Holiday respects Philadelphia fans

NEW ORLEANS - With the Saints preparing for Saturday's wild-card game with the Eagles, the New Orleans news media are trying to get a handle on what it will be like to visit Lincoln Financial Field.

New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday, who spent the previous four seasons with the 76ers, was asked earlier this week his opinion of the rabid Philadelphia fans.

"The city will embrace you if you play hard," Holiday said. "If you try to mess with the game and kind of go through the motions, that is not the right way to play. Every time I stepped on the floor and tried to play as hard as I can, and I think they respected that."

Holiday said he has been to the Linc to see the Eagles play, recalling when he saw Donovan McNabb return for his first game against his former team. McNabb and the Washington Redskins won, 17-12, on Oct. 3, 2010.

"It's crazy and it's cold there," Holiday said. "I went to the game [when] McNabb first came back and they cheered him, but when he started playing they booed him."

When asked what it would be like for the Saints, Holiday smiled.

"It's going to be fun for the Saints," he said. "I guess in basketball, they talk about the sixth man, and [the fans] will be the sixth man. They are very vocal."

- Marc Narducci