Tony Dungy stands a year removed from retiring after seven seasons as coach of Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts

In 12 months — during which he’s served as an NFL analyst for NBC and a mentor for Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, among other roles — his allegiance hasn’t budged.

Dungy, speaking to The New York Times in Miami, said the Saints couldn’t do enough to force the Colts into needing a final, last-minute drive to win the Super Bowl.

“I think they’re going to be so far ahead that people are going to say, ‘Oh, ho-hum, he played a good game, they won by two scores, the Colts won their second championship,’ ” Dungy said of Manning on Thursday. “He’s going to have those rings Sunday night. I don’t think it’s going to be close.”

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Just as the Indianapolis Colts say they will extend quarterback Peyton Manning’s contract this offseason, the New Orleans Saints will do the same for their quarterback, Drew Brees, according to sources close to the situation.

The Saints intend to redo Brees’ deal later this year to bring his salary more in line with the game’s top quarterbacks. This season Brees was the 17th-highest paid quarterback in the league, yet he finished second in the league in MVP voting and led New Orleans to the first Super Bowl in franchise history.

New Orleans considered extending Brees’ contract last offseason, but opted to wait another year. Now that it has, the price only has risen with Brees performing the way he has. Should the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV, Brees practically would be able to name his price.

Discussions on a new deal have yet to begin, but they will this offseason. A contract is expected to be wrapped up by the time the Saints report to training camp if not during it, but nobody around the league expects Brees to play the 2010 season under the six-year, $60 million contract that he signed in March 2006.

Click here to read the full article – By Adam Schefter of ESPN.com

A 40-yard field goal in overtime by a little-known kicker could become as famous as jambalaya in these parts.

The New Orleans Saints, a team with no home and an uncertain future five years ago, are heading for their first Super Bowl. By battering Brett Favre and beating the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 Sunday, they set off celebrations on Bourbon Street that locals never could have imagined in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“This is for everybody in this city,” said coach Sean Payton, the architect of the Saints’ turnaround. “This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet. It’s not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans.”

And it came courtesy of Garrett Hartley and the Aints — who surely ain’t the Aints anymore.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Reggie Bush danced around defenders who fell over each other trying to tackle him. Drew Brees was back to passing with pinpoint accuracy, picking apart a beleaguered and depleted Arizona secondary.

A little rest was all the Saints needed to shift their league-leading offense back into overdrive.

That, and a visit from Arizona’s porous defense.

Brees threw three touchdown passes, Bush scored on an 83-yard punt return and a spectacular 46-yard run, and New Orleans overwhelmed the defending NFC champion Cardinals 45-14 in their divisional playoff game Saturday.

“So much for being rusty,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “That bye week was critical, getting guys healthy. … I knew we were ready, the way we worked all week and we were confident in what we were going to do.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

The following playoff games are taking place this upcoming weekend, who do you guys like? (my predictions below)

AFC
Jets @ Chargers 1/17 4:40pm
Ravens @ Colts 1/16 8:15pm

NFC
Cowboys @ Vikings 1/17 1pm
Cardinals @ Saints 1/16 4:30pm

My Predictions:
AFC
Jets 21 Chargers 17
Colts 28 Ravens 20

NFC
Cowboys 28 Vikings 17
Saints 27 Cardinals 10

New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas left the Saints’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with bruised ribs.


The injury appeared to occur during the second quarter of Sunday’s game on a 26-yard run. After being looked at by trainers on the sideline, Thomas went back into the game, but team officials said in the second half that he would sit out the remainder of the game.

Thomas is New Orleans’ leading rusher with 793 yards this season, including 60 yards and an 8-yard touchdown in the first half against the Buccaneers.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com