Louisiana product Porter picks off a title for Saints
Tracy Porter rumbles toward the end zone after intercepting Peyton Manning, who can do nothing but sit on the turf. Credit: AP
MIAMI - Louisiana product Tracy Porter played a crucial role in the New Orleans Saints' magical run to a Super Bowl title.
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 their 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl last night.
With the Saints already leading 24-17, his 74-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Saints an insurmountable two-touchdown lead with 3:12 left in the fourth quarter.
"It was great film study," Porter said of his interception of Peyton Manning. "We knew that on third-and-short they stack, and they like the outside release for the slant."
In the NFC Championship Game, Porter's late interception of Brett Favre stalled Minnesota's potential game-winning drive. The Saints went on to beat the Vikings in overtime to earn their first 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, he went down at midseason with what was thought to be a season-ending knee injury. The next day, Porter - and the Saints - got good news. It was "only'' 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 have another reason to party. "It means so much," he said. "Words can't describe how much this means for New Orleans."
