There are few more perfect combinations of character, setting and scene than Rob Ryan in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
This morning it might not be so much fun to be the Saints defensive coordinator, but it appears to have been a party worth a little pain.
According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Ryan was in his element as he led the Krewe of Argus parade yesterday.
There was a troop of Rob Ryan impersonators dancing at a previous parade, but this one had him serving as Grand Marshall, and apparently having a grand time.
He tossed “silver doubloons imprinted with his own likeness” to the crowd, and appeared to spent most of the morning eating.
After being spotted at a Jimmy John’s (Drew Brees approves) prior to the parade, he didn’t stop there.
“I saw him at the Tiffin Inn Pancake House down the street a while ago,” said Regina Ward. “And man, he was really putting it away! I’ve never seen a person eat that much.”
Along the route, another fan jogged alongside the float and offered Ryan a Krispy Kreme doughnut, which he happily accepted.
Reports of other refreshments were not as detailed, though perhaps inevitable.
If you’re going to head into Ash Wednesday anyway, you might as well do it in style.