The New Orleans Saints began their Super Bowl defense on Thursday night against Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings – the same team that basically handed them a victory in last year’s NFC Championship game.
Before a packed house of 70,051 at the Superdome, New Orleans eked out an ugly 14-9 win that left many doubting whether they can pull off a “Two Dat.” Quarterback Drew Brees struggled in leading the Saints’ high-octane offense, which earned its lowest-scoring victory since head coach Sean Payton arrived in the Big Easy four years ago.
Meanwhile, Minnesota was playing without its star wide receiver – former University of South Carolina standout Sidney Rice. That clearly impacted Favre, as the aging gunslinger completed just 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. The Vikings were also dealing with several injuries to their defensive secondary – which Brees and the Saints managed to exploit on a pair of long passes on their opening drive (including a 29-yard scoring strike from Brees to Devery Henderson).
Still, the Saints looked substantially less than impressive in dispensing with the undermanned Vikings.
Only two teams in the last two decades – the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos – have won back-to-back Super Bowls.
BRADY BUNCHES (OF CASH)
Speaking of the Patriots, New England made three-time Super Bowl Champion (and two-time Super Bowl MVP) Tom Brady the highest-paid player in the NFL on Thursday.
Brady and the team agreed to a four-year deal worth $72 million – $48.5 million of which is guaranteed. Brady’s last deal – which expires at the end of this season – was a four-year package worth $48 million.
After winning three Super Bowls between 2001 and 2004, the Patriots have made just one Super Bowl appearance in the last five years … losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Brady missed the entire 2008 season with a knee injury, but came back strong in 2009 – throwing for 4,398 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Brady probably won’t remain the league’s highest-paid player for long, however, as the Indianapolis Colts are currently renegotiating the contract of their star quarterback (and our founding editor’s man-crush), Peyton Manning.
‘BURN, BABY, ‘BURN
Auburn University’s football team – ranked as high as No. 20 in the national polls – staved off a last-minute drive by Mississippi State to escape Starkville with a 17-14 victory in the SEC opener for both teams.
Junior quarterback Cameron Newton threw for two touchdowns and picked up 70 yards rushing to lead the Tigers, who relied on a stingy defensive unit in the second half to preserve their fifth consecutive road win against the Bulldogs.
While Newton – a 6′ 6″, 250-pound junior college transfer – was certainly impressive (as was freshman running back Michael Dyer), our game ball goes to Auburn defensive lineman Nick Fairley. In addition to three sacks, Fairley had an interception and a fumble recovery against Mississippi State.
Auburn plays Clemson next week (a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN) and South Carolina on Sept. 25.
Both of those games will take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn – giving both Carolina and Clemson fans a good look at how their teams stack up against a solid SEC squad in a hostile environment.
TENNESSEE HOOPS UNDER INVESTIGATION
The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team is being investigated for allegedly making excessive phone calls to recruits – and using unauthorized phones to make those calls. The school isn’t commenting on the allegations, but NCAA investigators have reportedly met already with head coach Bruce Pearl and assistant coach Tony Jones.
Tennessee’s football team has already acknowledged committing six secondary violations last season during former head coach Lane Kiffin’s lone year in Knoxville. That ongoing NCAA probe includes – but is apparently not limited to – an inquiry into the Vols’ controversial “hostess” program.
