WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Bubba Watson’s big chance to realize his fantasy as a die-hard New Orleans Saints floated towards him near the end of Friday’s opening practice.
And then the colorful golfer famous for his monster drives off the tee, whiffed, dropping an easy bootleg pass lofted by quarterback Drew Brees.
Because there are no mulligans in football, Watson is going to have to live with his disappointment. Unless coach Sean Payton gives the Greenbrier Resort resident another chance to redeem himself during the Saints’ three-week stay here.
Did Bubba choke?
“No, I just don’t think we best utilized his skillset,” Brees said, tongue-in-cheek. “We just need to come up with a better route for him.’’
Payton had the two-time Masters champion and lifelong Saints fan who grew up near Pensacola, Fla. address the team during Thursday’s meeting following conditioning drills.
No word if Watson headed to the range to work on his hands.
“He is blaming me,’’ Brees kidded. “He said I underthrew him. He was a stationary target. I didn’t want to overthrow him.
“I thought it was something he could come back and I say, ‘Hey, right now. And the receiver has to come back to the ball.
“I am going to have to get him off the course this afternoon, maybe over here for some for some extra reps when you guys leave so he doesn’t get nervous and see if we can work on that.
“And maybe we will get a big touchdown reception before he has to leave here.”
