It’s hard not to love Louisiana

Whether you’ve lived here or visited here, it’s impossible to not fall in love with at least some aspects of the state.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used it as a setting for his epic poem Evangeline (partially my daughter’s namesake.) It’s been the setting for many films over the years, as well.
Whether it’s the hospitality, the food, the music or the “accents” (we all maintain that THEY’RE the ones who talk funny, not us), it’s hard to not maintain the argument that Louisiana is a special place.
Wisely, the New Orleans Saints as an organization at-large have finally caught up to that pride Louisianians feel in their state.
More specifically, the New Orleans Saints have caught up to how much pride Louisiana takes in LSU’s football program.
It’s a huge talking point for most football fans in this state. Whether it’s “NFLSU”, “DBU” or any other marketing ploy that has been used by the university in the past it’s clear that LSU has become something of a hot bed for NFL talent.
As of May 24, 70 LSU players are currently under contract with an NFL team. That’s not including free agents or Tigers playing in other professional football leagues such as the USFL, CFL or any other professional league.
So, it makes sense that the New Orleans Saints are making the decision to lean into this pride the state feels in that program this offseason.
If you’ve been living under a rock, the Saints made a decision to bring in two of the highest-profile LSU alumni in free agency in safety Tyrann Mathieu and wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
Not only were these players who could immediately help the roster as it looks to push for a playoff position, they were also brilliant pieces of marketing signed by General Manager Mickey Loomis.
Let me explain why I feel that way.
Last season, it felt like the Saints’ organization struggled to find someone to build around in a post-Brees Era.
Yes, it made a ton of sense for Alvin Kamara or Michael Thomas to be that guy initially.
However, Thomas has struggled to stay healthy while Kamara has seemingly found a way to make his own situation more difficult with his pending legal situation.
Yes, quarterback Jameis Winston is a big and vibrant personality. However, it’s hard to see him as a marketable and bankable box office attraction.
Taysom Hill has his own cult following in the fanbase. But, he won’t work as the face of the franchise as he is nothing more than an overpaid gadget player.
There are plenty of talented players in New Orleans. However, there are no box office attractions that come without baggage.
Enter Mathieu and Landry.
Jarvis Landry is, by himself, one of the more successful wide receivers in LSU’s history. He parlayed his skill set into a long and successful NFL career.
Perception has it with fans that Landry still has something left to offer. That remains to be seen. He was looking for $20 million per year in free agency and New Orleans gave him $6 million.
That’s a pretty big gap, and a telling one of what the league believes he has left to offer. But, he offers name recognition in a roster that desperately needs it. That alone will sell tickets and likely help the Saints recoup the money invested in the signing.
The true mega-watt signing was Mathieu.
“Honey Badger” is one of those names in Louisiana lore. He’s a monster on the field that has taken his place next to the Rougaroux and Hurricane Katrina as absolute terrors that won’t soon be forgotten.
His season where he ended as a Heisman Trophy finalist is one of, if not the best, single defensive season in LSU’s history.
The legal issues came, and he rebuilt his image. He’s become one of the NFL’s most-feared defenders a decade into his career and continues to get paid like it.
More than the on-field success, the off-field rebuild of his image makes him one of the league’s most-beloved role models.
He’s a superstar on and off the field. The exact type of figure the Saints need to market around in a post-Drew Brees New Orleans.
It’s the perfect piece to build their team, marketing and season around.
The type of player that, if he delivers on the field, will add even more value to it off the field.
In short, Mathieu and Landry are exactly what the Saints need right now.