blacksaint

By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Aug 16, 2007


JACKSON, Miss. — After dealing with extreme heat for the last three days, the New Orleans Saints worked in humid conditions Wednesday morning in their 25th and final practice this summer at Millsaps College.

Working in helmets and jerseys, the Saints practiced for 90 minutes before lunch and an early afternoon flight to Cincinnati. The Saints will practice with the Bengals twice today and on their own Friday before Saturday night’s exhibition game in Paul Brown Stadium.

“We took the pads off them a little bit and tried to back off,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “We just hit some situations: coming out of the goal line, short yardage, third down, red zone.

“We were trying to mix the different things that come up in a game and simulate them the best we can,” he said. “The change is good at this time and the opportunity to work with the players and coaches from Cincinnati benefits both clubs.”


Brown sighting

Saints All-Pro tackle Jammal Brown was seen at practice for the first time in more than a week Wednesday, watching part of the workout and then riding a stationary bike the rest of the time.

Brown suffered a bone bruise to his right knee in practice on Aug. 7 and has been rehabbing in the training room since then. Payton said he hopes to have Brown back for the Aug. 23 exhibition game at Kansas City or the preseason finale on Aug. 30 against Miami.

“It’s his flexibility and range of motion,” Payton said. “Structurally, everything checked out fine. It’s just getting the swelling down. The last couple of days, he seemed to progress pretty quickly.”


‘Where’s the flag?’

Running back Reggie Bush threw his hands up as if to look for a flag after defensive end Will Smith grabbed and literally took the shirt off Bush’s back while coming out of the backfield for a pass. Smith smiled and playfully tossed a few words Bush’s way as he returned to the huddle.

“I told him it was great defense against him … he’s not used to that,” Smith said. “We were in a blitz and the defensive end has to pick up the running back out of the backfield. I told him he wasn’t going to run by me.”


Injury report

Missing practice were Brown, WR Devery Henderson (hamstring), DT Brian Young (foot), C Jeff Faine (calf), SLB Scott Fujita (heel), DE Rob Ninkovich (knee), and G/C Dave Yovanovits (knee).

Tackle Zach Strief did not work because he was attending a funeral in Cincinnati. Payton said Strief, who’s filled in for Brown, was to meet the team there Wednesday night.


Can’t wait

Young, who missed the entire camp because of a fractured foot, can’t wait to get back on the field in a week or two. That’s because he spent the last three weeks riding the stationary bike and working on the side with head trainer Scottie Patton under the broiling sun.

“I think I’ve ridden 20 miles a day on the bikes,” the 298-pound Young said. “I’ve also done about five million abs (exercises). When I’m done playing, I’m going to be an underwear model. I’ve got the abs for it now.”

Play of the day

During red zone drills, wide receiver Terrance Copper made a juggling catch in the end zone on a pass from Drew Brees. Cornerback Mike McKenzie had good coverage, but Cooper finally pulled it in as McKenzie tried to rip the ball out.

2theadvocate.com | Saints |Saints finish camp, head to Cincinnati -- Baton Rouge, LA

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