MIAMI -- Louisiana native Tracy Porter played a crucial
role in the New Orleans Saints' magical run to a Super Bowl title and
their victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
A second-round draft
pick out of Indiana, who grew up in Port Allen, across the Mississippi
River from Baton Rouge, Porter watched the Saints every Sunday with his
family and friends. He remembers bags on the heads of embarrassed fans
during the lean years.
Now the Saints have done the previously unthinkable in large part because of him in a 31-17 victory Sunday.
His
74-yard touchdown on an interception of Peyton Manning gave the Saints
an insurmountable two-touchdown lead late in the fourth quarter. In the
NFC title game, his late interception of Brett Favre stalled
Minnesota's potential game-winning drive.
"It was great film
study," Porter said of the his interception Sunday. "We knew that on
third-and-short they stack, and they like the outside release for the
slant."
The Saints went on to beat the Vikings in overtime to earn their first-ever Super Bowl berth.
Porter
was drafted by the Saints in 2008 and earned a starting cornerback spot
in his rookie season. But that year was cut short by a broken wrist in
the first half of the season.
This season, Porter went down in
midseason with what was thought to be a season-ending knee injury at
St. Louis. The next day, Porter -- and the Saints -- got good news. It
was a severe sprain. His season wasn't over. He returned in Week 15 and
played brilliantly in the playoffs.
Now, during Mardi Gras, his
family, friends, and Saints fans in New Orleans and all across the Gulf
South have another reason to party.
"It means so much," Porter said. "Words can't describe how much this means for New Orleans."