NEW ORLEANS — Foster Moreau literally couldn’t move.
You could look at the scene of him, head in hand, teammates gathering around him, offering comfort and think about a Shakespearean tragedy type of scenario.
Hometown hero. Jesuit High grad and state champion; a former LSU football player now living a dream by playing for his hometown NFL team. In front of, as he said it, every person he’s ever known, he had a chance to be the game’s hero. Instead, many in the national media and on social media gave him goat horns after dropping a sure TD with just seconds to go that likely would have tied the game and perhaps led to a win if the Saints went for two.
But dropping a pass isn’t a tragedy. Tragedy is being diagnosed with cancer in the offseason during a routine physical with the team’s doctors.
That’s what Foster Moreau endured this offseason. Anyone who has had cancer or has had that scare, knows the feeling. Your world stops. Your mind races.
Moreau was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer with a pretty good survival rate if detected and treated early. He was in remission four months later and he signed a three-year, multimillion dollar contract with the Saints.
Life was good for Foster Moreau, and teammates noticed.
“That man is literally the glue that holds the offense together,” said offensive lineman Erik McCoy. “Constant positivity. Constant encouragement. Constant coming up to everyone like, “yo guys, we got this.” We’re down 24-9 and guys, you’ve got to believe.” I have the utmost respect for the guy.”
For Moreau life couldn’t get much better.
Then Thursday night. In prime time. Even on the much-maligned Thursday night stage, prime time means you are that night’s only football game and the world, your fans, all of the other players in the NFL and every yahoo with a social media account is watching. Every good play is raised to “viral” status, as is every goof up. (Tip for Moreau and his fans and family, don't search his name on Twitter, I mean "X").
In front of that audience, with the game on the line, Moreau was basically unguarded in the end zone with his team trailing by 7 points. A ball was lofted by Quarterback Derek Carr. It was an imperfect throw, but easily catchable ball. It wasn’t like he was being asked to make The Catch.
Foster dropped it. Yes, the Saints had four downs, but none was nearly as perfectly drawn up and wide open as his play.
“Of course he should have caught it,” said Alvin Kamara, who made a special effort after the game to find Moreau on the bench and escort him to the locker room. “He knows he should have caught it. Anybody in that position should have caught it. We’re pros. But Foster, man. If there’s anybody out there that cares, that’s uplifting teammates… it’s him. So I’m not worried about that.”
“It’s tough,” said Moreau to reporters, including the Associated Press’ Brett Martel after the game. “In front of every man, woman and child I’ve ever known. It’s a dark place to be. It’s the National Football League. It doesn’t come down to one play, but it comes down to one play.”
A Shakespearean tragedy-type of play, but not one that will define Moreau’s life. His supportive teammates will see to that. In fact, they already have.