SAINTS MARCHING IN


McAllister needs just 74 more yards to become the Saints' all-time leading rusher.
Every team is busy trying to sign its rookies right now, but no team might be any busier than the New Orleans Saints.

Not only are they working away to get their seven rookies signed in time for the opening of the July 28 training camp, but the Saints also are working on tying up three organizational fixtures to long-term contracts.

The Saints have been speaking with the agents of running back Deuce McAllister, cornerback McKenzie and offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley on long-term extensions, and the team is expecting to get deals done with each of those players.

The Saints also would like to try to get a long-term deal done with their franchise player, defensive end Darren Howard, though those talks have not yet begun. They've already signed wide receiver Joe Horn to a long-term extension this offseason, and yet, the Saints busy work and big spending is just about to begin.

The one Saint that held out of minicamp looking for a new contract was cornerback Fakhir Brown. But the Saints are taking the same approach with Brown that the Packers have taken with Walker -- no new deal. Whether or not Brown reports to training camp, the Saints already are planning to move on with or without him. They figure to start McKenzie at one cornerback position, and have veterans Jason Craft and Fred Thomas battle it out for the other starting job. But Brown is way down on the Saints list of priorities during their busy offseason.