When former Saints star Roman Harper was asked Wednesday what it would take for the team to get back to where it once was, he asked almost incredulously, “You mean the Super Bowl?”
It is a tough question to answer, no doubt, but the ex-NFL safety laid out his thoughts on at least how the Black and Gold can return to relevance. It begins with, ”You have got to get younger.”
Harper was talking to a contingent of news and sports reporters at an office building in Bucktown to promote the Super Bowl LIX Fan Experience, which will be held the week leading to the big game – from Feb. 3 through 8 – at the Ernest Morial Convention Center.
While he spoke mostly about all the reasons locals and visitors should be excited about the events around town, he also took time out to reflect on the current state of the Saints and talked about his favorite ex-teammates.
“Whenever you have a Super Bowl or playoff-caliber team, you have to have a great mix of veterans to young guys,” said Harper, who played for the Saints during their run to Super Bowl in February 2010 and was in New Orleans for 9 of his 11 seasons in the NFL. “You got to hit in the draft – (players) who no one thought were going to be good – like fifth-, sixth-round guys – they have to play for you.
“Young guys have to start, and you have to hit home runs with your first- and second-round guys. Then you also have to have the veteran presence, and maybe it’s a free agent, maybe it’s guys who have been in your program for 5, 6, 7 or 8 years who are leading the charge. You also have to have the younger guy who are ready to get that contract.”
Harper would know something about all that. He was the Saints’ second-round pick in Sean Payton’s first year as coach in 2006 – a draft that opened with Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and also included guard Jahri Evans in the fourth round and defensive end Rob Ninkovich in the fifth.
In that 2006 season, led by top free-agent signee Drew Brees, the team went to the NFC championship game for the first time in team history and were in their only Super Bowl 3 years later.
He says no matter how far away it might seem, things in the NFL can change in a hurry.
“I remember when I got drafted here (out of Alabama), my college roommate laughed at me and was like, ‘Dude, congrats, but you guys never even go to the playoffs. You’re the Saints,’ ” Harper said. “Low and behold, you go to the NFC championship game first year and almost go to the Super Bowl. … Then we go on a run after that, so you just never know.”