JOESAM2002

August 7, 2006




Players show competitive streak with scooter races this week's saints training camp practice schedule



Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger

Saints cornerback Jason Craft rides a scooter around Millsaps' campus Friday, heading from the dorm to the practice field. Several players have acquired the scooters for use while the team trains in Jackson and have even developed a racing spirit. During the team's off hours Sunday, scooter races were held.

Just because the New Orleans Saints had a day off from practice, it didn't necessarily mean a break from some fierce competition Sunday.

Not on the field. But in the Millsaps College parking lots.

Several Saints players have acquired motorized scooters to travel between the dorms, the practice fields, meeting rooms and the cafeteria on campus.

They're also having a bit of Motocross-type fun with them, too. Starting defensive end Charles Grant - all 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds of him - said some players use what limited free time they have during training camp to race their scooters.

To win these races, it takes more skill than speed because the scooters max out at around 30 miles per hour. About 10 players are zooming around campus on scooters, including Joe Horn, Fred Thomas, Mitch Berger, Mike McKenzie and Mike Karney among others.

"It's a 10-minute walk down (from dorms to Harper Davis Field), and this makes it like a 2-minute ride instead," Grant said. "You need a scooter around here. Guys are riding and having fun. We want to see who's got the fastest one."

Grant said the scooter riders don't wear helmets, but that they don't ride recklessly.

Several other team members pedal around campus on mountain-style bikes. Receiver Chase Lyman said he's tempted to get in on the action.

"I don't have anything yet, but I'm thinking about having someone go to the store and get me one," Lyman said. "It's a long walk back to the dorm after a double practice session. It looks like a lot of fun. You see guys riding around racing them. The good thing is I haven't seen any accidents yet."

The scooters are either red or black and are made by the same company. So players differentiate their rides by writing their jersey numbers on them.

In Horn's case, he has his nickname, "Wood," on his, which is short for Hollywood.

But this scooter thing can get serious. Last week, Berger was irate when he emerged from the locker room to see Horn riding off on what Berger thought was his scooter. Turns out, it was Horn's scooter after all.

"Just a misunderstanding, that's all it was," Horn said.

GAINING CONFIDENCE

Receiver Devery Henderson has caught a lot of flak from coaches, teammates and fans for dropping passes last week.

But Henderson, in his third season out of LSU, appeared to atone for some in Saturday's scrimmage at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Henderson hauled in two clutch passes from Drew Brees in traffic during the scrimmage. Henderson will try to continue that momentum when practices resume today after an off day.

"I struggled early on in camp with dropped balls," Henderson said. "But mentally, I have forgotten about that and have moved on. I'd rather have it happen early in camp than let it linger on into the season."

IS OL HELP ON THE WAY?

Saints coach Sean Payton has had training camp roster spots open up due to attrition and might look to bring in help for a banged-up, struggling offensive line.

There's been talk that former Ole Miss standout and NFL veteran Todd Wade might be interested in a tryout, possibly this week. Wade was released by the Texans last month, two years into a six-year, $30 million contract.

Wade spent four seasons at Miami before going to Houston in 2004. He is recovering from knee surgery that ended his 2005 season.

Payton was non-committal when asked about Wade. "I've heard of him," he said, declining to comment further.

-Michael Wallace

Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought an idiot, than to open it and remove all doubt!!!!!

"Every time you think, you weaken the nation!" Moe Howard...The Three Stooges.