Subscribe
Jobs
Cars
Real Estate
Apts
Classifieds
Shop
MIAMI – Drew Brees, the former Purdue star and quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, claimed the Super Bowl XLIV MVP Trophy.
But it was Tracy Porter, the unheralded cornerback out of Indiana University, who sealed the Saints’ 31-17 victory over the Colts.
With the Saints leading by seven and 3:24 remaining, Porter recognized that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was looking for receiver Reggie Wayne.
Porter jumped in front of Wayne, intercepted the ball and returned it 74 yards for the game’s final touchdown.
It was the first Super Bowl victory in Saints history.
“Words can’t describe how this feels,” Porter said. “It was just a long hard journey for us. It was a long, hard dream that we knew if we stuck together and worked hard … that this could come true. On defense, our guys have done a great job all year of forcing turnovers.”
Porter’s interception was the biggest of the season.
“It was because of great film study,” he said. “The coaching staff did a great job of preparing us for that route. … I saw (Wayne) do what I expected. He wide-departed and I jumped the route, then the ball came right into my hands.”
Porter’s interception return was the third longest for a touchdown in Super Bowl history. Pittsburgh’s James Harrison set the record last year with a 100-yard return. Teams that have scored on an interception return are 10-0 in Super Bowls.
Porter said he knew the significance of his interception right away, and not just for the game and his teammates. But also for the city of New Orleans, where the Saints have given the people something to rally behind in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
“We know the people of New Orleans, the people of Louisiana, they’re behind this team,” Porter said. “When we’re not doing well and we’re down, it’s almost just like they’re down, like they’re players on the team, too. This team means more to the people of New Orleans than I can say. No city is behind their team as much as the people of New Orleans are behind us.”
Which means Porter is already a hero there.
“That play was big, really a game-changer,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “You know, an interception for a touchdown is possibly a 10- or 14-point swing, if you consider they might kick a field goal or score there. When that happens and you get that type of turnover, it’s (important).”
Growing up in Port Allen, La., 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.
“This is a moment he could really use to build off of and really elevate his status,” Saints safety and active NFL interception leader Darren Sharper said. “I tell him all the time, ‘Tracy, if you wanted to be, you could be one of the top cornerbacks in the league the rest of your career’ because he has all he intangibles, all the talents to do that. And days like this in big-time games are what catapults guys to the upper echelon of players.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
