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http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunhera...s/15168832.htm

Polley moving up the depth chart
By LARRY HOLDER
JACKSON - The market for linebacker Tommy Polley wasn't what someone would call fruitful. The same could be said about the New Orleans Saints' linebacker corps last season.

With the Saints desperate for a fix at linebacker, and Polley desperate for a new team following his one-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens, the team signed Polley during its mini-camp in June.

The six-year veteran out of Florida State was accustomed to a starting role with the Ravens and the St. Louis Rams. But now Polley has to concentrate on simply making the 53-man roster.

Polley had little playing time with the first team during June's three-day mini-camp. Anthony Simmons, also a free agent signee from earlier in the off-season, manned Polley's typical starting role.

Fortunes have changed, though, in Polley's favor once training camp commenced last week. Simmons has yet to arrive to camp and the team is moving on as if Simmons won't make it to Millsaps College.

Polley has filled the opening since camp opened last week and could be in the starting lineup for Week 1. He recognizes an opportunity fell into his lap.

"I've been a five-year starter in the league," Polley said. "I never sat behind nobody, so I'm used to being the starter. Even if I wasn't going to be a starter, I come into practice with a starter's mentality."

The first-team exposure has allowed Polley to become acclimated to the style first-year defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs wants employed.

Polley also has a bit of a head's up on the rest of the new or inexperienced linebackers on the Saints roster. He played under the tutelage of linebacker coach Joe Vitt when the two were with the Rams.

"(Vitt) is a fiery kind of guy, so you need to be fiery right back," Polley said. "He's going to get you ready to play."

Saints coach Sean Payton has liked what he's seen thus far from Polley.

"He's been a late tryout guy and I'm glad we have him," Payton said. "I'm glad we made the decision to sign him. If you look at the places he's played, the defenses have been pretty good."

Experimenting with McPherson - Quarterback Adrian McPherson lined up as a wide receiver and punt returner during Monday's practices.

Coaches told McPherson once he arrived to Jackson that they wanted to experiment with him considering he possesses good mobility.

"They asked me if I had ever done punt return," McPherson said. "I said that I had never done it, but I could catch. It might not look good, but I can catch the ball."

McPherson was the team's third-string quarterback last season and will continue to take snaps under center. He will be fighting with Jamie Martin, Todd Bouman and Jason Fife for a backup or third-string role.

News and notes - First-round pick Reggie Bush and second-round pick Roman Harper will take their conditioning test this morning. Payton said a couple of others who failed to make sufficient times in the test also will retake the test. Payton wouldn't say who will retake the test... . Right tackle Jon Stinchcomb (knee) and wide receiver/punt returner Michael Lewis (knee) did not practice on Monday and performed workouts on stationary bikes... . Rookie defensive tackle McKinley Boykin left training camp and it was undetermined if he will return. Boykin never set foot on the field during camp as he was nursing an injury... . Joe Horn played a joke that punter Mitch Berger didn't find amusing after Monday morning's practice. Horn was looking for the fastest way to the cafeteria for lunch to avoid getting soaked by a heavy rain downpour. So he jumped on Berger's motorized scooter as the punter watched and shouted expletives at Horn.

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over, over, and over again...and expecting a different outcome!

TheDeuce

I'm glad to hear that Polley is going to be getting looks. I was very excited to have a player of his caliber join the team, and I especially like the fact that he's young but also has five solid years of experience. I'm rooting for him if Simmons never shows up.

hagan714

even if simmons shows up i am in his corner. shame we could only get a one year contract on the kid. Didn't he play OLB for the Rams? Injuries forced him inside with the ravens last year? I believe that was the case. so he would need a little time to adjust back to OLB. couple of practices at the most.