I remember when the Saints went to San Francisco back in 2010 and won on the road 25-22 thanks to a last second Garrett Hartley field goal (by the way the last time we beat the 49ers). After the game Scott Shanle told me that Frank Gore talked the most trash of any NFL player he had ever faced. Apparently he was just running his mouth non stop the entire game, right before he lost. Later that week most Saints players echoed that sentiment in the media labelling the 49ers as big talkers. Since then things haven't gone as well against the 49ers, but Gore continues to have huge games against the Saints. In fact, Gore has had an average of 91.5 yards rushing the last four times he's faced the Saints… at an average of 5.38 yards per carry. Yikes! And that reminded me just how much I can't stand the guy. Then of course there's Vernon Davis, and there's no need to remind Saints fans what he's done to Roman Harper in recent history. So that got me thinking – which active players do I dislike the most in the NFL as a Saints fan?
For the sake of this exercise I'm not counting guys like Deion Sanders, Joey Galloway or Flipper Anderson who have taken turns ripping the Saints to shreds for years. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice always did that as well, mind you, but for some reason I hate those guys less. Only active players. This isn't necessarily a list of the guys who have performed best against the Saints, although that certainly doesn't hurt. Moreso, I view it as a personal thing. Maybe you plain hate a guy because he does well against the Saints, or maybe you hate a guy because he talked trash and acted like an idiot. Or in some cases when the stars align you can't stand a player because of both combined. Here's my list:
1. Roddy White, WR, Falcons – Pretty clear and simple. He may go down as the most detestable player in Saints history. He has had a lot of success against the Saints over the years and always seems to give Jabari Greer a lot of trouble. But if you have ever taken the time to look at this guy's twitter account you'll know he speaks his mind even though there's nothing in his head. That's a dangerous combination. Most notable has been this famous quote: "I don't like nothing about the Saints. The colors. The city. Nothing." And then perhaps even more explosive is the good old: "The grace of god gave them tht championship so that city wouldn fall apart now and now they they hot shit in my chad voice child please." For the most part he's backed up his talk by playing well against the Saints, but that hasn't stopped the Saints from owning the Falcons in that matchup in recent years.
2. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers – I think many Saints fans might have him #1 over Roddy. He also plays extremely well every time he faces off against the Saints. Smith knows better than to have a twitter account, so that's why I put him #2. I have no doubt he'd be spouting off incoherent ramblings directed at the Saints if he gave himself that medium, though. Like White, Smith has a long history of absolutely killing the Saints. But as much as his performance is annoying, it's his on field behavior that makes it that much more grating. Smith is always calling attention to himself with demonstrative celebrations and he'll take it a step further with shoving, personal fouls and constant jarring/talking. Smith is also well known for punching his teammates (yes plural) and threatening to punch opponents if he ever "sees them in the streets" as recently as this year. I view Smith as a pure trash thug and apparently so do some of his very own friendly Panther bloggers. He averages over 65 yards per game against this Saints in 21 career games against them, has 9 touchdowns and has eclipsed 100 yards five times.
3. Michael Vick, QB, Eagles – He's still active, at least for now. But he was a quarterback for the Falcons for a long time and he owned the Saints. Vick is easy to dislike as his running and funding of a dog fighting ring made him a pretty terrible human being to begin with. The media's adoration for him coming into the NFL was akin to the hype surrounding RGIII now, which made him more annoying. Most Saints fans will remember that former Saints' QB Aaron Brooks was Michael Vick's cousin, and every time the two faced off Vick would get the better of him. Vick was 5-0 against the Aaron Brooks led Saints, including three games that were won by a 3 point margin or less adding to the frustration. Each scenario of course included Vick putting the Falcons on his back for a game winning drive which then included the announcers during the game and the national media for the week following gushing all over him. It was disgusting. I do find some solace in Vick being 0-3 as a starter (twice as a Falcon, once as an Eagle) against the Saints since Drew Brees came to town.
4. Dashon Goldson, S, Bucs – He and Donte Whitner were about even for me with their array of dirty hits against the Saints in the devastating playoff loss against the 49ers… but then Goldson had to go ahead and sign with the Bucs and come into the division. Now we have to face him twice a year. In his first game against the Saints as a Buc this season, Goldson delivered a really dirty helmet to helmet hit on Darren Sproles. Of course he has a reputation for this and it initially landed him a one game suspension. That suspension was later revoked, but he did receive a $100,000 fine. Until a year ago Goldson wasn't on my radar at all but he has vaulted himself up quickly. I basically hate every player on the 49ers defense, truth be told, and Goldson had to join a division rival so that makes him even worse.
5. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers – For the reasons stated above, I can't stand this guy. I hope the Saints knock the piss out of him on Sunday and completely shut him down.
Honorable mentions: Matt Ryan, Asante Samuel, Richie Incognito, Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger, Marshawn Lynch and Vernon Davis.
So who did I miss? What is your top 5?
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