The return of the New Orleans Saints to Louisiana is something that I thought to have been nothing more than an emotional homecoming to a city in dire need of a hero. I never would have guessed that the Saints would actually do more than be a kickstand for people's lives.

In the wake of the destructive Hurricane Katrina, the citizens of New Orleans have had little to look forward to. I know as well as any football fan knows that the Saints do not have a history of success on the gridiron. In fact, over the past few years this team has been one of the bottom feeders of the National Football League.

This year has been different, to say the least. Not only have the Saints returned to their long lost home in the Louisiana Superdome, this team is doing something that football fans have not seen for quite some time.

They are winning.

If winning is not enough, the Saints are even a half game ahead of the Falcons in first place of the mighty tough NFC South division.

In a place where all seemed lost, the New Orleans Saints are breathing life back into the heart of a city that had no pulse. Neither can this team rebuild the city, nor can they bring back to life all those people who were lost in the tragedy of Katrina. The Saints are simply restoring hope back into the hearts of the people who were affected the most the day that the levees broke. New Orleans will always be affected by Hurricane Katrina. But no matter what they achieve this season, New Orleans will always be grateful to the Saints for finally coming back home.