Yes, I’m aware that in perpetuity is a strange legal word to use in a headline, but my father, Frank Hoss, a former Circuit Court Judge in Virginia, now living in North Carolina, would use it from time to time, when I was growing up, and it just stuck with me.
Basically, it means, forever, for all time.
That being said, there will be a lot of new things to talk about for Monday night’s home preseason opener for the Saints against Jacksonville. It’s the first football game in the newly named Caesars Superdome. Fans will see the latest updates of the building’s multi-year renovations. Of course, finally, there will be no limited capacity for those fans. The Saints had fans at some games last year but 6,000 Who Dats is not the “Dome field advantage” we are used to. It will undoubtedly feel new and different.
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It will also be new and different to be in that iconic building and look down and not see No. 9 preparing to play — or at least going through the motions. Drew Brees retired in March. We’ve had time to process it, for sure, but tonight, at some point we will scour the field in pregame looking for No. 9.
Why? Because old habits are hard to break.
Who knows, we might just see it tonight? No, it won’t be Drew, but Alvin Kamara joked he might don the No. 9 jersey, partly to honor his former colleague while he threw his name into the quarterback race between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill.
It’s hard to think of the number 9 and not think about Brees, and it just seems to be a number that is tied to him in more ways than a jersey.
- He led the Saints to the playoffs 9 times.
- He had 9 postseason wins with a team that had enjoyed only one before his arrival.
- He was injured in the 9th game of the 2020 season
- Thanks to his swift decisions, quick release, and few interceptions the Saints were +9 in the turnover margin.
- During his tenure with the team, the Saints had 9 seasons with 10 or more wins.
There are more, but you get my point about the number 9.
Like another off-limits jersey, Archie Manning’s No. 8, Drew’s number will hang in the rafters. But now we must move on.
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For the first time in 15 years, we are like most of the teams in the league: Looking for not just a quarterback, but “the” quarterback. The bar is exceptionally high in New Orleans. Jameis Winston, in No. 2, will get the start tonight and Taysom Hill (in No. 7) will follow as he celebrates his 31st birthday.
It’s been an interesting offseason battle and one that triggers a healthy debate whenever the quarterback position is brought up. With only one preseason game left after Monday night, I imagine Sean Payton will be naming his starter soon. But naming his starter doesn’t mean the competition is over.
With skill sets so different, it’s always possible the Saints utilize both quarterbacks. Having to prepare for both Taysom and Jameis would be tough for opponents, not to mention 7 + 2 = 9.
That’s not an opinion, just simple math.
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