blacksaint

Posted by Benjamin Hochman, staff writer
August 13, 2007

JACKSON, MISS -- Left tackle Jammal Brown's knee bone bruise is healing properly, Saints Coach Sean Payton said Monday morning. Brown, who hasn't been out on the practice field since the team returned to camp on Sunday, has been working out indoors. Payton said Brown is working to regain flexibility and decrease soreness, and Payton seemed confident that Brown should be able to return to the field soon, possibly next week. The best thing, Payton reiterated, was that the Saints know exactly what the injury is - and how players generally recover from it. "We dodged a bullet," Payton said.

-- The Saints practiced in full pads this morning, but will only go in shorts this afternoon at Millsaps College.

-- Receiver David Patten, who is vying for the Saints' No. 3 receiver spot, is recovering well from his knee injury, and Payton said Patten should be able to play Saturday at Cincinnati. Patten had impressed Payton in the first week of camp.

-- It is undetermined whether cornerback Mike McKenzie will play against the Bengals, Payton said. McKenzie rested his ankle Monday morning, riding the bike at practice.

-- The Saints signed center Brian Ferentz, who is the son of Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz. Brian Ferentz played center at Iowa and was on the practice squad with the Atlanta Falcons last season. The Saints cut kicker Brett Bergstrom, opening up the roster spot for the center. Ferentz had a few jitters in his debut practice, and twice he botched a snap to backup quarterback Tyler Palko. When the Saints' first team went out onto the field, Palko and Ferentz went to the side field to work on snapping.

-- Payton said he expects No. 2 quarterback Jamie Martin to play with the first-string offense during Saturday's game. Last game, the Saints played Palko the majority of the game, so they could evaluate a body of work. It's likely the Saints will do the same with Matt Baker at some point in the next three games. Baker came to camp late, and the Saints would like to see him play for an extended period of time.

-- Defensive tackle Antwan Lake, who has filled in for the injured Brian Young, played much better in the second preseason game than the first, according to Payton.

-- After Saints practice, running back Reggie Bush was signing autographs and the fans were mobbing him. Finally, a security guard screamed: "EVERYBODY TAKE THREE STEPS BACK!" And Bush took three steps back.

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