TallySaint

Payton considers Martin 'good fit' at quarterback
Will compete with Bouman, others for backup spot

Monday, June 05, 2006
By Jimmy Smith
Staff writer-Times Picayune

Quarterback Jamie Martin had overtures from several NFL clubs this offseason in the free-agent market, but there was something about his visit with the Saints that was different from the others.

"I mean, No. 1, you want to go to a place that's happy to have you and is committed to you," Martin said Sunday, after the team's final minicamp practice indoors at its Airline Drive facility. "I had some other teams that were kind of questionable with that. You want a team to want you. I felt everybody here was great and made it known that they wanted me.

"I loved sitting down and talking to Sean (Payton) and (quarterbacks coach) Pete Carmichael. And I loved the things they were doing on offense. And they seemed to be great guys to work with."

Martin, 36, who last year started five games for the St. Louis Rams where current Saints linebackers coach Joe Vitt was filling in for an ailing Mike Martz, had visits with the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks.

But there was something about his sojourn to New Orleans that made him want to sign a two-year contract with the Saints, where he'll be competing with Todd Bouman, Adrian McPherson and Bruce Eugene to be Drew Brees' backup.

"There were just little things, the way they talked to you and the way they treated you," Martin said. "Obviously when they come with an offer to you pretty quick, it means they want you."

Martin, who started one game in an 11-year career as a journeyman backup before last season, was 4-1 as a fill-in with St. Louis and completed 70 percent of his passes. He threw for 1,277 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions.

What Payton saw during five minicamp practices was a solid performer he could trust with the offense if the situation arose.

"He's a good decision-maker," Payton said. "He has a history in this league. He's seen a lot of film. He beat us when we were with Dallas last year. There's some reliability with the guy who knows not to turn it over. I think he's accurate. He's got good anticipation. He's a pretty sharp guy. Those are some of the traits we saw. He's been in this league for a number of years and has a lot of experience. I think that's important as well."

Payton said he spoke with Vitt and player personnel director Rick Mueller about Martin's background before the visit that preceded Martin's signing April 27.

"This is a good fit," Payton said. "He's kind of one of those even-keel guys who never gets too excited or too down. He's got a pretty good personality. I think he's grasping what we're doing pretty quickly. He's got a good idea of how to locate the football, and good anticipation. So those are good things."

NOT FINISHED YET: Though there will be no more open practices, the Saints have eight organized team activities remaining through the next two weeks before the players break then return for training camp at the end of July.

So the learning process that took place during minicamp will not end, according to Payton.

"This was good," he said of the weekend. "We got a lot installed. One of the things you can do in the offseason, you can give them an installation. Go back to it and repeat it again for a second time. These OTAs, the repetition gives these guys a real good chance each time we go through it again to grasp the nuances of the offense and defense and some of the things we're asking on special teams."

They are structured as one morning practice where the players are on the field an hour or so, wrapped around the offseason conditioning program.

"That kind of repetition is helpful, not only for the young players but for the veteran players to learn the system," Payton said. "The thing we've tried to emphasize is we want to go through it or over it like it was the first time they ever heard it each time we do it."

NOT 100 PERCENT: It's obvious from the way he was moving over the weekend that offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb still is recovering from the ruptured right patellar tendon that ended his season last year during training camp.

Stinchcomb appears to be favoring the knee when he's running, but he welcomed the five minicamp practices.

"It's been a long time since I've played some football," said Stinchcomb, who is entering his fourth NFL season after being drafted in the second round of the 2003 draft, noting his August 2005 injury. "I'm just trying to knock some rust off. It's good to be back out there. But I still have a ways to go. Just to be playing football, it's quite a blessing."

STILL PUNISHED? Wide receiver Donté Stallworth, who was disciplined for being late by being held out of Saturday's workouts, was sidelined for parts of Sunday's practice. Stallworth had minor offseason shoulder surgery, and at times stood around flexing his left shoulder. But Payton wouldn't say whether Stallworth was being singled out.

"There are certain things that we expect," Payton said. "There are no fixtures position-wise on this team. There are no staples. Especially on a team that was 3-13. We'll see."


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