With a storm named Gustav gaining strength as it embarks on a trip across the Gulf of Mexico and, possibly, an unscheduled visit to Bourbon Street, there’s talk about whether the Saints will be able to host the Buccaneers on September 7 at the Superdome.

Our pal Todd Wright of Sporting News Radio tells us of scuttlebutt that the game could be moved to Tampa, with the Saints hosting the rematch on November 30.

Whether the Saints would be hosting that game in New Orleans or Baton Rouge or San Antonio or somewhere else remains to be seen.

It’s not too early to begin pondering the possibilities, in the event that New Orleans takes its second direct hit in three years from a major hurricane.  Apart from whether the City would be able to play host to pro football a week from tomorrow, the broader question is whether, in the aftermath of Gustav, any football can be played there in 2008.

The Bucs could object to a flip-flop of the home-and-home series, given that a switcheroo would give them four straight road games in late November and early December.  Still, we doubt that anyone will shed tears for Tampa’s tribulations in this regard, given that they’ll at least still have a town in which to play their home games and a building in which to do it.  The Saints are facing their second 16-game all-road schedule in four seasons.

It’s also not too early to begin pondering whether another nightmare in New Orleans will be enough to prompt the NFL to pull up the stakes and move the franchise to another town. 

After Katrina, such a possibility was rejected as heartless; after Gustav, it might be the only prudent option.