Falcons fans: Are you rooting for or against the Saints?
The Falcons have been going against the Saints forever. So should Falcons fans be pulling for Indianapolis? (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Had an interesting exchange last night with Falcons coach Mike Smith, when I spoke to him about two conference championship games. At one point, I asked Smith if he had any feelings about the New Orleans franchise finally making it to the Super Bowl.
“No, not really,” Smith said.
So the whole thing about the tormented franchise . . .
“No.”
This wasn’t surprising, I suppose. Smith coaches the Falcons. Football coaches don’t get emotional about other team’s conquests, particularly when the other team is a division rival. (The Falcons lost two close meetings this season). But I was wondering: How do Falcons fans feel about this?
In the live blog off championship Sunday, several Falcons fans chimed in, saying no true Falcons fan should be pulling for the Saints. Maybe because I didn’t grow up here, I can’t relate to the hate in the rivalry. Plus, I’ve never gotten a sense of that “hate” in annual Falcons-Saints games that I do Georgia-Florida, Georgia-Georgia Tech and even Braves-Mets.
Question: Am I wrong for liking the fact the Saints finally made it, especially with the backdrop of the problems in the city of New Orleans? How to do you feel about the Saints being in the Super Bowl, and will you be pulling for them or Indianapolis?
Let me know what you think and I’ll check back.
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307 comments Add your comment
Dirtybird311
January 25th, 2010
10:29 am
If you are a true Dirty Bird then you will never root for the saints to win a superbowl before the Falcons. All you tree huggin hippies on this board who are saying “Awee as long as the SEC east wins” and “I cheer for the Ain’ts when they aren’t playing Atlanta” are a bunch of mouth breathing posers. If you are a REAL fan of the Atlanta Falcons then you should NEVER want the saints to win this superbowl. Do you think that Eagles fans or Giant fans wanted Dallas to win the superbowl last week? Exactly. Go live in your free love communes in a Van down by the River, you guys aren’t real Atlanta Falcons fans!
No if you just don’t like Peyton I understand a little more, but then you are just jealous. Objectively the guy is the best QB ever in the NFL. I don’t necessarily like him or the Colts either.
Dirtybird311
January 25th, 2010
10:30 am
NFC East sorry. Still got College on the brain
IceFan
January 25th, 2010
10:30 am
Normally when the Falcons/Braves/Hawks are out of it I find myself pulling for the representative of the NFC/National League/Eastern Conference. But damn, it’s really hard to root against Peyton Manning. I may have to just root for a close game.
Jeff Schultz
January 25th, 2010
10:31 am
Tailback U — You’re forgiven for the visual. (Just don’t make it a habit. I think I’ll skip lunch now.)
Jeff Schultz
January 25th, 2010
10:33 am
Thanks Mark. And you play a mean guitar, by the way.
dirty bird
January 25th, 2010
10:35 am
Not sure where some of this hostility is coming from, it’s always been a friendly rilvary to me. There fans are normally very polite and respectful, although they were pretty loud this year at the Dome. I want to beat them every time but I also want to see the NFC South represented in a positive way. With that being said I hope they win, but don’t think they have a chance. Thier entire year has been about luck and poor calls in thier favor by the refs. As was the case yesterday. Don’t get me wrong they are talented but also very lucky and that luck has to run out sooner or later.
Ross
January 25th, 2010
10:36 am
I love New Orleans – could be my favorite city. But any Falcons fan who wishes the Saints to get a Bowl ring before us, should switch to tennis.
Jeff Schultz
January 25th, 2010
10:36 am
Dirty Bird — I’m with you. I’ve always thought most viewed Falcons-Saints as a friendly rivalry. But apparently some don’t.
who dat ?
January 25th, 2010
10:39 am
Any Falcons Fan pulling for Indy and Peyton is a punk.
Beau Vighn
January 25th, 2010
10:39 am
Who gives a flip about pro football. Signing day is the big story this time of year. I get tired of watching millionaire pro football players jump around and show their a$$ every time they make a routine play..
AlphaDog
January 25th, 2010
10:42 am
As an old Cleveland Browns fan I hated the Pittsburgh Steelers, but would root for them in the Super Bowl as a “regional rep” from the rust belt. That said, my 2 favorite college teams are Ohio State and whoever is playing Michigan (except for SEC teams). Go Saints!
PMC
January 25th, 2010
10:46 am
I sure would like to feel like our Falcons are destined to win sometime.
Freaking crazy the superbowl is essentially during Mardi Gras
Russ
January 25th, 2010
10:46 am
Do the Falcons fans rooting for the Saints also enjoy kissing your sisters?
Tailback U
January 25th, 2010
10:47 am
Jeff
I have thought a little more about rooting for the Saints
and well….not feeling too spiffy here at the moment.
But you go ahead and root for them Aints Perhaps your
stomach is considerably stronger than mine.
Bryan G.
January 25th, 2010
10:48 am
So that I understand…if the Saints win, it’ll be like Katrina never happened? So how soon can we get the Haiti national team in the Superbowl so I don’t have to hear 24/7 CNN earthquake coverage?
MARTIN
January 25th, 2010
10:50 am
Anything is possible, so don’t crown the colts already. Did you not see how many times the saints put farve on the ground. Payton manning isn’t as mobile as farve, so let’s just wait and see guys. I’m a saints fan thick and thin. I bought a home in gwinette county two years ago, because i’ve always liked the atlanta area. With that said, I love the rilvary between the saints and dirty birds, it’s fun. I enjoy the chatter back and forth between the saints and falcons fans when you guys come to new orleans and vise versa. It’s only for bragging rights when we beat you guys, nothing personal. With that said, for those of you that pull for us, I got much love for you. For the ones that pull against the saints, I understand. Can’t wait to see you in the superdome and the georgia dome next season.
Carl
January 25th, 2010
10:53 am
I had mixed emotions watching the Saints vs Vikings, but now that they won I wish them the best in the SB. After all, they represent the NFC South. I think the Saints organization has done a great job with the team. They left no doubt as to who was the best team in the NFC South this year. The Falcons were left with the wild card as their goal; Saints sort of rubbed our noses in the dirt, wouldn’t you say? I still don’t fully understand how Matt Ryan didn’t start in the second Saints game; that game was huge. Kudos to the Saints defense; they won the game yesterday.
ATLSTH
January 25th, 2010
10:55 am
ANYBODY BUT THE SAINTS!!!!! Go Colts!!
“Friendly rivalry”?! I think not…I hope Indy embarrasses New Orleans…
cowboys67
January 25th, 2010
10:57 am
Any true red and black Falcons fan would never root for the Saints to win one before the Birds. It is ironic that both the saints and falcons beat the vikings in OT with a field goal to win the NFC Championship. The scores were almost identical 30-27 31-28 crazy.
Andrew T
January 25th, 2010
10:59 am
Born in Louisiana and moved to Georgia in 1994. Always a Saint Fan – Rooted for the Falcons in their Super Bowl (SB) bid and even held a SB party in their honor. Falcons had fun with the “dirty bird” thing and I think the Saints are having fun with the “Who Dat” thing. Always loved the games against the Falcons and had many a night mare about Steve Bartkowski. Go Saints
OldSchool
January 25th, 2010
11:01 am
Absolutely hate Manning, but I hate Reggie Bush even more. Will never, ever pull for a team he is on. A reluctant “go vikings”. This may be the first Super Bowl I don’t watch.
Vick-T-Roid
January 25th, 2010
11:03 am
Man….I thought that stuff I bought from my Roid dealer was just a supplement….oh…..she-it…I meant to say my GNC dealer!I slipped up and said the wrong thing…I guess I am going to half-ta rat my “BOY”Tiger out now…!!!!!!
Sporkdevil
January 25th, 2010
11:05 am
Go Colts. Never, ever root for the Saints. If the Saints played a team of Hitlers, I would root for the Hitlers.
cherry
January 25th, 2010
11:05 am
As a New Orleanian reading this, I am surprised by the vitriol! Come on guys, it’s a GAME! All I know is NO other team has been so downtrodden, so humiliated, so BAD. We deserve a chance. Put yourselves in our shoes. It’s amazing to finally feel pride in this team. I cried last night I was so happy. Sorry to all you haters that can’t feel a little joy for us!
Delbert D.
January 25th, 2010
11:06 am
The Saints are sworn enemies of the Falcons! Besides, I like the Colts, and always have since Johnny U. played with them.
Brian
January 25th, 2010
11:06 am
I am a Falcon fan but pulling for the Saints…. Throughout the years, The Falcons-Saints games have been the best game of the season for both franchises, no matter what record each team has when they play the game. There have been many seanson that game has been our “Super Bowl”. Now the Saints get to go to the Big Game for real.
GO Saints!!!
GT Falcon
January 25th, 2010
11:09 am
I hate the saints. Espically reggie bush and shockey. GO COLTS!!
Greg from Marietta
January 25th, 2010
11:09 am
Its the old sibling thing between brothers. The Falcons & the Saints are in the same family the NFC South Division. During the season we fight like cats and dogs but if one has the opportunity to excel after the regular season, well they’re family. If they do well it reflects favorably on the Division as a whole. So, I will be pulling for them all the way. Besides, I recall when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl there were a ton of folks from Saints country that were pulling for them against the Broncos. GO SAINTS!
Dolfan
January 25th, 2010
11:09 am
You people who are rooting for the Saints because a Hurricane hit there..get real…did you root for the Dolphins after Hurricane Andrew….HELL NO…..did you root for the Yankee’s after 911…Hell NO!!So tell us more lies you band-waggon fans…!!!
Dawgs 2010
January 25th, 2010
11:10 am
Peyton Manning = 4 Touchdowns = Saints Beatdown.
UGA 2010
January 25th, 2010
11:10 am
Peyton ALL THE WAY!!!! Never was a Drew Brees or Saints fan. But putting the rivalry behind, i just like Peyton and the colts…..granted i wish they would of gone for the perfect record but cant say i wouldnt have thought about resting my guys either to get that ring…
Schultzisanidiot
January 25th, 2010
11:10 am
Who cares about the city of New Orleans or the people. I think we need another hurricane to clean up the city. What makes them any better than any other city?
falcon
January 25th, 2010
11:12 am
After witnessing the ignorant Saints’ fans conduct at the GA Dome, there’s no way in hayll I’ll be pulling for the Saints. And that’s too bad because I like many of their players. As far as the Katrina syndrome goes, it apparently has no end. They are going to continue to exploit that one for every penny they can squeeze out of the US Taxpayer. I sometimes wonder if the many buses used to ferry all those fans to Atlanta are government subsidized.
rock
January 25th, 2010
11:13 am
go saints. once they win the super bowl, it will be easier for the falcons to win next year.
ernisTbass
January 25th, 2010
11:13 am
I like Drew Brees, I think Peyton is a good coach, and there are probably some other players on the Saints that are good guys, but if you have ever sat in the stands at a Falcons game when Saints fans have been bused in with their jazz bands and umbrellas and danced up and down the ailes, the hell with Katrina. I remember when the Falcons had a special half time tribute to William Andrews and these jerks wouldn’t even clap, I asked some of them to at least show the man some respect, that I would clap for Dalton Hilliard or Archie Manning, they said F%&# William Andrews. All I can say is the same as I said that day. Same to ya!!! Go Colts!
PlusSizeModel
January 25th, 2010
11:14 am
I am happy for the Saints and happy for the NFC South.
I don’t think there is a true hate for the Saints. We respect each other, and have a great time when we play each other. I can’t hate on a fan base that are clearly the best partyers in the league. Now if this were Tampa…screw those no-class idiot rednecks!
Saints fans are worse than Tech Fans!
January 25th, 2010
11:17 am
After going to the Falcons-Saints game this year, I can honestly say I will not be cheering for anything gold and black. Saints fans were worse than Tech fans! I could believe how obnoxious they were and I also could not believe they outnumbered the Falcons fans! Anyway, they were really awful and that is reason alone for me to pull for the Colts, although I was going to be going for them anyway!
I aint a Saint
January 25th, 2010
11:17 am
Root for the Saints????Two words……………..HELL NO !
The
January 25th, 2010
11:18 am
Enter your comments here
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 25th, 2010
11:18 am
I have never really thought of the saints as a hated rival a rival yes , but not hated like the 49er’s used to be and the panthers are now cant stand the panthers or bucs for that matter .
The Ain'ts
January 25th, 2010
11:19 am
The Saints fans all received tickets through FEMA.
Soiled my pants
January 25th, 2010
11:19 am
What’s with the umbrellas in the Superdome? It looks gay.
Saint Simons is my caddy
January 25th, 2010
11:19 am
Pulling for the Saints. Represent fellas!
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 25th, 2010
11:19 am
I would love to see the panthers and bucs both go 1-15 next year each only winning at the others home game .is that petty ?
Ray Nagen
January 25th, 2010
11:20 am
Chocolate city!
The Hangover
January 25th, 2010
11:21 am
I would rather pull my teeth out then root for the Saints!
Falcons73
January 25th, 2010
11:21 am
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah Blah…that’s pretty much what I read. Schutlzie, this article was a thrilling joy ride that had me on the edge of me my seat. For your next masterpiece you might want to consider legendary greats of ping pong.
Andre
January 25th, 2010
11:21 am
C’mon the Saints are in our division and stole two games from us this season. If your a true Falcons fan you’ll want to see the Saints lose.
Huey Long
January 25th, 2010
11:22 am
A chicken in every pot……Oh, and a corrupt mayor, police force, governor, city council…..Heck, EVERYONE!
dr mondo
January 25th, 2010
11:22 am
I’m glad they made it to the Superbowl, but I hope they lose. I’d like ATL to get a Superbowl ring before the Aints…