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With, a short flight to Dallas last Saturday, the New Orleans Saints had the luxury of bringing almost everybody on their charter plane.

That meant the Saints traveled practically the entire team--from practice squad players such as quarterback Ryan Griffin, to injured players such running back Mark Ingram, to Khairi Fortt, who is on short-term injured reserve.

The one player who didn't travel? Nose tackle John Jenkins, who has slid down the depth chart this season behind Brandon Deaderick.

Jenkins has been a healthy inactive three times this season--a fall from grace from last year, when he started in place of an injured Brodrick Bunkley.

Jenkins spent much of the summer getting himself back in shape after having pectoral surgery. For such a big player (he's listed at 359 pounds), that presents a problem of getting in shape. However, Jenkins said at training camp that he was in his target weight range.

"The biggest thing with John is that he missed all of that time (in training camp) due to injuries," defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said last week. "When you're a big guy missing that kind of time, it's hard to get back. It's hard to make the sweating in training camp and all of the hard knocking and all of that. It takes a while for a defensive lineman."



But if that's the reason the Saints didn't travel Jenkins to Dallas, they aren't saying.

"That's our deal," said Saints coach Sean Payton on Friday.

Jenkins was just as quiet about the issue.

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jnormand

Weight? Attitude? What's the prob with the kid? Damn, I had high hopes for him this year.

NOLA54

There were high hopes for the entire team this year.

saintsfan1976

Did he get caught stealing twinkles from Robs office?

hagan714

Is it:

"The biggest thing with John is that he missed all of that time due to injuries," defensive coordinator Rob Ryan

Or is it?

"That's our deal," said Saints coach Sean Payton

who knows?

Jenkins was just as quiet about the issue.

What is the real issue anyways?

29 New Orleans Saints Defense Ranking

Conclusion

What ever the reason is it does not hold water at this point. At 1-3 it is all hands on deck whether the coaches likes it or not.

Sorry SP it is not your deal it is our deal too. we are the fans. we stop going to the games or shut off the TV and even worse refuse to use or tax money for football and take away your tax exempt statues your screwed.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

Ashley

So in other words, we're not going to see him at all this year. Then he will just go away as another player that just can't make it, can't call him a bust cause he wasn't a 1st round. Oh well, another great story from this year's team

QBREES9

Dam John Jenkins, From Meriden Ct.

Cruize

The Saints need him to atleast be part of the rotation. I hope he finds his way back to starting.

QBREES9

Teammate John Jenkins, a defensive tackle, said he feels healthy after pectoral surgery during the offeseason, a procedure which kept him sidelined through the final week of training camp in West Virginia.

Barry from MS

I don't get it. Head-scratcher.

Could the team be holding him out until after the bye week, and saving snaps for him? If that's the case, is it worth 1-3?

Or is it worse, like disciplinary reasons? Or is a trade in the works? If it's a trade, why in holy h--- do you trade a talented young NT? If it is a trade, it better be for a starting MLB'er.

But this is still a head-scratcher...