Dear Mr. President......

Today, our local newspaper featured e-mails sent in by readers, some as young as 9. 

Take a minute, if you can, and read some of these. 

It's a heart warming moment, from a state that went Red.

The Times- Picayune article, by Maria Montoya, is  entitled "Dear Mr. President: Our Readers Give Advice, Hopes, Praise and Special Requests to the Next Leader of the Free World".

Drew Brees Named NFL Offensive Player of the Year

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees named NFL's Offensive Player of the Year
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune January 06, 2009 11:24AM
Categories: Saints

Rusty Costanza, The Times-Picayune
Drew Brees was named AP offensive player of the year.
Drew Brees' prolific passing season earned him the Associated Press' 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday. The Saints quarterback received 22 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the league.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who won the league MVP award last week, tied with Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson for second place with nine votes apiece.

"It's a tremendous honor," said Brees, who became just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards this season.
Brees was shut out in last week's MVP balloting because of the Saints' disappointing 8-8 record. But voters recognized his historical achievement with the top offensive honor. Brees threw for 5,069 yards - 15 yards shy of the single-season record set by Miami's Dan Marino in 1984.

Saints Fire Defensive Coordinator

Gary Gibbs is fired as New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator
Posted by Mike Triplett and Teddy Kider, The Times-Picayune January 07, 2009 3:24PM
Categories: Saints

Scott Threlkeld/The Times-Picayune
The Saints have fired defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs.
The Saints fired Defensive Coordinator Gary Gibbs on Wednesday, 10 days after finishing the 2008 regular season ranked 23rd in the NFL in total defense.

"This was a very difficult decision to make," Saints Coach Sean Payton said in a statement. "Gary Gibbs is a fine man and football coach who has worked diligently during his tenure with the Saints. I thank him for the many contributions that he has made to this team and wish him continued success in his career."

Gibbs joined the organization three years ago, when he followed Saints Coach Sean Payton from Dallas to New Orleans. And Gibbs' defense ranked 11th in the NFL during his first season with the team.
But Gibbs' unit fell to 26th in the league in 2007, allowing 348.1 yards per game, and while the Saints finished with the No. 1-ranked offense in 2008, the defense saw little improvement.

But Gibbs' unit fell to 26th in the league in 2007, allowing 348.1 yards per game, and while the Saints finished with the No. 1-ranked offense in 2008, the defense saw little improvement.

Gibbs' defense allowed 339.5 yards per game in 2008, struggling to cope with injuries and constantly giving up big plays in the secondary. The Saints also never seemed to find the production they were looking for from their defensive line, which has two highly paid defensive ends in Will Smith and Charles Grant but struggled in pressuring opposing quarterbacks.