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New Orleans Saints fullback Heath Evans plans to be full speed by training camp

New Orleans Saints fullback Heath Evans plans to be full speed by training camp

By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

March 24, 2010, 4:05PM

New Orleans Saints fullback Heath Evans said he's probably about four to six weeks from being "full speed, full go" in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. But he said he expects that by the time training camp rolls around in late July, he won't be held back or restricted at all.

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David Grunfeld/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints fullback Heath Evans says he'll be ready to go by training camp.

"I'm sure they'll probably baby me through minicamps," said Evans, who tore the ACL during the Week 7 trip to Miami last year. "I'm running and jumping and doing a lot of stuff, but I've got some dusting off to do. And I've just got to get that mental confidence back of playing football. But I've been playing the game since I was four years old, so I'm sure it won't be that hard to get back into it."

Evans, who was in town to announce plans for his upcoming charity softball game, said he will continue to rehab at Dr. James Andrews' facility in Pensacola for the next few weeks before returning to New Orleans full-time when the team begins its offseason conditioning program on April 19.

Evans said he plans to lean on Saints tailback Reggie Bush for some advice after Bush bounced back from a different type of knee surgery last year. But he also said he plans to serve as an inspiration for his Super Bowl-winning teammates, reminding them that they're starting a whole new season with a goal that's just as special, if not more so.

"There's a whole bunch of people that have won one. There's not that many people that have won two. So the focus will be on pursuing excellence," said Evans, who joined the New England Patriots after they had won three Super Bowl titles but never won one a ring of his own with them.
"The Patriots won their first one in '01, then went 9-7 the next year," Evans said. "I've already asked a lot of questions (to former teammates and coaches). 'What was it that led you guys astray in the '02 season?' There has to be answers. And I'm getting that stuff formulated now to really challenge this team. 'Let's not take a step back. Let's fight that kind of human instinct to just relax and enjoy it for too long.'

"Really, we were world champions last year. That's kind of over. People talk about defending the title. We don't have the title anymore once the season starts."

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