30-year old Drew Brees is returning to the Pro Bowl unless the Saints are playing in the Super Bowl.  He has played in 15 games for the Saints this season and he has completed 363 of 514 passes (70.6%) for 4,388 yards with 34 TD passes and 11 INTs (109.6 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 22 times for 33 yards (1.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Brees could even take home the MVP this season for the Saints.  26-year old guard Jahri Evans and 30-year old tackle Jonathan Stinchcomb are also both going to the Pro Bowl.  They have both starting all 15 games for the Saints this season and they both do a solid job of blocking in both the running and passing games.  27-year old linebacker Jonathan Vilma has also been selected to go to Miami.  He has played in 15 games for the Saints this season and he has 110 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, defensed 8 passes and he has 3 interceptions.  34-year old free safety Darren Sharper has been incredible this season for the Saints.  He has played in 14 games this season for the Saints and he has 71 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1/2 a sack, 15 passes defensed and 9 interceptions (376 return yards, 41.8 avg) with 3 TD returns.  The Saints hope that none of these guys get to play in the Pro Bowl because they want to be in the Super Bowl.

The Saints are bringing back 28-year old Rodney Leslie as they have signed him to a contract.  Leslie has not played in the NFL since 2006 with the Saints.  He has played in 16 games and made 17 tackles in his NFL career (all with the Saints).  This was a depth signing for the Saints and little more.

The Saints laid an egg after playing decent football for the first three quarters.  The Bucs scored 14 points in the 4th quarter to tie the game yesterday and then Connor Barth whacked a 47-yard field goal to beat the Saints in OT.  Drew Brees was very efficient yesterday completing 32 of 37 passes for 258 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Pierre Thomas rushed for 60 yards on 6 carries (10.0 ypc) with a TD run before leaving the game due to injury.  Reggie Bush only carried the ball twice for 16 yards (8.0 ypc) but he also caught 6 passes for 37 yards (6.2 avg).  Marques Colston led the way in the passing game for the Saints yesterday with 8 grabs for 77 yards (9.6 avg).  Robert Meachem pitched in with 5 grabs for 66 yards (13.2 avg) with a TD grab.  The Saints finished up with 373 total yards on offense (124 rushing, 249 passing).

CB Malcolm Jenkins (10 tackles) and LB Johnthan Casillas (10 tackles, QB hit) led the way for the Saints on D yesterday.  Safety Darren Sharper also had a solid game with 7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  CB Tracy Porter pitched in with 6 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception.  The Buccaneers finished up with 439 total yards on offense (176 rushing, 263 passing) in this game.  But, as bad as the defense played the special teams really killed the Saints yesterday.  The Bucs’ Michael Spurlock scored on a 77-yard punt return for a TD with only 2:25 left in the football game.  Then Drew Brees took the team right down the field and Garrett Hartley missed a chip shot field goal sending the game into O.T. where the Saints lost the game.  The Saints are now 13-2 on the year.

26-year old WR Marques Colston just needed to get back healthy to get his role back as the #1 WR on the Saints and he is having a great year.  Colston has played in 14 games for the Saints this season and he has 61 catches for 994 yards (16.3 avg) with 9 TD grabs this year.  Colston is the complete package as he blends size, speed and an outstanding set of hands and that is why he is Drew Brees’ favorite target in the passing game.

27-year old linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been a tackling machine for the Saints this season.  He has played in 14 games for the Saints this season and he has 104 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 8 passes defensed, 2 sacks and 3 interceptions.  Vilma has done a great job for the Saints and he will be the player the Saints continue to build their defense around.