Michael Ventre

The Superdome was packed Monday as the Saints hosted the Atlanta Falcons. It will also be filled for all games in the foreseeable future, because it was announced Wednesday that the franchise has sold out the entire regular-season home schedule to season ticket holders.

That is cause for celebration.

The Superdome also was packed just over a year ago, but for a far different reason. Hurricane Katrina and the resulting floods displaced thousands of residents in the New Orleans area. Suddenly, the Superdome became a symbol for despair and hopelessness.

That is cause for reflection.

It’s easy to say that the Superdome’s personality makeover in one year represents a triumph of the human spirit. And maybe it does. But it also indicates how the populace desperately clings to normalcy at a time of chaos. The Saints are as important to the city of New Orleans as eateries like Antoine’s or the Commander’s Palace. They make people feel at home.

Monday night’s game also presents a new wrinkle about the Saints: They’re pretty good. They’re not Super Bowl good, but it’s safe to say that the reason the New Orleans faithful has been so tough and resilient throughout the disaster that engulfed its city is because it had to watch the Saints all these years. Therefore, any progress report that does not involve the word “winless” is welcome.

The Saints are 3-0 so far, with mildly impressive victories over Cleveland and Green Bay and a sound thumping of Falcons. It’s unclear whether the Saints are serious playoff contenders or just a team improving in small increments, with an eye toward better things later.

But they are back, in the Superdome, with a new quarterback in Drew Brees and a new coach in Sean Payton.

And they do have Reggie Bush.

Don’t underestimate the power of one man to make a difference. Since the Houston Texans chose Mario Williams over Bush with the No. 1 overall pick, the Saints have enjoyed a blast of energy and enthusiasm from everyone in their sphere. Bush brought electricity to a city that had gone without — and that had nothing to do with Katrina. The Saints were just lifeless.

Special feature Our top players at each position

Under owner Tom Benson, the Saints became known for every negative aspect of the modern professional sports franchise. They weren’t successful on the field. They weren’t happy with their accommodations. They were faceless. They were apathetic. They were greedy. They sought a new home, and almost used a natural disaster as an excuse to emigrate to one.

But when Bush came along as the team and the city were recovering from Katrina at the same time, suddenly there was something to look forward to instead of more FEMA trailers.

Bush is a quick and spectacular position player, which is a much easier sell than a lineman. He promises glitz as well as substance. Fans are buying his jerseys like tourists buy beignets at Café Du Monde. As long as the recent revelations about alleged improper benefits accepted while at USC don’t amount to a full-blown scandal and a severe tarnishing of his image, Bush has a chance to be the second most popular Saint of all time behind Archie Manning.

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Colts won’t be down for long PFT: Colts favored to win SB 45; Saints, Chargers 2nd   Vote: Who will win Super Bowl XLV in 2011? Offseason priorities for all 32 NFL teams PFT: Shanahan reportedly might draft QB at No. 4 PFT: Steelers or Vikings vs. Saints on opening night PFT: Peppers, Panthers appear headed for divorce PFT: Martz says Cutler not ‘difficult to deal with’   PFT: Stallworth set to work out with Lions PFT: Sapp is getting, and heeding, good legal advice NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: