Falcons punter Michael Koenen remembers Saints' blocked punt from other side of history (1 Viewer)

[Dan in Lafayette]

<img src="http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/44/73/saints-statue-092416-getty-ftr_16n21viz6358a1ixgjoaul7eer.jpg?t=1518360271" width="650" /img>

Falcons punter Michael Koenen remembers Saints' blocked punt from other side of history

By Alex Marvez -- Sporting News


One of the most unforgettable moments in Saints history will again be celebrated Monday when the Falcons visit for a Week 3 rematch of their now-mythical 2006 Monday Night Football matchup.

In that game (New Orleans' first at home since Hurricane Katrina the year prior), Saints safety Steve Gleason blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown: That play provided the spark for a Saints victory, and served as a symbol of the franchise&#8217;s return to New Orleans as well as the resiliency of the Gulf Coast area. It has been immortalized in front of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with a sculpture and plaque titled, &#8220;Rebirth.&#8221;

Little did Michael Koenen know at the time that he too would be forever remembered in Saints lore.

The former Falcons punter is the other player featured in the nine-foot statue, bronzed with his right leg extended as Gleason deflects the football. Koenen still has a vivid recollection of what happened, even a decade later.

&#8220;Gleason got through the middle untouched and I hurried,&#8221; Koenen told Sporting News in a telephone interview Friday. &#8220;I actually didn&#8217;t see him beforehand because I don&#8217;t pay that much attention to the rush. But the next thing I know he blocked it.

MORE -- Sporting News

 

[Swamprat]

Does Atlanta have statues of any of their players outside their stadium?

I'd bust a knowing smile if they didn't, because we've got it covered..

 

[PayOrPlay]

Thanks for the story: Koenen's perspective hasn't been told often so it's interesting to get the comments he shared here, brief though they are. That's a tough break he had with his digestive issues, and hopefully he has overcome them.

 

[bclemms]

You know the Saints had to really get a good laugh when the designing of that statue involved literally having a Falcons player in it.

 

[ndcc]

The tribute; the man:

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[JBryan314]

Colitis sucks. I work on a hospital floor that has patients with colitis coming through frequently. It's not on the level of ALS, but it can be debilitating.

 

[saintmdterps]

Colitis sucks. I work on a hospital floor that has patients with colitis coming through frequently. It's not on the level of ALS, but it can be debilitating.

Looks like he had C-diff which is caused by overuse of antibiotics, so I wonder if he was given an extended course of antibiotics for his original diagnosis?

Koenen seems pretty cool. I hope he recovers and lives a long and healthy life.

Along the lines of being immortalized in the ballpark of the opponent, the Baltimore Orioles put a bronze plaque in Eutaw street to commemorate any home run hit out of the park over the right-field fence. A light-hitting Seattle Mariners player, when told of the honor after he hit a 450-foot shot "Really?? That's pretty cool. I can tell you there aren't many places putting up a plaque in may honor, so I'm going to have to bring my family here to see it"