The Manning family is as much a part of the cultural fabric of New Orleans as voodoo, cajun cooking and boozing on Bourbon St.
There always has been a soft spot in the city's heart for father Archie, the Saints one-time quarterback who was the lone shining light in the franchise's early years.
And, in the subsequent generations, sons Eli and Peyton, who grew up in New Orleans, made their hometown proud by winning Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts, respectively.
But the importance of the Mannings to the Crescent City runs much deeper than mere football accomplishments.
The efforts put forth by the Mannings after Hurricane Katrina four years ago will never be forgotten by those whose lives were ripped apart by the storm's pelting rains and shredding winds. Eli and Peyton personally oversaw a program to collect food and supplies, then accompanied the shipment to Louisiana.
"It's a special place and I wanted to do anything to help out the people of the city, people who always supported me," Eli said this week.
Having said that, Eli can expect one thing when he returns home to face the Saints at the Superdome this afternoon.
Boos.
Nothing personal, really. It's just that Eli and the 5-0 New York Giants will be the enemy when they take on the 4-0 Saints in a battle of the unbeatens.
Eli Manning grew up just about 12 minutes from the Superdome and, as a kid, used to watch guys like Bobby Hebert and Sam Mills there. Still, this will be the first time he has actually played in his hometown stadium at any level.
But don't expect any weepy sentiment come game time.
"I don't think I'll be crying before the game," he said.
Waiting for Manning will be safety Darren Sharper, who has four career interceptions off the Giants pivot. Sharper has been a gamebreaker for the Saints this season and he'll certainly be planning to be one again this time around.
So, too, will Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey, who will be out for revenge against his former team. Claiming the Giants disrespected him, Shockey said he was not invited to the Super Bowl or the Giants victory parade in February 2008 after he had broken his leg in Week 15. Let the Battle in the Bayou begin.
Bumbling Bills
In the past week the Buffalo Bills lost two starting linebackers to injury; dropped a 6-3 decision to a Cleveland Browns team whose quarterback, Derek Anderson, completed just two passes all day; and had to deal with Terrell Owens-to-Chicago trade rumours, which the Bears denied. Now they meet a hungry Jets team that has dropped two straight. This one could be ugly.
On the hot seat
Various reports last week suggested Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden is a candidate to replace embattled Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn. Zorn's 2-3 record is alarming when you consider all five games have come against teams who had yet to post a win at the time of their meeting. The Redskins will set an NFL record by starting a season with six consecutive games versus winless teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs today.
By the numbers
Never in NFL history have there been as many undefeated teams (5) in the league entering Week 6 of the season.
Those squads with unblemished records include the Saints, Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.
MIKE.ZEISBERGER@SUNMEDIA.CA
