Many people are making fun of the New Orleans NBA team for the notion they’re going to change their nickname from the borrowed-from-Charlotte Hornets moniker to the Pelicans.
But at least one of the Saints is smart enough to not make too much fun, given the joint ownership of the NFL and NBA franchises.
“For one, because my boss is that boss [owner Tom Benson],” Saints tackle Zach Strief said, via Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “So I’m not lost in the fact that if Mr. Benson likes that name, I’m all for it.”
Other locally pertinent names such as Brass and Krewe were suggested, and Roman Harper thought Sauce might be a good name for a team.
Others had ideas of varying degrees of logic and marketability, such as Curtis Lofton’s joke about “Nutria Rats,” which is apparently a small fur-bearing critter that lives in swamps.
“You want something tough,” Lofton said. “That [Pelicans] doesn’t sound too tough.”
“If it’s up to me, I’d probably keep it simple, keep it sweet. Probably like the Sabertooths or something,” defensive end Cam Jordan said. “It doesn’t matter [that it doesn’t have any ties to New Orleans]. It sounds awesome. Maybe the Dragons. I’m voting for something like a monster.”
“I definitely think it should be something unique to New Orleans and the state of Louisiana,” guard Jahri Evans said. “But I think Pelicans is going to take a while.”
Maybe it will grow on us. But I agree that something simple might be better.
Even if Sabertooths is taken (crosses fingers).