In a telling chapter in Sean Payton's 295-page book "Home Team," the coach reveals that five players -- Tracy Porter, Bobby McCray, Roman Harper, Usama Young and Jermon Bushrod -- failed to show up on time with the rest of the team for the mandatory Media Day appearance during pre-Super Bowl week following a Monday night to cut loose.
Two fiery motivational speeches by Payton and Drew Brees played a key role in the Saints preparing for the Super Bowl.
Payton was steaming as the Saints gathered in Sun Life Stadium locker room, waiting for the last straggle, Porter, to arrive. With everyone accounted for, but a half an hour late, Payton then delivered a blistering speech ripping players and coaches for what he perceived as a "happy-to-be-here" attitude that he perceived as contagious.
In a chapter entitled "Super Psyche," the coach recalls telling the team, "My intuition tells me you guys are in for a rude awakening this coming weekend. I can smell an ass kicking on the way. I can smell a team that looks like they're just happy to be in the Super Bowl. You guys reek of that team."
Payton was blunt and called out specific players by name, but never really raised his voice, he says in the book.
"Hell, the secondary -- three of the four cornerbacks -- can't make the bus (from the hotel to the stadium) on time. Do you honestly think Pierre Garcon and (expletive) Dallas Clark and those other guys from the Colts are out to the wee hours? Late for Media Day? You're late. You (expletive) clueless. You got no idea."
Payton had wanted to save that speech for just before game time, but in the book, he says, "This was the perfect time for a crisis, Bill Parcells-style. It was early in the week."
Drew Brees said from then on, the team was very business-like in its approach to Super Sunday. "Absolutely we were," said the quarterback.
Payton told the players that a Super Bowl loss would haunt them forever. Brees, a motivational speaker, followed Payton's speech, ordered everyone but players out of the locker room so he could speak to his teammates privately.
"That was the same message that I had and a couple of other guys had when addressing the team," said Brees. "It was very much of that -- 'We're not here just to be here. We're here to win this game. This is the mission we set out on a long time ago and let's get out minds right, start focusing on doing whatever we've got to do to win this game.
":Nobody remembers who loses the game. And that was a big part of the message. Nobody ever remembers who lost. They only remember who won."
Payton appeared on several ESPN shows on Monday, promoting his book, which was released on Tuesday. He was asked how he was going to get the Saints back to the Super Bowl, which has almost been impossible in the past.
"I think the biggest task for us is, having experienced that level of success, how do you no let go to your head? How do you stay humble, stay hungry and continue to almost approach it as if you haven't accomplished anything yet?
"We're 0-0 again and we'll establish goals we want to meet, look back at how special that moment was, and set out to get there again. I like what we have going into this season."
The Saints open the NFL season of Sept .9 against Minnesota in the Superdome.
Reports from Minnesota re that Brett Favre will not only return this season, but plans on playing the next season as well. His decision to keep on playing is primarily driven by the desire to extend the years it will take for Peyton Manning to break his passing records. Are you tired of reading the "will he"or"want he" stories?
"Brett brings a lot of moxie and confidence to his game," said Payton. "He reminds me of Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters when he was nearing the end of his career."
"I don't think there's any doubt that Brett will be back and he's going to be as good as he's every been;" said Brees. "We're going to need our best game to beat him. They're a good team. A very good team." The Saints are two-point favorites.
No longer the underdogs, the Saints are now the team to beat, and will be considered a bulls eye every week. "It's important that everyone understands that," said Brees.
It is believed that former Saints backup quarterback Mark Brunell will sign with the Jets and become their backup before training camp opens. But no everyone on the team is enthusiastic about the prospect of having Brunell as a teammate. "Isn't Brunell like 50 years old?' asked one Jets player. He will turn 40 in September. The New York Daily News reports that "the overwhelming majority" would rather have Kellen Clements remain in the backup role behind starter Mark Sanchez...Saints assistant coach Travis Jones has changed his plea to guilty and hopes to get probation rather than spending time behind bars. He changed his plea of not guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with a real estate scam. In so doing, he admitted to making to making false loan applications for which he received $80,000...
SHARPER, HARPER CAMP: On Monday July 26 and Tuesday July 27, Saints Super Bowl Champion, five-time Pro Bowl selection, and member of NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team, Darren Sharper along with Super Bowl Champion, Pro Bowler and former first team All-Southeastern Conference player of the year, Roman Harper are hosting the 2010 Sharper and Harper Football Camp at Archbishop Rummel High School. The football camp is from 9:00am-1:00pm each day and are offering this camp for kids 8 years old and up along with a camper fee of $130 for both days. Each camper will receive an Official Camp T-shirt, photo with both Darren and Roman, a pair of Nike football cleats, 8 hours of expert instruction, lunch provided both days and a fun and educational experience guaranteed!
When asked why they decided to host this football camp for the kids Darren Sharper replied, “As a kid I remember how much I learned from football camps and how excited I was to take part and grow as a young athlete. I want to instill in these kids that they too are champions and give them the tools they need to succeed.” Roman Harper added, “I love working with kids and am eager to teach them how hard work, discipline and teamwork makes champions. I ‘m excited to share with them my love of the game and just to get out there and have a great time!”
Location:
Archbishop Rummel High School
1901 Severn Ave.
Metairie, LA 70001
For additional information, please contact Nicole Irving, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
by Ed Staton
