blacksaint

Posted by Jeff Duncan, Staff writer
August 09, 2007


Notes and observations from Thursday's practice:

--Practice was basically a light walk-thru, with a lot of situational work for Friday night's exhibition against Buffalo. Mercifully, the workout lasted only about 90 minutes. It was conducted in brutal heat - 97 degrees and 120 heat index.


--The exhibition against Buffalo will be a big night for Tyler Palko. In what is essentially an audition for a roster spot, the rookie quarterback is going to play most of the game so the staff can make a thorough evaluation of the undrafted free agent from Pitt. The move makes perfect sense. Coach Sean Payton knows what he has in Jason Fife, the other young QB fighting for the No. 3 job. Palko is the unknown. If he plays well, a roster spot is his.

--Running back Antonio Pittman is also expected to see extended action against the Bills. Pittman hasn't received a lot of reps so far in practice. He'll carry the bulk of the rushing load after Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush depart in the second quarter.

--Very quietly Jason David officially took over the right cornerback spot from Fred Thomas. David took reps with the first-team defense and will start Friday. It's his job to lose.

--Payton said called the competition between punters Steve Weatherford and Chris Hanson "wide open" and said Hanson will get work with the first-team unit Friday. Weatherford, who has looked excellent so far, will work the second half.

--Robert Meachem continues to struggle. He appeared to tweak his right knee while making a cut Thursday and hobbled through the rest of the practice. He needs to make something happen Friday to restore the confidence of the coaching staff. Right now, the first-round pick is no better than the team's sixth receiver, and that's only because Jamal Jones is out with a knee injury.

--Tight end Billy Miller missed his second day of practice with a nasty cut on his forehead just above his right eye. The gash and bump prevent Miller from putting on his helmet, though he said he plans to play Friday. Miller explained the mishap at the water park on Wednesday and how he was injured:

Q: How bad did it hurt?
A: Actually, it didn't hurt. I went down the slide headfirst. Instead of keeping my head up I put it down. You know what the problem was, growing up in California, you get used to ducking those waves and for some strange reason I put my head down, smacked it on the slide. Got up and was like, man, I hit my head, let's do it again. And everybody was looking at me, like, your bleeding. I looked down and as you know. ... But I'm fine. I haven't practiced because I can't put the helmet on with the stitches. I can play in a game.

Q: What will the trainers do so that you can play?
A: I don't know, but they've got to do something. Last year's result of getting cut and coming back is not an option. So I'm going to do whatever they ask me to do.

Q: How many stitches did you get?
A: I got eight on the outside it was pretty deep so they had to get me some on the inside, as well; I don't know how many.

Q: Do you think you'll have a scar?
A: I hope a cool one like a Harry Potter zigzag. That would be cool.

Q: Funny that the first big scar you get as a football player happened at a water park and not on the field?
A: Actually, it was eight guys I took 'em all out but the last one hit me with the back of a gun. The other seven guys they weren't hurting.

Q: Did you get any ribbing from teammates?
A: I got it even when I was bleeding. There's no mercy. I'm bleeding, holdin' my head and everybody's laughing. But you've got to expect that. That's what makes us a team.

Q: Was you injury before or after Scott Fujita's?
A: I was before Fujita. I was kind of the warning sign of what was to come. Fujita got it a little bit worse than me.

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