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METAIRIE — Kenny Vaccaro isn't ready to abandon his "reckless" approach to football — not even after a rookie campaign interrupted by two concussions and cut short by a broken ankle.

Looking healthy again during voluntary offseason practices, the Saints' 2013 first-round draft pick says he's eager to take on a leadership role in his second NFL season, all while continuing to initiate the type of high-speed collisions he feels he has to embrace to be effective.

"What am I going to do, not hit anymore?" Vaccaro said after practice this week. "The way I play — a lot of guys are like that. I mean, I'm reckless. I like to bring the physical aspect to the game. ... I'm not going to ever slow down just because I knock myself out."

The Saints want Vaccaro on the field as often as possible. Yet his teammates don't necessarily want him to change the way he plays, either.
"His youth showed when he first got here because he was too physical for practice, but that is something that you really need in a strong safety in the NFL," veteran tight end Ben Watson said. "It's something you can't teach. His physicality is a tremendous strength of his and it's something that is going to make him one of the more feared safeties in the NFL. That and the fact that he's fast enough to cover."

And while Vaccaro doesn't want to dial back his aggression, he has come to appreciate that the big hit is not always the best play.

"Turnovers are way more important," Vaccaro said. "So for me, it becomes a point where if I'm going to hit a guy or I can get the pick, I'm obviously going to go for the pick."

Read more: Saints' Vaccaro doesn't plan to tone down his style of play | wwltv.com New Orleans

QBREES9

He's know one speed, all out. Good for you Kenny.

Rugby Saint II

Learning to play smart some times takes a while to develop.