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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Saints safety Marcus Ball has shown coaches a thing or two since his team’s training camp opened in late July.

At an intrasquad scrimmage, Ball intercepted a pass and nearly returned it for a touchdown, and got a sack on the day’s final snap. He forced a fumble and recovered it in a punt-return drill on another occasion.

His reward has been to occasionally line up with the first string, such as on the Saints’ opening defensive series in their 26-24 victory at St. Louis in an Aug. 8 exhibition. Yet those are all moments Ball could not imagine himself living through less than three years ago.

For, back then, Ball came within inches of surrendering his pro football aspirations — before he was talked out of it by the two most important women in his life: his mother and his girlfriend.

It’s thanks to them Ball is in position to convince coaches he deserves consideration for a roster spot under those that will almost certainly be occupied by safeties Jairus Byrd, Kenny Vaccaro and Rafael Bush. It’s thanks to them the two-season Canadian Football League veteran and NFL newcomer will have the chance to play in his first Saints home game when New Orleans hosts the Tennessee Titans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome at 7 p.m. Friday.


“Those women in my life kept me focused and kept ... the fire burning inside,” said Ball, who’s mainly competing with talented rookies Vinnie Sunseri (a fifth-round draft selection) and Pierre Warren (undrafted) to join a defense that deploys more safeties at a time than many do. “A few times I got down — really down — and wanted to just throw it all away maybe. But they never let it get to that level.”


Read more: Saints safety Marcus Ball chasing his dream | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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

All little common sense goes a long way.