Bernard's Rants: Saints AT Giants? Again?

This week, the Saints travel to Giants Stadium for a regular season away game. Sound familiar? It should, because just last year we had the exact situation. Well, not exactly the same. You see last year, the Saints played at the Meadowlands, only it was called a "home" game for the Saints. Through all the tragedy and hardship that befell the people of New Orleans and their families and friends across the United States, many saw the Saints as a glimmer of hope - something to take their mind off the disaster. They found comfort in their Saints. With all the devastation the city endured...they looked forward to every single game.

Even though the Superdome was not ready for NFL games last year, the Saints marched on, playing in other venues for their home games. One of those venues was Giants Stadium. The NFL made a big hoopla and put the game on primetime in a first-ever Monday night doubleheader. All the important people came to the game and showed their ugly mugs on TV (including Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush). Lots of Saints fans poured into the stadium. Some Giants fans even wore Saints jerseys. Everything was nice and dandy.

Unfortunately, the Saints lost that game (they ended up losing most of their games last season). No matter how the NFL dressed it up, the Saints were still playing an away game. Their lockers were in the away team section. They had to travel from New Orleans to New York. They had to deal with all the annoyances and schedules and itineraries that come with an away game and their families were not in full attendance.

Fast forward to this coming week. Again, the Saints play the Giants. The NFL had an opportunity to rectify the travesty that was last year's Saints vs. Giants game. They could have made the Giants travel to New Orleans for this game. It's the least they could have done to rectify the absurd notion that the Saints played a "home" game at Giants stadium.