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
Russ
January 25th, 2010
12:27 pm
I don’t get the logic that because the Saints are in the NFC South that somehow a Saints Superbowl win will somehow make the Falcons look better. Let me ask you this: Did you suddenly think way more of the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns last season after the Steelers won? Didn’t think so. True Falcon fans don’t cheer for a division rival.
Joe
January 25th, 2010
12:28 pm
GO COLTS!
kitcho
January 25th, 2010
12:32 pm
No TRUE falcon fan would ever want the Aint’s to win anything!
mrobjective
January 25th, 2010
12:34 pm
Nnnaaaaahhhh….can’t bring myself to root for the “Aints”…too much…”whatever”…
nice place to visit (for about 1 DAY!!)…but I wouldn’t wanna, etc.”…sorry but I kinda look at ‘em like giant “wannabes”…analyze the season carefully and be objective and you’ll see a LOT of calls that went their way (season and playoffs) and other teams failings leading to the “Aints” victories…they spent MOST of the year “escaping” from the mildly talented “haves” of the NFL and watching some of the real “haves” self-destruct…Oh well, “the blind hog gets an acorn every now and then.” I don’t begrudge ‘em the chance, but I’d be honest, I MUCH MORE of a FALCON’S fan than an “NFC South” fan, so if the “Ponies” ride all over ‘em that’ll be just fine with me, but IF they get lucky again and win (b/c QB, PM ends up in the sideline injured or dies before the game or something)…still (yawn….) fine…whatever…they can win…I don’t care…one for the “bayou culture”…whatever that means…voodoo, gumbo, jumbalaya and crawfish poboys…whatever…(yawn #2)…
NOW THE METS…I HATE THOSE LOSERS…ALWAYS HAVE ALWAYS WILL…
Jesse Orosco, Gary Carter, Al Lieter, Tom Glavine, Lenny Dykstra, METS FANS…et.al….’scuse me, I gotta go puke…OK, I’m back…feelin’ a little better…b/t/w…Lenny, sorry to hear about you losin’ all that “smack”…guess ya got in a little over ya head in land deals, corporate investing, etc.,…major investing is a little harder than high school consumer math, huh? Oh, typical “Mettie”, blame it on someone else and deny the truth about yourself, “I don’t owe anybody any money…ooops…can you say $40 MILLION…I’m out!!!
BlueEagle
January 25th, 2010
12:35 pm
My parents raised me right…I can never cheer for the Saints or hope that any good comes to the god awful people that follow them. Go Colts.
GeorgiaDawg
January 25th, 2010
12:35 pm
Heck No, GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
William
January 25th, 2010
12:39 pm
There is no way that I am rooting for the Aints to win the Superbowl. I could not stand it if the losers in New Orleans get a Super Bowl Championship before the Falcons do. It would poetic justice if Peyton Manning, one of their own, goes to Miami and just wipes the floor with the Saints. Lets go Colts – shut the city of New Orleans up!!!
Andersen Fan
January 25th, 2010
12:40 pm
True Falcons fans should have a hard time rooting for any division foe, especially the Saints. I think Atlantan’s rooting for the Saint’s says a lot about the Falcon’s fan base. We need to fill the Dome people!
StillDirtyBirdin
January 25th, 2010
12:47 pm
Question for the supposed dual Falcons AND saints fans:
What’s the point of having a rival if you’re going to root for him? Of course you want your team to win every game- presumably against your rival and any other team. If you cheer for your rival when they don’t play your team that makes you a fan of that team.
I HAVE/WILL/NEVER CHEER FOR THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS TO WIN A FOOTBALL GAME. A couple years ago when the Falcons needed a Saints victory to potentially get in the playoffs, I did not even cheer for them then. Bobby Hebert, Morten Anderson, Ironhead all have astericks next to their names for having sullied their careers. Joe Horn doesn’t even merit a discussion.
Ask where my allegiance lies, my name says it all: I’M STILLDIRTYBIRDIN
UA Alum92
January 25th, 2010
12:48 pm
My quick Colts story. I had a project in Indy and was eating dinner by myself at the bar at St. Elmo’s (fantastic steakhouse) when the bartender said a special guest was in the restaurant. I looked around and saw Sean Astin (Sam Wise the Hobbitt and John & Patty Duke’s son) and must say I was not impressed. He’s a Hobbitt in real life. I finished my meal and was paying my bill when the bartender said there was another special guest in the restaurant. I said, “No offense, but if it’s the likes of Sean Astin, I’m leaving.” I turned to walk towards the door and damn near ran into Peyton Manning! I was taken aback (he’s a big, big boy) and didn’t know what to say but blurted out the first thing to come to mind. I said, “Roll Tide!” and stuck my hand out. He laughed and shook my hand (it was a little like shaking your dad’s hand when you were a kid) and asked what I was doing in town. I told him and wished him luck on the season. He was in a suit and there with his wife and another couple. He wished me a nice visit and I left. He was a really nice guy.
enz
January 25th, 2010
12:49 pm
so sick of hearing about the tormented city, blah blah blah…truth be told the falcons almost beat the saints twice, and the saints caught huge breaks all year. last night they were on the right side of every call…if you have ever been to NOLA to do anything but party and stay wasted the whole time, you know it is kind of a nasty place…
Stanley
January 25th, 2010
12:55 pm
As a TRUE FALCONS FAN you should under no circumstances be rooting for the Ain’ts right now. I personally hope Peyton takes it from them in dominating fashion!!!!!!
DoBoy
January 25th, 2010
12:55 pm
You’re kidding, right? No longtime Falcons fans would ever root for the Aints to win. Having SEC-ish “the champ is from our division” bragging rights doesn’t hold water with me. It’s not like the Falcons, Panthers and Bucs get to hang championship banners and get Super Bowl rings if the Aints win.
Kevrock/Smarty
January 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
I agree with Freshmaker! And since I am a season ticketholder for the Falcons and the Saints do win the Superbowl it would be nice to see the Champ next season.
MD Falcon
January 25th, 2010
12:58 pm
I used to think that this was a friendly rivalry, but I know so many obnoxious Saints fans, I can’t cheer from them. They talk about how much they cheered for Minnesota and Denver in 98, hoping that we lose. Now it’s their turn and I’m going to return the favor. I am hoping that they get SPANKED by the Colts. Beside we need a SuperBowl ring before they do. Hoping I will not have to deal with the Saints fans bragging about their SuperBowl win before we got ours. PERIOD.
FEMA
January 25th, 2010
1:00 pm
Who says FEMA didn’t do any good? We got one of the worst teams ever in to the Superbowl.
Singletary
January 25th, 2010
1:01 pm
Jim in Buckhead: Even more frightening, the American Society of Interior Designers opens up a toll free hotline for decorating questions/ideas every Super Bowl Sunday. I know someone who is NOT going to be told about THAT “opportunity.”
I can cheer for the Saints, if for no other reason than it gives them a lower pick in the Draft. Besides, they aren’t Tampa Bay (some of the dirtiest players in the NFL. It was just brutal during the Gruden Bowl TB – Raiders SB, leaving me nothing to cheer for except the host’s beer & wine selection.)
Go Falcons
January 25th, 2010
1:05 pm
I’m gonna watch a re-run of the 1998 Super Bowl and root for the Falcons!!!! Go Falcons!!!!
JDW
January 25th, 2010
1:20 pm
Tough choice Saints or Peyton Manning…………..I think I will play golf and root for a tidal wave.
1990_Champs_GT
January 25th, 2010
1:21 pm
I don’t want the Aints to win a coin filp, much less a game. Too many tight games over the years for any self-respecting Falcon fan to root for them. I’ll be the biggest Colts/Peyton Manning fan on Feb. 7.
Hope its one of those nice, one-sided Super Bowl beat-downs by the Colts, like 1990 when the Niners killed the Broncos 55-10 (thanks Intra-Web for the score).
YellowJacketFalcon
January 25th, 2010
1:32 pm
Any “Falcon Fan” that says they don’t understand the hate for the aints & pulls for them is not a true Falcon Fan. I’m 34 & have watched & loved the Falcons since I was at least 5. TO HELL WITH THE SAINTS! Their fans are rude inbred jerks. How many hurricanes have hit Florida & other States over the years? Last time I checked Katrina devistated Miss too but its always “Oh poor New Orleans”. Seriously what genious builds a city below sea level & expects a Cat 5 not do destroy it? BOOOOO to the aints. I hope Manning & Co lay the wood to those A-holes.
Steve
January 25th, 2010
1:35 pm
Here’s the deal: You can be happy for New Orleans and the Saints for finally making it to a Super Bowl and (in some way) being a bright spot for a city still trying to overcome Katrina. That makes sense.
What doesn’t make sense is those who want the Saints to do well because it somehow reflects on the Falcons for being in the NFC or the NFC South. That argument makes no sense. Just as the teams in the SEC other than Alabama did not get an “SEC prize” for Bama winning the NC, no Falcons fan will receive an “NFC prize” or “NFC South” prize if the Saints do well. It’s a stupid argument to make, but one I heard often on local sports radio this weekend.
BigHittas
January 25th, 2010
1:36 pm
I hate the Saints, BUT my better half is from Louisiana, so I kinda hope the Saints win for her sake?
The real reason I’d like for them to win is because it’s gonna feel REALLY good when the Birds beat that a** twice next year, especially if they are the defending superbowl champs. I just hope Sharper don’t ask Eugene for his Miami references.
DHD
January 25th, 2010
1:37 pm
Did they root for us when we were in the Super Bowl?
‘nough said.
TP
January 25th, 2010
1:38 pm
I absolutely hate the Saints, though I will admit it’s very hard not to root for Drew Brees.
Jeff: The Falcons-Saints was a friendly rivalry in the past because both teams just plain stunk (i.e. it’s hard to be bitter with a fellow sewer dweller).Now that both teams are competitive (for the most part), it’s gotten more bitter. Not as bitter as the Falcons-Bucs, but working it’s way towards it.
My only Super Bowl wish is to see Bob Sanders play one down at safety for the Colts. Of course, during that down, he’d spear Jeremy Shockey right between the numbers. Of course, I wish no ‘undue’ or ‘unjust’ harm on any fellow human being. Go get ‘em Bob!
D-Lee
January 25th, 2010
1:40 pm
Look, once your team is out of contention, folks usually do have a preference for who they want to win or lose. That isn’t the same as bleeding red & black or “cheering” for them. If it isn’t the Videotape Cheaters (Patriots, may they all suffer “diminishing skills,”) Raiders (slime of the universe tho’ I was for them in the tuck rule game,) or “Tampon Bay,” I have no visceral reaction to other teams.
If it is the Aints fans you despise, then I highly recommend a “vaccination” dose of a Patriots fanatic. Their sense of “entitlement” is vile. I cannot imagine any Southerner could ever reach that level of sanctimony, obnoxiousness and volcanic projectile bile. It’s amazing I’m still married after my beloved invited a Hatriots fan to watch the ATL game 2009 with us,who proceeded to jab his finger in my face, saying “you’re going down.” As a person who was almost punched in the face at Rich Stadium and survived several Eagles stadium incursions, I cannot envision preferring the Patriots ever again.
Chris Eagle
January 25th, 2010
1:45 pm
I’ve been a Falcon fan since 1980, and have hated the Saints for the same length of time. I told my wife that I would be in an awful mood if the Saints won the Super Bowl… I’ve always despised them.
Bill
January 25th, 2010
1:54 pm
Never liked the Saints. Go Colts!!!!!!!!
Bill
January 25th, 2010
1:55 pm
Enter your comments here
indianman
January 25th, 2010
1:56 pm
go colts
Mike Vick
January 25th, 2010
2:05 pm
Is it me or does the Fox broadcast team try to make Reggie Bush a bigger star than he really is? I think all three of the Falcons RB’s are better than “one game wonder” Bush.Kudo’s Brett, You showed the world what you are made of, Now Go Colts.
gadawgs
January 25th, 2010
2:07 pm
Lifelong Falcon fan here. Nope, no way would I ever pull for the Saints. I have just become a Colts fan for one game.
Dr. Warren
January 25th, 2010
2:07 pm
I’m 42, been going to the games since I was 6 back in ‘73. I am so used to seeing the Saints and hoping they lose. How could I possibly cheer for them? They are doubly annoying because whenever they beat us in the past they were not very good either, so it was salt in our wounds that even the Aints could kick our ass. Big Ben ‘78–followed up by another last-second win against the Saints that year–remains a highlight of Atlanta sports history for me.
Diggity
January 25th, 2010
2:08 pm
Im with OldSchool. I cant STAND Reggie Bush, in fact the whole team is obnoxious. If I see one more celebration I think I’ll lose MY lunch. That alone will keep me from rooting for the Saints.
jeremy
January 25th, 2010
2:12 pm
I am pulling for the Saints all the way. I like New Orleans and I always pull for a division/conference member when my team isn’t playing them (well except for te Mets).
Dr. Warren
January 25th, 2010
2:14 pm
What the hell is a “friendly rivalry” by the way? Is that like Batman and Superman?
Rick Beach
January 25th, 2010
2:16 pm
It’s time to stop feeling sorry for New Orleans. Katrina was almost 5 years ago. GO COLTS!
TheManMike
January 25th, 2010
2:16 pm
POO SCAT!!!! GO COLTS!
KakNiqueTree
January 25th, 2010
2:16 pm
Super Bowl appearance notwithstanding, the Saints still bite! Hopefully the Falcons and Saints can have a real rivalry someday (and can be mentioned like Packers-Bears, Cowboys-Redskins, etc.) We can dream, can’t we?
Bob Horner's Blonde Mullet
January 25th, 2010
2:19 pm
The “Who Dat” chant is so stupid and obnoxious. After watching the game at the Taco Mac in Midtown last night, Saints fans are among the most irritating I’ve ever had the displeasure of being around. And all of the stories that still attempt to play up the angle of how this poor downtrodden franchise rose from the destruction caused by hurricane Katrina to make the playoffs.. Uh, it was 5 years ago. Can we please move on and stop trying to make this cheesy franchise the darlings of the NFL?
I would like nothing more than to see these guys steamrolled, demoralized, and beat to sh*t on the big stage.
Stat Man
January 25th, 2010
2:24 pm
Well, the ATL was the first to make it to a Super Bowl, so I have no problem with NO winning the first.
Anyway, if they win, maybe some of the “veterans” of Katrina that moved here will be inclined to move back. I KNOW San Antonio feels that way!
Jason
January 25th, 2010
2:27 pm
I root against rivals, bandwagons, and teams that feature Reggie Bush and/or Jeremy Shockey.
Three strikes.
Stat Man
January 25th, 2010
2:29 pm
A “non-bitter” rivalry would be like Timmy & Jimmy on South Park, which is about the size of things for the first 35 years of each teams existance.
george
January 25th, 2010
2:30 pm
The thought of the Saints winning the Super Bowl makes my stomach turn. I’m a die hard dirty bird…… GO COLTS!!!!!
Ron Roberts
January 25th, 2010
2:38 pm
I’m a Falcons fan that lived in Louisiana for 5 years – 1 of those IN New Orleans; I can tell you this fan-base is MORE than deserving of the experience.
I called two close friends of mine who are Saints fans; they were both darn-near brought to tears. Having lived there through three hurricanes – two of which crippled the state within the same year – I can tell you that’s it’s about time some good luck came these folks’ way.
Through it all, though, their fans have packed that dome when teams were good, bad, and in-between. Sure, they might’ve fallen short of sellout a few times here and there, but never by tens of thousands of unsold tickets. This is an economically repressed area, and these folks support their team (even more so since their return in 2006) with as much fervor as you see from the Cheeseheads in Green Bay. It’s a love affair even Hurricane Katrina couldn’t split up, and I for one, a die-hard Falcon, couldn’t be happier for my friends in Louisiana. I was pulling for ‘em last night, and I’ll do it again when they hit the field in Miami.
P.S., I also remember the outpouring of support from the Saints fanbase and organization when Atlanta got in nearly a decade ago. One good turn deserves another…
True Falcon
January 25th, 2010
2:40 pm
There’s no way in heck I’m pulling for the saints!!!! A true fan should never pull for a divisonal rival. Are you all nuts!!! This should be common knowledge. Besides, I think the saints defense are gonna have their hands full with Manning,Wayne, Garqcon,Clark,Collie,Addai and Brown. Also, the colts defense is a lot quicker than the Vikings Defense. At least the Saints can now say they’ve been to a super bowl like the rest of us in the nfc south.
Adam
January 25th, 2010
2:43 pm
I was born and raised in New Orleans so this is a very exciting day for me. I never believed I would wake up in the morning to the realization that the Saints were going to the Superbowl. WHO DAT!!!
Honestly, if the fields were reversed and the Falcons were headed to the Superbowl I don’t think I could root for them. Any victory for the Falcons makes it harder for the Saints on any level and vice versa. I grew up loathing the Falcons. They are the only team that has been a divisional rivalry for my Saints for my whole life. If you claim to be a Falcons fan but root for the Saints then you are nothing more than a fair-weather fan. As a Saints fan, I am sick of the fair-weather fans rooting for us one week and against us the next. I don’t believe any loyal Falcon fan could root for the Saints in the Superbowl.
GEAUX SAINTS!!!
jimmy
January 25th, 2010
2:44 pm
if the saint’s were playing libya i would be cheering MOMMAR MOMMAR
Dejay
January 25th, 2010
2:52 pm
Top four things I’d rather do before cheering for the Saints….
Swallow razor blades
Walk through SE Atlanta with $100 bills glued to me
Watch Alabama or Florida win another national title
Strap myself to a worn out bungee cord and jump down Niagara Falls
Why not root for your rivals, huh? Saints fan won’t put that Lombardi trophy up in our faces; they won’t bring that up every chance they get. Just like Gator fans don’t bring up their BCS titles every year and…oh wait….
As a lifelong Falcons fan, there is something genetically instilled within me to hate the Saints, their fans, and everything they stand for FOR LIFE. The only thing in the football world that’s almost as satisfying to me other than a Falcons or Tennessee victory is a Saints LOSS. Hopefully, UT alum Peyton Manning won’t let us down like Favre and the chokers in Minnesota did. GO COLTS!!!!!!
Tink
January 25th, 2010
2:56 pm
GEAUX SAINTS!!