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Eye ON THE SAINTS |
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June 2008
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Tom Planchet: July 2006 ArchivesDue to inclement weather in Atlanta, Reggie Bush is now expected to arrive in Jackson, Mississippi sometime around 6:30 p.m. ...Recently acquired defensive tackle Hollis Thomas (traded to the Saints from the Eagles in April) was spotted on the sideline during morning practice. Thomas was having his left foot tapped up while his leg was kept elevated. He appeared to be grimacing. --Kevin Held, WWLTV.com News Producer ...While Deuce has shown signs of improvement and recovery from injury, the Saints running back could be seen limping noticeably during and after morning practice on Monday, according to Juan Kincaid; more so than any other day. --Kevin Held, WWLTV.com News Producer ...Despite having to share the ball with Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, Joe Horn isn't worried about his role being diminished, according to the Associated Press' Brett Martel. ...Reggie Bush is having some trouble getting a flight to Jackson but there's no question that all the talk in training camp over the past two days has focused solely on number 25. ...Reggie Bush's arrival seems in limbo. According to Coach Sean Payton, Bush most likely will arrive Monday afternoon at 3 pm. He and 2nd round pick Roman Harper will do their agility drills Tuesday morning before practice. But Payton said there is a chance he could arrive late tonight. Stay tuned. One noteable exception today was offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb. Both knees are sore and he will be held out for precautionary measures. ... Sports Director Jim Henderson thought the longer Reggie Bush held out, the more of a distraction it would be to everyone involved. The concentration would be on who isn't here, and not who is here, which is more important. This morning's practice was abuzz with talk of Reggie Bush. The latest word has him arriving at 8:30 tonight in Jackson. No private jet for the Heisman Trophy winner, it's a commercial plane this time. Coach Sean Payton obviously was very pleased with the news, "As camp goes longer, we install more plays, and Reggie needs to be here, plus it's one less question to answer." Now the Saints have four quality running backs in the... Reggie Bush will soon sign a rich six-year deal with the Saints . You can expect the fan attendance at practices in Jackson, Mississippi to soar. ...Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed it, and some Saints players had their doubts that the team would ever return to it, but now, as the Biloxi Sun-Herad's Larry Holder points out the team can't wait to return. ...Saints backup quarterback Adrian McPherson was seen fielding some punts at practice Saturday. At best a shot for third-string quarterback, Payton told the media that he wanted in any way he could to get McPherson on the field. Juan Kincaid said Payton called McPherson the best athlete on the team. ...First round pick Reggie Bush agreed on a six-year deal with the Saints late Saturday night. It is unlikely the deal would be signed in time for him to be at practice Sunday, but he is anticipated to be on the field soon. The logjam was apparently broken after Tennessee signed Vince Young to a rich deal earlier this week. ...The Saints second practice was in coach Sean Peyton's estimation the hottest practice, temperature wise. On the field it was business as usual. Notable exceptions were Deuce McAllister, limiting wear-and-tear, Drew Brees, same as Deuce, and Mike Mckenzie with a bruised heel. Payton commented on Mike McKenzie, Michael Bennett, Devery Henderson and Jammal Brown's need for IVs after the morning workout. ...Saturday's early morning workout had the heat bearing down on the players and several admitted they did not like it. Defensive lineman Brian Young said it was worse than New Orleans. Offensive tackle Jammal Brown had cramping problems and needed IVs to rehydrate. ...The San Diego Union's Jim Trotter filed a piece on Drew Brees where the player said he believe he was in New Orleans for a reason following Katrina. Trotter said that unlike most Saints players, Brees actually lives in New Orleans and is committed to helping the city and team regain their luster. ...
While head coach Sean Payton said he would like to have Reggie Bush in camp and that he thought it was important for him to be here, he isn't sweating the no-show just yet. Payton pointed out that he had been with teams where the top pick held out for several days - citing Jeremy Shockey. Drew Brees also pointed out that it's all part of business and that it is not unusual for a top pick to miss some time to get their deal done... Drew Brees is limited to eighty throws a day he said, but he also said that he could go full tilt right now if needed. ...Submitted by Jim Henderson: Reggie Bush was not the only absence from the first practice, though he was the most notable. Quarterback Jamie Martin was excused with a family issue. Linebacker Anthony Simmons was also out due to a family issue, but head coach Sean Payton said his absence was not excused. Deuce McAllister was pronounced to be 100 percent b...
Drew Brees drew the biggest cheers, especially in one instance where he acknowledged the crowd. Early in practice, he was still limited to throwing the ball no more than 15 yards. ...Published reports have Willie Roaf, arguably the best player in Saints history, retiring before camp. ...Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times examines the the high finance of Reggie Bush. ...
Jim Henderson says there are at least three major reasons for the team's surge in ticket sales this year that are not related to Reggie Bush. ...The Saints have reached a four-year deal with second-round pick Roman Harper so that means all the draftees will be present and accounted for today, with one notable exception. ...The Saints have reached deals with two more picks and all but Bush could be in by Friday's first practice. Meanwhile, talks with Bush are still ongoing and his signing could be pushed by third choice Vince Young's big deal. ...WWL-TV Sports Director Jim Henderson was not a happy camper after finding out that the Saints were blacking out media coverage of the team’s arrival. No interviews were allowed, nor any footage of players unpacking. Jim opined that maybe new head coach Sean Payton didn’t want any questions about Reggie Bush’s absence, or maybe he was just setting the tone. As Henderson aptly put in on Eyewitness News at 6, if Sean Payton wins, ... The Houston Chronicle reports Vince Young's deal with the Titans has over $25 million in guaranteed money and up to close to $58 million overall. That makes it near the price of top overall pick Mario Williams. Will that help or hurt the Saints and Reggie Bush's deal. ...Media outlets were surprised to learn that there would be absolutely no access granted to Saints players arriving for training camp Thursday. Saints public relations members informed media that no video or photos could be shot of any players unpacking and arriving and that no interviews would be granted until after Friday's first practice. Requests to interview head coach Sean Payton were also denied. While rarely resu... Former Saints center LeCharles Bentley, perhaps the biggest free agent loss for the team in the offseason, was carted off the practice field of the Cleveland Browns after injuring his knee during a workout earlier today. ...Former Saints head coach Jim Haslett is trying to rehabilitate his coaching reputation in his new role as defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, according to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. ...Adam Schefter of the NFL News says Drew Brees' shoulder recovery is right on schedule. ...NFL News' Vic Carucci says the Saints will have one of the 10 most intriguing training camps in the league this year. ...
CBS Sportsline's Pete Prisco says a Reggie Bush season-long holdout just won't happen. ...
CBS Sportsline's Mike Freeman opines that Neither Reggie Bush nor the Saints would win in a nasty contract dispute - if it happens. He also takes quite a few shots at the Saints organization. ...
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is pleased with the progress of the Superdome. He said the team's biggest challenge is corporate support and the Superdome officials said they feel good about chances for a naming rights deal. ...Saints fanatic Ralph Malbrough says the team has a number of questions to answer this training camp, but one of them isn't whether or not Reggie Bush will be in camp. Ralph says that's not an if, but a when? ...Let's face it, only two picks out of 32 in the first round have signed, so nearly every team is in the same boat with their pick, that the Saints are with Bush. Once a source of great media scrutiny, top picks not showing up on time are no longer big news - unless of course the holdout gets lengthy. I've often wondered why guys picked in April aren't signed by camp time, but it was pointed out to me that agents are under extrem... Covers.com, which is focused on point spreads and lines doesn't think much of the Sain |
See pictures from the first day of camp, including 
This sign summed up the concerns of some in the crowd at the Saints first practice. It was muggy, but not unbearably hot as a nice crowd of close to 400 filled in the stadium.