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COLSTON LOOKS FOR RETURN TO TOP FORM
ELITE TEAMS LIKE SAINTS CAN WIN UGLY
BLACK & GOLD STAYS HIGH IN POWER RANKINGS
NewOrleans.Com/Sports - New Orleans Saints News |
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Written by Les East Monday, 15 June 2009 13:27
The team will continue working on the two-minute schemes and install its short-yardage schemes during its final three workouts over the next three days.
Thursday's OTA will mark the end of the 11-week offseason program. After that the players will be on their own until training camp begins July 30.
Afterward, coach Sean Payton called Monday's workout "a little sloppy."
The Saints suddenly found themselves short-handed at center as the two backups to starter Jonathan Goodwin were sidelined. The most serious issue involved Alex Fletcher, an undrafted rookie free agent who was placed on the reserve/retired list because of a kidney condition that is likely career ending.
Payton said Fletcher, who has just one kidney, has a "pretty serious" medical issue with his remaining kidney, which requires that he give up football. Payton wouldn't elaborate on the nature of the condition.
The other backup center, Nick Leckey, had surgery to remove bone spurs in his ankle and will miss the rest of this week but should be ready for the start of training camp. The Saints replaced Fletcher by signing free agent center Digger Bujnoch.
WR Robert Meachem was held out of team drills to rest a slight hamstring strain he sustained last week. WR Marques Colston missed the voluntary work, but is due back Tuesday, Payton said.
WR Adrian Arrington (hamstring), DE Paul Spicer (groin), and TE Dan Campbell (knee) continue to be sidelined.
CB Randall Gay, who had been sidelined by a sore knee since the mini-camp more than a week ago, returned to practice.
Payton said Usama Young's move from cornerback to safety has gone "pretty smoothly." He added that CB Tracy Porter will continue to get a look as a punt returner, including during preseason games.
Payton said DT Sedrick Ellis and rookie S Chip Vaughn need to lose a few pounds. He added that this will be "important" training camp for OL Jermon Bushrod, a fourth-round draft choice two years ago.
The defense wore white jerseys and the offense wore black. The two sides swapped colors after the defense complained to Payton about having to wear the black ones daily in the heat.
The Tuesday and Wednesday workouts will be closed to the media, and the Thursday practice will be open to the media. All of the workouts are closed to the public.
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