The New Orleans Saints hosted a Pros vs. G.I. Joes gaming event Tuesday, Nov. 3.  Saints players Cameron Jordan, Garrett Grayson and Willie Snead joined local cadets from the New Orleans Military Maritime Academy in playing Madden. 

The Xbox One gaming systems and Madden 16 were provided by Microsoft at Lakeside Mall. 

In additon to spending time talking and playing with and against military members, Jordan, Grayson and Snead also took photos and signed autographs. 

"Kids look up to us nowadays and we just want to set a good example and show them that we do care about the community and want to help them in any way that we can," Snead said. "This was a great event to do just to show the kids that we do care and that we care about how they feel towards us and that we care about them. At the end of the day, it was a great event and hopefully the kids enjoyed it like we did."

Greg Zinone, Founder of Pros vs. G.I. Joes, was in attendance to set up the games and ensure the event ran smoothly.

"We pit athletes against troops all over the world. We've been working with the Saints for the past eight years," Zinone said. "We normally connect with troops in Afghanistan but today we decided to give a special experience to local Marines. The thing with Pros vs. G.I. Joes, you can be the biggest professional athlete or the highest ranking military official, but when you walk through this door, you strip your jersey and rank so they're on an even playing ground and you're just sitting down and having fun."

Pros vs. G.I. Joes is a nonprofit organization that connects professional atheletes to play video games with troops deployed overseas. Using technology, athletes and troops are connected live via Internet and webcam through a unique relationship with the USO.