Darren Rizzi is a sides kind of guy.
The main course might be the star of the Thanksgiving table, but the New Orleans Saints interim head coach appreciates accoutrements. He is the type to load up his plate with all that good stuff that isn’t turkey or ham.
It’s not necessarily what’s for dinner that had Rizzi changing up the practice schedule this week, moving things up a day in order to give his players the holiday off. But he will accept payment for his actions in Thanksgiving sides.
“If you guys want to bring me some extra side dishes as a thank you, you’re welcome (to),” Rizzi said to media members, who also will benefit from his change of schedule. “You guys can do that. I like mashed potatoes and stuffing and cranberry sauce.”
Pressed further on what his actual, gotta-have-it favorite side dish is, Rizzi equivocated just a bit.
“Definitively the best side dish on Thansgiving, that’s a hard one,” Rizzi said. “I’m a mashed potatoes guy. I’m a stuffing guy. But I’m from Jersey, so stuffing with Italian sausage is kind of the staple up there.”
All of which got us wondering: What do the Saints players and coaches consider to be the No. 1 Thanksgiving side dish? So, we conducted an informal poll of the locker room, getting answers from 23 players and coaches to determine a winner.
The players have spoken: The No. 1 Thanksgiving side dish is stuffing, which pulled in more than 30% of the votes.
Interestingly enough, though several players come from the South, only one answered “dressing.” In fact, the question, “Is it stuffing or is it dressing” sparked a heated locker-room debate.
Here is the final tally, complete with one football-centric response.
Best Thanksgiving side dishes
Stuffing/dressing: 7 votes
Macaroni and cheese: 4 votes
Yams/sweet potatoes: 3 votes
Mashed potatoes: 2 votes
Half macaroni and cheese, half yams in one forkful: 2 votes
Sweet potato casserole: 2 votes
Green bean casserole: 1 vote
Soufflé: 1 vote
And, with respect for the focus on more important things, one vote for “Rams. 1-0.”