win additional contests and prizes. Cost of the camp is $199.

Campers are encouraged to register early, as spots are limited.

Additional information and registration is available at www.ReggieBushCamp.com or call 513-793-CAMP.

Reggie Bush Football Camp

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New Orleans Saints Preseason Schedule

2010 Apr 1

The Super Bowl Champion Saints will begin the pre-season by heading to Foxborough, Mass. to play the New England Patriots in week one of the preseason (games played between August 12^th and 16^th). The game will be a re-match of the Saints’ 38-17 regular season win over the Patriots on Monday Night Football in the 2009 season, a game which was played at the Louisiana Superdome. The game will be the Saints’ first trip to Foxborough since August 18, 2005.

Week two of the preseason (games played between August 19^th and 23^rd) will see the Saints return to the Superdome to host the Houston Texans. The Saints and Texans have played each other the previous two seasons and have also held joint practice sessions together both years, although no announcement has been made as to whether that newfound tradition will continue this preseason.

In week three, the Saints will host a nationally televised game (CBS) against the San Diego Chargers on Friday evening, August 27^th. The game will pit Drew Brees against his former team and will be a re-match of the 2008 NFL International Series contest in which the Saints won a thrilling contest against the Chargers in London’s Wembley Stadium, 37-32. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

The Saints will end their preseason schedule (September 2^ndor 3^rd) by traveling to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans. The two teams last met in the preseason in 2006, Sean Payton’s first season and first game as a head coach, with the Titans gaining the victory, 19-16.

Finalized dates and times for the three games (preseason games 1, 2 and 4) will be announced at NewOrleansSaints.com at a future date, as well as the team’s complete 2010 preseason schedule.

For information on the complete 2010 NFL Preseason Schedule

Posted by Who Dat Admin in Saints News | 433 Comments »

Saints and USA Football

2010 Mar 23

Saints and USA Football

Youth football leaders from throughout Saints Country traveled to the team’s training facility for an exciting day of learning and idea sharing on March 6 for USA Football’s Louisiana State Leadership forum. USA Football is the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels and is the Saints’ official youth football development partner.

Youth league commissioners, presidents and board members from across Louisiana attended to discuss best practices and to learn how the Saints and USA Football can strengthen their organizations. USA Football South Regional Manager Dave Fanucchi led the full-day agenda.

“Everyone has ideas and ways of doing things, so it’s great when league leaders from across the region can get together and share them to help grow youth football and make our leagues better,” said Leon Blouin, president of Tri-Parish Youth Football in Gonzales, La.

USA Football’s resources include coaching education for the game’s dedicated volunteers, concussion awareness information, equipment grants, coaching benefits such as online practice planners, and a video drills library, as well as price breaks for the leagues to conduct in-depth background checks on potential volunteers.

“USA Football provides resources and education that we can bring back to our coaches to make the game safer for our kids…and it can also educate their parents to give them a better understanding of the game – making it more enjoyable for everyone,” added Blouin.

Fanucchi and league commissioners also discussed player registration, officiating training resources, a national youth football playing standard, pre-and post-season events and fundraising guidance.

“With the support from NFL teams like the Saints, USA Football is helping unify the sport on youth levels,” said USA Football’s Fanucchi. “Ultimately it’s the kids who love to play football who benefit from these meetings – they’re going to enjoy the sport even more when coaches and league commissioners are prepared and employ the resources offered.”

USA Football selects one commissioner at each state forum to attend the NFL/USA Football Youth Summit in Canton, Ohio, in July. Approximately 200 coaches and administrators from every state take part in the annual event to discuss topics vital to the continued success of youth and high school programs. ReVonne Harden Jr., commissioner of Louisiana Youth Football, was selected to represent Louisiana at the Summit.

“I am looking forward to the overall experience, however, just the thought of being afforded the opportunity to attend the Summit in Canton – the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – is exciting in itself,” said Harden. “I am also extremely anxious to meet individuals from across the country that share similar visions for youth football in America.”

Learn more about USA Football or arrange to have one of the organization’s eight regional managers meet with your league by visiting www.usafootball.com or call 1-877-5-FOOTBALL.