Stop the presses. There will be a New Orleans Saint player in the Hall of Fame. And it happened in the same season when the Saints are in the Super Bowl for the first time. It's a good time to break out the fleur-de-lis and "who dat" gear.
Some might see the Ricky Jackson enshrinement as an omen for the big game tomorrow (especially all you crazy New Orleans folks with your voodoo and such), but I just see this weekend as a welcome party for the Saints as a legit NFL franchise. I, for one, am happy to see the black and gold around.
Sure there are players in the Hall of Fame that have played for the Saints...at the end of their career. Guys like Earl Campbell, Jim Taylor, and Doug Atkins were all shutting it down with New Orleans. Ricky Jackson was a Saint from the get-go.
At first I was skeptical of the Jackson Hall of Fame selection. There were guys out there like Charles Haley and Roger Craig who had won multiple Super Bowls and suddenly this is the year Jackson gets the nod? Sounds like people are riding the Saints season of good will in that Hall of Fame selection committee.
Then I took a look at Jackson's numbers.
He racked up 128 sacks, forced 40 fumbles and recovered 29 others. Plus, he had nearly 1200 tackles. For perspective, Lawrence Taylor, the Hall of Fame outside linebacker against whom all other are judged, had 132.5 sacks and recovered only 11 fumbles.
Jackson belongs in the Hall of Fame and his fellow Saints linebackers (Sam Mills, Pat Swilling, and Vaughn Johnson) formed one of the nastiest sets of linebackers in NFL history. It seems odd having a Saint in the Hall of Fame as well as having New Orleans in the Super Bowl. It's supposed to be a time of change and the Saints are changing for the better.
Every week Berning On Sports will provide you with everything you need to get ready for each week of the NFL season, hence the name of this post. Feel free to comment with your NFL picks each week and we'll add you to our results page. For the Super Bowl, however, this one will cover all aspects of the game, including the best things to eat, and the entertainment surrounding it.
Finally, Alastair and Mr. Pants preview the game for your enjoyment.
Alastair Previews The COLTS
Despite the fact that the Colts have won every game that they've tried to win this year, let's not forget how unconvincing they were in numerous games this season. Since week 7, Indianapolis has only won 1 game by more than 10 points and has had 5 contests decided by 5 points or less. You can draw one of two conclusions from those facts: 1.) The Colts are lucky, or 2.) The Colts know how to win and grind out games even when they're not at their best. While it's no secret that Indy was at one point a very questionable 14-0 (if that's even possible), option number 2 carries far more weight. Whether it's Peyton Manning leading one of his typical late game drives or a timely stop from a fast, play-making defense, the Colts just win. They've done so better than any team in any decade in NFL history. In the playoffs, they've been far more convincing in two wins over the Ravens and Jets, winning by a combined score of 50-20. As a result, they should be infinitely more confident than the Saints, who are not only making their Super Bowl debut, but also backed into the big game thanks to Mr. Favre and his fumble-happy Viking teammates. Some will contend that prior Super Bowl experience doesn't matter, but I beg to differ. Manning and company have been here before (literally), and they won't be in awe of the situation or their surroundings. The New Orleans defense relies on turnovers to make its impact, and Manning is perhaps the smartest quarterback this sport has ever seen. If he's able to take care of the ball (5 TD's, 1 INT in the playoffs), the Saints won't have an answer in Miami.
Sports Pants Previews The SAINTS
The Saints flew through most of the season by overwhelming most teams with an offense that blew your doors off. The Brees behind this offense led the Saints to top rankings all across the offensive board. In short, the Saints simply outscored any team that got in their way. It's hard to believe, however, that New Orleans would be in Miami if Minnesota didn't literally hand them the NFC Championship with 3000 turnovers. Brett Favre was shredding the Saints defense before he reverted back to the old Favre we all know and love. It's not that the New Orleans defense is bad, they just aren't dominant.
Peyton Manning won't make the same mistakes Favre did and there will be no Superdome crowd behind the Saints this time, so it will be up to Brees, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and that bevy of receivers to outscore the Colts. On defense, Jonathan Vilma, Darren Sharper and the boys need to tackle well and swipe at that ball as often as possible. The Colts receivers will catch balls, but if they get hammered each time, they might cough up the rock a few times. The Saints D needs turnovers. The offense needs to be in attack mode at all times. That should be a problem with head coach Sean Payton. He doesn't like conservative game plans anyway.
Our Picks
We all like the COLTS to win. Mr. Pants says, however, that the Cubs will beat the Lakers in the Super Bowl, to make Jordan both happy, and very confused.
Every week Berning On Sports will provide you with everything you need to get ready for each week of the NFL season, hence the name of this post. Feel free to comment with your NFL picks each week and we'll add you to our results page. For the Super Bowl, however, this one will cover all aspects of the game, including the best things to eat, and the entertainment surrounding it.
To get ready for the Super Bowl, here's Scott's look at all the great (or safe) entertainment choices at halftime, and this weekend.
So, the Who is performing at Half Time. Great news. I think it's clear NFL, we get it. No more dangerous, even potentially so, performances (read: these damn kids and they're rap and Nintendo's and MTV). In an effort to cut down the chances of there being anything similar to the "wild" Janet Jackson episode a few years back, the NFL has put on some of the whitest, oldest performances imaginable. Again, not that there's anything wrong with that (or these bands) but, let's be honest: Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty. The funniest part about this, to me, is that in contrast to how white the NFL is trying to go is how black the NBA goes with their music. Usher and Beyonce at the All-Star Game this year? How about Christina Aguilera doing the National Anthem a few years back---with a bass line behind her?
Every week Berning On Sports will provide you with everything you need to get ready for each week of the NFL season, hence the name of this post. Feel free to comment with your NFL picks each week and we'll add you to our results page. For the Super Bowl, however, this one will cover all aspects of the game, including the best things to eat, and the entertainment surrounding it.
To get ready for the Super Bowl, you always need good things to eat. Here are some recipes for things you can make at home for your Super Bowl Party sure to make everyone fired up for the game. I make them all the time.
Jordan's Salsa Verde
(Recipe makes one medium sized bowl. If you want to make more, double the recipe.)
6 medium to large sized tomatillos
1 large red onion
1 large poblano pepper (seeds removed)
1 serrano chile (seeds removed, unless you want it spicier)
2 limes
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
A pinch of minced garlic
A pinch of chili powder
Salt and pepper (to taste)
Chop the tomatillos four ways, so they're easy to put into a food processor. Mince as much of the red onion as you prefer, but at least half to ensure flavor. Zest both limes and squeeze the juice of both into the food processor to combine with the tomatillos and onion. Combine the rest of the ingredients into the food processor and pulse until you get your desired thickness. When done, strain the excess juice out of the salsa.
This is just too bad. These guys are in the middle of a game and they're trying to sort out the next defensive series. Meanwhile snarky a-holes like myself make fun of them for their last names. It's just wrong. And yet you're smiling....
So Jordan thinks February is the worst sports month of the year, huh? He does have a point. February has very few exciting moments. Basketball and hockey are at the midpoint so there is no playoff pressure yet. It's winter outside, in most places it's snowing, and all you want is for something to watch while you're stuck indoors.
I think that's why February gets labeled as the worst sports month by many. They need something to keep them from going nuts and February doesn't provide enough.
How can you vote for February though when July is sitting out there? July is that netherworld between the NBA Championship and Stanley Cup and football season. Nothing happens except for baseball (and golf if you're one of those people).
"Ah-ha!" You might say. "This year we have the World Cup so July will be much better!" First all, you'd have to be a soccer fan to say that and we know America doesn't have many of those. I personally love watching the spectacle of the World Cup, but when I do, I'll only see a handful of games in July. Most of the games are in June, so that argument doesn't work.
Even on the years when there is a Summer Olympics, most of the events are in August. So while February can at least get something every four years with the Winter Olympics, July never gets any event it can call it's own.
So unless you're a gigantic baseball fan who only needs to watch some pitch and catch to be happy (ahem, Jordan), July is the worst sports month of the year due to lack of choice. The good news is that it's July. You can go outside and play.
February and July both have a strong following to claim title of "Worst Sports Month". Everyone has an argument. Please give me yours:
Which is the worst sports month? July or February? Pick your side, young warrior.
Each week our four Berning on Sports voices will sound off on a couple different topics going on in the sports world. Feel free to rip us apart in the comment section if you disagree or add a point that maybe we didn't consider.
First Topic: What is your favorite part about Super Bowl week? What's your least favorite part?
Jordan: My favorite part of Super Bowl week (like everyone else said, unless your team is in it) is the meeting of friends to watch the game. That may sound sappy, but it's true. I enjoy the fact that there's a sporting even that people congregate for every year. My friends and I are very busy usually and all run on different schedules, but we always manage to get together to watch the Super Bowl. It's like a guy's holiday, where you have a football game, beer, wings and the like to enjoy with your buddies. If it's a good game, it's a bonus. My least favorite thing is the saturation of hype that surrounds it, and the media day circus. But I've avoided it so far and would tell you that if you don't want the hype and the mindless breakdown, avoid ESPN for a week.
Scott: My favorite part about the Super Bowl, unless of course my team is in it, are the commercials. I know, that's stereotypically chick thing to say, but it's true. Besides the last two years, the game often is a let down. Which...leads me to my next answer. The worst part are the endless hours of pregame that seemingly start at around 9 AM on the day of. By noon, I'm exhausted.
Alastair: Unless your favorite team is playing in the big game, I'm not sure there is anything other than a "least favorite part". Mindless breakdowns and recycled reports on the same overplayed stories for an entire week, all centered around a game in which most people don't have a rooting interest. The game itself is fun to watch, especially when it's a great match-up like this year, but the buildup is nearly insufferable at times. By the end of the week, I might be able to personally conduct ankle surgery on Dwight Freeney. Will he play, won't he play? Unless you're a Colts fan or a Saints offensive lineman, "who gives a s***?" (to quote Happy Gilmore).
Sports Pants: My favorite part of Super Bowl is the classic replay of all the previous Super Bowls and the talk of where everyone is going to watch the big game. It hammers home just how big this thing is. Even Susan from production is planning on watching it. She may have no idea what is going on or who Drew Brees is, but she'll be there watching that team with the cute Fleur-de-lis on the helmet play the ponies. If I were actually working with other people, I'd probably be even more excited by this. Media day has to be my least favorite part of Super Bowl week these days. It's become such a beating with every media show on the face of the earth descending on the players every Tuesday before the game. It's barely digestible when it's about the game (really, what do want the players to say?) Nowadays though it's about some fake bride trying to marry the quarterback, Entertainment Tonight holding American Idol auditions with players, and an assortment of wannabe stars who use this day to show us all how talented and annoying they are. In the words of the Barenaked Ladies, it's all been done.
season when the Saints are in the Super Bowl for the first time. It's a good time to break out the fleur-de-lis and "who dat" gear. 
Alastair Previews The COLTS
Sports Pants Previews The SAINTS 
To get ready for the Super Bowl, you always need good things to eat. Here are some recipes for things you can make at home for your Super Bowl Party sure to make everyone fired up for the game. I make them all the time.
So Jordan thinks February is the worst sports month of the year, huh? He does have a point. February has very few exciting moments. Basketball and hockey are at the midpoint so there is no playoff pressure yet. It's winter outside, in most places it's snowing, and all you want is for something to watch while you're stuck indoors.
Each week our four Berning on Sports voices will sound off on a couple different topics going on in the sports world. Feel free to rip us apart in the comment section if you disagree or add a point that maybe we didn't consider.
Scott: My favorite part about the Super Bowl, unless of course my team is in it, are the commercials. I know, that's stereotypically chick thing to say, but it's true. Besides the last two years, the game often is a let down. Which...leads me to my next answer. The worst part are the endless hours of pregame that seemingly start at around 9 AM on the day of. By noon, I'm exhausted.
