As the Saints head to training camp in the heat of the summer, Black and Gold posts the Full Training Camp Schedule for the 2008 season at Millsaps College.

The Saints will start their third year of training camp in Jackson, MS at Millsaps College on July 23rd.  More details inside...

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The New Orleans Saints will report to training camp at Millsaps College in Jackson July 23rd, with the first set of two-a-day practices scheduled the next day.

The team will break camp and return to New Orleans August 12th, giving the Saints roughly three weeks to bake in the sweltering Mississippi heat.

This will be the Saints' third straight year in Jackson, a tradition that has met with mixed results. In 2006, new coach Sean Payton used the grueling getaway to set the tone for one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in NFL history. Last year, however, the Saints got off to an 0-4 start and failed to reach the playoffs.

All practices at Millsaps will be open to the public. Most practices begin at 8:50 a.m. and either at 3:40 p.m. or 4:20 p.m., though the schedule varies from day to day and is subject to change. The Saints have scheduled a total of 29 practices on campus, including some abbreviated special teams sessions.

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One of the most encouraging signs of the New Orleans Saints' recently-concluded offseason workouts was the play of second-year wide receiver Robert Meachem.

Meachem, healthy now after being inactive for all 16 games of his rookie season because of a knee injury that bothered him throughout training camp, appears ready to make a strong run at becoming the third wide receiver this fall.

After receiving praise from Saints coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and quarterback Drew Brees for his attitude and work ethic in the spring, Meachem will at least go into training camp with much more confidence than last season.  

As a result, he will likely battle veterans Devery Henderson and Lance Moore for the third spot behind starters Marques Colston and David Patten. The job is Meachem's for the taking since Henderson and Moore each went through periods of inconsistency a year ago.

Meachem has been solid this spring now that he can get on the field. Last season, he injured an ankle in a rookie minicamp and then hurt his right knee in the full-squad minicamp. The two injuries ultimately wrecked his rookie season before it even started.

In addition to Henderson and Moore, Meachem will also battle seventh-round draft pick Adrian Arrington for a roster spot. Arrington, who was projected to be drafted much higher than he was, also turned some heads during the team's minicamps and organized team activities.

But as far as the speedy Meachem is concerned, the more competition there is the better because he's healthy again.

And there's a bounce in his step as well after the fans who were calling him a bust last season were cheering him during the recent minicamp.

"My confidence is coming back," he said. "Everything is rolling now. You hear everything (the fans) do. You want to have a great practice to show them you're coming back strong."  

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"It's good now that we are clicking out there," McNabb said after leading the Eagles to a 38-23 triumph over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. "I hope we can use this winning feeling into next year."

The Eagles (7-8) won't be a playoff team this season, but have played like one in their past two games, beginning with their upset of the Cowboys in Dallas.

McNabb accounted for 300 total yards and tossed three touchdown passes against New Orleans, dealing a devastating blow to a Saints squad clinging to playoff hopes.

The Eagles' triumph snapped a two-game winning streak for the Saints (7-8), who stayed alive when the Washington Redskins beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.

The Saints need to win at Chicago next Sunday, combined a Washington loss at home against Dallas, and a Minnesota loss at Denver, to claim the final wild card spot.

McNabb, whose 263 yards passing gave him 25,059 for his career, no longer showed the effects of his rehabilitation from knee surgery over the summer or an ankle sprain in midseason.

His 40-yard scramble on the third play led to a bizarre touchdown after his fumble was recovered in the end zone by receiver Kevin Curtis. McNabb also used his scrambling ability to neutralize the Saints' pass rush and give his receivers more time to get open.

"It's good now that we are clicking out there," McNabb said after leading the Eagles to a 38-23 triumph over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. "I hope we can use this winning feeling into next year."

The Eagles (7-8) won't be a playoff team this season, but have played like one in their past two games, beginning with their upset of the Cowboys in Dallas.

McNabb accounted for 300 total yards and tossed three touchdown passes against New Orleans, dealing a devastating blow to a Saints squad clinging to playoff hopes.

The Eagles' triumph snapped a two-game winning streak for the Saints (7-8), who stayed alive when the Washington Redskins beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.

The Saints need to win at Chicago next Sunday, combined a Washington loss at home against Dallas, and a Minnesota loss at Denver, to claim the final wild card spot.

McNabb, whose 263 yards passing gave him 25,059 for his career, no longer showed the effects of his rehabilitation from knee surgery over the summer or an ankle sprain in midseason.

His 40-yard scramble on the third play led to a bizarre touchdown after his fumble was recovered in the end zone by receiver Kevin Curtis. McNabb also used his scrambling ability to neutralize the Saints' pass rush and give his receivers more time to get open.

"I'm getting my mobility back," McNabb said. "I'm definitely feeling better and being able to get opportunities for guys by holding the ball a little bit longer."

Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for 289 yards and an interception. He lost his best receiver when Marques Colston left the game in the first half with a chest contusion that had him spitting up blood.

Still, the Saints were in position to tie the game at 21 on the opening drive of the second half when David Patten nearly scored on a short first-down pass.

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Times-Picayune reports that New Orleans Saints 7 year special team veteran Steve Gleason retires from the NFL. 

"Longtime Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason is retiring from the NFL after a seven-year career.

Gleason, who became a free agent when his contract with the club expired last month, told Saints Coach Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis of his decision last week."