Saints Gab

Rumor has it that the Saints have already cleared some players through waivers and have loose agreements with them for the Monday creation of the 8 man practice squad. Those players are Tyler Palko, Buck Ortega, Skyler Green, Lynell Hamilton, Orien Harris and Andy Alleman.

Alleman was a surprise cut after being a 3rd round draft pick. Another surprised cut, Taylor Mehlhaff, is a hopeful for Saints fans if he clears waivers. Although there is no definitive word that the Saints want him back. Word close to JoLonn Dunbar, UDFA LB out of BC, is that Joey has been very happy with the Saints and wants to play for them. That same source says that the Colts and Redskins have expressed interest in him. Dunbar looked very promising in the pre-season games and was thought to have a chance to make the 53 man roster. If Dunbar was signed to the Saints PS, there would be no room for Mehlhaff.

After months of speculation about how good they really are, the New Orleans Saints did little to distinguish themselves in their 2008 pre-season opener, with the exception of Robert Meachem. Perhaps the most impressive was that there was not a noticeable drop-off in talent once the starters rested and the team had only one turnover.

Drew Brees (6/7, 40 yards) scored first with a pass in the end zone to David Patten, capping an 80-yard drive that used up close to seven minutes of the quarter. Mark Brunell (10/12, 119 yards) saw action for the rest of the half, coming out rusty and unable to score in the red zone. Brunell did connect with Meachem for 49 yards on a drive that ended with Pierre Thomas stepping out of bounds before reaching the goal line near the end of the second quarter and missing a second attempt to run it in. Pierre Thomas was the highlight of the special teams with a kickoff return for 57 yards.

The running game took over in the beginning of the second half. Aaron Stecker gained 39 yards and ran in for a touchdown halfway through the third quarter. Tyler Palko (6/11, 144 yards) came in with about five minutes to go in the third quarter and quickly hit Adrian Arrington for 33 yards. Rookie Taylor Mehlhaff hit a 33-yard field goal near the end of the third quarter. Palko’s bright spot was a short pass to Robert Meachem in the fourth that he turned into a 60 yard touchdown run. Palko did turn the ball over halfway through the fourth.

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From: Pro Football Weekly

We hear veteran Mark Brunell looks firmly entrenched as the Saints’ backup quarterback and the apparent No. 3, Tyler Palko — who spent last season on the practice squad — is still getting accustomed to the pro level and the team’s offense. Brunell has been a quick study, and his experience gives him an edge on Palko. The signalcallers are about the same size, and both are left-handed and have similar styles, relying on accuracy rather than great arm strength.