Verizon’s newest commercial features New Orleans Saints’ backup quarterback Luke McCown in full uniform as he looks at a Verizon cell tower with a gen set on an elevated platform, as he states, “Verizon has backup generators for most of their towers, so they’re ready if the power ever goes down.”
He then salutes the cell tower with his helmet and questions, “I wonder why they save those backups, and not just put them in the regular rotation?” — a humbling statement from the 12-season NFL veteran with only nine previous NFL starts.
With spaghetti Western music in the background, McCown says, “I bet if they just had the chance, some of those backups would really shine.”
On Friday, the Saints’ head coach, Sean Payton, announced that starting quarterback Drew Brees would miss the first game of his 15 year career and that McCown was getting what he wished for, by starting today against the Carolina Panthers over rookie Garrett Grayson.
Although McCown didn’t shine, and the Saints lost a game they desperately needed to win as they’re now 0 for 3, McCown proved to be an adequate substitute for Brees and caused additional buzz regarding his Verizon advertisement.
In his first start as a Saint, McCown completed 30-of-37 passes for 287 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
The 34-year-old, 12-season NFL veteran had only nine previous NFL starts.
This is the third time in the Payton era that the Saints have started 0-3, and the first time since 2012, when Payton was suspended for the season because he allegedly paid “bounties” to his players for contact that would “knock out” targeted players on opposing teams.
Payton is slated to provide a motivational address during the National Association of Tower Erectors’ keynote luncheon at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans on Wed., February 24, 2016 during the Association’s annual conference and exhibition.
It’s doubtful that he’ll guide contractors with ways in which to knock out their competitors.
Although New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton put Luke McCown on the starting bench today, the Saints lost to the Carolina Panthers 22 to 27, but it’s getting increased attention to Verizon’s advertisement that has him sitting on an elevated base station frame.
