History
These are not your father’s New Orleans Saints. No, the Saints are one of the hottest team in the NFL at the halfway mark of this the 2009/10. The Saints are sitting with the only other undefeated team in the league, the Indianapolis Colts. Both teams are sitting atop the NFL with perfect 8-0 records. But there is a difference. The Saints are have racked up 303 total points while only giving up 174 versus the Colts who have put up 217 points while allowing 108. Will 4th year Head Coach Sean Payton keep his team running at a slow and steady pace or will they burn out before the playoffs come around.
This is one of the most exciting seasons for the New Orleans franchise so get your tickets and come on out to the game and support your Saints.
In the 2007-08 season after being America's darlings for a while, The Saints did not impress in their Aug. 5 Hall of Fame preseason opener with the Steelers. On the upside, New Orleans looked fabulous in exhibition games two, three and four. In spite of a few injuries, The Saints are poised to make a run for the NFC title this season. They do have the track record - New Orleans reached the NFC Championship Game last January and they have only gotten better. Look for the Saints to represent the conference in Glendale come February.
The 2005-2006 New Orleans Saints ended their season of tragedy amidst rumors of the team’s possible relocation. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city, the Superdome could not house a football team. The Saints spent their entire season as a homeless professional football team, playing some of their “home” games in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and others in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome. It appeared that the franchise would be unable to move back into the Superdome but this is not the case as the Saints are playing back there for the 2006-2007 season!.
To discuss the Saints lightly, they are a struggling franchise. To discuss them more honestly, they are terrible. However, many fans are upset at the possibility of owner Tom Benson moving the team from New Orleans. Although the team has only one appearance in the postseason in the previous 13 years, some fans still want the team in the city. In the team’s 38 years on the bayou, Saints’ fans have witnessed five trips to the playoffs. During the 1980s, the team only managed two winning seasons, which earned the team a nickname of the “Aints.”
In the only period of time that can be considered an era of Saints’ success, head coach Jim Mora led the team to the playoffs in 1990, 1991, and 1992. During Mora’s tenure, the Saints enjoyed their most productive period with five winning seasons. After Mora left the franchise, head coach Mike Ditka replaced him but was unable to continue any level of success. The Saints drafted running back Ricky Williams, and his rushing ability was supposed to provide a saving grace for the team. However, Ditka was fired and Williams was traded to the Miami Dolphins where he led the league in rushing. New Orleans made one more appearance in the playoffs during the 2000 season, and their history of trouble seems that the team is fated for failure.
Now, the Saints’ future appears even more uncertain. Not only are they missing a home field, the team’s firing of head coach Jim Haslett leaves the franchise in search of a team leader. While quarterback Aaron Brooks proved to be a helpful addition to the struggling offense over the past five years, he was benched this season and has voiced his discontent with the franchise. Despite many who feel that the Saints should not abandon the city in its greatest time of economic need, a move within the next few seasons appears likely. In the meantime, New Orleans Saints tickets will get a breath of hope with a new coach, and a new start for this long struggling franchise.
