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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Only a Super Bowl victory parade could upstage Mardi Gras.
Carnival floats carrying Saints players, coaches and team owner Tom Benson rolled past tens of thousands of jubilant fans in downtown New Orleans on Tuesday, two days after the franchise won its first NFL championship.
Players, wearing team jerseys instead of traditional Carnival masks and costumes, tossed beads into the crowd and signed autographs for throngs of screaming fans. Benson shouted “Who Dat!” into a microphone from his perch atop a float.
Coach Sean Payton blew kisses and held the Lombardi Trophy over his head. “Here's to the best Mardi Gras week in the history of this city,” Payton said, raising a glass of champagne.
The parade, a week before the city's Fat Tuesday celebration, started outside the Saints' home turf at the Louisiana Superdome. Black, gold and white confetti floated over the crowd.
The floats stopped at a reviewing stand so elected officials, including Mayor Ray Nagin, Sen. Mary Landrieu and Gov. Bobby Jindal, could toast the team's 31-17 win over Indianapolis.
“How's the ‘Who Dat' nation feel tonight?” Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees yelled when his float stopped at the reviewing stand. “This toast goes out to you.”
Ten Carnival krewes lent floats for the team to ride. More than a dozen marching bands joined the team on its route, which passed by the edge of the French Quarter and ended at the city's convention center. A crowd estimate wasn't available, but many fans said the gathering seemed larger than any during Mardi Gras.
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