David back in practice
 

Posted by Mike Triplett, Times-Picayune staff writer
October 18, 2007

The Saints are on the mend, both on the field and in the training room. They have just one name on their injury report this week - cornerback Jason David, who returned to practice in limited fashion Thursday for the first time since fracturing his left forearm in Week 3 against Tennessee.

David is not expected to play in Sunday's game against Atlanta, but he's getting closer to returning.

The Falcons, meanwhile, have a little more turbulence on their roster, starting with the quarterback position. Coach Bobby Petrino announced Wednesday that he's turning the reins over to Byron Leftwich, the former Jacksonville starter who signed with the Falcons on Sept. 18.

Leftwich, 27, is a big, strong-armed quarterback at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds. He is known for not being very mobile, but he's also hard to take down.

"He can throw from his ankles," joked Saints linebacker Brian Simmons, who faced Leftwich while he was with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Saints Coach Sean Payton said it won't be too difficult to adjust the game plan against the Falcons, who used Joey Harrington at quarterback in the first six games of the season.

"Well, you've got a body of work from his career in Jacksonville, and then you're looking at the offense that they currently are running," Payton said. "There's some scheme things, and they're not going to revamp the whole playbook. So we have to be able to adjust and make adjustments as we see fit during the course of the game."

David back in practice - New Orleans Saints Beat - Times-Picayune NFL - NOLA.com

Re: David back in practice
 

Always nervous about a player returning from time away from action to face us. The potential for a "career day" is always there.

Re: David back in practice
 

Good to hear Jason may be back soon.

Re: David back in practice
 

Nnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: David back in practice
 

OH GOOD GOD NO!!! Please tell me this is not going to happen. Please, please, please, somebody tell me Payton will not put him back in the starting lineup!

Re: David back in practice
 

He played Freddie last year with a club on his hand, remember?

Re: David back in practice
 

You know,looking at that picture of Rita gave me a great idea. I have found a way to keep the Saints in New Orleans. You might not know but i'm single. MY friends, I am going to go above the call of duty for our members.


I'M GONNA MARRY RITA!!!!!!!!!!:confused:

Re: David back in practice
 

Way to take one for the team, Joesam.

Re: David back in practice
 

ummmmm :confused: :confused:
I could be wrong (but I'm sure I'm not)
uuhh I think you have the wrong years
that was under Coach Haslett
not Coach Payton

Re: David back in practice
 

Craft did a decent job last week. Young got picked on because he is a rookie but I can tell that he will be a good fit. I hope he continues to get more reps. I dont need to see David in anything but the Dime.

Re: David back in practice
 

Yeah, David take another week or to rest ...... ok

Re: David back in practice
 

agreed I like David he is a solid player, has a good eye for the play but I don't think he is an every down or situation back

Re: David back in practice
 

Ya know, she don't look that bad in that photo. But hey, way to take one for the team Joe.

Re: David back in practice
 

Freddie T had a broken thumb last year...

Nov. 23, 2006 - 9:22 a.m. ET
CB Fred Thomas underwent thumb surgery Tuesday and will wear a cast once he returns.

Fred Thomas : USAToday.com - Fred Thomas Biography from USAToday.com

Re: David back in practice
 

yeah I remember the injury
but I don't remember him playing but I may be mistaken

Re: David back in practice
 

i dunno, call me crazy, but i thought david was coming along nicely before his injury...

Re: David back in practice
 

ok...you're crazy.

Re: David back in practice
 

Gotcha... I thought you meant he didn't injure the hand... On one play that sticks in my mind he was setup perfectly for an int and he missed it b/c of the club.

It was right near, or possibly even in the endzone. I remember thinking about how painful it must be to have a broken thumb in a cast and have it hit by a football thrown by an NFL quarterback. For some reason I keep thinking that it was the eagles playoff game...

Might have to pop in that DVD tonight and see if I can find it again...

Re: David back in practice
 

hah, i saw that coming...but i mean really...our D looked pretty good in the game vs the titans did they not? he didn't really blow anything...

Re: David back in practice
 

well hell look at that one year when Has was coach and he had his hand all bandaged up he caught a bunch of pics that year but when he got it taken off he started missing again
Freddy kills me like that some times

Re: David back in practice
 

i think you are referring to the dallas game on fourth down he tipped it and T.O. caught it for a touchdown

Re: David back in practice
 

I noticed on the Saints depth roster that Usama (I don't like that name) Young is listed as #3 left cornerback, and Jason Craft is listed #2 , and of course McKensie the left side starter. On the right side Jason David is listed to start with Fred backup. I'm guessing Usama (I don't like that name) Young must still be a little banged up or I'd think he'd be starting Right side or #2 left side based on my expert armchair ranking of the CB's.

Re: David back in practice
 

lol why are you so fixated on his name?

Re: David back in practice
 

I personally think this is good news.

Sure, he gave up a few big plays, but who hasn't on defense?? The D-Line was non-existent and not helping the situation when he was in - the safeties were not giving much support either at the time.

I look for him to be MUCH more effective with added D-line pressure on the quarterback, something the defense didn't have much of in the first few games of the season.

All that being said, he still managed to cause a fumble, recover it, and score a touchdown. And I believe he picked off 2 passes as well. All in just 3 games. By himself. Credit is something you've got to give this little man. Get well soon Jason.

Re: David back in practice
 

oh and by the way, we shouldn't remove Young from the picture either when Jason returns, just toss in a lil mix, 3rd and longs, running plays, redzone, whatever the case, I'm hoping the D-coordinator is creative enough to get them both involved - i like Young's speed and tenacity. All this + Roman Harper blowing up the run in the backfield and we've got a nice little D brewing up.

Re: David back in practice
 

I'm not sure David's return would be a good thing.

Right now, I'd prefer to have a healthy Fred Thomas or Usama Young in there at cover corner. Maybe bring hin David with the nickel and dime packages.

Re: David back in practice
 

You guys can say what cha want, before he was injured he caused a fumble which he recovered and returned for a TD, and an interception, at least he's not afraid to do his thing.

Re: David back in practice
 

I think that David is a capable corner. I'm leery though because he's shown to be a feast or famine player. I'm hoping to see more feast than famine when he comes back.

Re: David back in practice
 

... yep, he did make a play on Reggie Wayne and intercepted a horrible throw by Vince Young
...
... however, how many big plays/TDs against the Saints have come his way?

Sure he made a play on Wayne, then what happened? How many times did you see a shot of him in the endzone, hands on his hips, dazed expression on his face, as he had front seasts for the Colts' TD celebration?

Peyton punked him, Garcia punked him... any decent throwing QB will...
.
... he never ever jams a receiver... he takes off from his stance looking directly at the QB and gives his back to the receiver.... and he's 4'9"...

I much rather see Usama start, knowing he's a rookie and he will get burned, than see a costly front office mistake get burned over and over and over again.

Re: David back in practice
 

Playing time. Playing time. Time to Gel. I welcome him back. I do not want 5 million dollars sitting. Talk to me in three years and if he is a starting #2 I will be miffed. He is more than welcomed to prove me wrong. He is the long term #3. In three years that salary wont look bad.

Re: David back in practice
 

Yes, but he still has a broken arm!

Re: David back in practice
 

I am totally willing to give David a second chance before passing final judgement. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on the Colts game. Manning is possibly the best QB ever and knew David's tendencies. No excuses for the Bucs game other than a total lack of pressure and safety help.

Re: David back in practice
 

Young does not need to be on the sidelines. That's all I've got to say about this subject.

Re: David back in practice
 

Our entire defensive line never recorded a sack until after the Carolina game(!!HELLO!!). Why is Will Smith, Charles Grant, Hollis Thomas, and Brian Young still starting then - according to your logic, they should all be riding the pine...every last one of them! I swear sometimes people zone in on ONE player and he takes the entire responsibilty for why we started out 0-4. HELLO, Indy is undefeated, and Tampa is like 4-1. Wake up, these are GOOD teams! How about ANYtime we lose a game, we'll just blame it on Jason David. Is a scapegoat really going to solve our offensive woes?

Oh they just kicked a field goal...damnit Jason David! Oh they just completed a touchdown pass on a busted McKenzie play...Jason David should've run across the field and intercepted that! QB got away for a first down, Jason David should've come up from 90 yards away to make the stop!!!!

You people make me chuckle sometimes.

Re: David back in practice
 

The longer Jason David stays on the injury report, the better for the team. Sorry, but its true!

Re: David back in practice
 

David isn't a man to man guy and if coach learns that then David will be ok, if not he's toast with raisins

Re: David back in practice
 

Ya know why McKensie makes such a good corner? Because he'll smack somebody in the mouth. He's physical. You might haul in a pass or two on McKensie, but either way he's gonna knock a snot bubble in your nose. I want a corner on the other side like that, and even though I like Jason David, he needs to grow some dreds and get mean.

Re: David back in practice
 

We're 1-4. Put 'ol Bin Laden in and give it a go...

Re: David back in practice
 

McKenzie sucks too. Take an entire game and just watch him play. You'll change your mind on how big of a stud Mckenzie is.

Re: David back in practice
 

I agree with sapper saint. Mckenzie has never impressed me, let alone stand in "elite" status as some would claim. He was actually a weak link a couple years ago during the AB debacle.