Tag: Super Bowl XLIV (Page 6 of 7)

      Saints’ injury report lengthy

      January 29, 2010 /

      After going through their first real practice on Thursday in preparation for the Colts and Super Bowl XLIV, they released a pretty lengthy injury report with several key names on it.

      Starters Jeremy Shockey (knee), Darren Sharper (knee), Jonathan Vilma (knee) and Will Smith (groin) were all on Thursday’s injury report, as well as cornerbacks Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins, running back Lynell Hamilton, kick returner Courtney Roby and offensive lineman Zach Streif.

      Head coach Sean Payton indicated that Shockey received good news from his visit with the acclaimed Dr. James Andrews earlier this week and that there hasn’t been a setback with the tight end’s knee. Shockey said on Thursday that he’s prepared to play with pain and that he’ll do everything he can, “even if that requires hurting myself.”

      The injuries to Sharper, Vilma, Smith and the rest of the Saints appear to be minor and as of right now, there is no threat to them missing the Super Bowl. At least, Payton and the rest of New Orleans better hope so.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      NFL orders shops to stop selling ‘Who Dat’ memorabilia

      January 28, 2010 /

      The NFL’s mission to rule the world and govern those in it progressed further this week, when the league ordered shops to stop selling ‘Who Dat’ Saints gear and memorabilia.

      From WWLTV.com:

      As the Saints’ appearance in their first Super Bowl gets closer, the marketplace is being flooded with Saints merchandise and memorabilia as businesses are looking to cash in on the euphoria, but the NFL is cracking down on the use of their trademarks, including the iconic phrase “Who Dat.”

      “They’re telling me not to print anymore shirts and to get rid of the inventory that I have because it says the words ‘Who dat’ and it has a gold fleur de lis on the shirt,” she said.

      According to NFL spokesman Dan Masonson, “Any unauthorized use of the Saints colors and other [marks] designed to create the illusion of an affiliation with the Saints is equally a violation of the Saints trademark rights because it allows a third party to ‘free ride’ by profiting from confusion of the team’s fans, who want to show support for the Saints.”

      What a load of crap. I realize that the NFL has a federal trademark on the Saints’ fleur de lis logo, but these people are trying to make a profit off the logo – they’re trying to make a profit off the phrase and unite Saints fans for the Super Bowl. Unless I’m missing something, the NFL doesn’t own the phrase ‘Who Dat,’ just the Saints logo that is being incorporated on the memorabilia.

      Either way, this is just another attempt by the NFL to police its trademarks and I find this particular instance to be crossing the line. Let the small New Orleans shops sell their gear; after all, it’s not like the economy could use a boost or anything.


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      NFL, Super Bowl

      Is Freeney’s injury worse than Colts are letting on?

      January 28, 2010 /

      If asked to name as many players on the Colts’ defense as they could, the causal NFL fan may struggle coming up with five names. But the one name that would undoubtedly come out of his or her mouth would be defensive end Dwight Freeney.

      In only 14 games this season, Freeney racked up 13.5 sacks, 24 tackles and one forced fumble. At times, he provides all the pass-rush that the Colts need and will play a crucial role in the team’s success come February 7 when Indianapolis takes on the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.

      The problem with that, however, is that Freeney sprained his right ankle in the AFC Championship Game last weekend and although head coach Jim Caldwell told the Indianapolis Star that his Pro Bowl D-end’s ankle was progressing, there’s some question about whether or not Freeney will actually be at 100% health come Super Bowl Sunday.

      Freeney missed practice on Thursday and isn’t expected to partake in any of the Pro Bowl activities, so he’ll have at least a week of rest before getting back onto the practice field. And if the ankle hasn’t shown any signs of improvement by Monday, Caldwell would surely limit Freeney’s participation n in practice the week of the Super Bowl.

      If he does wind up missing an entire two weeks of practice, will Freeney be as effective during the Super Bowl as he was this season? He’s an eight-year veteran of the Colts’ defense, so it’s not like he needs extra reps at this point in his career. But even after only two weeks of inactively, the game has a tendency to slow down for players.

      Given how vital it’ll be for the Colts to pressure Saints quarterback Drew Brees, having Freeney at 100% is crucial.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL, Super Bowl

      Colts early Super Bowl favorites over Saints

      January 25, 2010 /

      With this being the Saints’ first ever trip to the Super Bowl, odds makers have made the Colts a 5-point opening favorite for Super Bowl XLIV according to theSpread.com. The over/under total has been set at 55.5.

      Both of these teams have been a public favorite this year because they can score points. But given how good New Orleans was all season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that point spread come down over the next two weeks with people betting on the Saints.

      The total is intriguing because it’s the second time in three years that the over/under has been set over 50 points. Even though both teams can light up a scoreboard, 55.5 is a ton of points for any NFL game. The last time a Super Bowl total was set that high was in 2008 when the over/under for the Patriots-Giants title game was 55. Everyone thought that game would sail over too and the final was 17-14, well under the 55 points obviously.

      It’ll be interesting to see how the line moves over the next two weeks. I imagine even money will come in on both sides.


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      NFL

      Turnovers kill Vikings as Saints advance to Miami

      January 24, 2010 /

      Excuse the borrowed analogy, but there’s no other way to describe what the Vikings did on Sunday night then to say that they shot themselves in the foot. (And repeatedly, might I add.)

      The media is going to concentrate on Brett Favre’s interception in New Orleans territory with 19 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings turned the ball over five times in their 31-28 loss to the Saints in the NFC Championship Game. Favre’s interception was a horrid mistake that only most rookies make, but the fact of the matter is that the blame cannot be pinned on just one person. And truth be told, even if Favre threw that pass 12 rows deep into the stands, there’s no guarantee that Ryan Longwell would have made a 50-plus yard attempt on the next play.

      The Vikings screwed the pooch tonight – plain and simple. That’s not to take anything away from the Saints because Drew Brees and company deserve the right to play in Miami in two weeks, but Minnesota blew several golden opportunities to put more points on the board. A team can’t turn the ball over five times (it could have been seven had they not recovered two Adrian Peterson fumbles) and expect to win. They just can’t.

      But what doomed the Vikings more than anything tonight was when they were flagged for having too many men in the huddle on that third and 10 play from the Saints’ 33-yard line. Had they not gotten that penalty, there’s a good chance that Brad Childress would have called something safer (even if it were a pass play) and therefore Favre probably wouldn’t have gotten picked off while trying to make a play. For all their mistakes on the night, that 5-yard penalty may have been the reason they’re not heading to Miami in two weeks.

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