James Varney, The Times-Picayune

For the first time in a long time, the New Orleans Saints will play today on the heels of a loss.

Such is the enviable recent history for most defending Super Bowl champions.

However, history, recent or otherwise, has been less kind to the Saints when it involves the Carolina Panthers, their opponent in the Superdome. Since the Panthers entered the NFL in 1995, they hold a 17-13 all-time edge in the divisional rivalry.

And that’s not a record the Saints have made less lopsided in recent years, as they went to two NFC Championship games and Carolina fell from among the league’s perennial postseason contenders. Since Coach Sean Payton arrived in New Orleans in 2006, he has gone just 2-6 against his friend and counterpart, Panthers Coach John Fox.

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Here is a story about a nice place to get some great Jewerly if you love the Saints.

All of my work is one of a kind or a limited series production. I do all of the work with the help of one part-time apprentice. My favorite medium is cloisonne’ enameling because it allows me the use of a wonderful color palette of powdered glass and the ability to paint, even if on a very small scale. I enjoy metalwork tremendously and I proudly use time honored traditional metalsmithing techniques, starting my work with a sheet or wire of gold or silver and fabricating and forming it into a finished product. Comfortable wearability is always on my mind as I create each new piece.

All work is hallmarked “James Carter” on the reverse side. All earrings posts are 14kt gold. Pendants come with 1/8″ diameter black silk cord. Please request 24″ or 36″ length when ordering. Sterling silver cables are also available in 18″ or 24″ lengths for an additional charge. All work is delivered in a special gift box with information about your piece.

I hope you enjoy your handmade piece of Saints fleur de lis jewelry as much as I enjoyed making it. Due to each piece being individually made, the uniqueness of each will be evident in the details. All of my work comes with a lifetime guarantee. Please contact my studio with any questions or concerns.

Check out their web site if you want to see all of the great stuff they have.

ESPN.com news services

The New Orleans Saints are planning for newly signed John Carney to serve as the team’s kicker Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The 46-year-old Carney signed with the Saints this week after starting kicker Garrett Hartley missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime Sunday that would have given the Saints a 27-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Hartley remains on the Saints’ roster.

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By Pat Yasinskas

The NFL just announced its Players of the Month for September and the NFC South avoided a shutout.

That’s because New Orleans’ Courtney Roby saved the day. Roby has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for September. It’s a good choice, because Roby is a guy who really doesn’t get the attention he deserves. He’s the first New Orleans non-kicker to earn the award since Tyrone Hughes in October 1994.

Roby is an all-around special-teams player. His primary role is as a kickoff return man. He averaged 25.8 yards per return in the first three games, but that’s not all Roby did. He also plays on the coverage units.

Roby’s made five special-teams tackles, including at least one in every game. He also recovered a fumble on a muffed punt in San Francisco that set up a field goal in a New Orleans victory.

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Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

A lot of armchair quarterbacks have second-guessed New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton’s decision to attempt the field goal in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons on first down.

But Payton’s decision was based on the laws of probability.

Since the beginning of the 2001 season, NFL kickers are 231 for 255 on 29-yard field goal attempts in the both regular season and postseason, according to ESPN’s NFL Stats & Information. That’s 90.6 percent.

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