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--After signing Drew Brees, the Saints quietly ended their six-year relationship with quarterback Aaron Brooks on March 15.

Brooks, who turns 30 next week, was released three months after being benched by former coach Jim Haslett for the final three games of the 2005 season. Before being replaced by Bouman, Brooks had started 82 straight games for the Saints.
Teams around the league did not show much interest in trading for Brooks because of his high salary and because it was no secret the Saints would likely release him. He was scheduled to earn $6.5 million in salary and bonuses this season and $7.5 million next season.

--Running back Michael Bennett came to New Orleans for a visit Wednesday and signed with the team Friday.

Aaron Stecker was brought in to be Deuce McAllister's backup in 2004, but he is more of a third-down back. Last season, Antowain Smith and Stecker alternated as starters after McAllister was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the fifth game.

Bennett said the Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts were also interested in his services. He spent his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

A 5-foot-9, 202-pounder, the speedy Bennett has averaged 4.5 yards per carry on 3,174 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,296 yards and five touchdowns in 2002.

--New strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple will get his first look at his new players when the Saints begin their off-season program Monday.

The Saints will lift weights, run and work with coaches in the classroom Monday through Thursday for 12 weeks. Two mini-camps for veterans and one for rookies and other invited players are also scheduled.

The first mini-camp for veterans will be April 7-9 and the second will be June 24. The rookies-only camp will be held May 13-15, two weeks after the April 29-30 draft.

--The Saints' medical and training staff has again been honored for its work under trying circumstances last season as team orthopedist Tim Finney was recently selected to receive the Jerry "Hawk" Rhea Award.

The award is given by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society to the NFL's physician of the year. That same society earlier recognized the Saints' training staff as the best in the NFL last year.

The training staff, which includes head trainer Scottie Patton and assistant trainers Duane Brooks and Kevin Mangum, also recently received an award from the NFL Physician Society.

On top of having to move their operations to San Antonio because of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints were hit by a rash of injuries as 10 players wound up on injured reserve during the season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Of course it was (an issue). I think everybody in this whole situation has evaluated my shoulder. You have to. But I think if you see the surgery and how well it went and see my progress, you just have to know me and the kind of person I am and believe in me. I'm going to be fine." - Saints QB Drew Brees on his surgically-repaired shoulder.


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