Ellington

The Saints' first trip to the Super Bowl may be the sports feel-good story of the century (so far), but the NFL is always about the bottom line. Recently, the league sent cease-and-desist to letters of "Who Dat" merchandise. The league claimed ownership of the "Who Dat" trademark. The letters also appeared to claim that the NFL owns the fleur-de-lis logo.

The NFL, after receiving complaints from Louisiana's Legislature, appears to have backed off slightly, calling the matter "a significant misunderstanding." The NFL says it doesn't claim ownership of "Who Dat" except when it refers to the Saints. (What else would it refer to?)

That's a heart-warming statement by the NFL. The problem is that one of the league's letters went to a shop selling a "Who Dat" shirt that uses a fleur-de-lis logo unlike the one owned by the Saints. The NFL needs to get a lawyer to check its lawyers' letters.

I think the NFL would have a tough time winning a "Who Dat" case in court, especially if that court was in Louisiana.

Doctor S left the JFP penthouse long enough to attend last weekend's JFP Best of Jackson party. (The Doctor was the guy wearing shoes.) He heard JFP publisher Todd Stauffer say "Who Dat" at the end of the Bayou Connection's performance of "When the Saints Go Marching In." Stauffer was wearing black when he said it, too.

Todd, you will be hearing from the NFL's lawyers.