NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – It was the moment we’d all been waiting for: seconds on the clock, a perfect Hail Mary throw, and a catch in the end zone to seal the deal, right?
“Flags are down. Did he push off? And it looks like he did,” say Fox Sports commentators.
Saints Head Coach Sean Payton explains, “You get down to those Hail Mary’s, there’s a lot of little pushing and shoving and that one, just the eyes were drawn specifically there.”
Payton seemingly not fuming about the game changing call, but the Who Dat nation is!
“I think that was faking a lot. Kind of like makes you think of soccer where a player just goes down to try and pull a penalty. Graham was being pushed all day by those players,” says one Saints fan.
“I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it at all, and I think Brees, i don’t know what’s going on with him, for him to be having all that top dollar he should be a little bit more careful,” explains another Who Dat.
Saints Offensive Lineman Jahri Evans says the players are just as frustrated with the call as the fans explaining, “You’re not going to win many battles when you argue with the refs. I think we made a valiant effort.”
For Evans it was back to business Monday, practice in the morning and in the afternoon promoting his partnership with Hope for the Holidays that’s gearing up to build homes for veterans; another notable there singer Christina Milian.
“Yes, I’m a Saints fan. I’m a Saints fan, Who Dat! I’m going to say it, Who Dat,” exclaims Milian.
All she could say about Sunday’s game and the controversial call is, “Fix that! Who Dat!”
Jahri says don’t give up, they’re working on it.
“We’re the force to be reckoned with in our division and we’re at the top. We just got to figure out how to finish out these close games and we got to win in our division,” explains Evans.
The loss snapped the Saints 11-game winning streak in the dome, but it’s not over yet. The Saints are back in the Superdome this Sunday. They play the Cincinnati Bengals.
More about Hope for the Holidays:
Hope for the Holidays, an IrvingMorris Foundation initiative, was created in 2010, to not only help rebuild homes, but also to rebuild lives. Since 2010 Hope for the Holidays has successfully partnered with over a dozen NFL players, celebrity ambassadors, United Way, Cox Oil and other corporate sponsors to make a difference in the city of New Orleans by rebuilding over 35 homes in four short years. The partnerships have enabled the team to give the gift of hope to families who may have thought their dreams of returning home were no longer attainable.
Due to the overwhelming support and success of Hope for the Holidays and the increasing number of veterans with no place to call home, they are blessed to announce their National Expansion and partnership with Operation Finally Home. Hope for the Holidays is partnering with Operation Finally Home to address the most pressing need of our heroes returning from combat, a home to call their own. Hope for the Holidays will now provide custom-built, mortgage free homes nationwide for America’s heroes.
The #PledgeUrAllegiance challenge is a national fundraising effort and social media/online campaign created to support and give HOPE to our HEROES…America’s veterans who have served to defend our freedoms and values. #PledgeUrAllegiance challenge will launch on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2014 with numerous videos and social media posts from professional athletes and celebrities nationwide encouraging Americans everywhere to join Team Hope and take the challenge. #PledgeUrAllegiance challenge encourages all to participate by first making a pledge/donation on www.HopefortheHolidays.com and then uploading videos of themselves taking the physical challenge by doing as many pushups in a row possible. Every individual who pledges will become a member of TEAM HOPE and each person who pledges $100 or more will receive a TEAM HOPE tee shirt.
Those participating in #PledgeUrAllegiance challenge will be encouraged to post/share videos of themselves doing the most amount of push-ups they can in a row and then include the number in their caption with a hashtag e.g. (#10) and lastly challenge their friends to do the same.
This year’s 4th Hope for the Holidays gala will take place December 19th at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans. The gala will be hosted by retired NBA star and motivational speaker, John Salley, and will include a night of dinner, entertainment, inspiration and hope attended by Saints players, professional athletes and celebrities. Two soldiers will be awarded a home during the gala and additional funds will be raised to support Hope for the Holidays. In addition, Jahri Evans will be awarded this year’s Hope Award, which recognizes those who selflessly dedicate themselves to serving their community and spreading HOPE. Previous award recipients include Roman Harper, Lance Moore and Malcolm Jenkins.
For additional information please contact Rebecca Thomson at rebecca@irvingmorris.com or 504.462.1875 or go to www.hopefortheholidays.com or www.operationfinallyhome.org