Brownie's Pick? Um, Not New Orleans

From why everyone feels disrespected to who wins

(NEWSER) - If you’re just getting up to speed on Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, Jason Gay has the insider’s guide to America’s “overcooked spectacle” of an homage to ancient Rome:

• The overarching theme is disrespect. The Saints feel it because analysts are picking the Colts to win; the Colts feel it because “America has fallen in hot, slobbery love with the Saints,” Gay writes in the Wall Street Journal .

Dem posits ‘Brownie’s Law’ as cure for cronyism

(NEWSER) - John Edwards added a little stand-up to his routine yesterday, drawing laughter from a New Orleans university crowd as he proposed a law against political hacks running amok in Washington. He called it “Brownie’s Law,” referring to FEMA’s Michael Brown—and Bush’s back-slapping remark: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," while New Orleans was falling into chaos. More»

Thousands jam parade route for Super Bowl champs

(NEWSER) - A week ahead of Fat Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras, the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints celebrated "Dat Tuesday." Carnival floats carrying players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson rolled past tens of thousands of members of "Who Dat" nation in a victory parade. The Mardi Gras-flavored parade includes 12 marching bands and one float each from 10 krewes. Quarterback Drew Brees and other players were throwing beads into the crowds as confetti floated in the air. One float carried an oversized replica of the Super Bowl trophy. More»

Audience of 106.5M tops 1983 M*A*S*H finale viewership

(NEWSER) - This year's Super Bowl was the most-watched TV program of all time, with 106.5 million viewers. More than two-thirds of American TVs in use were tuned in to the Saints' 31-17 upset of the Colts, a figure that soared to 82% in New Orleans and 80% in Indianapolis, reports Broadcasting & Cable. The game unseated the 1983 series finale of M*A*S*H as the answer to an easy trivia question. More»

Drew Brees has highest career completion percentage

(NEWSER) - Last night's Super Bowl didn't just net the Saints a win, but added some names to the record books as well. At 82.1%, QB Drew Brees now has the highest Super Bowl career completion percentage. The New Orleans Times-Picayune takes a look at other new records:

• Most completions: The Saints' 32 and the Colts 31 make 63, the most ever in a Super Bowl.
• Completion percentage: The teams' combined stats average at 75%, the best of all time.