by Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com

Thursday, August 07, 2008 – 10:45 PM

Glendale, Ariz.– The New Orleans Saints opened their 2008 pre-season in impressive fashion, as they traveled on the road and defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 24-10.

The Saints commenced their 2008 season in impressive fashion, taking the opening kickoff and then proceeding on a flawless eight-play drive that gave them a 7-0 lead.

David Patten pulls in a TD catch

The Cardinals tied the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter after RB Tim Hightower scored on a one-yard run and added a 30-yard field goal midway through the second quarter by Neil Rackers to stake a 10-7 lead but the Saints responded with a touchdown on their opening drive of the second half to regain the lead at 14-10, and then added a late third quarter field goal by rookie Taylor Mehlhaff to widen the margin to 17-10. WR Robert Meachem then caught a pass across the middle of the field and broke three tackles en route to a 60-yard TD that gave the Saints a 24-10 lead in the fourth quarter.

The Saints began their 2008 pre-season by accepting the opening kickoff and starting at their own 20 were crisp on their initial drive, as Drew Brees went a perfect six-for-seven passing on the drive for 35 yards, including a perfectly thrown pass on third-and-goal from the Cardinals’ 7 yard-line to David Patten.

The drive covered 80 yards in 13 plays and wiped off 6:45 in time of possession. The Saints were beneficiaries of three Cardinals penalties, including a 15-yard facemask call on Darnell Dockett when he tackled Lance Moore by the facemask on the Saints’ first play from scrimmage. On the drive the Saints passed seven times and ran it six times and were only confronted with two third down opportunities, both of which they converted.

“We were efficient, and we took what they gave us. Our guys made plays when they were there, and we handled their pressure. There were no big plays, we just ground it out, but it felt sharp, a 12-play drive. That’s what you look for on the first drive of the preseason. You want to be sharp, move the ball, make completions and score points. We accomplished those things.”

“You can’t ask for more than how the offense did the first time we had the ball considering it was the first drive of the preseason,” said Reggie Bush. “The Cardinals were doing a good job stopping the run early, but we moved the ball, and later I felt like things were starting to open up. We were starting to get better looks for the run, it felt like if we had kept going the whole game we would have gotten the running game going. That first drive gives us something to build on.”

Brees keeps his eye on the ball

The Cardinals converted their third down, as well, as Matt Leinart connected with WR Jamaica Rector for a 23-yard gain on a third-and-eight on the Cardinals’ opening series. Two plays later, LB Mark Simoneau sacked Leinart for a four-yard loss on a second down and the Saints’ held the home team to a short completion on third down and forced the Cardinals to punt. The third down pass was completed to TE Jerheme Urban, but Simoneau and S Roman Harper stopped him three-yards shy of the first down.

“The good news, I thought that came out of tonight’s game was that we were able to get everyone in the game and work against someone other than ourselves,” said Head Coach Sean Payton.  “There are some things that bothered me and that we need to get corrected, but we still have a lot of training camp left to get them polished up and continue to improve. It was a good first step and I was pleased with the effort from our players.”

QB Mark Brunell then came on and started the Saints’ second drive at the Saints’ 25. After a one-yard gain by Reggie Bush, the third-year back made a spinning run to the outside for a gain of 11 yards, but the Saints suffered their first infraction of the game when Billy Miller was called for holding. On third down, Bush ripped off a 19-yard gain and appeared to pick up the first down, but Lance Moore was flagged for holding, as well, and Brunell threw the ball away on third down and Steve Weatherford came in and punted the Saints out of danger with a 51-yard punt.

Arizona began their second drive at their own 37 yard-line with 1:08 left in the first quarter. J.J. Arrington dropped Leinart’s first down pass before the two picked up five yards on a short dump pass on the next play. Leinart then hit a crossing Steve Breaston for 34 yards and a first down after catching a crossing route and finding running room in the secondary before Harper dragged him down at the Saints’ 24. RB Tim Hightower then picked up six yards on a handoff and Leinart then hit Larry Fitzgerald for a six-yard gain and a first down. Hightower then was stopped by Scott Shanle after a one-yard gain. After a false start penalty, Leinart hit FB Terrelle Smith for a 15-yard gain to the Saints’ one yard-line and on the next play, Hightower ran in over the right side for a touchdown.

RB Pierre Thomas ripped off a 58-yard kickoff return to the Cardinals’ 41 and the Saints’ second-team offense took to the field with the team’s best starting field position of the night.

Brunell hit Mark Campbell with a quick pass but the play lost a yard and then Aaron Stecker tried the left side of the line for a two-yard gain. On third down Brunell gunned a pass into the midsection for a gain of 8 and the Saints went for it on 4th down, but DE Kenny Iwebema dropped Brunell for an eight-yard loss.

The Cardinals then took over at their own 41 yard-line and marched 47 yards in 13 plays and settled for 30-yard field goal by veteran Neil Rackers with 6:38 remaining in the first half, which gave the Cardinals a 10-7 lead.

Brunell then started his third drive and opened it up with a 15-yard completion to Campbell. Brunell then hit rookie WR Adrian Arrington for 13-yards and another first down before Thomas tied the left side of the offensive line for no gain. Another short run brought up a third-and-10 and Brunell fired a 49-yard pass to a diving Robert Meachem at the Cardinals’ 3 yard-line. On the longest play of the game thus far, Meachem got behind the safety and fully extended and made a finger tip grab. Thomas then picked up 2 yards on an inside handoff, Brunell and Terrance Copper couldn’t connect on a second down pass and FB Kevin Dudley was called for an illegal procedure penalty that pushed the ball backwards five yards. On third-and-goal from the six, Brunell hit Thomas for a five yard gain.

Head Coach Sean Payton challenged the spot on the field, contending that Thomas was able to get the ball across the goal line. After the officials’ review, the ball was spotted at inside the one-yard line and the Saints were confronted with their second fourth down of the game in Cardinals’ territory. On fourth down Thomas was hit in the backfield by LB Ali Highsmith and S Aaron Francisco for no gain.

The Cardinals then used short passes to work their way towards midfield with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. The Cardinals used their last timeout with :07 left with the ball at the 50, but DT Orien Harris sacked QB Brian St. Pierre for a six yard loss on the final play of the half.

Arizona began the second half at their own 33 and picked up six yards on a J.J. Arrington run. The Saints then stopped the Cardinals from picking up any additional yards, as Orien Harris made a key stop from his defensive tackle position by getting out and tracking down a short pass in the flat on third down.

Brunell started the Saints at their own 24 and Aaron Stecker bolted up the middle for 19-yard gain to the 43. Stecker then ran off the left side for six more yards before Brunell hit Meachem for 12 yards and a first down as the Saints moved in Cardinals’ territory. Billy Miller then hauled in a Brunell short pass for three yards and Stecker picked up six yards behind a big block from G Andy Alleman. On third down and one, Thomas ran behind fight guard for a gain of three yards. Brunell then threaded a pass into traffic to Mark Campbell, who hung on despite taking a big hit from rookie Dominique Rodgers-Crommartie at the Cardinals’ 13 for a gain of 14 yards. Stecker then pounded up the middle for nine yards to the Arizona 3. Then picked up another yard on second and one for the first down. Two more one-yard gains put the Saints inside the one on third-and-goal before Stecker leaped into the end zone for the go-ahead score. K Taylor Mehlhaff kicked the extra point to conclude the 12-play, 76-yard drive in 6:37.

CB Aaron Glenn, who had a big day a week ago in the Saints’ scrimmage, thwarted the Cardinals’ next drive with a pass defensed on a third-and-two on a pass intended for Jamaica Rector that resulted in a Cardinals’ punt that Skyler Green returned for 15 yards to the Saints’ 30.

Tyler Palko came in to handle the reigns of the Saints’ offense with just over 5 minutes left in the third stanza. Palko hit Thomas out of the backfield for a gain of 15 yards on second down and on the ensuing play Palko was the victim of a personal foul hit to the head. Palko then fired a 33-yard pass to Adrian Arrington to the Cardinals’ 7. Thomas then picked up one-yard but Palko was sacked during an all-out blitz for 10 yards. One play later Mehlhaff smacked a 33-yard field goal, his first attempt at a field goal as a professional, through the uprights that gave the Saints a 17-10 lead with 1:46 remaining in the third quarter. The Saints had driven the football 55 yards in seven plays in 3:18.

The Saints once again stopped the Cardinals with key coverage turned in by Jason Craft and a nice third-down tackle by Glenn that forced a punt that went into the end zone for a touchback.

Palko’s first three passes were incomplete and the Saints were forced to punt for just their second time, this time as rookie free agent Waylon Prather, who hammered a high and booming 50-yard punt that S Chris Reis took advantage of his a hard hit on return man Antrel Rolle after a seven-yard return to the Cardinals’ 27.

The Saints’ defense once again pitched a three-and-out and the Cardinals’ were forced to punt and veteran Dirk Johnson hit a twisting 32-yard punt that bounded out of bounds at the Saints’ 36.

The Saints turned in a highlight play of the night when Palko fired a third-and-six pass to Robert Meachem for a 60-yard TD. On the play, Meachem broke at least three tackles and showed great open field vision and used his blockers, including RB Lynell Hamilton, effectively. The 60-yard reception sent Meachem over the 100-yard mark on the night (4-129).

“I have waited an entire year for a night like this,” said Meachem.  “My coaches told me to just keep working hard and not be satisfied with this and to use it as a building block.”

Meachem was greeted with a hug by Payton on the sideline after his long touchdown, and, according to Meachem, the reception by his coach felt as good as the actual touchdown play and big night.  “When your head coach does that, it is special. The support means a lot to me, it really does.  This was a great night for me, but again, it’s just the start for me.”

The Saints halted the Cardinals again and started at the Cardinals’ 40 after a personal foul penalty on the Cardinals’ punt coverage team.

One of the few gaffes the Saints committed in the second half came when Palko and reserve center Rob Hunt muffed the quarterback-center exchange that was recovered by the Cardinals at the Arizona 38. The Cardinals, though, were unable to capitalize on the lone turnover of the game and were forced by the Saints’ defense to punt.

The Saints limited the Cardinals to only 57 yards of total offense in the second half, while the Saints racked up 230 yards of offense in the second session of the game.

NewOrleansSaints.com,

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 – 8:36 PM

New Orleans Saints DT Sedrick Ellis

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

What did Coach Payton say to you as you walked on to the field?

“He just kind of took me aside and congratulated me on finishing the contract and everything – welcoming me and pretty much told me to have a good day at the start of camp.”

Did Coach Orgeron get on you for going the wrong direction in some drills?

“Coach O, he’s a little bit of screamer, so either way that I went he was going to scream – that’s just his style of coaching. I’ve had it before so I’m used to it.”

Were you able to prepare for the weather conditions you’ll be facing here?

“You can’t really prepare for the weather down here in the south, you just kind of have to come and get into it. I was training in Los Angeles, but it’s a totally different heat down there. It’ll take me a few days to get acclimated but I think I had a pretty good day.”

Was it hard to make it through practice?

“It definitely gets hard toward the end of practice. All those other guys have been in about a week now – a little more than a week – so they’re already football-ready and I have to catch up physically and mentally to the rest of the team, and that’s my goal right now.”

How tough was it to be at home when everybody else was in camp?

“That was really tough especially when you know when all your new teammates that you haven’t made an impression on yet are out working hard and you want to be a part of that, especially being a new member of the team. It definitely weighed on my mind and I kept in really good contact with my agent and with officials on the team and we got it finished.”

How much did you get involved in pushing along the process or did you remain patient?

“I think it was a little bit of both. I had to make sure my agent was doing everything possible to get me into camp and also I had to stay patient because that’s what he gets paid for – to make good deals and to deal with the team – that’s his job. So it was a mixture, a little bit of both.”

When you got out in the heat did you wish you had taken a couple days longer to get here?

“No, I’m happy to be here. I wish I could have gotten here on the first day, to be totally honest with you. You never want to miss any part of camp being a football player. I wish I could have gotten here sooner, so it was that day today.”

How far behind are you?

“I definitely feel behind. You can’t help but feel behind when everybody else has already learned plays and you’re trying to catch up. One thing I noticed about this team and the older guys, they don’t try to big-time you, they try to help you and pull you along to make this a better defense and a better team so I really am thankful to those other guys who have helped me along.”

Was Coach O giving you a lot of extra reps in individual drills?

“That’s the kind of guy Coach O is. If he feels like you need some work, he’s not going to be shy about it at all. He’s going to pull you aside when it’s supposed to be your break time, so you always want to make sure you’re in the game.”

Are you surprised it took as long as it did to finish the contract?

“I was a little surprised. I think we were a little behind from the start because we had Tracy Porter’s deal, our second round pick. There were a lot of different factors; the guys who signed before me and we just waited on those guys and they were a little late. There are a lot of different factors that factored into this whole thing. That’s just the way it goes. I regret that it took that long. I wish I could have been here on the first day, but that’s how it happened and I’m here now. I just want to take advantage of my opportunity.”

Were your teammates heckling you about money?

“They were giving me a little of tough love there, but some of those other defensive line guys aren’t too underpaid themselves.”

Have you had a meal with your teammates and have you had to sing yet?

“Oh, that’s coming. I might have to sing the fight song or something, but being a Trojan I’ve got no problem singing the fight song for those guys. I’ll sing it over and over again.”

Will you have to buy some of those meals?

“I’m going to have to buy some of those team meals. It’s part of being a rookie. I’m not one of those guys who are going to act too big. I’m a rookie and that’s my place right now. When rookies come in later on, I’ll be the guy theyll have to buy dinner for. It’s just my role right now and I’ll play along with it.”

How long were you training in Tampa?

“About a week and a half.”

Did you go there to work in humidity?

“I tried to go to a similar climate. Tampa was pretty humid and pretty hot. I think that little week helped me a lot. I definitely had to get away from California because that weather was a little too good. They just had an earthquake in California. I missed it by a couple of days.”

Did you weigh in at your target weight?

“I haven’t weighed in yet. Just about when I finished my contract it was time to suit up. When I finished signing the papers I pretty much came down and got suited up and came out to practice.”

Was the play you made with Bobby McCray at the end of practice a highlight for you?

“I think I had a couple of good plays this practice. I’m definitely a guy that likes to do a lot of line games and a lot of movement at the defensive line. I’m not the biggest of defensive linemen so I pride myself on my ability to move. I definitely like to play stunt games on the line and things like that. I just like to get in the groove with my teammates and have as much fun as possible.”

What was your relationship with Coach Orgeron before here?

“I played under him. I wasn’t one of his top players when he left. I played my freshman and sophomore year and then he went to Ole Miss.”

Has he changed since you last played for him?

“Has he changed? Not one bit.”

When did you get to Jackson? Did you do a physical today?

“I flew in this morning. I did a physical during rookie camp and things like that. So I didn’t have to do it when I got here. Just signed the papers and made everything official. I had a six o’clock in the morning flight this morning from Tampa. I’m in dire need of a nap here. But besides that, I’m pretty good.”

What is your ideal playing weight?

“I think it depends on what the team wants from me. If the team wants me to be more of a slashing, up-the-field defensive lineman, I have to be lighter maybe around 299, 300, 303 area. If they want me to be more of a nose tackle, a hole-plugger, I can get up to about 310; 315 might be pushing it.”

What do you weigh right now?

“I’m probably about 305 right now. After practice I’m about 299.”

What is the highest weight you’ve played at?

“I was around 315 or 317 one year during spring ball. It was really good for the run. I was pretty much unmovable on the run, but it took away from my quicks and I wasn’t satisfied with that.”

Do you have some family from the Jackson area?

“My mom is actually from Jackson so I do have family around here. The problem is that I don’t really know them. I’m from California and I really hadn’t been outside of California all that much before coming down here. I’ve been here for a family reunion or two, but I was really young.”

Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune July 29, 2008 7:25PM

Categories: Breaking News, Saints

JACKSON, MISS. — First-round draft pick Sedrick Ellis will join the Saints today in training camp after agreeing to a five-year contract Tuesday evening.

ELIOT KAMENITZ / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Saints first-round draft pick Sedrick Ellis, pictured at minicamp in May, will arrive at training camp in Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday.

The deal is worth a maximum value of $49 million with $19.5 million in guarantees, according to league sources. The guaranteed money is the most important figure, since the total package includes some hard-to-reach incentives. The likely value is closer to $32 million. Performance bonuses are typical of the contracts signed by the picks ahead of Ellis.

Ellis, a defensive tackle whose holdout spanned six days and 12 practices, will fly in this morning from Tampa, Fla., where he has been working out at the Athlete’s Compound, where trained for pre-draft workouts.

He will be on the field for the Saints’ only practice today, which is scheduled for 4:20 p.m.

“It’s about time, ” Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said. “It took a little longer than it should have, but it is what it is. We’re glad it’s done. We’re glad he’s in the fold. And we’ll see what kind of shape he’s in tomorrow afternoon.”

Loomis and Ellis’ agent, Eugene Parker, each declined to get into specifics of the negotiations. But they agreed that the structure of rookie deals has become more complicated in recent years — particularly now, with the possibility that NFL owners may opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, which would affect the salary cap in future years.

Ellis was one of the three first-round draft picks to agree to a contract. The remaining holdouts are No. 8 pick Derrick Harvey of the Jacksonville Jaguars and No. 9 pick Keith Rivers of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ellis was picked seventh overall out of Southern California.

“We wanted to get it done. They wanted to get it done, ” said Parker. “But you still have to go through a process, and sometimes each side wishes the other side would go down a certain path quicker than the other. But you have to stay focused until you get it done.”

Loomis said the basic parameters have been in place for the last few days.

“It’s been frustrating, just because of the length of time, and I don’t really think that was necessary, ” Loomis said. “But again, I think that’s been created by the complicated structure of deals in this era.”

Ellis could not be reached for comment, but Parker said he was excited to get in camp.

“We are happy. It’s something that we wanted to get done, ” said Parker. “Sedrick’s very mature, and he knows that this is part of it. I mean, here’s a guy that stayed for his senior year when he could have been a top-10 pick last year. So he has patience. And he knew this was necessary and it was important.

“He’s excited to get started doing what he loves to do.”

Ellis’ holdout was the longest by a Saints draft pick since receiver Devery Henderson missed seven days in 2004 and tailback Deuce McAllister missed seven days in 2001.

Loomis said he thinks the holdout will hurt Ellis, as he now tries to catch up with his teammates almost a full week into training camp. Loomis pointed to the recent hamstring injury suffered by second-round pick Tracy Porter, who also arrived two days late to camp.

Ellis won’t be totally lost, though. He participated in two minicamps and a month’s worth of organized team activities in the summer, so he’s familiar with the playbook.

NewOrleansSaints.com,

Thursday, July 24, 2008 – 3:15 PM

Q: How did you feel today?

A: Today felt good. It was the first day. It felt really good being out there today with my teammates, actually being able to hit people now. It felt very good. It was my first time in ten months in pads. That was exciting. I went out there. I ran around, felt really good, had some contact, didn’t feel anything, so I’m excited and can’t wait for the next practice.

Q: Have the Saints told you to be cautious at times or to go after it?

A: They told me to go after it. I have a good deal with them. I told them I will honestly tell them how I feel, if I was really feeling it or hurting or anything. We don’t’ want any setbacks. That’s the biggest thing. I want to be ready for the first game of the season. I’m really gauging it as well as the training staff and Sean Payton. He’s really watching me as I’m going and gauging how I feel and I told him I feel good.

Q: Can you discuss how this new start feels for you?

A: It feels great. The teammates I have right now are tremendous. Just being out there watching the conditioning, everyone made their weight. We came out here today just flying around and having a lot of fun. That was very exciting to see. I’m excited for my teammates, because I know we’re going to be good.

Q: Do you think your injury will affect your ability to compete for a starting role at all?

A: I really doubt that. I don’t think so, especially the way I felt today at the first practice. I felt fine and it felt good. For me, it’s really more about learning the plays and getting used to my teammates.

Q: How much more comfortable do you feel about being back in the 4-3 scheme?

A: I feel very comfortable, aside from terminology, I have to learn that again. The concepts are the same from my first two years in the NFL, so it feels really good getting back around and getting my feet on me. There’s different footwork and different reads than when you’re in the 3-4, different reads a little bit as far as the running back reads, so it’s coming back to me and hopefully we’ll get better as we keep going.

Q: How do you describe your reception with your teammates?

A: It’s been great. My teammates have been very cognizant of my knee. They don’t want to do anything crazy when we’re out there. Everyone’s asking me how my knee’s doing. They really care about my well being besides being a player. Of course I want to go out there with them when the first game starts so I’m taking care of it. My teammates have been great so far.

Q: Do you have any history with Jeremy Shockey?

A: Yes, we played two years at the University of Miami. I think we lost one game in those two years, won a championship together, so it’s great. I know a whole lot about him. A lot of people hear the outside stuff, the bad stuff and the negative comments and things like that. I know Shockey as a player, as a teammate and as a person. He’s great. I love to have him on my team.

Q: What’s he like as a person?

A: He’s a guy who’s obviously not shy and a lot of people can take what he says the wrong way, but us as players, teammates and friends, it’s great that you have a guy who’s honest like that. He’s up front and he’s forward about everything. I can really relate to him.

Q: Is it kind of ironic that the two of you are restarting your careers with the same team?

A: It will be a little irony if we both win the Super Bowl. That would be great.

Q: Does Shockey change the things you do in terms of defensive schemes when you play him?

A: Definitely, a guy like that especially when you have a really good tight end like that, it makes you adjust your defenses and adjust your coverages, even adjust some of your blitzes sometimes because of him. I know that other teams are going to have to do that, especially with the other weapons we have on offense with Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, so on and so on. It’s going to be tough for opposing defenses.

by Dave Lawrence, NewOrleansSaints.com

Thursday, July 24, 2008 – 2:40 PM

“In regards to the roster, we signed Wale Dada, a cornerback who got in last night and practiced today. He fills the 80^th spot per se; we’re still waiting on the two drafted rookies. Mike McKenzie, Josh Bullocks, Eric Johnson and Marques Colston were the guys that did not go this morning. Marques will go this afternoon.”

Why didn’t Colston practice this morning?
“We kept him out of the morning workout because he had some inflammation in his knee and they gave him an injection which was just a lubricant that needs 24 hours to calm down. He’ll go this afternoon and we’ll monitor him.”

Is that lingering from the scope that he had?
“Depending on how much wear and tear he has – he’s been running lately and his weight is down, so he had some swelling, but that’s just something that we have to monitor.”

How did Deuce McAllister look to you out there this morning?
“He’s lost a lot of weight and because of that he’s carrying it a little bit better. I was pleased with his conditioning level and the shape he came in in and I think the further we go here we’ll see more and more but he handled the reps pretty well this morning. I’ll monitor how much work he gets this afternoon and early on we might just start with morning work and then back off a little bit in the afternoon until we get him to full speed.”

Did he get a full amount of reps today?
“He got a fair amount – I don’t know if it was the full allotment, but there are six or seven running backs out there. He was full-go this morning and this afternoon we’ll just back off a little bit.”

Was Shockey limited today?
“He had a limited amount. It’s just mainly making sure that a few players – Deuce, Shockey, David Patten, Brian Young, Colston – we just have to monitor how much work they’re getting. That will be the same with Josh Bullocks, Mike McKenzie and Eric Johnson when they get back in the fold. It’s just being smart.”

Does Patten have a specific ailment?
“No, with him it’s just his age and he has a turf toe issue that he’s battled, so we’ll be smart.”

Jonathan Vilma said he was pleased with his effort this morning. What did you see from him?
“He looked to be moving around well. He’s been looking forward to having all the restrictions removed and that’s where he’s at right now. He’s getting a full amount of reps. With some of these injured players, we just have to be smart in pushing them back to a full practice, but he’s handling it well.”

What do you want to see from Vilma in the coming weeks?
“Ultimately at that position – like most of these positions – you’re looking for production. There’s competition there between he and Simoneau, so I’ll be looking for his consistency and him adjusting to what we’re doing.”

What dimension do you expect Jeremy Shockey to add to your offense?
“He has versatility. He can block in the running game and he has enough speed to get up the field. He brings an emotional juice to the huddle, which I think is a good thing. He has versatility as a player and those are the things that you look for initially.”

Do you think that Shockey may have gotten a bad rap over the years?
“He’s a visible player. I think he’s always been a good teammate. You’d have to ask his former teammates, but in the time I spent with him in New York he was always a guy that worked extremely hard and this game is real important to him. He plays at a high level. In the time that I’ve known him and just studying and following his career, I think he’s been a real good teammate. That’s a plus and an addition for us as we move forward.”

Can it be a positive thing to have a guy like him in the huddle?
“I just think that the key is the player’s focus and his goals. He’s been a part of a lot of winning teams and that’s what he brings to the table. He has a passion for the game and those are all things that when you start matching them with the production and what he can do on the field, you look at as an asset.”

What does it mean to you to see #26 out there taking handoffs again?
“He’s driven and he’s a guy that’s obviously respected in the locker room. He understands the challenge he has, so him being back in camp and being at the weight he is – it’s been a long road for him and it hasn’t been easy. I think all of us are pulling for him, pulling for his rehab. As he takes these steps gradually back to where he’s 100%, he’s someone that has a lot of focus and determination and he’s one of our leaders.”

What is it about Deuce that makes him so easy to cheer for?
“He’s a good guy. He’s a likeable guy and he’s someone in the community that has done a great job outside of the locker room. He has helped a lot of people in his time in New Orleans and is looked upon as a class guy that has always taken the time to spend not just with his own teammates, but also the people in the area and this region. He’s from here, he played at Mississippi, and I think there are a lot of things that draw people to him, but it starts with him as a person.”

Do you sense a different hunger with this team than from a year ago?
“There is a certain amount of urgency when you’re coming off of a season when you were 7-9. I think players are anxious to start ’08 and start it off on a better note than we did last year.”

You have six receivers with three years or less of NFL experience. What are those guys going to have to do to stand out?
“I think we’ll look at production and how they play from a consistency standpoint, how they block, (and if they) are they making enough plays. I think that’s the good thing about training camp. You have an extended period of time to evaluate these players – not just at receiver, but at a lot of positions. The more and more that you can look at the film and grasp what they’re doing and have a confidence level in what they’re doing, the better off you’re going to be in the evaluation process.”

What did you think of the first practice?
“I thought it was pretty good. The temperature was a little bit cooler than we expected and I thought the tempo was pretty good.”

How disappointed are you to not have the top two draft picks on the field at the start of camp and how much will their absence hurt them?
“When you’re a rookie you’re behind the eight-ball already, so any time you’re missing reps it’s putting you further behind. My focus really has been on who is out on the practice field and really not on who isn’t. We can’t control that right now. The sooner those guys can get in the better and the longer they’re out, the more difficult it will be. It is what it is and they’re behind as it is coming into a new system, so we move forward and keep progressing.”

What has Ed Orgeron brought to your staff?
“He’s an experienced coach. He has a lot of emotion and fire and he’s passionate about teaching. I think he’s someone who cares a lot about his players and he’s very demanding. Those are a few things that I think you see right away.”

Last year on the first day of camp you were answering questions about Super Bowl expectations. Is it nicer to be a little bit under the radar?
“We have high expectations for ourselves, so the business of prognosticating playoff teams or Super Bowl teams is something we can’t control. We couldn’t two years ago and we can’t control it each year. I think what’s most important is that we’re trying in each practice to make some improvement and have an edge about ourselves in the way we practice and prepare. The stories that really matter are where you’re at at the end of the season, not at the start of the season and we understand that. We also understand and appreciate from the journalistic side to, having to predict what’s going to happen this year too. For us, it’s really about ourselves and how we’re progressing and not really about everyone else.”

The Saints have acquired disgruntled New York Giants tight end Jeremy
Shockey.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel on Monday confirmed the trade with the
Giants. The deal is pending league approval and contingent on Shockey
passing a physical.

The Saints did not immediately say what they were giving to the Giants in
exchange.

Stay tuned to WWL AM/FM & WWL.com for the latest.

Saints and Smith Agree to 6 Year Contract Extension

by New Orleans Saints PR, NewOrleansSaints.com
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 – 2:54 PM

New Orleans, La.- The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have agreed to terms with DE Will Smith to a six-year contract extension, which will take the defensive ends contract through the 2014 season. The announcement was made by Saints’ Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

“We are excited about getting this long-term contract done with Will,” said Loomis. “We view him as one of our core players and look forward to him having an impact on our defense for years to come.”

Smith, a 6-3, 282-pound product of Ohio State, was originally selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft with the 18th overall pick. The native of Utica, New York has started 43-of-62 games and has and collected 265 career tackles, 33.5 sacks for -221.5 yards, 12 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 12 passes defensed.

Smith’s sack total through his first four NFL seasons with the club is ranked third in franchise history He will be entering his fifth NFL season in 2008. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2006, Smith has recorded 121 tackles, 17.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Elected by his teammates as one of two defensive captains for 2007, he made 65 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, leading the club in quarterback takedowns in recoveries. In 2006, Smith collected a career-high 10.5 sacks, making 56 tackles, also adding three forced fumbles, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery as he was voted to the Pro Bowl.

By agreeing to an extension with the Saints, Smith becomes the latest in what has been a busy off-season for the club. The team re-signed 2007 starters and key contributors WR Terrance Copper, G Jonathan Goodwin, K Martin Gramatica, WR Devery Henderson, TE Eric Johnson, TE Billy Miller, G Jamar Nesbit, WR David Patten, LB Mark Simoneau, RB Aaron Stecker and DT Brian Young and key contributors DT Antwan Lake, TE Billy Miller, S Jay Bellamy, DT Rodney Leisle, also added free agent QB Mark Brunell, CB Randall Gay, CB Aaron Glenn and DB Bobby McCray and acquired LB Jonathan Vilma from the New York Jets.

Saints end relationship with Mueller

1:34 PM Wed, Jun 04, 2008 | Permalink
Bradley Handwerger
E-mail

The rumors have been out there for much of the morning and now the Saints have made it official, sending out a press release this afternoon.

Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Mueller is no longer with the franchise as it’s “restructuring” the Player Personnel Department.

The club also hired Khai Harley to become the Director of Football Administration. Harley’s previous job was with the league as the manager of labor operations with the NFL Management Council.

According to the release the Saints sent out, “Harley’s primary focus with the Saints will be managing the salary cap, and his responsibilities will also include contract negotiations, coordinating different areas of the football operations and being involved in the administrative functions of running the club on a daily basis.”

General Manager Mickey Loomis, in getting rid of Mueller and the Player Personnel Department as we know it, said it was a tough decision. He noted that under Mueller the franchise drafted running back Deuce McAllister, wide receiver Marques Colston and defensive end Will Smith, all of whom were pretty key in New Orleans’ 2006 NFC South title as well as its run to the NFC Championship Game.

Grant indicted for involuntary manslaughter

Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune May 20, 2008 9:25PM

Categories: Saints

Saints defensive end Charles Grant was one of seven men indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, stemming from a February altercation outside of a night club in Blakely, Ga., according to the Early County News.

Early County officials could not be reached for comment. Neither could Grant or his attorney. The Saints said they were aware of the development but had no comment.

According to the report, the men were all charged because of their involvement in a fight that resulted in the death of Korynda Reed, 23, an innocent bystander who was hit by a stray bullet. Grant also received misdemeanor fighting charges.

Back in February, Capt. Will Caudill from the Early County Sheriff’s Office, said that Grant was not considered an instigator or a willing participant in the fight. According to the Early County News report, Woodrow Gray was indicted on a charge of aggravated assault for attacking Grant. Gray was also one of the men charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Competition for Roster Spots To Be Fierce

Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Thursday, May 08, 2008 – 10:08 AM

On the eve of the New Orleans Saints’ three-day rookie mini-camp in Metairie, the Black-and-Gold currently has 86 players on their roster.

Or six more players than the team will be able to take training camp in late July.

Competition will be fierce when the 64 players invited to the rookie camp don their uniforms for the first time on Friday morning, as the team’s six 2008 draftees join 16 undrafted free agents that have agreed to terms with the team, as well as 36 non-roster tryout invitees and six other first-year players currently on the roster.

The NFL’s mandated training camp roster size of 80 players under contract means that the team will have to pare down the roster before heading to training camp. So the question that many will have is why the team currently has 86 players under contract.

The answer is that unsigned players do not count against the roster size, and since the draft picks have not yet signed their contracts, the team is able to get to a better look at the rookie free agents that have signed, as well as the tryout players.

Once the draft picks begin signing contracts, the Saints will have to make corresponding roster reductions.

In past seasons, roster sizes were increased during training camp due to the caveat that the NFL granted players exemptions that were allocated by the team to NFL Europe. However, since the league discontinued operations following the 2007 season, those exemptions simply no longer exist.

While there have been some discussions in league circles about expanding the training camp roster to 86 players, the measure wasn’t voted on at the NFL’s annual meetings in April. According to some in the know, the topic could once up at the league’s meetings later this month.

Thus it would hardly be a surprise to see some of the tryout players make a name for themselves and open eyes this weekend and perhaps garner a coveted spot on 86-man roster, but it will almost assuredly mean that a player currently under contract will be subjected to the waiver wire.