THE PRE BOWL: Local NFL veterans offer words of wisdom

After 43 years of existence and heading into their first Super Bowl, the Saints’ miracle ride has reached the moment of truth and NFL veterans with Destin ties are weighing in on the Crescent City’s chances and what it will take for “The Who Dats” to reach the happy ending for which most Americans are hoping.

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The New Orleans team is on the verge of making history. Prior to their NFC championship win over the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans was well established as the major American city with the longest drought in reaching the championship game or series in any of the major American sports; a title that has now been relinquished to the city of Milwaukee.

Former Destin resident and current Green Bay Packers Outside Linebackers coach Kevin Greene knows what it will take for the Cinderella Saints to take down four-time MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

“First of all, Minnesota was the better team,” said Greene on the NFC Championship game. “With a defense ranked in the 20s, New Orleans is going to have to have an all-pro day to win.”

In his career, Greene has faced some of the best the game has ever seen and has also played in Super Bowl XXX as a Pittsburgh Steeler. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, including three first team selections, and is a member of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team. After playing against greats such as Joe Montana, Steve Young and Troy Aikman, Greene can envision a tough game ahead against the league’s reigning MVP.

“They are playing one of the best quarterbacks of all time,” he said. “If they don’t play the right way, things could get ugly. Peyton Manning just plays at such a high level and this is really Drew Brees’ first breakout year.”

Greene has seen the highest level of competition the game of football has to offer and proved to be one of the best, though he was never able to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But the city of Destin is currently home to multiple pieces of Super Bowl hardware.

Destin resident, Robert “Woody” Widenhofer, was the mastermind behind the famed “Steel Curtain,” which led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowls and enabled “Coach Woody” to walk away a champion every time. Few understand what it takes to win “the big one” like he does.

With Sunday’s looming Super Bowl and the publicity surrounding the emotionally favored Saints, Widenhofer is taken back to his days of preparation for such games.

“The last thing you want to do is go to the Super Bowl and lose,” said Widenhofer. “The Saints are the sentimental favorite, but the Colts are more seasoned.”

The Super Bowl has obviously taken on levels of publicity since Widenhofer’s days of coaching “Mean” Joe Greene and Jack Lambert. For example, typical half time shows during Coach Woody’s Super Bowl days would have included the Grambling State marching band and a tribute to Duke Ellington. This year’s half time entertainment will feature rock and roll hall of famers The Who.

“The most important thing is to try to keep preparations at a normal pace,” said Widenhofer. “They can’t get involved with all the fanfare. They have to approach it likes it’s just a normal game.”

Coach Widenhofer’s wife, Sabrina, is from Louisiana, so she and her husband fall on the side of most Americans, cheering for the underdogs.

“It’s going to be very exciting,” said Widenhofer. “It should be very high scoring but sound defense is going to win the game.”

No Destinite has more emotional investment in the Saints’ miracle run than the man who actually took snaps for them. Former Saint and Destinite, Danny Wuerffel, has been watching closely and considering the impact a Super Bowl victory could have on the entire region.

“The challenge for the Saints is to not get caught up in all the hype. They need to focus on their responsibilities,” said Wuerffel. “Indy is really solid and their ‘D’ is dominating, but the Saints bring all that extra emotion that has made them so dangerous.”

After three years with the Saints and the rest of his NFL career, Wuerffel devoted his life to Desire Street Ministries, a non-profit, faith-based organization focusing on spiritual and community development in one of the poorest area’s of New Orleans.

“My heart and passion are with the Saints,” said Wuerffel.