Tonight is only special if you win

Sean Payton's words to the Saints before the reopening of the dome

Tonight will be special for fans no matter what. Only a little over 12 short years ago the Saints were tattered on every single level as a franchise.

Fans displaced, holes and water in our stadium, a long frustrating losing history, and a team filled with players and coaches who wanted out. After so many years of the ball bouncing the wrong way for the Saints and finding ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...

Saints finally made a play

quote:

---

Early in his career, there were questions about Drew Brees having a slow release.

---

quote:

---

I just felt that energy in New Orleans," Brees said Tuesday night. "From the very beginning there was a genuine feeling that they wanted me there. They believe I can come back from this shoulder injury and lead them to a championship. They were as confident as I am, and that meant a lot."

---

quote:

---

"I'm just here to confirm we have an agreement in principle with Drew to become a New Orleans Saint," Loomis said."We're real excited about that."

---

quote:

---

Brees' decision came within seconds of the Dolphins dropping out of the bidding when they traded a second-round choice for Daunte Culpepper. 

---

quote:

---

Cowboys coach Bill Parcells has always been a big fan of Brees and advised his former assistant, Sean Payton, to take Brees if he had the chance. 

---

Put Bill in the Saints Ring Of Honor

quote:

---

"New Orleans was also very comfortable with the risk-reward

---

Most fans were happy to finally be free of Brooks. Even the biggest optimists had to have some level of doubt though. It was a very devastating injury and one no one had ever been the same coming back.

Those fans were proven right to be pessimistic. Drew was never the same and from this day forward neither were the Saints.

Drew rewrote every single franchise record and began an unprecedented assualt on every NFL passing record.

Drew is a winner and brought the first ever Lombardi to New Orleans.

This night will be special for fans no matter what happens. However winners only like to win and for that reason the team and the fans need to make tonight special for Drew.