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After the Saints selected him in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, cornerback Corey White chose jersey No. 24 because that was the number worn by the two NFL players whom he considered the best at his position: Darrelle Revis and Champ Bailey.

Little could he imagine that 12-time Pro Bowler Bailey would end up being his teammate. And little did he know he’d spark a mini-controversy by not giving up 24 when Bailey casually asked White whether he wanted to keep the number but didn’t express an interest in buying it.

“Champ’s not really bothered by it, “ White said Thursday after a organized team activities practice at Saints headquarters in Metairie, echoing prior remarks from Bailey, who settled on No. 27 and assured it was no big deal. “When I got drafted, I got 24 because of the premier cornerbacks in the league, like Champ, like ... Revis. That’s the number I wanted because of them.”

White admitted he has improvements to make if he wants to be remembered as another great No. 24. But he takes heart knowing how much he grew from his experiences in 2013 as he vies to remain in a spot near the top of a cornerback group that had 11 players Thursday, when the Saints depth chart admittedly was far from being finalized.

According to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks throwing against White in 2013 went 38-of-67 (56.7 percent) for 451 yards and four touchdowns as well as a 91.1 passer rating. White had an interception and five pass deflections over those 18 regular-season and playoff games, including eight starts, as he became a stalwart in the lineup after veteran Jabari Greer suffered a season-ending knee injury against San Francisco in Week 11. Greer, now released, was hurt after another veteran cornerback — Patrick Robinson — suffered a season-ending knee injury nine weeks earlier.

Read more: White is out to show what he can do against competition on the Saints | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.