Daniel goes from 3rd string to big time for Saints
 

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints No. 3 quarterback Chase Daniel opened his first postgame press conference as an NFL player with a question of his own.

Hey, how are you all doing?"

That question would have been better for himself. In easily the most playing time of his brief NFL career, the second-year pro out of Missouri completed 15 of 21 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in the Saints' 38-20 preseason victory over Houston on Saturday night at the Louisiana Superdome.

Daniel, who was inactive for much of last season, threw an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Adrian Arrington, a 31-yard touchdown on a screen pass to running back Pierre Thomas and a 1-yard scoring toss to fullback Zak Keasey. He also hooked up with Arrington on a 48-yard bomb over the middle that set up his 1-yard touchdown pass for a 28-10 halftime lead.

"It was awesome," Daniel said. "I was able to go out there and do the best I could. I didn't really have to look over my shoulder as much as I have in the past. It was fun to go out there and play up the playbook and have some fun."

Daniel got more work than he does in some practices.

"What I wanted to do was give him a lot of reps," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "I think it's harder when you continue to split them, and at some point I wanted to see how he would do with the first offense and then how he would handle it with the second offense. There were some good things."

No. 2 quarterback Patrick Ramsey did not play, but he will get most of the backup duty behind starter Drew Brees on Friday when the Saints host San Diego in a 7 p.m. game on CBS.

"I'll try to do the same with Patrick next week," Payton said. "The repetitions, you really can't simulate, especially for a quarterback when they are live, and so I wanted him (Daniel) to get a lot of snaps and play. There will be a lot of good tape for him. That will be a good experience for him."

Daniel did have trouble with the play clock at times, and he did throw that interception.