Members of the Whodatnation at Mardi Gras !

Do you have any pictures from Mardi Gras ? Let us know !

By Pat Yasinskas

New Orleans Saints

Unrestricted free agents: Safety Darren Sharper and linebacker Scott Fujita

Key figures: The Super Bowl champions face a difficult call on Sharper. The veteran came in and had a fabulous season on a one-year contract. Using the franchise tag on Sharper might not be a bad move because it would guarantee him sticking around for another year. Given Sharper’s age, a long-term contract might not be a wise investment. Fujita also played at a high level last season, but he’s getting older and the Saints have some promising young linebackers. But there is something to be said for continuity when you win a Super Bowl, and the Saints will make some effort to keep their veteran leaders. They also have a slew of restricted free agents, highlighted by guard Jahri Evans, to protect.

Story from Pat’s NFC South  Blog

By Pat Yasinskas

New Orleans Saints

The good news is the Saints don’t have a lot of big needs and with the 32nd overall pick, they won’t be locked in on any one position. They’ve got several ways they could go early in the draft. A defensive tackle to play next to Sedrick Ellis would be nice. But the Saints also could look to get a pass-rushing defensive end to push or take over for Charles Grant. Some eventual replacements for linebackers Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle also would be nice, but the Saints aren’t desperate yet.

Story from Pat’s NFC South Blog

By The Times-Picayune

February 17, 2010, 11:18AM

Super Bowl XLIV was a whirlwind for Times-Picayune reporters and our readers

But now it’s over, and all we can do is reflect on the season that was and look ahead to what will be for the New Orleans Saints.

To help pass the time, we’ve compiled a list of each Super Bowl reporter’s best articles that you might have missed during the chaos that was Super Bowl week. Here’s a look at the best of the Who Dat controversy. Enjoy.

Read the entire story here.

Excellent video.

Crowds pack the streets to see Drew Brees reign as Mardi Gras’ King of Bacchus

By Katie Urbaszewski, The Times-Picayune

February 14, 2010, 10:30PM

It was an incredible convergence of events, even for a superkrewe used to drawing massive crowds.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees reigned as king, it was Valentine’s Day, and the weather was picture perfect.

Bacchus had a masterful night.

When the parade began rolling along the traditional Uptown route Sunday, the crowds were substantially larger than usual, according to krewe members and parade-goers.

Read the rest of the story here.

MICHAEL DeMOCKER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE As if the heavens agreed this is indeed Lombardi Gras, a cloud that looks remarkably like the Superdome hovers over the Thoth parade as it makes its way down Henry Clay Avenue on Sunday, February 14, 2010. Several parade-goers stopped catching beads to marvel at and take pictures of the cloud.

By Mark Lorando, The Times-Picayune

This is what he will hear:

“DREWWWWWW!!! OHMYGOD!!! OHMYGOD!!! RIGHT HERE, DREW!!! I’M OPEN!!! THROW ME SOMETHING, DREW!!! I LOVE YOU, DREWWWWWW!!! WHO DAT, BABY!!! WILL YOU MARRY ME, DREW?!?!?!? I KNOW YOU’RE MARRIED, SO AM I, WE CAN WORK THAT OUT!!! REALLY!!! MY HUSBAND WON’T MIND, HE’S GOT A CRUSH ON YOU, TOO!!! DREWWWWWW!!! DREWWWWWW!!! OHMYGOD, DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!?!? HE THREW IT RIGHT TO ME!!! YOU DA MAN, DREWWWWWW!!!”

But that’s not exactly what the Who Dats on the parade route want to say.

It’s hard to be eloquent when a float is rolling past. So little time, so much pressure — you wait seven hours on a curb in the hopes of catching something, ANYTHING, directly from the hand of Super Bowl XLIV MVP and Bacchus 2010 Drew Brees. How can you possibly be expected to get his attention AND snag a flying doubloon AND put everything you’re feeling into words in just a few, fleeting seconds?

You can’t. So Drew is going to have to read between the lines. He’s going to have to know that when we say all of that, what we really want to tell him is this:

Thank you.

Thank you for bringing your broken shoulder to town and rebuilding yourself right alongside us.

Thank you for teaching us how to finish strong.

Read the rest of the story here.

Nice video. Anthony Hargrove has become a fan favorite for his spirit, energy and strength to rebound in his life.
Proud to have him as a Saint. His kids are adorable as well.