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Baker expected to play QB most of second half against Bengals

Wednesday, August 15, 2007
By Mike Triplett

JACKSON, MISS. -- Matt Baker was a little surprised when he was released by the Dallas Cowboys last month after spending all of last season on their practice squad. But he had a few people in his corner.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and former quarterback Drew Bledsoe put in phone calls to Saints Coach Sean Payton, suggesting he bring in Baker for a workout.

You can imagine how that conversation must have gone: "Hey Coach, it's Tony Romo. This kid could be the next me."

Payton took a look at Baker and signed him last week. Now he's thrusting him into action. Baker will get a chance to audition for the No. 3 quarterback job when he plays most of the second half Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"There's no time for naps and getting to bed early this week," Baker said during his first full week of practice with the Saints. "This week will be a lot of extra preparation, not only to learn Cincinnati's stuff, but to get more comfortable with our stuff.

"I'm definitely behind the 8-ball (compared with fellow quarterbacks Tyler Palko and Jason Fife). But obviously, there's no room for excuses."

Baker, 6 feet 3, 212 pounds, is in his fourth offense in the past 13 months. He signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted rookie out of North Carolina. Then he joined the Cowboys last August and went through a coaching change in the offseason.

"You know, actually it helps. At this point I feel like I've seen about everything, heard about every possible different terminology you can think of," Baker said.

The drawback, of course, was that the Cowboys' new coaches preferred their own young quarterbacks and deemed Baker expendable.

"I feel like it was a raw deal, but it's a tough game, and that stuff happens," said Baker, who said he didn't even look into going anywhere else after he got the invitation from Payton.

Payton said he wasn't necessarily on the lookout for another quarterback, but he was impressed by Baker's workout.

Still, it will be difficult for Baker to pass both Palko and Fife, especially after Palko showed some good things during his own extended audition last week against the Buffalo Bills.

"I'm anxious to see how he functions in a team setting," Payton said. "He seems accurate and has some poise about him, but until you get him in there and get him a chance to get into the huddle, play for a while, you learn a lot more."

MORE MARTIN, TOO: Payton said most of the starters will play the entire first half Saturday.

But quarterback Drew Brees will call it a night after the first quarter so backup Jamie Martin can work with the first-string offense.

Martin will start the second half before turning the game over to Baker. Palko and Fife are not expected to play.

Payton has said throughout training camp that Martin is firmly entrenched as the No. 2 quarterback, so he's not really competing for his job with the youngsters at this point.

PRACTICE REPORT: The Saints displayed a lot of energy during Tuesday's afternoon session, especially after Payton informed them he was cutting practice an hour short.

The Saints are leaving Millsaps at the right time. The temperature reached 104 degrees Tuesday afternoon.

They will have their final practice this morning before flying to Cincinnati, where they will hold two practices with the Bengals on Thursday and one practice Friday.

-- Receivers David Patten (toe) and Jamal Jones (knee) returned to practice Tuesday. Jones seemed to hold up fine and looked better than he did Sunday, when he made a brief attempt to get back onto the field.

Jones still has a good shot to make the Saints' roster if he can get back to full speed in the next two weeks. Payton singled him out recently as one of the most valuable contributors on special teams last season.

-- Cornerback Mike McKenzie was limited in practice with a tender ankle.

-- Offensive tackle Zach Strief was excused from practice Tuesday afternoon to attend a funeral.

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