Tag: dome patrol

Dennis Allen’s Saints defense just broke one of the Dome Patrol’s best records

Dennis Allen’s Saints defense just broke one of the Dome Patrol’s most impressive records

Now this is impressive. Dennis Allen’s New Orleans Saints defense just broke one of the best records in team history, established by the famed “Dome Patrol” themselves way back in 1991 — holding opposing offenses to 20 or fewer points in 10 consecutive games. It’s the longest active streak in the NFL, too.

And the 1991 Saints team accomplished that feat in a single season, while the Saints set the pace a year ago and have kept it going. Sure, things got closer than they needed to on Monday night; the Panthers took advantage of Allen’s too-soft prevent defense in the final minutes to drive downfield and score a garbage-time touchdown pass, tightening the tally to 20-17.

Still, this is a rare achievement no matter how you slice it. Allen has built one of the league’s best defenses over the years and largely kept it together while introducing new elements and refining what worked. Hopefully he has the right pieces in place to develop an offense to compliment the defense.

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Opinion: Saints shouldn’t wait much longer to memorialize ‘Dome Patrol’ legends

The Saints shouldn’t wait much longer to memorialize their ‘Dome Patrol’ legends. Permanent recognition for their first great team is long overdue:

Steve Sidwell died Wednesday evening. For New Orleans Saints fans of a certain age, he was one of the first members of the team whose name they remembered — for good reasons. He was the Saints defensive coordinator from 1986 to 1994, also coaching the team’s linebackers at times, and he was one of the people most responsible for building, developing, and maintaining the greatest defense in franchise history.

Now he’s gone. So are two of his former linebackers who helped make up the “Dome Patrol” defense: Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Mills (who died far too young, back in 2005) and fan-favorite linebacker Vaughan Johnson (who passed more recently in 2019). Rickey Jackson, also a Hall of Fame inductee, is still with us as is Pat Swilling.

But the Saints shouldn’t keep putting this off. Installing a permanent memorial to their first great team, insuring that those legendary players will not be forgotten by future generations, should be an easy decision. Saints fans seem to bring it up every summer. And the precedent is there.

Mills has already been immortalized with a bronze statue outside the Carolina Panthers’ stadium in Charlotte; he was a founding member of that franchise as a player and coach before his tragic death, and fans of both NFC South-rival teams came together to celebrate his Hall of Fame induction with his family.

If the Panthers can make tribute to Mills, why can’t the Saints? Why shouldn’t the Saints do it for the entire four-man linebacker corps, the only group in NFL history to be invited to the Pro Bowl at the time in 1992? Their defense powered New Orleans to its first winning season and playoff appearance in 1987. They gave fans something more to root for than Tom Dempsey’s legendary field goal or Archie Manning’s futile heroics.

The Saints recognized them last year with reprints of the iconic posters that young fans all across the Gulf South proudly displayed in their youth, and all four linebackers have places in the Saints Hall of Fame. But they can do more. And they should, with a larger public gesture. Late owner Tom Benson placed a statue of himself in Champions Square back in 2014. The Caesars Superdome is also home to a Vietnam War Memorial near Poydras Street. And of course there’s Steve Gleason’s all-time great “Rebirth” statue, which has become a landmark and pilgrimage for many fans visiting town for the first time.

There’s room for a “Dome Patrol” memorial on the Superdome grounds. There’s appetite for it among the fanbase, too. And with time working against them, the Saints shouldn’t put this easy decision off any longer. People should be given their flowers while they’re still with us to appreciate them. It’s too late for Mills, Johnson, and Sidwell to have that time in the sun. That doesn’t mean the Saints can’t make things right with their families and the legendary players and coaches still among us.

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Former Saints ‘Dome Patrol’ DC Steve Sidwell dead at 78

Former Saints defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell has died at 78. Dennis Allen paid tribute to one of the architects of the legendary “Dome Patrol” defense:

This is tough news. The New Orleans Saints announced the death of former defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell on Thursday, paying tribute to one of the architects of their storied “Dome Patrol” defense.

Sidwell coached the Saints defense from 1986 to 1994, helping to draft and develop some of the greatest defenders in franchise history on Jim Mora’s staff. Two of his linebackers, Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills, were selected for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And Saints head coach Dennis Allen paid tribute to Sidwell during his Thursday press conference after practice. After expressing condolences to Sidwell’s family, Allen acknowledged what Sidwell accomplished in New Orleans.

“He was a tremendous defensive coach in our league,” Allen began. “Ton of success. Led the Dome Patrol defense which is really the standard of defense for the New Orleans Saints. It’s what we kind of aspire to be defensively. It’s a sad day for our organization, and again our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Sidwell is survived by his wife Kathleen and their town sons Brad and Scott. We’ll be wishing them the best in this difficult time.

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Saints ‘Dome Patrol’ legend Rickey Jackson earns his Pitt degree at age 65

After assembling a Hall of Fame career on the ‘Dome Patrol’ Saints defense, Rickey Jackson completed his college studies to earn his degree at Pitt:

Now this is cool. Rickey Jackson achieved a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the New Orleans Saints as the best player on the vaunted “Dome Patrol” defense, but he recently completed another lifelong accomplishment: earning his college degree, not long after celebrating his 65th birthday in March.

Short by a couple of history courses when he declared for the NFL draft back in 1981, Jackson chose to return to school late in life because it’s something his parents would have wanted him to do.

“I was so close to it that it made no sense to not get it,” Jackson said, per the university’s website via Nick France. “My mother would’ve loved it, my father wanted me to get it. I know they’d be proud of me.”

He walked the stage to receive his degree in social sciences from the school’s College of General Studies on April 30, removed nearly 42 years to the day when he turned pro as a Saint.

Jackson spent a year taking online classes to complete his studies, and it’s an accomplishment he’s very proud of. He’s done it all — he owns a Super Bowl ring, a gold jacket from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the adoration of a fanbase that still puts him up there with the greatest defenders of all time.

But because this was an individual accomplishment, Jackson values it a bit more than those other achievements. He added to France, “I’d put it up with the Super Bowl and all. This is something I achieved personally on my own, so I’d put it right up with that.”

Now he’s urging his old football friends like Lawrence Taylor to go back and finish their studies, too, when they’re golfing together in South Florida. Jackson told the Palm Beach Post’s Tom D’Angelo, “Anybody can do this. I did it. It just takes commitment.”

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Tulane’s Nick Anderson picked the perfect jersey to celebrate signing with the Saints

Tulane’s Nick Anderson picked the perfect jersey to celebrate signing with the Saints. He’s hoping to follow in the footsteps of the legendary “Field Mouse” Sam Mills:

Congratulations are in order for former Tulane Green Wave linebacker Nick Anderson, who picked the perfect jersey to celebrate his signing with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent — the 5-foot-9 linebacker is drawing some inspiration from a “Dome Patrol” legend who was also called too short and small, flexing for the world to see in a Sam Mills jersey.

Now, Anderson may not be bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame like the “Field Mouse” once was, but this is a great role model for him to draw inspiration from. Anderson figures to compete for a job on the Saints special teams units (where he has a ton of experience, with 756 career snaps in college) and if that goes well, maybe he makes his case as a backup for Demario Davis. For now, we’ll congratulate him on getting the opportunity to go pro in New Orleans, and see where his football life takes him.

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Saints honoring Sam Mills’ Hall of Fame induction with ‘Dome Patrol’ poster for fans

Saints honoring Sam Mills’ Hall of Fame induction with ‘Dome Patrol’ poster for fans at Monday night game vs. Ravens; will you be in that number?

Now this is cool. Remember that iconic poster every teenaged New Orleans Saints fan had hanging in their room of the “Dome Patrol” linebackers standing tall in matching fatigues and gold wraparound sunglasses? Replica posters will be handed out to fans in attendance for Monday night’s home game with the Baltimore Ravens at the Caesars Superdome this week, featuring the legendary Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughan Johnson, and Pat Swilling.

It’s a very appropriate commemoration for Mills’ long-awaited induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year, where a bronze bust in his likeness joined Jackson for time immemorial. Mills died of cancer in 2005 but his family and supporters kept his Hall of Fame campaign going, finally finding success when he was inducted as part of the Class of 2022.

So you can bet it’s going to be a joyous occasion celebrating this achievement with Mills’ family, friends, and old teammates. Will you be in that number?

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Saints legend Sam Mills inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Finally: Saints legend Sam Mills has been inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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This is huge: legendary New Orleans Saints linebacker Sam Mills was selected for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his final year of eligibility as a modern-era candidate, joining his all-time great teammate Rickey Jackson among the best to ever do it. And Jackson had the honor of announcing that Mills will be enshrined as part of the Class of 2022.

It’s just such a shame that the Mills family had to wait so long for this. A “Dome Patrol” icon, Mills died of cancer in 2005 and left a tremendous legacy behind. Between his impressive play across nine years in New Orleans and his efforts in getting the expansion-team Carolina Panthers off the ground, Mills remains a beloved figure in two rival fanbases. Not many players have ever been able to pull that off.

And now he’ll be enshrined forever alongside other Saints greats like Jackson, Morten Andersen, and Willie Roaf. In just a few years, their number should grow with Drew Brees getting into the Hall of Fame — and maybe Sean Payton winds up there sooner or later, too.

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Saints Ring of Honor to induct the late Sam Mills in Week 13 vs. Cowboys

Saints Ring of Honor to induct the late Sam Mills in Week 13 vs. Cowboys

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One member of the legendary Dome Patrol will soon be enshrined at the Caesars Superdome, where he and his teammates left their mark on NFL history. Sam Mills will be inducted to the New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor on Dec. 2, during halftime of the team’s game with the visiting Dallas Cowboys.

Mills, who died of cancer in 2005, is survived by his wife Melanie and their four children. After nine outstanding years with the Saints he joined the expansion-franchise Carolina Panthers first as a player and then a coach, endearing himself to the community so strongly that a bronze statue in his likeness stands outside their stadium to this day.

Hopefully some day soon Mills and his old Dome Patrol teammates will be memorialized outside the Superdome, too. Of the four-man linebacker corps only Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson and Pat Swilling are still living, after Vaughan Johnson’s death in 2019. There’s a lot to be said for giving people their flowers while they’re still here to enjoy them.

Still, it’s going to be great to see Mills’ name in lights. The Saints Ring of Honor was established in 2013 and currently includes Jackson, his Pro Football Hall of Fame peers Morten Andersen and Willie Roaf, Archie Manning, and the late Will Smith and Tom Benson. That’s fine company for Mills to join, and we’ll be sure to celebrate it.

Watch: Remembering the late Sam Mills on his 61st birthday

Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Sam Mills, a key piece of the Dome Patrol defense, was featured in an episode of “A Football Life.”

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The New Orleans Saints are honoring the life of famed “Dome Patrol” linebacker Sam Mills, who rose to prominence while teaming up with Pat Swilling, Vaughan Johnson, and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Jackson to form one of the NFL’s greatest defenses. They combined for 18 Pro Bowl appearances from 1986 to 1992, making NFL history by sending all four linebackers to the 1992 all-star game.

Mills died in 2005; Wednesday, June 3rd, would have been his 61st birthday. He joined the expansion-team Carolina Panthers after a prolific career with the Saints, coining the NFC South-rival’s motto of “Keep Pounding” and earning a bronze statue in his remembrance outside their home stadium in Charlotte.

To celebrate the occasion, the Saints shared a video highlighting Mills’ legacy in New Orleans from their official Twitter account — you can see it where we’ve embedded it above. It’s sampled from an episode centering on Mills from “A Football Life;” the full video can be found here, though it requires an NFL Game Pass subscription. Fortunately, a free trial is currently available through July.

Mills and his teammates set the standard for the Saints for decades to come, and it’s great to see that he’s still remembered and respected so well. Hopefully the Hall of Fame voters will one day agree that he’s deserving of a bust in Canton not too far from Jackson’s. Or maybe the Saints could get their own memorial up in front of the Superdome someday immortalizing all four members of the Dome Patrol.

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Watch: Pat Swilling welcomes Saints draft pick Zack Baun to New Orleans

New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Zack Baun interviewed with Pat Swilling, a ‘Dome Patrol’ legend and one of the best to ever do it.

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It’s one thing to get drafted by an NFL team. It’s something else entirely to land with the New Orleans Saints, earning a call loaded with career advice from “Dome Patrol” defense legend Pat Swilling. That’s what Wisconsin Badgers alum Zack Baun learned when he joined Swilling for a chat after the team traded up acquire him in the third round of this year’s draft.

One of the most important lessons Swilling stressed to the rookie was the value in scouting his opponents ahead of time, and putting together a file on each team he’s scheduled to play. That way Baun can quickly refer back to each blocker’s strengths and weaknesses before putting together his plan of attack.

Swilling said, “When you don’t know what you’re doing, you play slow, but when you know what you’re doing, you play fast.”

Of course, Swilling and Baun talked about more than football. They touched on topics like must-see sights and traditions when Baun visits New Orleans for the first time, and something entirely foreign and highly critical to making the most of his new home: peeling crawfish.

Baun clearly took the suggestions to heart. Check out the interview where we’ve embedded it below, or at this link:

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