Saints Gab

In what could be a huge injury for the Saints, starting left tackle Jammal Brown was hurt Tuesday during practice and had to be carted off the field.  It looked as if the injury took place to his right knee, and happened during a contact drill.  The team had a tougher practice put on them by coach Sean Payton after the team had a poor showing against the Steelers in the Hall of Fame game on Sunday night in Canton, Ohio.

Brown stayed on the ground for about 20 minutes before the cart and some trainers left the field.  Brown was drafted in the first round out of Oklahoma, 13th overall, back in 2005. He was the starter at right tackle as a rookie and then was moved to left tackle last season, when he was selected for the Pro Bowl.  At 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, he is a force on the Saints line, a line that did a solid job last year opening holes for Reggie Bush and Deuce McCallister. The Saints offensive line that allowed only 23 sacks in 2006, fourth lowest in the league.  Brown is a big part of that, starting 15 games last season.  In his rookie season he started 13 games.

While most of the Saints are walking away not happy with themselves after a lackluster showing the Sunday’s Hall of Fame game, one player is really still feeling it today.  That player is first round draft choice Robert Meachem, who took what he called “the hardest hit of my life,” in the 4th quarter of the 20-7 loss.  Meachem was hit by Steelers corner William Gay as he attempted to make a catch.  He lost the ball in the mixup, and then went on to drop a few more passes before the night was all said and done.

“I have a lot of work to do,” said Meachem,. “Second pass, I should have caught it. Third pass, too. I was always taught that any time you get your hands on the ball, you catch it, no matter what. I have to adjust quickly, get back to work.”  It was a tough night all the way around for the Saints, who seemed to be manhandled rather easily by a Steelers defense that played hard under first year head coach Mike Tomlin in his first game.  How did the coach think Meachem played?   “I have to look at the tape, but there wasn’t a whole lot of good going on tonight.”