Team Report - NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
May 29, 2014 9:00 PM The SportsXchange

INSIDE SLANT

New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd was noticeably absent at the first organized team activity open to the media Thursday and likely won't be back on the field until the start of training camp in late July.

Byrd, the Saints' top acquisition in free agency this winter, had back surgery Thursday on a problematic disc and will miss the final two weeks of OTAs (June 3-5 and June 17-19) and a full-squad minicamp (June 10-12).

Saints coach Sean Payton made the announcement after Thursday's practice, saying the procedure will help alleviate and prevent any issues that could have cropped up during the regular season.

Payton said Byrd, who received a six-year, $54 million contract from the Saints on the first day of the free-agency signing period on March 11, has dealt with a back problem in the past and it came up again this offseason during a weightlifting session.

While Byrd wasn't experiencing any discomfort, Payton said a specialist in Los Angeles indicated surgery was an option. Payton said Byrd wouldn't have had surgery during the season and would have been treated for any symptoms he might have had.

"He didn't have any pain, but it was something we wanted to handle ... especially with his position," said Payton, who noted that Byrd will return to the team's training facility next week (June 2) to begin his rehab on the back.

"Our guess is we'll be very cautious, and hopefully get him back here and then he'll start training camp with no problem," he said. "We felt like (the surgery) would be something that would prevent any issues in the fall."

Byrd, who had 22 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, is expected to be the ball-hawk the Saints lacked last season.

The Saints ranked second against the pass, but came up with only 19 takeaways -- the fourth-fewest in the league -- with nine in the final 14 games counting the playoffs.

NOTES, QUOTES

--While the Saints won't have free safety Jairus Byrd on the field for the remainder of their offseason practice sessions, they did get some good news Thursday on the injury front.

Four defensive players who underwent surgery last season, including 2013 first-round draft pick Kenny Vaccaro, worked at full speed in the first organized team activity open to media.

Joining Vaccaro, who missed the final game of the season and both playoff games with a fractured ankle, on the field were outside linebackers Victor Butler and Parys Haralson and cornerback Patrick Robinson.

Butler missed the entire 2013 season when he tore his ACL in a collision with running back Mark Ingram; Robinson played in just two games before tearing his patellar tendon and Haralson tore a pectoral muscle in the wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia.

Vaccaro and Robinson worked extensively with the first-team defense on Thursday. Haralson also saw action with the ones, while Butler, who was a projected starter last spring before being injured, worked with the twos.

--One of the biggest question marks for the Saints this offseason is who will wind up as the starting center for the season opener with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Saints allowed three-year starter Brian de la Puente to walk in free agency and coach Sean Payton announced in late March that guard Tim Lelito, who made the roster as an undrafted free agent last season, would get a shot.

So it was no surprise that Lelito took first-team snaps at center in the first OTA open to media on Thursday. Rookie free agent Matt Armstrong worked at center with the second-team and Mike Golic Jr. got third-team snaps.

--Among those not working Thursday was wide receiver Joe Morgan, who missed the 2013 season with a knee injury suffered early in training camp.

Held out for undisclosed reasons were defensive linemen John Jenkins, Tyrunn Walker and Moses McCray, outside linebacker Cheta Ozougwu and wide receiver Steve Hull.

Guard Ben Grubbs was limited in practice for an undisclosed reason, which allowed 2013 practice-squad member Senio Kelemete to get some first-team reps as he begins his bid to earn a roster spot as a backup.

--Tight end Jimmy Graham isn't participating in the offseason program because he remains unsigned after receiving the franchise tag from the team in late February.

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks, the Saints' first-round draft pick earlier this month, isn't working in the OTAs because he's completing the semester at Oregon State.

--About 40 Saints players visited the State Capitol after their first OTA on Tuesday to discuss their concerns over injury compensation legislation concerning pro athletes that was shelved earlier in the day.

Among the Saints making the 70-mile bus trip from Metairie were quarterback Drew Brees, running back Pierre Thomas, wide receiver Marques Colston and defensive end Cameron Jordan.

The players took photos with lawmakers and Gov. Bobby Jindal that were widely circulated on social media.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

A closer look at the Saints' picks:

Round 1/20 -- Brandin Cooks, WR, 5-10, 189, Oregon State

--After trading Darren Sproles, the Saints needed to replace his speed and they did in choosing Cooks after moving up seven spots in the first round.

Round 2/58 -- Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, 6-3, 218, Nebraska

--With giant receivers throughout the NFC South, the Saints had to combat that with a longer, physical corner to put opposite Keenan Lewis.

Round 4/126 -- Khairi Fortt, ILB, 6-2, 240, California

--Saints elect to go for power (30 bench reps) and speed (4.70) here despite limited college experience with just 10 starts at Penn State and Cal.

Round 5/167 -- Vinnie Sunseri, SS, 5-11, 210, Alabama

--Even though he's coming off a torn ACL, he could be a help on special teams and add depth at one of the safety spots in a crowded secondary.

Round 5/169 -- Ronald Powell, OLB, 6-3, 237, Florida

--Returned to field in 2013 after pair of ACL surgeries in 2012, but is valued for his pass-rush abilities and measurables.

Round 6/202 -- Tavon Rooks, T, 6-5, 299, Kansas State

--Athletic tackle started 23 games the last two seasons after bouncing around three junior colleges and was an intriguing pick for Saints.

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