Tag: Super Bowl

Tracy Porter’s Super Bowl-winning INT is the Saints Play of the Day

Tracy Porter’s Super Bowl-winning INT is the New Orleans Saints Play of the Day. It’s the finest play made by someone wearing No. 22:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igR6W_QCteA

There were some great choices for today’s New Orleans Saints Play of the Day, but with 22 days to go until kickoff in the regular season opener we had only one real option: Tracy Porter’s interception off of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to help the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV. It’s one of the finest plays ever made by someone wearing No. 22.

It’s a simple enough play on its face. Manning was targeting his favorite receiver Reggie Wayne on a quick curl route to pick up a first down — but Porter picked it off instead, racing across the field to score a defensive touchdown and put the game out of reach. That Manning and Wayne were both New Orleans natives made the victory that much sweeter. That this was the deciding play to win a Super Bowl (New Orleans’ first Super Bowl!)  made it truly special. And it wouldn’t have happened without Porter.

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Caesars Superdome renovations include upgraded Wi-Fi, cell service

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on renovations for the Caesars Superdome. One point of emphasis? Upgraded Wi-Fi and cellular service:

New Orleans Saints fans will soon get their first up-close look at extensive renovations to the Caesars Superdome, which has seen $560 million in work to upgrade the venue’s facilities over the last few years.

While this work has touched all aspects at the stadium from new field-level suites to improved concessions offerings, more-spacious atriums and concourses and smoother crowd movement, today we’re getting a look at the infrastructure behind cell service and Wi-Fi Internet access. Anyone who futilely tried to call their ride while navigating the crowded, sloping concrete ramps that mazed through the Superdome before knows that struggle.

“The usage of technology by our fans as part of their gameday experience and their demands will continue to increase,” Team president Dennis Lauscha told the Saints website. “It is important to provide the strongest and most reliable connectivity for our fans as possible with the Caesars Superdome transformation project. With these upgrades, we will offer a guest experience that features the most effective wireless technology available.”

An array of 16 new MatSing MS-48H180 antennas has been bolted to the Superdome roof and painted black to avoid standing out to the naked eye; each weighs about 600 pounds and is rated for hurricane-force winds. A matching set was installed to the building’s interior, complimenting the 200 extant antennas, creating a mesh that is expected to improve cellular service as the Saints’ season continues. The setup is designed for “high-density environments” and can be tweaked by engineers as they gather data on how and where the heaviest usage occurs.

Improving cell phone service is just part of the project. Making wireless Internet access more convenient is part of their ambitions, too. The Superdome has added 2,500 new Wi-Fi access points all throughout the venue to creative more comprehensive coverage for fans, media, and the teams themselves. Keeping people connected with reliable service is a major boon.

So these are big steps in the right direction — towards a goal of keeping the Caesars Superdome in its place as a world-class venue for sports and entertainment. The goal is to continue hosting Super Bowls (including this year’s championship game), ambitious tours by superstar musicians like Beyonce and Taylor Swift, and major events like Wrestlemania, Monster Jam, and the NCAA basketball tournament, just to name a few. These upgrades help ensure greater longevity for the Superdome and avoid a costly new stadium construction. Hopefully the Saints and the Superdome officials can get a deal pushed across the finish line to keep the team playing there for the decades ahead.

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Rashid Shaheed has one of the coolest Drew Brees autographs you’ll ever see

Rashid Shaheed has one of the coolest Drew Brees autographs you’ll ever see. The pair reunited after Shaheed asked for a photo about 15 years ago:

Rashid Shaheed is hardly the first New Orleans Saints player to ask a favor from Drew Brees, but his story is special. Brees was one of several members of the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV-winning team to visit training camp this week. And when Brees was making the rounds to shake hands and exchange words, Shaheed stopped him with an autograph request — of a photo of themselves.

Shaheed grew up in San Diego, where Brees and his family have spent their summers for years, and their paths happened to cross way back when. Brees was a dad making a grocery run to what appears to be a Costco big-box store, and Shaheed was a schoolchild asking for a photo to show off to his fifth-grade elementary school class. Of course Brees obliged.

A lot has happened in the years since. Brees won the Super Bowl that year, and Shaheed eventually went on to play college football at Weber State before earning a rookie contract with the Saints. He was rewarded with an extension this summer, and now they’ve reunited.

Brees is going into the Saints team Hall of Fame this season and Shaheed is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance. When Brees visited Saints practice on Tuesday in Irvine, Shaheed brought a printed copy of their photo from 15 years ago, and asked Brees to sign it. How’s that for a unique souvenir?

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Reggie Bush’s iconic playoffs TD run is the Saints Play of Day 25

Reggie Bush’s iconic touchdown run against the Cardinals in the playoffs is our pick for the Saints Play of Day 25 as we count down to kickoff:

There are 25 days to go until the New Orleans Saints kick off their regular season, and we’re highlighting one of the best plays that Reggie Bush made while wearing a black and gold No. 25 jersey. Bush scored a 46-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals during the 2009 playoffs to extend his team’s lead, which you can watch here.

It proved to be a pivotal play. The Saints had gotten stunned by a 70-yard Tim Hightower touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, but they battled back with a couple scores of their own (Lynell Hamilton punched in a touchdown from thee 1-yard line, and Jeremy Shockey caught a 17-yard pass from Drew Brees on the next drive).

Then Bush stepped up and put the game firmly out of reach for Arizona. He danced and dodged around several Cardinals defenders before taking off into the open field, and they had no hope of catching him. Bush’s touchdown and Garrett Hartley’s extra point put the Saints up by 21-7, and Arizona never closed the gap before going home. New Orleans won at home, 45-14, and advanced to matchups with even greater stakes in the NFC Championship  Game and Super Bowl XLIV.

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Bills place former Super Bowl champion, Chiefs QB on injured reserve

The Buffalo #Bills placed former Kansas City #Chiefs backup quarterback Shane Buechele on their injured reserve list on Tuesday.

The Buffalo Bills will be without the services of backup quarterback Shane Buechele for a while after the former Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller was placed on injured reserve.

Buechele spent the first two years of his career in Kansas City before being released by the Chiefs after their training camp in 2023. Buffalo quickly picked him up once he hit free agency, and he spent last season on the Bills practice squad.

After placing Buechele on injured reserve, Buffalo signed veteran signal-caller Ben DiNucci to take the former SMU star’s place on its depth chart.

Check out Adam Schefter’s report on the Bills’ roster moves below:

While these events aren’t likely to change Buffalo’s trajectory heading into the 2024 season, Buechele’s absence at Bills practices will be a blow to the team’s preparations over the next few weeks.

Buechele made a name for himself in Kansas City as a preseason standout, but he won’t get his chance to do the same in Buffalo after this most recent injury.

Jaire Alexander envisions Packers winning Super Bowl on his birthday

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander turns 28 years old on Feb. 9, 2025. What could be the perfect birthday present for the two-time All-Pro? The Lombardi Trophy. 

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander turns 28 years old on Feb. 9, 2025. What could be the perfect birthday present for the two-time All-Pro?

A chance to lift the Lombardi Trophy.

Asked where this Packers team could be headed in 2024, Alexander gave a super response.

“You know, it’s hard to say right now. But at the end of the day, I see us hoisting that trophy on my birthday, Feb. 9,” Alexander said Tuesday.

Super Bowl LIX is set to be played on Feb. 9 at the Caesers Superdome in New Orleans.

Alexander said it would be “fitting” to win a title on his birthday.

From Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com:

The Packers haven’t won a Super Bowl since beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at AT&T Stadium on Feb. 6, 2011, when Alexander was 14 years old. He wasn’t even born when Brett Favre and the Packers won a Super Bowl by beating the New England Patriots in New Orleans on Jan. 26, 1997 — roughly two weeks before his birth.

Can Alexander help this Packers team — led by quarterback Jordan Love — end another 14-year Super Bowl drought on his birthday?

Robert Meachem’s 44-yard fumble recovery is the Saints Play of the Day

Robert Meachem’s 44-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown is the Saints Play of the Day. It’s one of the wildest plays you’ll see:

How’s this for a throwback? With just 44 days left until the start of the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 season, we’re highlighting Robert Meachem’s 44-yard touchdown as the Saints Play of the Day.

But it’s a little more complicated than Drew Brees throwing the football and Meachem carrying it into the end zone. You really need to see it for yourself, but here’s how the official NFL gamebook summarized the play:

(Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle intended for J.Shockey INTERCEPTED by K.Moore at WAS 30. K.Moore to WAS 44 for 44 yards (R.Meachem). FUMBLES (R.Meachem), RECOVERED  by NO-R.Meachem at WAS 44. R.Meachem for 44 yards,  TOUCHDOWN.

The Replay Assistant challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was Upheld.

That’s right — Meachem made up for his quarterback’s mistake, and then some. Falling back under pressure while facing 3rd-and-26 in the final minute before halftime, trailing 17-10, Brees forced the ball to his tight end Jeremy Shockey to try and make a play. He took the snap out of shotgun at the Washington 48-yard line and backpedaled with multiple defenders in his face, ultimately throwing from New Orleans’ 41 while being shoved to the ground.

Several defenders crashed down on Shockey and safety Kareem Moore took the ball away. Then Meachem stepped in. Moore got to his feet and tried to work his way through traffic up to midfield, but Meachem stopped him, stripped the ball away, and sprinted down the sideline for what was arguably the play of the year.

Meachem came through again in the second half, catching a 54-yard touchdown pass from Brees that forced the game to overtime. A Garrett Hartley field goal in extra minutes put them ahead 33-30. The Saints returned to New Orleans with a tough win, having improved to 12-0, and they went on to win it all in Super Bowl XLIV.

You have to wonder how things may have gone differently if Meachem hadn’t made such a heady play. What if the Saints had lost in Washington and ceded homefield advantage throughout the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings instead? Thankfully, we’re not in that timeline, so we don’t have to do more than wonder about it.

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Cameron Jordan on being a mentor in Year 14 with the Saints

Cameron Jordan is entering Year 14 with the Saints. As the most experienced pro in the room, he’s embracing his role as a mentor:

Cameron Jordan used to be the young guy in the room. Looking up to proven pros like Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma, and just hoping to make a name for himself, proving why the New Orleans Saints drafted him. But it’s been a long time since then. He’s going into Year 14 with the black and gold, and these days he’s being asked to step into the role of a mentor. There isn’t much that he hasn’t seen or done through 209 games with the Saints, and his younger teammates know it.

Jordan was busy between drills at Wednesday’s first training camp practice of the summer, offering words and examples to those around him. Not just the young draft picks lined up behind him at defensive end, but the offensive linemen opposing him like Trevor Penning.

“This is Year 3 for him. It’s time to figure it out,” Jordan said of Penning after practice. He was seen taking time between reps to give the right tackle pointers, and he said that opportunity to help Penning is important to him. “I don’t know what anybody else is seeing on the outside in, but right now in between those lines, it’s whatever I can do to help us win a Super Bowl. So if I can talk to him, ‘Hey, calm down,’ ‘Don’t worry about it,’ ‘Throw hands, anchor,’ whatever it is, let’s get him right now. Because I don’t want to get to the season and be like, ‘We should’ve (done this),’ because I don’t have time for should’ve, I have right now.”

Still, it’s not like Jordan is neglecting his fellow defensive linemen. He’s excited to see what they can do after putting in the work to prepare for what may be a pivotal training camp for some of them.

“Payton Turner is probably in the best shape of his life right now. He’s in Year 4, he’s got more than a chip (on his shoulder), he’s got everything to prove this year,” Jordan said while rattling off the list of teammates competing around him. He continued, “I just think as we grow right now, it’s the time to grow right now. It’s the time to figure out what we’re good at it, what we want to run. How we can effect the quarterback. How can we implement Chase Young in our defense as a guy we know who can be explosive?”

Not many guys can say they’ve been there, done that in the NFL like Jordan. All he has left is winning a Super Bowl. It’s the last thing he can achieve, and he’s desperate to add a championship to his trophy case. And he knows he won’t get it done alone. Improving those around him and making the team better is his priority. He just needs to keep it up.

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More disappointment for 49ers in USA TODAY predictions

Ouch.

A potential Super Bowl hangover isn’t being factored into preseason prognostication about the 49ers. They might just have a roster that’s too good and too experienced to fall victim to it. A prediction from Nate Davis at USA TODAY certainly has San Francisco avoiding a Super Bowl hangover, but their season still ends in disappointment yet again.

Davis has the 49ers finishing with a stellar 13-4 record, along with the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

That in itself would be a rousing success considering the hurdles they’d have to clear as the previous season’s Super Bowl runner up.

Alas, they not only don’t win the title in Davis’s prediction. They don’t even make it back.

Davis has the Packers (the No. 2 seed) representing the NFC against the New York Jets and losing on the NFL’s biggest stage. To get to the Super Bowl the Packers defeat the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in the NFC championship game.

What a gut punch that would be.

Not only to lose in yet another NFC title game, but to have it come against the Packers – a team the 49ers have defeated in five consecutive playoff matchups – would be particularly brutal. It might also lead to some hard questions about San Francisco’s ceiling now that a team like Green Bay has eclipsed them in an NFC that appears to be catching up to them.

In the big picture another NFC championship trip would be a success for the 49ers organization, but zooming into the last six seasons, it would be hard to deem this version of the 2024 campaign anything less than a failure.

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Broncos Super Bowl 50 champ Shaq Barrett retires after 10-year career

Shaq Barrett, who won Super Bowls with the Broncos and Bucs, has retired after 10 seasons to focus on his family.

Following a 10-year career in the NFL, former Denver Broncos pass rusher Shaq Barrett has announced his retirement from football at age 31.

“It’s time for me to hang it up,” Barrett wrote on his Instagram page on Saturday. “It’s been a great ride and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize [their] dreams and catch em.”

Barrett’s retirement comes following a difficult 2023 season. Six months after he tore his Achilles, Barrett lost two-year-old daughter Arrayah in a drowning accident last year.

Barrett entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State with the Broncos in 2014. After spending his rookie year on the practice squad, Barrett played four years as a rotational pass rusher in Denver, helping the team win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Barrett signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in 2016 and had a career year with 19.5 sacks in his first season as a Buc. The following season, Barrett helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV.

Barrett signed with the Miami Dolphins this spring before later deciding to retire. The pass rusher hangs up his cleats with two Super Bowls, two Pro Bowl nods, 125 quarterback hits and 59 career sacks on his resume.

Barrett and his wife, Jordanna, now have four children: Shaquil Jr., Braylon, Aaliyah and Allanah, who was born earlier this year.

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