new york jets quarterback Drew Brees FROM SHOPPING BAGS TO THE SUPER BOWL In the early 1980s the New Orleans Saints was one of the worst teams in the National Football League NFL Ashamed fans wore paper bags over their heads because what they were seeing was so bad They called the team the Aints But in 2009 the Saints reached the heights of the NFL They were playing the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV There was no doubt that the Saints belonged in the big game They had won the first 13 games of the regular season Fans hoped for a perfect season But the team decided to rest some of its starting players to keep them fresh for the playoffs It lost the final three games of the season But the Saints rebounded to crush the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of 9
new york jets the playoffs Then they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in overtime That earned them a spot in the Super Bowl The game took place in Miami’s Dolphin Stadium A few years earlier Hurricane Katrina had caused massive destruction in New Orleans The disaster was still fresh in the minds of people throughout the country As a result the Saints were the sentimental favorites to win Look around the stadium said linebacker Scott Fujita It was like 6 or 7-to-1 Saints fans The black and gold the Saints colors just poured into Miami The whole world was behind us There was one notable exception Former Saints quarterback Archie Manning had been the face of the franchise during its early years He still made his home in New Orleans But his son Peyton was playing for Indianapolis I’m going to pull for my son said Manning That’s just the way it is Anybody who thinks it’s different must not have children The Colts bolted to a 10 0 lead New Orleans responded with two second-quarter field goals The Saints began the third quarter with a surprise onside kick They recovered the ball A few plays later quarterback Drew Brees connected with running back Pierre Thomas for a go-ahead touchdown The Colts came back They gained a four-point lead New Orleans kicked a field goal late in the third quarter It cut the margin to a single point Late in the fourth quarter Saints tight end Jeremy left wide receiver Marques Colston 10
new york jets GRIDIRON GREATS FRUSTRATED FANS For many years Saints fans were used to losing But in 1980 even die-hard fans were embarrassed One loyal fan Bobby LeCompte decided to hide his face He found a paper bag Then he cut holes for his ears eyes nose and mouth He placed a Saints sticker on it and scrawled Aints The idea caught on Soon the Superdome was full of Bagheads The franchise tried to ban the bags But fans kept wearing them The Saints won just one game during the dismal season 11
