Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
John Sigler

USA Today puts New Orleans Saints fans among the best in the NFL

This is fun: USA Today’s Mike Freeman puts New Orleans Saints fans among the best in the NFL, saying they’re by far the best fanbase within the NFC South. The Who Dat Nation was the only fanbase in their division to rank inside Freeman’s top 10. Freeman broke the NFL into 10 tiers and ordered each team’s fans from best to worst; a leaguewide assessment that Freeman cautions everyone reading with “Prepare to be outraged.”

But we’re not complaining. Here’s where Freeman put the Saints and each of their divisional rivals — the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers — plus the upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

New Orleans Saints: Tier 3, 8th overall

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

There were times covering games there where I literally could not hear what the person next to me was saying. Sounded like being inside a jet engine.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tier 6, 16th overall

AP Photo/Jason Behnken

Fan base will be tested in the post-Brady era. The Yuccaneers might be back.

Carolina Panthers: Tier 6, 17th overall

AP Photo/Bob Leverone

Another beautiful stadium and the fan base is pretty good. I covered a lot of games there during the Cam Newton years and that place would explode. Plus, their mascot, Sir Purr (or is it Purrrr or So Purdy or Purrs in Boots), is awesome.

Atlanta Falcons: Tier 8, 24th overall

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Kind of passionate, sometimes, a little bit.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.