SAINTS DOME PATROL.....PAPER BAGS.....ARCHIE.....HEBERT....1980's n Early 90's LINEBACKERS...MILLS, JOHNSON, SWILLING, n JACKSON...WHO DAT? GOT LBs..

They toiled in MEDOCRITY maybe even the DUMPS for a long time. They were the laughging stock of the NFL and in the 1970's they had a face.....QB Archie MANNING.....the Father of the COLTS Peyton MANNING and the G-MEN's QB Eli MANNING.

Then there was the PAPER SACK wearing FANS every time you saw the highlights or on NFL FILMS. Most TEAMS in the NFL would look at the upcoming schedule and say where are the SAINTS on the SCHEDULE....that's a W.

Then their fortune started to change a little bit. Place Kicker and NFL Great Morten ANDERSON became the one constant in the BIG EASY and then they start getting LINEBACKERS. But before the LineBackers they get QB Bobby HERBERT who was a really nice piece.

Then enter the early 1980's the SAINTS start building a foundation on DEFENSE. The Architect of the D was Houston OILERS coaching Legend BUM PHILLIPS.....yes the FATHER of EX-Cowboys Head Man WADE and now Houston TEXANS Defensive Coordinator trying to implement the 3-4 for the TEXANS.

The FIRST piece for the LINEBACKING Corp was PAHOKEE FLorida native (the MUCK BOWL between PAHOKEE HS and BELLE GLADE FLA CENTRAL HS) and PITTSBURGH PANTHERS OLB and 2010 NFL Hall Of FAMER Rickey JACKSON. Maybe to this day the most recognizable SAINT of ALL-Time with QB Archie MANNING.

JACKSON was acquired in the 2nd round in 1980 and he played Opposite at PITT to Do Everything and ALL-American HUGH GREEN which is the direct reason JACKSON didn't get too much ink and was a BEAST of a LINEBACKER in his own right.

The 2nd piece to fall was Vaughn JOHNSON of NC STATE in 1985 NFL Supplemental Draft. He MAN at inside linebacker and he was a tackling machine.

The 3rd piece to fall was in 1986 when the SAINTS made USFL Coach Jim MORA SR the head coach and he brought over his Star MLB Sam MILLS. Ironically both JOHNSON and MILLS had to get their start in the USFL before starring on SUNDAYS. I think that CHIP on their shoulder made them that much tougher in the NFL......almost to say that WE WILL SHOW YOU WE BELONG.

The 4th piece to enter the equation was the BLUEDUDE'S Favorite along with JACKSON........Georgia TECH n RAMBLIN' WRECK All-American Linebacker.....Mr. PAT SWILLING. He along with JACKSON invented the PASS-RUSHING OLB in the 3-4 scheme it seemed like. 2 Naturals and if it was 3rd and MARDI GRAS Parade to go.......MEET YOU AT THE QB.......these 2 wasted no time.

The SAINTS FANS for once had an IDENTITY.....someone they were proud of wearing their SANITS JERSEYS......the BFL recognized this D and these 4 LINEBACKERS as the best in their time......and they wee to be known as the DOME PATROL as in when you entered the NEW ORLEANS super....DOME.....the PATROL...those 4 LINEBACKERS were on GUARD.

SWILLING was the most athletic and he reminds the BLUEDUDE of DeMARCUS WARE of the COWBOYS.......just so graceful and at ease rushing the PASSER.

MILLS was the linebacker with the least athleticism but made up for it on SMARTS and sheer determination and the heart of a lion.

JOHNSON was a Prototype INSIDE LINEBACKER at the time......BIG, PHYSICAL.....could play in space......and a TEXTBOOK Tackler.

Then there was 2010 NFL Hall Of FAMER Rickey JACKSON......a MIX of SWILLING, JOHNSON, and MILLS........and when he got the NOD for the HOF.......in his mind and SAINTS FANS and WHO DAT? NATION.....so did the OTHER 3.

RICKEY was all 3 on an excellent level. SWilling may have been the best PASS RUSHER but JACKSON not far behind. JOHNSON was the best TACKLER.....RICKEY not far behind. MILLS, the cerebral one, JACKSON thought process almost right there.

And just think their best record ever with all this talent was 10-6 and they never WON a Playoff Game...that might be the most amazing STAT of the DOME PATROL.

Listening to FOX Lead NFL Color MAN and NFL HOF QB Troy AIKMAN call the game between the SIANTS and BEARS he said this, " I remember when I came ion here for my first NFL START....AIKMAN SAYS...those LINEBACKERS......SWILLING, JACKSON, JOHNSON, and the LATE SAM MILLS......were some of the BEST I EVER LINEBACKERS I ever saw in my playing CAREER....they were FABULOUS".

The SAINTS have retired only MILLS #51 and JACKSON'S #57.....................JOHNSON'S #57 and SWILLING'S #56 should at least be hanging and SWILLING should definately be retried...the PROTOTYPE PASS-RUSHER

To the City of NEW ORLEANS........the SUPERDOME........MARDI GRAS......to some of the BEST EATS and NFL Tailgting in the CONTINENTAL US.........the FANS who used to don the PAPER BAGS......to some of the Greatest Players to ever play for the SAINTS.....BE PROUD.....1 LOMBARDI......and a NEW ORLEANS TREASURE.....the DOME PATROL.......CIRCAS 1980's-1990's.......51......53.......56.......57.....MILLS.......JOHNSON......SWILLING.......HOF JACKSON