The good news is that I'll be rested up to report on the end of the month SMACKDOWN. You just thought the networks went into overdrive for last Monday's game. Just wait. I plan to have 50k words behind me and by that Tuesday I'll be basking in that glorious FFG (freshly footballed glow, of course). And you're gonna hear all about it. Until then, anything you get from me will just be lagniappe.
Deal with it.
And as if I weren't exhausted enough with all the writing, the Saints had to keep me up all freaking night. How many times did I think I could close my eyes and get a little much-needed shut-eye? Nope, fumble. Nope, interception. Nope, missed the onside kick. Nope, another interception. Give me a freaking break! I couldn't believe it when people were talking about the game Tuesday morning, about how it was ALMOST as tough and stressful as the week before's win. WHAT?!?!? And then I remembered. I had chalked that up to a throwaway game. And I was afraid, especially after winning that one, that we could lose this week. To Atlanta. And then to watch that potential nightmare unfold . . . it was almost more than my little Saint heart could handle.
Here's a quick list (mostly because I'm tired of writing in paragraphs ALREADY and it's only the 5th):
- Stud of the Week: Will Smith - Yep, you read it right, Will Smith. Why? Because I actually saw him a few times this game. And he turned Matty Ice into Matty Rice & Gravy. I like to think he put a little fear in that boy's head, maybe pushing him to throw a few of those passes that landed right into the hands of our TOP OF THE LEAGUE CORNERS. (Ever thought you'd hear THAT shit??? I certainly didn't.)
- Drew owes his receivers dinner. Seriously. Not on top of his game. He can thank his receivers for this week's passer rating, because it could have been a lot worse. No, wait. My bad. Maybe it was just those mouthpieces.
- This just in . . . Gruden's STILL stimulated by all the packages he saw in the Saints meeting.
- Pierre. You pissed me off. Screw the fumble, I'm talking about the fifteen fricking yards for that undeserved celebration. Yeah, that. Maybe after the back flip into the endzone when we really needed it. (Although, I'd argue that was just makeup nookie for fumbling the ball right before that. Forget flowers and chocolate, give me a back flip for a score any day!) But certainly not after that early score. Give me a break.
- Injury Report: Scott, Sedge, Moore, and Clancy all taking a break for now. (again, stupid early bye week) Although the good news is that Payton says he expects Sedge back before that 4-6 week estimate. In other good news, Jenkins and Goodwin both made it back onto the field today. Phew! I needed some good news on the injury front. I'm still all sorts of torn up over the loss of Heath Evans. Someone pass me a tissue. Or a gin and 7. Whatever ya got. Oh, and Marvin Mitchell saw field time again too, overcoming that "foot" injury, a.k.a. spending time as Payton's bitch. And no, not his bottom bitch.
- And I will leave you with this . . . because we all want to beat the snot out of the Panthers (finish them, indeed) and Mr. Pouty-Pants himself . . . remember the goal of this season. Of any season. We've spent too long hungering for a good team. For a solid winning season. But this team was built for the Super Bowl. These division games are strange, and anything could happen (yes, even in freaking Tampa). As much as I really, really, really believe Jake is gonna think Sharper and Porter and Greer are his receivers by the end of this Sunday's game, it isn't gonna be tiddlywinks out there. So, put your big girl boots on again and remember, win or lose, we're shootin' for that Black and Gold Super Bowl!













