The days was spent mostly in comparisons and compliments as both sides were quick to praise the other, and media sought answers on questions pertaining to both quarterbacks.
Saints head coach Sean Payton did not release any injury information on Wednesday citing that the NFL does not require him to do so until Thursday. Payton told media members he will announce a practice participation report on Thanksgiving, giving us the first indication this week as the health status of certain Saints players.
BELICHICK IMPRESSED WITH PAYTON’S WAY
Saints head coach Sean Payton often mentions trying to model the Saints after successful franchises and model his approach to coaching after successful head coaches. “This is a team where if you’re looking at it over the last ten years has been certainly the model of excellence,” Payton said following practice on Wednesday. “You have a coach who is going to be a Hall of Fame coach. You have a quarterback who’s going to be a Hall of Fame player. You have a receiver who is going to be a Hall of Fame player in (Randy) Moss and the way (Wes) Welker plays if he continues the same thing.”
“Sean, I’ve always had a lot of respect for Sean, starting with the job he did with the Giants and in Dallas and then I had an opportunity to spend a week with him out at the Pro Bowl after the 2006 season. We got a chance to spend some time together under less pressure hanging out at the Pro Bowl. It’s not a regular season or playoff type of game, so I got to know him well and we spent a lot of time together. I think he’s a really sincere guy that comes from the heart. There’s not a lot of fluff and B.S. on top of it,” Belichick says of Payton. “He’s really down to earth, humble, sincere and a man that I really respect. I respected what they did in that season. I respect what they do now. We had a chance to spend a whole day out there on a fishing trip and it was a lot of fun. It was relaxing, it was very insightful. From where that franchise was, when he got there and everything they’ve been through and how much they’ve had to overcome and rebuild, not just on the team, but in the community and so forth. I don’t know what Jim Haslett went through at the end there and how difficult what it was. I think what they’ve been able to accomplish from the top right on down has been spectacular really. They have a great football team. There’s no ifs ands or buts about it. They have a great football team. They really haven’t been in a competitive game all year. They’re basically running out the clock in the middle of the third quarter most of the time. There were a couple scores that were really close at the end, but the games really weren’t that close. They’ve just been dominant in all phases of the game, returning kicks, covering kicks, offensively, turning the ball over on defense. 29 turnovers is…I don’t think most teams get 29 turnovers in practice during the year. They’re at 29 turnovers halfway through the season. Gregg (Williams) and Sean, they’ve all done a great job down there. You can’t say enough about them.”
There are many reasons why Monday night’s game is being hyped and the anticipation is so great. One reason is that the Saints are 10-0, taking on a team that two season ago went 16-0 during the regular season. Many questions have already been asked to Payton and his players about mounting pressure, or trying to handle talk of an undefeated season.
New England has been there and done that. “In this league, every week’s a challenge. We’re facing a huge one this week with the Saints. Every week’s a challenge. Every team has good players and good coaches. They work hard. They keep getting better. If you’re not ready to go every week in this league, you won’t be happy with the results, so it’s a very competitive league,” says Belichik about the dificulties of winning so many consecutive games. “You’re not playing down like you are in college to the competition and stuff like that. All these teams are good and they all have a lot of talent. You better be ready to go every week.”
New England has many accomplishments this decade, and it’s because of their success that has fans and players salivating at the Saints testing their metal against them.
“The fact that we’re playing a team that is one of the teams of the decade – they’ve won three Super Bowl championships; they’ve been to the playoffs just about every year; some would say they’re a dynasty. That’s the type of organization that we’re aspiring to be,” says quarterback Drew Brees. To be a championship contender every year. Any time you play against a team like that, it’s a big-time game because you feel like if you’re able to go out and win these games and compete with these teams, then you belong.”
Are the Saints ready to take a step the brings them closer to the Patriots? Time will tell, but there is a belief that the Saints definitely have what it takes talent wise to win a championship. “They’re as good as anybody we’ve faced. There are no weaknesses. The players are good. The coaches are good. The schemes are difficult. They’re playing at home. It’s Monday night. There will be a lot of energy in the dome. We know we have our work cut out for us,” Belichick says. “Look, nobody’s really been that competitive with them,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said while answering questions to local media Wednesday. “I know the Dolphins were ahead at halftime, but again, by the fourth quarter, they’re running out the clock in that game too. They’re a strong, explosive team.”
Brees and company wasn’t the only thing Belichick says he’s preparing his team for, mentioning several times that he anticipates a sold out superdome to be amped up and ready to play the part of a 12th man.”I’m sure it will be pretty awful. I’m sure that the Saints will have the great support that they’ve always had down there and the fans will be behind them as they should be and we’ll be in a real hostile environment. There won’t be a lot of Patriot fans in the dome on Monday night. We know that. That’s usually the way it is when you go on the road. That’s just another part of the challenge we’ll have to face, not just the team, but the noise and the hostility and all that. We’ll have to play through all those elements as well.”
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