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USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Projected the full first round order of the 2026 NFL draft based on Super Bowl odds
Projected the full first round order of the 2026 NFL draft based on Super Bowl odds Even though teams are focused on the offseason workout programs with their new additions to the team, our eyes are turning to the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. Who could be the top team? There are plenty of options, but only one team can turn that card in for the first-overall selection. There is plenty of time to dive into the specifics. After a successful NFL draft in Green Bay, the venue will move to another city with a rich history and a passionate fan base. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Steel City will host the annual event. Where will the Steelers select, and just who could be on their radar by the time April rolls around? Here is the projected order based on current odds; ties are listed in alphabetical order. New Orleans Saints New York Giants Cleveland Browns Tennessee Titans Carolina Panthers New York Jets Las Vegas Raiders Indianapolis Colts Atlanta Falcons Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars New England Patriots Seattle Seahawks Miami Dolphins Dallas Cowboys Arizona Cardinals Pittsburgh Steelers Denver Broncos Chicago Bears Houston Texans Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers Los Angeles Chargers Green Bay Packers Cincinnati Bengals Atlanta Falcons via Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Washington Commanders Kansas City Chiefs Detroit Lions Buffalo Bills Baltimore Ravens Philadelphia Eagles It would be quite ironic if the New Orleans Saints, who land at No. 1 here, use that pick to select Arch Manning with the top pick. Especially when you factor in that the team drafted his grandfather, Archie Manning, with the No. 2 pick in the 1971 NFL draft. It could come full circle 55 years later. There is no guarantee that Arch Manning will enter the NFL draft, but returning to his hometown to lead the franchise as his grandfather and namesake once did, but this might be too good of a dream to pass up. The running narrative is that next year's quarterback class will be better, and honestly, it can't get much worse than the past class. We were spoiled in 2024 when five quarterbacks were selected over the first 12 picks of the first round. This past year, that number dropped to five quarterbacks being selected over the first three rounds of the draft. With names like the aforementioned Arch Manning to go along with LaNorris Sellers, Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, and John Mateer gives us the indication that it will, in fact, be a better class.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Caleb Williams wanted to avoid getting drafted by Bears, new book says
Caleb Williams and his father sought to avoid Williams getting drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft, ESPN's Seth Wickersham details in a new book about quarterbacks, publishing in September. 'Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,' Williams' father, Carl, said in the book. With Williams being the clear-cut top pick coming out of USC, Carl told several agents in 2024 he didn't want his son to play for the Bears, who had the No. 1 pick. Part of his efforts to avoid Chicago included consulting Archie Manning, father of Eli Manning, who helped orchestrate Eli's trade from the San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants. Advertisement According to the book, Williams decided he wanted to be drafted by the Minnesota Vikings after connecting with Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell at the NFL Scouting Combine, but Bears general manager Ryan Poles told Williams that Chicago would be drafting him 'no matter what.' Williams was also deterred by the coaching staff in Chicago. 'Do I want to go there? I don't think I can do it with (former Bears offensive coordinator Shane) Waldron,' Williams said in the book. Wickersham wrote that the father and son considered publicly attacking the Bears organization and the city of Chicago in order to prevent getting drafted there, but Williams was concerned that would only lead to more damage if the Bears refused to trade him. Williams later changed his mind on the Bears after a pre-draft meeting, according to the book. 'I can do it for this team,' Caleb told his dad. 'I'm going to go to the Bears.' The Bears declined to comment on the book's details about Williams and the draft. Williams went on to have an up-and-down rookie season, completing 62.5 percent of his passes while tossing 20 touchdowns, but also taking a league-most 68 sacks. Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus were both fired midseason, and according to the book, Williams received little to no coaching at times. 'No one tells me what to watch,' Williams told his dad in the book about film sessions. 'I just turn it on.' The way Williams' rookie season went proved that the family's concerns were prescient. Waldron will go down as one of the worst hires in franchise history, and that's a high bar considering the Bears' recent futility, as they're on their fifth head coach since firing Lovie Smith. It was apparent as early as Waldron's opening news conference, followed by a plethora of hiccups in spring and summer practices, that this pairing was not going to flourish. The decision by Poles, president/CEO Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey to retain Eberflus is now back under fire, as Eberflus had the ultimate call on Waldron as his play caller. Advertisement What that all did was put Williams in the same predicament that he and his father wanted to avoid. He is the third Bears first-round quarterback to have to learn a brand-new offense with a brand-new coaching staff after his rookie season in the past seven years, joining Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. The most newsworthy element to this excerpt — and I'm interested in reading the full Williams chapter this fall — is how the quarterback himself felt, and his own concerns about the Bears. Fans could feel comforted that Williams decided, after his visit, that he wanted to embrace the challenge. We could hear from Williams as soon as next week, when Bears OTAs get underway, and he might have to field a lot more questions about the past than the present. Williams has handled controversy in the spotlight very well. He's pretty unfazed publicly, and I expect that to continue, but I will be curious how he wants to address those hesitations he had. That brings us to a possible blessing in disguise in all this. If Ben Johnson proves to be the right hire for both Williams and the organization, and if he's able to help put Williams in a position to be the franchise quarterback the Bears have sought, then the disaster that was 2024 will be a footnote. Everything that went wrong put the Bears in a position to reset with Johnson. Here's what Williams said during Johnson's introductory press conference: 'Once I got off the phone, I was driving on the highway, I don't know if it was safe or not, but I gave out a loud yell and scream of just excitement of just brings a bunch of clarity to the offseason,' he said. 'It brings a bunch of different things to the offseason. And I'm really excited about obviously the Bears and this org and being able to make this happen and keep Ben Johnson as our coach for a long time.' Maybe it was a year too late, but the timing won't matter as long as the coach and quarterback have success. If anything, Johnson has a blueprint of what not to do. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears beat writer
New York Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
2026 NFL mock draft: Beyond Arch Manning, which prospects have the NFL's attention?
Is it too early for a 2026 mock draft? Of course. Instead, consider this more of a watch list for promising prospects in next year's class, one that should feature a stark upgrade in quarterback talent — five passers are included in the mock below (and a few others could push for the first round). Thirteen of the prospects in my way-too-early 2025 mock draft a year ago ultimately were drafted in the first round last weekend (eight more were selected on Day 2; six returned to school). Before anyone gets upset about the projected order, I set it by flipping the current Super Bowl odds. Blame the betting books. The Saints haven't drafted a quarterback in the first round since Archie Manning in 1971, so it would certainly be poetic if his grandson breaks that streak. At this point, scouts believe there is a good chance Manning returns to school for his fourth year in 2026. But first, he needs to turn the hype into on-field production as a first-year starter in 2025. Advertisement With his dual-threat skills, Sellers was one of the most entertaining college quarterbacks to watch last season. It is probably too early to be talking about him this early in the draft, but that will change if he takes another step in his development as a passer. The Evan Neal experiment was a failure in New York, which is why the Giants might be looking at offensive tackle early in next year's draft. Fano has first-round feet and was equally effective in pass protection and as a run blocker last season. Parker is one of those players you can't help but notice when you are studying other players. His quickness off the ball and ability to affect the quarterback are frequent themes on his tape. Had Allar declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, he might have been the No. 2 pick (to his hometown Cleveland Browns). But he returned to school to further his development. If he continues to improve, he will be in the top-five conversation next April. It was impossible to ignore Faulk — and his ability to disrupt the quarterback and stuff the run — when studying the Auburn-Cal tape from last season. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 288 pounds, with long arms, Faulk, according to scouts, will be in the conversation to be the first defensive lineman drafted next year. It has been almost a decade since the last top-10 safety selection (Jamal Adams in 2017). Can Downs break that streak? He played like the best safety in the country during his freshman and sophomore seasons, and there is no reason to think he won't continue as a junior. CALEB DOWNS PICKS IT OFF‼️ DAGGER. — ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025 A mammoth offensive lineman, Proctor appeared dominant early last season before his play diminished late, especially in the bowl game against Michigan. Nonetheless, the talent is there for him to become a top-10 pick, if he continues to improve as a junior. A good-looking athlete at 6-6, 315, Barber shows off his range on pulls and climbs, and he is able to torque defenders off balance once he latches. He could interest a team such as the Browns, who have long-term question marks at left and right tackle. Advertisement The Oregon defensive line was a joy to watch this past season — 75 percent of its starters were drafted this past weekend (Derrick Harmon, Jordan Burch, Jamaree Caldwell). Uiagalelei is the lone returning starter, but he might have the highest ceiling of the group. After playing his freshman season at Oregon State, McCoy enjoyed a breakout sophomore season after transferring to the Volunteers (13 passes defended and four interceptions). His ball instincts consistently stood out when I studied Tennessee's defense last season. The Mike linebacker in Austin, Hill has a well-rounded skill set to make an impact as a blitzer, run stopper and cover man. The Longhorns had five defensive players drafted in the 2025 class, but their defense will be in good shape with Hill, true sophomore Colin Simmons and others. The 2027 draft class should include an epic group of wide receivers, but the 2026 class of pass catchers is a tad underwhelming at this point in the process. Of course, the Buckeyes have another first-round receiver in the pipeline, though — Tate could be Ohio State's sixth first-round receiver in the last five years. Love is the only running back in this way-too-early mock, but he might be the class' most exciting skill player. If he stays healthy in 2025, he will be in the Heisman discussion and cement his status as a first-round player. JEREMIYAH LOVE TAKES IT 98 YARDS TO THE HOUSE!! 😱🚨#CFBPlayoffs — TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 21, 2024 It wouldn't be a proper first-round mock without at least one Georgia defender. Allen was one of the best run defenders in the SEC last season and put several impressive coverage reps on tape. The Steelers might still be looking for a long-term option at quarterback a year from now. Had Nussmeier bypassed his senior year at LSU, teams believe he could have been the second quarterback drafted in this past class. Advertisement Bain burst onto the scene as a true freshman two years ago for the Hurricanes and should again be among the ACC's top defensive players in 2025, if he stays healthy. Despite totaling just 332 receiving yards over his first two seasons in Eugene, Sadiq is poised for a breakout season in 2025 with Terrance Ferguson now in the NFL. The 6-3, 245-pound Idaho native is an athletic pass catcher for his size. Although his impact appeared to tail off last season, Overton put dominant stretches together on his 2024 tape (see South Carolina). He has impressive movement skills for 285 pounds and should lead the Tide in pressures this season. The Clemson defensive coaches would line up the 315-pound Woods at defensive end last season to get the best four linemen on the field — and Woods didn't look out of place. He will move inside to defensive tackle in 2025 and is on a first-round trajectory. After earning Freshman All-SEC honors in 2023, Kilgore tied for the SEC lead in interceptions (five) with Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba in 2024. Another productive season will punch his ticket for next April's early rounds. While studying the Florida defense late last season, I routinely came across Sapp standing out on the Ole Miss and Florida State tapes. At 6-2, 275, he should be the leader of the Gators' defense in 2025. Boise State has consistently produced NFL talent, but it's never had first-round picks in back-to-back years. There is a chance that Casey, who helped open run lanes for 2025 top-six pick Ashton Jeanty, could change that. Advertisement Jaire Alexander might not be in Green Bay much longer, but Terrell — the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, reminds me a lot of Alexander. He's undersized but an easy mover with natural cover instincts. Weeks was a tackling machine for the Tigers last season and looked like a future early-round pick. He suffered a dislocated ankle in LSU's bowl game, but he'll hopefully return to his 2024 form early this upcoming season. The younger brother of Francisco Mauigoa, who was drafted this past weekend by the Jets, Francis Mauigoa was a big-time recruit for the Hurricanes and has started all 26 games at right tackle over the last two years. With improved consistency in 2025, he will put himself in the conversation to be a potential first-rounder. The fifth quarterback drafted in this mock, Mendoza was a pleasant surprise when watching the Cal offense this past season. He transferred to Indiana in the offseason, and it will be interesting to track his progress under Curt Cignetti. Saka has yet to start a game in college, so this might seem a tad early for him. But he consistently flashed on tape as a subpackage rusher (see the Maryland game), and his traits haven't gone unnoticed by NFL scouts. A transfer from Utah, Tanuvasa missed a good chunk of last season. His strength and physicality was evident when he was on the field, though. He should be one of the Big 12's best defensive prospects this season. A potential top-50 pick had he declared for the 2025 draft, Ramsey is a rangy athlete with a good feel for coverage. He gives scouts a reason to focus on the Trojans' defense in 2025. Advertisement A former five-star recruit, Stewart teases high-level receiving talent (see the Boise State and Ohio State tapes from last season) but needs to string together better consistency to be taken this early. Will 2025 finally be his breakout year? Ozzy Trapilo, who was drafted in the second round over the weekend, locked down right tackle for Boston College while Bowry handled left tackle duties. Bowry's run blocking needs to improve, but his efficiency patterns in pass pro drew scouts' eyes. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos: Johnnie Izquierdo, Tim Warner, Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Texas standout, NFL No. 1 overall pick Kenneth Sims has died at 65
Former Texas standout, NFL No. 1 overall pick Kenneth Sims has died at 65 FILE - Kenneth Sims (77) hugs Irving Fryar (80) as John Hannah (73) looks on during a ceremony honoring the 1985 AFC Champion Patriots team prior to the football game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File) FILE - New England Patriots' Kenneth Sims of the University of Texas, the top pick in the National Football League draft, warms up, with an assist from Charles Cook, as the Patriots started training camp with the first workout for rookies and selected veterans at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I., July 24, 1982. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen, File) FILE - New England Patriots Kenneth Sims (77) pressures Houston Oilers quarterback Archie Manning during first quarter National Football League action at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Nov. 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Paul R. Benoit, File) FILE - New England Patriots Kenneth Sims (77) pressures Houston Oilers quarterback Archie Manning during first quarter National Football League action at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Nov. 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Paul R. Benoit, File) FILE - Kenneth Sims (77) hugs Irving Fryar (80) as John Hannah (73) looks on during a ceremony honoring the 1985 AFC Champion Patriots team prior to the football game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File) FILE - New England Patriots' Kenneth Sims of the University of Texas, the top pick in the National Football League draft, warms up, with an assist from Charles Cook, as the Patriots started training camp with the first workout for rookies and selected veterans at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I., July 24, 1982. (AP Photo/Mike Kullen, File) FILE - New England Patriots Kenneth Sims (77) pressures Houston Oilers quarterback Archie Manning during first quarter National Football League action at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Nov. 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Paul R. Benoit, File) Kenneth Sims, a standout at Texas who became the No. 1 overall draft pick in the NFL draft in 1982, has died. He was 65. The University of Texas said Sims died on March 21 at his home. Sims' death came after a brief illness, according to the National Football Foundation, but no further information was provided. He became a National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Famer in 2021. A Kosse, Texas, native, Sims shined as a defensive tackle for Texas from 1978 to 1981 and was an AP All-American selection in 1980 and 1981. He was an unanimous All-American pick in 1981, the same season that the Longhorns finished 10-1-1, beat Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and finished ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll. Advertisement Over his final two college seasons Sims totaled 241 tackles, 21 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. His efforts helped him become the first Longhorns player to receive the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's best collegiate lineman, in 1981. Sims was selected with the top pick in the 1982 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He was selected to the 1982 all-rookie team and spent his entire career in New England, but had trouble duplicating the production he had at the collegiate level. His best NFL season was in 1985 when he had 5 1/2 sacks in 13 games, helping the Patriots reach Super Bowl 20, where they lost to the Chicago Bears. But Sims didn't play in that game after suffering a broken leg in the regular season. A funeral service will be held on April 5 in Kosse, Texas. ___ AP NFL:
New York Times
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Ranking the Super Bowl food options in New Orleans: Alligator, crawfish, po' boys and more
NEW ORLEANS — There is nothing quite like the cuisine in New Orleans — for my money, it's the best food city in the NFL. If I lived here (and I almost did a few years ago), I would need to buy looser jeans. The first time I came to New Orleans while I was in college, my roommate and I went to a restaurant owned by Archie Manning and tried turtle soup and alligator sliders for the first time. I love po' boys and etouffee and king cake and beignets and red beans and rice and and pralines and muffalettas and charbroiled oysters. If the last meal I ever had was at a crawfish boil, I would die a happy man. Advertisement (One New Orleans staple I don't recommend: Hand Grenades on Bourbon Street.) With that in mind, it was an easy choice to take part in the NFL's food and beverage preview ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl at the Superdome. The line to get into the stadium for this event was long, but it was worth the wait. Most of the reporters in attendance seemed to work in television — I am but a lowly writer, with a face for radio, who just wanted to eat some alligator. I waited for all of the TV people to get their B-roll from the sideline, and then we were escorted up to the private suite area where all of the food was on display. We were instructed to wait until every reporter — there were hundreds in attendance, I gather — had a chance to get photos and videos of the food on display. The menu for Sunday's game is significant and full of local flavor. Sodexo Live!, the longtime hospitality partner of the Superdome, has a huge staff of talented chefs — led by executive chef Lenny Martinsen — who helped to cultivate the cuisine that will be available at the game. Interestingly, Rams legend and New Orleans native Marshall Faulk (recently hired by the University of Colorado's Deion Sanders to be a position coach) was involved as the 'official flavor officer' for the game. Fun backstory: Faulk actually worked as a popcorn vendor at the stadium in his youth. He worked with Sodexo Live's culinary team to help curate and taste test the menu for the game. Some fast facts about what's being served (before I get into what really matters — how everything tastes): • 5,000-plus alligator sausages are expected to be sold on Sunday, as well as… • $6,500-plus pounds of shrimp just for po boys • 50,000-plus legally sourced baguettes • 150,000 nacho chips to be eaten • Half a ton of soft shell crabs will be cooked up • 12,000-plus local oysters were purchased • 50,000-plus cocktails will be stirred and served • 1.3 tons of short ribs prepped • 700,000-plus ounces of beer will be served Advertisement One piece of information they conveniently forgot to provide: How much each dish will cost. I don't endorse spending too much money at the game if you've already spent an arm and a leg on game tickets and getting here. Before I rank everything I tried on Monday, a couple notes: 1) Three signature alcoholic drinks were sampled, including a loaded spicy bloody mary, with vodka, bloody mary mix, olives, pepperoncini, spicy green beans, cheese, celery, bacon and spicy okra; 'Voodo Magic', with Don Juliio tequila, lime juice, jalapeno syrup, mango puree and 'black magic seasoning; and the 'Royal Carnival Queen', which had Crown Royal Apple, blackberry liquor, lemon juice and prosecco. All three will be available on Sunday, but I did not imbibe so I won't be reviewing those. 2) I did not get around to trying the Lobster Karaage sandwich but it did look delightful. Without further adieu, my rankings of all of the dishes, most of which will be available to everyone in attendance, though a few will only be available to those lucky enough to watch from a suite. 10. The Big Easy Hen of the Woods Bahn Mi What's in it: Beer battered hen of the woods, mushrooms, pickled veggies, cucumber, mushroom duxelle, remoulade, served on a french baguette Review: I took one bite of this and promptly threw it in the trash. I like bahn mi, and I love mushrooms, but something was just off about the flavors and consistency in this sandwich. It is a vegetarian option but I wouldn't spend money on this one. 9. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo What's in it: andouille sausage, chicken thigh meat, veggies, white rice Review: I ate a lot of gumbo in New Orleans this week. This would rank at the bottom of the list, frankly. It wasn't very well seasoned. 8. Softshell Crab Po' Boy What's in it: Whole soft-shell crab battered and fried, Frito Lay special spread, tomatoes, lettuce on soft french bread Review: I had very high hopes for this — especially after seeing the size of the crabs they were stuffing into these sandwiches. I admittedly didn't read what was in the sandwich other than the crab before biting into it — but I found the 'Frito Lay Special Spread' to be jarring. It didn't work, for me, with the crab — it kind of tasted like peanut butter. Swap out the frito sauce for something more traditional and it probably improves, though I'd expect this to be an expensive bite to eat at the stadium. Advertisement 7. Assorted Sushi Review: The sushi provided was courtesy of a local spot called Rock n' Sake, an establishment I've frequented many times over the years when visiting New Orleans. I only had a couple sushi rolls and they were somewhat underwhelming compared to eating at the actual restaurant. There was a salmon roll with a crab salad mixed in that overpowered the salmon. The shrimp tempura role with cream cheese and tuna on top was a little better. The sushi is only available to the fancy folks watching the game from suites anyway. 6. Seafood Nachos What's in it: Cajun blackened shrimp, nacho cheese sauce with crawfiish, homemade guac, fresh cilantro and pico de gallo on tortilla chips Review: I had high hopes for these (put crawfish on or in anything and I'm game) but they were a little disappointing. Not bad, just didn't meet expectations. I would've loved more crawfish in the queso — which had some kick — and the shrimp was fine. Good, not great — but hard to go wrong with nachos at a sporting event. 5. King Cake Review: I have a sweet tooth. It is a problem, so much so that my fiancée instructed me to make eating fewer sweets my New Year's resolution. It has been hard — but I have been (mostly) good so far. Let me tell you, looking at this table full of sweets (they called it a 'dessert charcuterie,' fancy), it was challenging to hold back. I compromised by getting a bite of a New Orleans staple (that I have a hard time turning down when it's in front of me anytime I come out to this beautiful city): King Cake. There were no tiny baby figurines in my slice (look it up, it's part of the tradition) but the cake was delightful. In my experience, it's hard to mess up King Cake. If you don't live in New Orleans, I recommend finding some online and ordering it wherever you are. It's worth it. Do it. Now. 4. Carved Tomahawk What's in it: Pan seared bone in prime ribeye, peppercorn demi, caramelized shallot butter Review: It would be difficult to mess up a tomahawk steak (unless you overcook it, I suppose). This was cooked perfectly to my liking (medium rare) and was buttery and delicious, topped with a roasted potato and string of asparagus. The one criticism: by the time it was served, the steak had already turned a bit too lukewarm for my liking. 3. Surf N Turf Po' Boy What's in it: Nine-hour smoked short rib with pull bone, five colossal shrimp, mornay sauce, remoulade sauce, dressed with tomatoes and lettuce on soft french bread Review: This was a pleasant surprise, and had flavors I didn't expect when I bit into it. I would describe it as a cheesesteak-esque with shrimp mixed in for an interesting texture. The mornay cheese sauce was perfection. (No, Philly folks, it's not better than the cheesesteak you can get back home. It's only different. Though it might be better than Pat's or Geno's, both overrated.) Advertisement 2. Fried Oyster Po' Boy What's in it: cornflake crusted fried oysters, thick-cut brown sugar glazed bacon, spicy mayo, tomatoes, lettuce, topped with chicharron and chive crumble on soft french bread Review: This was fantastic. If I hadn't eaten so much, I might've gone in for seconds. The oysters were coated in corn flakes (always a good call when frying up fish or meat), and the crunch chicharron was a nice touch, but the thick cut bacon was the star of the show. The flavors from it emanated through the sandwich and complemented everything else perfectly. 1. Alligator Sausage What's in it: Traditional New Orleans alligator sausage topped with crawfish etouffee on soft french bread served with chips Review: At one point, the lovely people running this event asked everyone to turn their attention to the front of the room to listen to their comments about their team and putting the event together. While all the other suckers diverted their attention, I made sure to get in line at the alligator sausage station — both because I'm obsessed with alligator sausage and because the sous chef at the station insisted the line was going to get very long, very fast. I'm glad I did it; it was amazing, one of the best bites of food I had anywhere, all weekend. The sausage was thick and the chef lathered each one to order with crawfish etouffee — a creole/cajun staple that typically consists of some sort of shellfish mixed into a thick, luscious sauce. It was messy (some of the sauce spilled onto my notebook) but worth it. The gator sausage tasted a bit like a spicy brat. Whether you get a gator sausage at the game or elsewhere in town (I recommend the gator po' boy at Cooter Brown's), try it the next time you come to New Orleans. (Top photo of fried oyster po' boy: Zack Rosenblatt / The Athletic)
