Brees brings home MVP to the Big Easy
Football Betting Lines
02/08/2010 - Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a city that has struggled in both the world of sports and in day-to-day life, Drew Brees has brought a smile to the faces of the New Orleans residents.
The party will be rocking for the next few days in the Big Easy and Brees will be the guest of honor as his performance in Super Bowl XLIV garnered him the Most Valuable Player award.
With Mardi Gras less than 10 days away, New Orleans doesn't need any excuse for a good time, but Sunday's 31-17 win over Indianapolis and Brees' MVP award gives the city even more of an excuse and helps to further erase the memories of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster that destroyed much of the city and even damaged the Superdome where the Saints play.
Moreover, it gives a franchise that was once known as the 'Aints and whose fans wore brown paper bags over their heads a chance to lift those heads high.
"We played for so much more than just ourselves," Brees said. "We played for our city, we played for the entire Gulf Coast region. We played for all the entire Who Dat? nation who was behind us every step of the way. We've been blessed with so much and just to have this opportunity is unbelievable."
On the game-winning drive, Brees went 7-for-7 for 44 yards with a two-yard strike to Jeremy Shockey followed by a two-point conversion toss to Lance Moore giving the team a 24-17 lead with 5:42 to play.
Tracy Porter's 74-yard interception return for a touchdown on the Colts' ensuing touch sealed the win.
For the game, Brees went 32-for-39 with 288 yards and two touchdowns with a 114.5 quarterback rating. His 32 completions tied a Super Bowl record.
On his other touchdown pass, it was a 16-yard short screen pass to Pierre Thomas that gave the Saints a 13-10 lead early in the third quarter after the team opted for an onsides kick, which they recovered, to start the second half.
The game featured two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Brees and Peyton Manning, who is a four-time league MVP and won the MVP in a Super Bowl XLI victory over Chicago.
However, it was Brees who was flawless in this game as he never turned over the ball and Manning's late interception doomed any chances of the Colts winning the Super Bowl for the second time in the past four years.
Originally a second-round pick of San Diego in the 2001 draft, Brees spent his first five seasons with the Chargers and had productive years, but after the 2005 season he refused a contract offer by the Chargers and opted to sign with New Orleans.
"I felt like coming to New Orleans was a calling and that God puts you in positions for a reason," Brees said. "At the time you may ask yourself, 'I'm not sure, but I trust you.' I know that me coming to New Orleans and having an opportunity there was definitely a calling and it was an opportunity not many people get in their entire life to be able to come to a city like that that had just been devastated by a natural disaster."
Since then he has exploded in the bayou as he has thrown for over 4,300 yards and 26 touchdowns in each of his four seasons with New Orleans. In 2008, he had a 5,069-yard performance with 34 touchdowns, garnering the Offensive Player of the Year award.
"Four years ago, who ever thought this would be happening," Brees said. "When 85 percent of the city was under water, all of its residents evacuated to places all over the country, most people not knowing New Orleans would ever come back or if the organization as a team would ever come back."
This past season he guided the team to wins in the first 13 games and the Saints finished with a 13-3 record as he threw for 4,388 yards and 34 touchdowns.
He then went on to lead the Saints to a 45-14 pasting of Arizona in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs and a 31-28 overtime win over the Brett Favre-led Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game.
Miami Gardens, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Raise your umbrella and your Hurricane glass to the New Orleans Saints, who are Super Bowl XLIV champions because they were flat-out better than the Colts in an incredible, exhilarating upset victory that ca
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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