Saints Jesus and other sundry Tuesday issues.

I am so tired.

Literally, my contacts are all that are keeping my eyes open at this point.

I can't believe it's only 10:00 a.m.

I also can't believe I'm awake.

Yesterday afternoon my neighbor M. asked me if I wanted to go to the Saints-Packers game - his ticket block had a spare ticket available - and of COURSE I jumped on that offer.

So I spent my Monday Night Football as part of the experience, rather than merely observing it in high-definition from the relatively comfortable confines of our couch.

There were cheeseheads and Favre jerseys everywhere in sight, and a particularly heretical Saints fan showed up dressed as Jesus.

(Funnier still was the preppy dude dressed as Adrian McPherson, down to the gold tooth.)

All humorous costuming aside, the game was a blowout. And I was thrilled.

But then I had to go home and make dressing for my work potluck today. So at 1:00 this morning I was shredding a loaf of french bread into some sauteed veggies and toasted pecans.

Bleargh. Towards that end, since I am still evidently not all that coherent, here's my recipe for another great dinner for a chilly autumn evening.

Pumpkin Risotto

1 can pumpkin
Olive oil, for cooking and to drizzle
1-2 cups chicken stock (depending on the cooking time of the rice)
1 cup arborio rice
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 tablespoon sage

Bring the stock to a simmer in a pan and keep it at a gentle simmer over a low heat. Heat a little olive oil in a larger saucepan and add the rice. Cook, stirring frequently, for a minute, then add a ladleful of hot stock and stir until it is almost all absorbed before adding another ladleful.

Repeat until you’ve reached your last few ladlefuls of stock. Taste the rice to see if it is al dente. If not, add more stock. Add the pumpkin, a little at a time, until you reach the desired taste and consistency. Add the sage, and then the grated parmesan. Keep warm.

Ladle the risotto on to warm plates and tap the bottom of each plate gently to spread it out. Drizzle with a little olive oil and scatter over the parmesan, then serve immediately.

This is why Drew Brees rocks my world.

Well, in a completely platonic way, at least.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcsouth/0-4-130/Chargers-provide-extra-motivation-for-Brees.html

The diet.

Oktoberfest = Diet Killer

Saints Home Loss to GUS FREROTTE = Diet Restorer

Despite the excesses of Oktoberfest and FSU-UM viewing this past weekend, I managed to regroup and lose a pound.

24 lbs. to go before I hit my skinny jeans size.

On a separate note, does anyone know of any not overpriced, giant dog-friendly places for rent in uptown or Mid-City? We had a less than positive experience with our landlord's new management company yesterday, and we're pretty much hit our wall.

Joey Frickin' Heisman?

Something tells me that something happened to Brees or Brunell in practice this week.

That's the only reason the Saints would have signed Joey Harrington.

This guy has the amazing nine lives-style of Brian Griese. Despite his innate mediocrity, he always manages to land on a roster somewhere.

Also of note is that the Saints are very reluctant to release news on injuries - no one knew the real story about Colston until practically after the man had already had surgery.

So who got hurt? Brees or Brunell?

More importantly, as my good friend and fellow Saints fan CD asks, can Joey Harrington play DB?

A Tale of Two Jasons

The wrong Jason was released from the Saints roster today.

I'm just sayin'.

Hollis Thomas is no longer a Saint.

That's right - the Saints just cut Hollis Thomas off IR.

http://saintsreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82521

Colston is out for 4-6 weeks.

Fantasy owners, it's time to take a fresh look at David Patten - he'll be our No. 1 receiver for the next few weeks.

Kicking off Friday on a happy note!

...or at least as happy a note as possible when suffering a caffeine deficiency.

Sorry for the absence of late. Between travel, family issues, and D.'s birthday/our anniversary, it's been hectic.

I briefly came out of hibernation last night for a cookbook meeting at the OLGC rectory and then hauled it home to catch the first quarter of the Saints-Cardinal preseason game. And as previously mentioned, I'm lamenting the weird facial hair sported by Drew Brees.

There's only one man I think looks hot with facial hair, and that's D.

(Not that I'm biased, of course.)

I'll recap the past couple of weeks later on today, but here's The Verve's new single, "Love is Noise."

Warning - it WILL grow on you insidiously. I wonder how long the band can stay together this time - isn't this their third or fourth attempt at banddom?

Oh, Drew Brees...

You had me at "hello."

But really, you must lose the pornstache.

As the goatee goes, so too goes my crush...into the ether.

Sigh.

Happy Birthday, D.!

Hope you like your Beasley rookie jersey...oh, and...


...the Mannings should officially do all NFL commercials.

"JENGA!"

The Bobby Speaks.

This is a fabulous distraction from the oil fumes coating the city and its environs at the moment...



Yet another distraction? Saints training camp begins today. And Colston is there!

Jeremy Shockey

Do. Not. Want.

Hmm, so it's because of "restructuring."

Loomis went on record to indicate the Mueller's actual position was eliminated in a massive overhaul of the Saints administration.

Riiiiiiiiiiight.

The Saints fired Rick Mueller.

WTH?

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10853544

So think this guy is a Saints fan?

I mean, his car is so subtle. (Seen in Metairie off West Esplanade yesterday...)

A Saints home game in...London?

Some, including D., say "Bollocks!"

While giving up a home game of course bothers me, and yes, curtails tourist spending for a weekend, I think in the long term this could prove lucrative to the franchise and to the city - I think it's a tremendous branding opportunity. There's even a built-in fanbase there to root for the Black and Gold:

http://britishsaints.com/

In September, I contemplated the notion that while the New Orleans market is loyal as hell to our Saints, we lack the corporate subsidies to help the franchise thrive in the longterm.

Maybe this could spur some assistance?

We'll just see, I guess.

Thoughts?

Happy 29th, #9!

Happy 29th Birthday to Drew Brees!

Caption This

"What do you mean, backs are s'posed to run between the tackles? "

-Reggie Bush, looking bemused as his team beats the Cardinals

GEAUX SAINTS!

America's Most Smartest NFL Player

D. has suggested a great spinoff to my Project NFL proposal. Behold - America's Most Smartest Football Player! (America's Most Smartest Model is our requisite Sunday night guilty pleasure - we NEVER miss an episode.)

I can see it now...

The not-so-smart guys:
Joey Harrington (best known for the luckiest breaks in the NFL and an ill-considered Heisman billboard in Times Square)
Gus Frerotte (best known for being pretty and falling down repeatedly)
Terrell Owens (c'mon, do I really have to elaborate?)
Ricky Williams (if he can put the bong down long enough to participate, that is)
Chris Hanson (best known as the punter who chopped his own foot off in the locker room)
Onterrio Smith ("The Original Whizzinator")
Chris Henry (uh...will this affect his probation?)
Sebastian Janikowski (one of my neighbors in college - not so bright, that one)
Bam Morris (Wonderlic + driving around with a trunkful of marijuana = smart!)
Jared Allen (meeeee...it's all about meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...)
Kellen Winslow, Jr. (This "soulja" has made some incredibly embarrassing - and PUBLIC - gaffes in his NFL career.)

Some ringers:
Peyton Manning (any guy who can make SNL intentionally funny has to be clever)
Derrick Brooks (future AD at FSU, perhaps, once his Hall of Fame-ish career ends)
Drew Brees (okay, yes, I'm biased - but Purdue is no walk in the park)
Jason Taylor (the huge robot in London? Not his fault.)
Warrick Dunn (gives Brees a run for his money with intelligent philanthropy)

Alternates:
Adam "Pacman" Jones (again, do I really to explain why?)
Michael Vick (Woof.)
Michael Irvin ("Uh...that was my friend's crack pipe.")

Chad Johnson could serve as emcee...and the possibilities? Well...they're endless. Gripping television, I'm telling you.

Project NFL

Seriously, I think I might be on to something here.

Take Heidi Klum's, "Auf wiedersehen, you're out," mix it with a little bit of Tyra's "You've got to be FIERCE, girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl" pop-psych peptalk, some fakey-fake The Hills and add some Roger Goodell gravitas. Instant hit. Besides, ESPN is always looking for cheesy new content, right?

Imagine the possibilities - the series pilot could revolve around all the drama with the Falcons. Arthur Blank could play the snotty Michael Kors role, and put quarterbacks and coaching candidates through their paces, throwing out snarky asides at every available moment.

In another episode, Sean Payton could practice reverses and carries/receptions with backs and receivers...but with super glue and velcro (y'know, just to make sure they hold on to the ball). Kickers could try out by kicking field goals from 80 yards out, and could practice "working it" on the turf at the 'Dome. I'm pretty sure Tyra is scary enough to teach special teams play...or else. Be fierce, Gramatica! OWN IT!. (And Mare? You're no longer in the running to be America's Next Top Kicker.)

San Diego could kvetch and moan about how Rivers should be cut, and ooooh, did you see how L.T. dissed him in Sunday's game? Oh, no, he jus' didn't! (I'm totally seeing it edited MTV-style, complete with an angsty post-pubescent girly soundtrack. All that's missing is a Spencer Pratt-like villain. Perhaps Petrino could sub in?)

Screw Inside the NFL. And screw angsty Michael Vick coverage during Monday Night Football. I'm tired of all of the human interest stories (excluding Sean Taylor and Kevin Everett, of course) invading the excitement of 4 quarters of football. Let's bring back football, folks, and move the prison sentence drama to where it belongs - carefully scripted reality television!

So...let's take all of the drama and gossiping, and move it to it's own show. Stuart Scott could host it, and Ditka, Shula and one of the 8 million Mannings could offer color commentary. Perhaps Olivia is free?