NFL 2007: After unprecedented 2006, increased expectations will test Saints' fortitude

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie live here now. John Goodman has for years. So has celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.

But what really causes a stir in these parts is the sighting of a successful Saints coach. And right now, that's Sean Payton.

"Sometimes things happen that are awkward or humbling," Payton said, recalling the buzz his presence caused during country star Pat Green's concert at the French Quarter House of Blues last year.

"Here's a guy that I think a lot of, who's a fantastic musician, and all of a sudden the attention shifts off the artist to someone in the audience," Payton said. "I know Pat pretty well and it's somewhat embarrassing. I remember him saying later on, 'That's the first time that's ever happened to me.' All of a sudden, you recognize that this is something that's so important to these people."

When Payton first took over the Saints, the playoffs seemed like a far-fetched dream. Now, the reigning NFL coach of the year can't go anywhere, from downtown to a beach two hours away, without hearing the words "Super Bowl" uttered by hopeful fans.

"They're genuinely excited about it," Payton said. "I take it as encouragement ... the expectations being high is healthy."

The Saints, woeful for most of their four decades in the NFL, reached their first NFC championship game last season. A loss to the Chicago Bears left them one victory shy of giving a football crazy city its first chance to see its team in the Super Bowl.

In the context of New Orleans' recovery from Hurricane Katrina, the improvement from 3-13 in 2005 to 10-6 and a playoff berth in 2006 made for a storybook season.

But such a turnaround on the field was not unprecedented - not even in New Orleans.

In 2000, then-rookie coach Jim Haslett took over a Saints team that had gone 3-13 in 1999. He went 10-6 before leading the franchise to its first-ever playoff victory. Like Payton, Haslett was voted coach of the year.

But Haslett's Saints languished in mediocrity during the next several seasons, narrowly missing the postseason several times, They fell apart two seasons ago, when they were displaced to San Antonio by Katrina, then plagued by injuries to key players and eroding morale.

Payton said recently he was unaware of the striking similarities between his and Haslett's first seasons with the Saints. Moreover, he didn't care.

"I could look at it and study the press guide and study the records and none of that matters to us, really," Payton said. "What matters to us is this season, 2007, where we're at and are we getting better? That's really what matters to us and the rest of that's history."