FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

February 8th, 2010 - 4:25pm PST

[afternoon edition]

Monday Morning Huddle

The Last Dance: A Dream Fulfilled

The final dance was not over-billed or super-hyped, but it was everything most football fans hoped for; entertaining and thrilling!

The Saints delivered a long awaited championship to a city that was overdue for a celebration. Rising from the ashes of disaster in the city of New Orleans, the Saints completed a magical ride that started back in 2005 following the wake of hurricane Katrina.

Katrina brought much disaster and despair to the southeast region of Louisiana, but what she could not do was destroy the hope and faith of those that believed the city could and would one day rebound. An unlikely face in this movement took on the shape and form of an NFL team; the New Orleans Saints.

A young head coach (Sean Payton) and a cast-away quarterback (Drew Brees) stepped to the forefront of this cause, to bring hope, a new day of promise, and a championship to a city that only a few years ago had little and none.

Brees' journey began when he left San Diego in 2006 and signed with New Orleans; around the same time the residents of New Orleans were trying to get out of the devastated area and wondering if they'd ever return. Brees took on the fight with his new team, to not only help rebuild, but to help the folks return to their home, and to bring the team back New Orleans.

During the rebuilding process, the Saints would play their home games in San Antonio throughout the 2005 season. It would not be until 2006 on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons that the Saints would make their triumphant return to the Superdome.

Like all fairy-tales, this story does have a happy ending, but it was not a short story, but a long journey. The Saints and Drew Brees had their ups and downs, but like the people of New Orleans and southeast Louisiana, perseverance paid great dividends in the end.

The Saints started out the 2009 season as one of the two hottest teams in the NFL winning their first 13 games. Despite losing their final three regular season, the team and a city would not be denied their destiny.

The Saints defeated a pair of potential hall-of-fame quarterbacks (Warner-Favre) in the playoffs to arrive in South Florida to square off with another (Manning) in the big dance. Like two prize fighters feeling out one another early, the game took on a slow pace unlike what many had expected.

It wasn't until the second quarter that Brees and company found their rhythm and would then realize their dream. Brees started shaky, but from the second quarter on he was masterful, completing 32 of 39 passes for the game, passing for 288 yards and throwing two touchdowns to bring to the city of New Orleans its first Super Bowl title.

Brees led the NFC's best team with a 13-3 record to an emotional and well deserved Super Bowl victory, but more than that he led many others (survivors from Katrina) and a country in many ways to a higher place, a promised land, for a brief moment to a world where dreams can come true if you believe.

Not only did the city rebuild, not only did folks return, not only did the Saints return to New Orleans, but they also brought with them a championship. Like the Saints returning what their Super Bowl title means, it returns the hope, faith, and belief that great things can happen, even in the wake of such devastation and disaster.

Together great people (like Brees, the Saints, the folks of New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana) can accomplish great things, as great as anyone's imagination!

By David Ortega

Quick Notes:

The Saints quarterback Drew Brees (32) and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (31) combined for 63 completions, most ever in a Super Bowl.

Both Dallas Clark (9) and Reggie Wayne (11) were targeted often on Sunday, but a costly drop by Wayne in the closing moments of the 4th quarter ended any chance for a Colts comeback.

The Colts running back Joseph Addai played extremely well averaging nearly six yards a carry against the Saints defense. Addai would finish with 77 yards on the ground, including a touchdown. He would also add seven receptions for another 58 yards receiving.

Drew Brees spread the ball around effectively against the Colts secondary finding eight different receivers. Leading the way for the Saints passing game were Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, each with seven receptions.

Super Bowl XLIV set a record as the most watched Super Bowl ever with an estimated 153.4 million viewers enjoying the Sunday spectacle.

Remember to check back for more "Monday Morning Huddle!"