The "call" (or lack thereof)

Under two minutes to go on third down. Like any team in the playoffs, the Saints are playing to win. Third and long. Sean Payton puts his trust in his veteran QB Drew Brees. He threw a pass down the sideline to his wide receiver Tommylee Lewis who never got a chance at the ball as he was struck helmet to helmet by Rams CB Nickell Robey-Coleman who has since been fined for the hit.

The penalty would have given the Saints a first down and opportunity to milk the clock down setting up a game-winning field goal chance OR they could fumble it on any of the ensuing plays. We'll never know. But most fans agree that the "no-call" cost the Saints the game. An excuse has been given by the NFL that referees, "are human." Meaning they can make mistakes. But many of us are left speculating as to why two referees right by the play watching it occur can keep their flags in their pockets?

Drew Brees' legacy

In this day and age, Hall of Fame quarterbacks have to win championships, they have to win Superbowls. Drew Brees is lucky enough to have won a Superbowl but one could argue he should/could have won three.

Drew Brees helped lead his team to back-to-back playoff seasons. The 2017-2018 Division game where they lost on a fluky last-ditch pass against the Vikings. That ending was just plain unlucky for the Saints. But I tell you what, no one can say they're not a gritty football team. They reloaded after a devastating loss in the playoffs and came right back to make it to the Conference Championship the very next season and you know how that goes.

One great past time of football fans, analysts, commentators you name it, is to discuss who is and isn't a great football player. Specifically, who are Hall of Famers? When it comes to QB's there's their stats in a career and the always great but made up "QB Wins" conversation (yeah I said it!). Then you have the games they've won. Tom Brady is going to go down as the G.O.A.T. because of how many Superbowls he's made let alone won. Hard to say it isn't.

When it comes to Drew Brees, he hasn't had as much luck at it as Tom Brady has. Both QB's were guys fans and people in the NFL NEVER thought would be franchise QBs. They both had some adversity to go through as they started their careers and they both silenced doubters and went on to have tremendous careers.

But one is currently gearing up to go to the Superbowl this weekend and is without a doubt a Hall of Famer (It's Brady). But the other (Drew Brees) isn't because of a blown call the NFL wants to brush under the rug. When his career is done and over and the NFL is looking back at it. If Brees never gets another shot at the Superbowl. These 'almost seasons' will taint his legacy and leave people questioning if he is a Hall of Famer. When he should be, without a doubt.

I look forward to this coming Superbowl, both teams in the Rams and Patriots are deserving of being there. But I know I will be sitting there thinking about how Brees should be facing down Brady and what a game that could have been. It'd be a shame if the NFL doesn't learn from this and implement new rules or facets to the game to prevent such travesties from happening in the future. The football gods were not with the Saints that day. Good luck to both the Rams and the Patriots!