According to ESPN.com, the Saints have two players with Super Bowl rings. The Colts have 19. Despite the discrepancy in Super Bowl experience, Saints players are not intimidated by the Colts’ experience on the big stage.
Saints head coach Sean Payton says his team is focused solely on winning the championship.
"You know, the [Pittsburgh] Steelers a year ago, you could say, 'Well, they've been to X number of Super Bowls.' Yet when you look at the roster, the guy that makes the play of the game is a first- or second-year player. I think the challenge is winning a championship and understanding that we're playing a great Indianapolis team," Payton told ESPN.com.
Saints cornerback Randall Gay earned a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Tight end Jeremy Shockey earned a Super Bowl ring against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, but sat out the Giants' win with an injury. Safety Darren Sharper, fullback Kyle Eckel and long snapper Jason Kyle have played in Super Bowls, but each in a losing effort.
Given his team's lack of Super Bowl experience, Payton brought in two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Jimmy Johnson to speak to the Saints. Reggie Bush says the former two-time Super Bowl champion offered advice on how to prepare for the big game.
"He told us that you can't prepare for one thing because you don't know what's going to happen in these types of games," Bush told ESPN.com. "All you can do is prepare yourself for everything and just take it as it comes. Whatever happens in a game, just take it for what it is and try to do whatever you can to win the game."
If the Saints are prepared, the team has an excellent shot to capture the franchise’s first championship.
