2010
Dec 30
Demonstrating yet again the remarkable TV drawing power of the new America’s Team, the New Orleans Saints’ 17-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons rated as the most-watched “Monday Night Football” telecast of the season and the most-watched cable program overall in 2010, according to ESPN.
The telecast, which was simulcast locally on NBC affiliate WDSU, drew a 13.0 rating, representing 12.9 million households and 19.1 million viewers, the network reported. That makes it the third-largest cable TV audience of all time, excluding breaking news programming.
The second most-watched cable telecast of all time is also a Saints “Monday Night” game: Last year’s prime-time drubbing of the New England Patriots. The most-watched cablecast ever? Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre’s “Monday Night Football” matchup against his old team, the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 5, 2009.
Monday’s telecast marks the second television milestone of 2010 for the Saints, whose Super Bowl XLIV victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 7 was the most-watched program in TV history.
Once the ratings doormats of a league traditionally dominated by East Coast powers in large TV markets, the small-market Saints are now clearly established as one of the hottest television properties in all of sports.
The huge Saints-Falcons audience lifted “Monday Night Football” to its highest-rated season since ESPN acquired the rights to the telecast in 2006.
2010
Dec 27
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs for the second year in a row with a Monday night win over Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. It was not a pretty win, but a win, is a win, is a win.
The Falcons (12-3) had a chance to wrap up their first division crown since 2004 and home-field advantage in the playoffs. But Brees and the Saints (11-4) are still in the mix, making up for a bitter loss to their NFC South rival in the Week 3.
It was not an easy win as Brees had to shake off back to back interceptions before driving 90 yards in 13 plays for the winning score. The last time that New Orleans went to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons was in the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
2010
Dec 27
Who Wins this Monday Night Matchup
So who exactly is going to take home the bacon in this Monday nights matchup between two NFC South division foes? Will it be the Atlanta Falcons, who are currently the top seed in the NFC? Or will it be last year’s champion, the New Orleans Saints?
The Falcons will host the Saints with plenty of NFL playoff scenarios involved. With a win tonight, the Falcons can clinch the division as well as home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Saints on the other hand need one more win to get in. If they lose to the Falcons, it will set up a showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 17.
The Saints could still end up as the top seed in the NFC if they beat both the Dirty Birds and the Bucs. But they would need help in the form of Atlanta losing its last game to the Carolina Panthers. At this point our main concern is beating the Falcons on Monday night and letting the rest of the pieces fall into their respective places.
2010
May 3
New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Monday that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with unrestricted free agent free safety Darren Sharper, bringing the veteran defender back to New Orleans for a second season.
“We have said since the end of the season that we would love to have Darren back in a Saints uniform for 2010 and I’m glad we’ve been able to make that happen,” Loomis said. “Darren was an integral part of our Super Bowl-winning team and we look forward to having him back.”
Sharper, 34, leads all active NFL players in interceptions with 63 and was a key cog in leading the Saints to their Super Bowl XLIV victory as he matched his career-best with nine interceptions in being named to his fifth Pro Bowl in his 13th NFL season. Prior to signing with New Orleans in March 2009, the veteran defender played eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers after being selected in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft and later played four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
The 6-2, 210-pound product of William & Mary has played in 197 career regular season games, with 181 starts to his credit, and has racked up 1,085 tackles, 147 passes defensed, 63 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, 7½ sacks and seven fumble recoveries. In 13 career postseason games, Sharper has started 10 of the contests and registered 74 career tackles, 11 passes defensed, two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Sharper brought a ball-hawking mentality to the Saints defense in 2009, starting 14 games at free safety and picking off nine passes – gaining an NFL-record 376 yards on interception returns, including three touchdowns – and made 93 tackles (55 solo) with half a sack and seven passes defensed. He also started all three postseason games and notched 24 tackles with a pass defense and a fumble recovery.
Sharper’s 63 career interceptions places him in a tie with Ronnie Lott for sixth on the all-time list and he ranks second only to Rod Woodson in interception return yardage (1,412) and interceptions returned for touchdowns with 11.
2010
May 2
The courtship period between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Saints free safety Darren Sharper lasted 24 hours after The Jags failed to offer enough money for Sharper not to return to the Saints. .
Sharper is scheduled for a visit to Dallas on Friday as he tests the free agent market.
Sharper left Jacksonville without a contract and will continue to explore his options.
Sharper, who made All-Pro last season at age 34, was a key figure in the Saints march to the NFL championship. He is seeking a significant raise from the one-year $1.7 million contract he received last season. It’s still possible the Jaguars might sign Sharper, but a lot hinges on whether both side can reach a compromise on guaranteed money
Though Sharper’s age is a concern, his veteran leadership and instincts are something other teams could need, including the Saints.
With the season more than four months away, Sharper is looking to recoup money after playing way above his salary level last season. Sharper has said an All-Pro safety is worth $5 million. The Saints don’t agree. Safety Brian Dawkins, former Eagle, set the bar last year at age 35 by signing a five-year, $17 million deal with the Broncos.
Sharper wants to return to the Saints, but GM Mickey Loomis only wants him back at their price and was willing to let him test the free-agent market. Sharper waited two months to test the free agent market because he was recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. No matter who signs him, Sharper will likely not be cleared for full organized team activity sessions until June.
I agree that Sharper did have an “All Pro” type year during the Saints Super Bowl run. But we all have to remember that there is no “I” in “Team”. Sharper was a force in the backfield when Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter were on the corners, but when they were absent, Sharper was just average.
Sharper does have to remember though, that there is an “I” in “Time”, which is something Sharper is running out of.
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