Saints Gab

The Saints opened camp on Friday morning at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. For the first time in a few years all of the rookies have signed and are in attendance at training camp. There are no nasty holdouts from anyone on their roster either. These two aspects alone put the Saints ahead of many of the other teams in the NFL who are dealing with these issues. Another thing that puts the Saints ahead of the game is the quarterback position. It is solidified in Drew Brees, who is regarded by many NFL experts as one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL. While Brees brings loads of talent to the Saints’ QB position he also brings leadership. Having the leader secured at the start of training camp is going to help the Saints succeed this year.

Despite having one of the busiest off-seasons of any NFL superstar off of the field, Reggie Bush is happy to be in camp and looks good. Bush opted to train in Los Angeles prior to the organized team activities instead of working out at the team facility. Sean Payton wasn’t stoked on that idea but it looks like it turned out well. Payton told the Sun Herald, “He’s in good shape, he has trained well. We’re real pleased with how he tested. He’s running around and, I think, in real good shape.”

DT Hollis Thomas however, isn’t in very good shape. He took reps with the second-team defense at Saturday’s practiced after lacking stamina on Friday. Newly acquired DT Kendrick Clancy took the first-team reps in his place. Thomas has a history of showing up to training camps out of shape but usually gets into game shape by week one. But Sean Payton is going to make an example of him by making him run with the backups.

All in all, it is a solid start for the Saints in training camp.

Steve Gleason, a back up safety and a special teams player, was put on injured reserve by the New Orleans Saints following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in June. He will be out for the entire season. Gleason is best known for his blocked punt in the Saints’ home opener last season in the memorable victory over the Atlanta Falcons (pictured above). The Saints will miss him this season but it gives the opportunity for some younger players to make an impact on special teams.

The New Orleans Saints open training camp on Thursday, July 26th with their first activity, a conditioning test. The first practices will be held on Friday the 27th. Many players and coaches are already at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi as of Wednesday the 25th.

The Saints come into training camp with a leg up on the teams who don’t have all of their rookies signed or who are dealing with holdouts. Sean Payton’s team is a solid unit that is ready to go at the start of training camp. 86 players in all will fight it out for the 53 spots on the roster.

All practices are open to the public and free. They are as follows:

Friday, 7/27: 8:50am-11:00am, 4:20 pm-6:00 pm.
Saturday, 7/28: 8:50am-11:00am, 4:20 pm-6:00pm.
Sunday, 7/29: 8:50am-11:00am, 4:20pm-6:00pm.
Monday, 7/30: 8:50am-10:30am, 3:40pm-6:00pm.
Tuesday, 7/31: 8:50am-11:00am, 4:20pm-6:00pm.
Wednesday, 8/1: 8:50am-10:30am, 3:40pm-6:00pm.
Thursday, 8/2: 8:50am-11:00am, 4:20pm-6:00pm.
Friday, 8/3: 3:40pm-6:00pm.

On Augsut 4th, The team will travel to Canton, Ohio to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, August 5th.

Sunday, 8/12: 3:40pm-6:00pm.
Monday, 8/13: 8:50am-11:00am, 4:20pm-6:00pm.
Tuesday, 8/14: 8:50am-10:30am, 3:40pm-6:00pm.
Wednesday, 8/15: 8:50am-11:00am, 4:20pm-6:00pm.
Thursday, 8/16: 3:40pm-6:00pm.

On Friday 8/17 the team will travel toe Cincinnati, Ohio to face the Bengals on Saturday 8/18.

Sunday, 8/19: End Camp.

The above practice schedule is tentative and could be changed due to weather or at the discretion of the head coach. Attending practice is not 100% free either, parking is usually $5. Training camp is a fun chance for fans to see the players up close and to witness how much hard work goes into playing in the NFL. The New Orleans Saints quest for a Super Bowl XLII Championship starts now.

Robert Meachem, a WR from Tennessee, signed a five-year contract with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday. The Saints have now signed all of their draft picks, just in time for the start of training camp, which starts Wednesday. Meachem will see the field this season. He could become a prime target of QB Drew Brees and getting into camp on time is going to help him become that. There is a question mark with Meachem though: Injuries. First, he sprained his ankle at the pre-season rookie camp and second, at the June minicamp, a knee that he had surgery on in 2003 began to swell. To make matters worse Meachem was out of shape at the first workouts. If he comes into training camp out of shape his production this year will suffer. He will probably be in shape for the start of training camp though. Look for Meachem to have a big year for the Saints as he solidifies their wide receiving corps.

The Saints will be without D-lineman Brian Young as camp opens, as it was announced that hsa has a fractured foot. The injury took place while doing some offseason training in Florida. Reports say that Young will more than likely miss the opening practices of training camp for the Saints.

Young had surgery on the foot last week. There was no timetable given on when he would be able to make it back on the field, no what foot it was that he had to have surgery on. Right now backing up Young is Kendrick Clancy, Antwan Lake and Rodney Leisle. Young enters his 8th season in the NFL, playing his first four with the Rams before joining the Saints before the 2004 season.

The 30-year-old last seaon played in all 16 games, with 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks and one pass defensed. He steadies a line that inlcudes fellow linemen Charles Grant, Hollis Thomas, and Will Smith. Young’s best season came back with the Rams in 2001, when playing in all 16 games he had 6.5 sacks, two passes defensed, and 40 tackles.

The Associated Press is reporting that the city of New Orleans wants to host the NFL draft. Next year’s draft is scheduled to be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where it has been held since 1965. But NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says that after next year’s draft the NFL is going to check out their options and might even consider the moving the draft to a new city and venue.

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation thinks that the New Orleans Arena or The Convention Center would be great new venues in a great city, New Orleans. They have sent a letter to Roger Goodell requesting an opportunity to host the NFL draft. The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation also has plans to transform the draft into a weeklong festivity with a Mardi Gras-Style Parade and other events involving the public and retired NFL players. The Associated Press is reporting that Jay Cicero, the foundation president, said that the NFL has yet to respond to their Inquiry.

Saints RB Reggie Bush defeated Danica Patrick in the first round of competion in ESPN Sportcenter’s “Who’s Now” competition. Bush received 72.5% of the votes. He will now face the Yankees’ Derek Jeter. To vote for Bush or anyone else in the competition click here.

The ESPY awards took place on Wednesday July 11th and will air on Sunday night July 15th. The New Orleans Saints won the Best Moment Award for their return to their victorious return to the Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina when they trounced the Atlanta Falcons 23-3. They edged out Tiger Woods’ victory in the British Open just two months after the death of his father, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith becoming the first and second African-American coaches to make it to a Super Bowl and Derek Fisher’s late arrival to a playoff game following his daughter’s eye cancer surgery. Click here to read more about the Saints Triumphant return to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina.

Reggie Bush will face off against Danica Patrick in ESPN SportsCenter’s “Who’s Now” competition. “Who’s Now” is a daily segment on SportsCenter in which viewers vote to help ESPN decide who are the ultimate sports stars. The competition considers both on-field success and off the field notoriety or “buzz” as ESPN calls it. The competition is set up like in a single elimination bracket style contest. Fan voting consists of 70% of the influence while a panel made up of ESPN analysts decides the other 30%. Michael Wilbon, Kirk Herbstreit and Keyshawn Johnson make up the panel for the first round of the competition.

Click here to vote for Reggie Bush. Launch “Who’s Now” to cast your vote. Make sure you vote by July 12th because that is the day Bush and Patrick face off.