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New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton
Training Camp Media Availability
Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Opening Statement: “Again with today’s practice, much like yesterday, we are on the same schedule. We were still in a nickel emphasis and then we got to some red zone towards the end. We kept Brandin Cooks inside. He still has a fever and we will see where he is at tomorrow. We go in the evening seven o’clock (tomorrow).”

Can you talk about Jairus Byrd being back?

“He’s gotten back and basically the last step was getting clearance for contact, in other words coming on the roster and being in drills except for team drills, he has received that final clearance. So now you are seeing him really with no limitations.”

How does that change what you are able to do in the secondary?

“There’s nothing necessarily schematically that's changing, it is just the addition of a guy that needs reps and we want to get him functioning with the defense and get him up to speed. He is pretty sharp so I think mentally he has been on top of everything with meetings and since he has been back on the field, but now it gives him the ability to play and he will play this weekend.”

How far along are you for your cuts next week and could you do it after two games?

“You just budget. For three (after three preseason games) we get down to 75. For four (after four) we get down to 53. You budget for that. That is what you are planning in your mind so any type of discussion that you have typically starts with the first cut down, occasionally you will be early and not late, in other words, you might reduce before you need to. But, to your question whether after two (games) could you, certainly you could if you had to, yes. You would like to see exposure. I think this game is going to be important for a lot of guys, very important. When you take a player like Jairus (Byrd), this is an important game because he hadn’t been able to play in the first two (games). I will be smart with the reps we are giving them and the amount we give them, but I don’t think you can just throw the ball out there and play. There is a little bit of football conditioning that goes into it and I think that is important.”

Are you in favor of the practice squads expanding to 10 players?

“Yes, absolutely. I’ve heard that (is going to be announced). We talked about it this morning. I think this, it is the number one way for teams to develop players because you guys are at practice and once the season starts those guys are a part of the team. They are involved in drills. They are involved in every element. All you have to do is look at the past five years practice squad players that are now on 53 rosters and there are a ton of them. So yes.”


Read more: Sean Payton recaps Tuesday's practice

homerj07

Upping the ante for the practice squad is good news