New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Moore makes most of his opportunity

Saints waive QB Fife and 3 other players

Monday, August 27, 2007
By Jimmy Smith

No less an authority than the Saints' most valuable player in 2006 has cast his vote for this year's training camp award winner, if there was such an honor.

"If I was giving an MVP for training camp, it would probably be Lance Moore. I mean, that guy has been incredible," quarterback Drew Brees said. "I think he's caught the eye of everybody here. I think we all kind of saw him progressing. He works extremely hard, and I think that he can definitely contribute for us this year. It's fun to see these young guys and the role they can have on the team this season. Obviously the competition just makes everybody better.

"I wouldn't say (Moore has) a hunger. But as a young player, you try to develop. You try to gain experience. The more reps you get, the better you get. He's always been a guy who's very self motivated, works extremely hard. He can sit there and run routes for you all day long and look good doing it. I'm excited about where he's at and how good he can be."

Brees' pronouncement shouldn't come as a surprise if you've paid close attention to what has transpired around the Saints the past month, or even before that.

It was clear during the Saints' minicamp the first weekend in June and in earlier organized team activities that Moore was on a path toward a career breakthrough in the NFL.

The last four weeks during training camp in Jackson, Miss., and four exhibition games have done nothing to alter that perception.

Yet for Moore, who has solidified his spot as the team's No. 1 kick and punt returner and has made huge strides in the race for playing time at wide receiver, humility takes precedence.

"I don't pay too much attention to that," Moore said of such discourse that has enveloped him in recent days. "People have been telling me, people have been calling me and saying they'd read about me or heard about me on TV. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about what I can do to get better."

To his position coaches, special teams coordinator John Bonamego and receivers coach Curtis Johnson, Moore has been, in their words, inspirational.

"He's a guy who's working exceptionally hard to get where he's at," Bonamego said. "He's trained his body. He's trained his mind. It's been a process for him, a long process, and he's starting to see the rewards of his hard work. He's a great example. He's an inspiration in a lot of ways. There's probably a lot of guys out there in all walks of life that the odds are against them, but they keep coming back and knocking on the door and keep working. Ultimately, those people succeed. And Lance is one of those guys."

Said Johnson: "Oh yeah. Lance has had a sensational training camp. He's been the most healthy guy and has really improved everything. He was a good player last year, but he's really stepped his game up, and he's doing a wonderful job for us.

"I think the thing he improved upon the most is route running. He's always been a tremendously talented young man. I think he's got a better feel for what we're doing on offense and what we expect. He's a very smart guy, too."

Moore has spent the past two years with the Saints serving his apprenticeship, primarily on the practice squad, biding his time and waiting for an opportunity to step forward and prove his ability.

As a returner, he had been stuck behind fan favorite and one-time Pro Bowl player Michael Lewis. But Moore's offseason work, and his performance, made Lewis expendable. Lewis was released in June, primarily because Moore proved that he can be a more versatile player than Lewis, blending in as a receiver as well as a return specialist, as Coach Sean Payton admitted last week.

"That's not taking anything away from Michael," Payton said, "but as you looked at Michael Lewis and how I looked at him was as a returner first who could play receiver. In Lance's case, he's someone who has improved as a returner but is a little further along as a receiver. They're two different players, but finding that niche as a returner is important for us as a team both on kickoffs and on punt returns."

"Michael's a Pro Bowl player," Moore is quick to point out. "I didn't ever sit back and say, 'I want to take his place' or 'I hope he gets cut so I can make this team.' I never thought about it in that way.

"I thought if I could provide a lot of services to the team, I'd be valuable to the team. I think that's what they look at with me. I'm pretty much an all-around guy. With Michael, I mean I never thought there would be comparisons or anything like that. It's part of the game, I guess."

Especially when one MVP says you're deserving of such consideration.

NOTES: The Saints waived four players: quarterback Jason Fife, linebacker Desmond Sims, wide receiver Aaron Hosack and defensive back Joe Porter. The team must still cut three players by Tuesday to reach the roster maximum of 75. . . . Left tackle Jammal Brown practiced fully for the first time since injuring his right knee (bone bruise) in training camp Aug. 7, and Payton said it's possible Brown could play Thursday night against Miami. Brown said he's still not 100 percent and would like to be in for some exhibition game snaps. "Today felt pretty good," Brown said. "I didn't get winded, so I'm still in pretty good shape. Getting back to practice is a start, so I'm pretty excited about that." . . . Several players were held out of Sunday's practice: QB Jamie Martin (back spasms), TE Mark Campbell (back), WR Jamal Jones (knee), DB Curry Burns (knee), CB Jason David (quad/hamstring). DT Brian Young (foot) and DE Rob Ninkovich (knee) worked on a limited basis. WRs Marques Colston (knee) and Devery Henderson (hamstring) worked and might play Thursday.

NOLA.com: Everything New Orleans